Press Release
Ten Community-Based Organizations from Across the State Join EDCAP Network
The Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP), a program of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), today announced that 10 community-based organizations have joined the EDCAP Network to provide direct consumer assistance to New York State residents with higher education debt, which includes federal and private student loans. Today’s announcement illustrates the program’s progress toward creating a robust, statewide network of agencies providing consumers with the independent, unbiased, one-on-one consumer assistance they need to tackle their student debt. In New York, there are 2.4 million borrowers with more than $90 billion in student loans.
Since the pandemic, EDCAP has been assisting borrowers remotely through one-on-one counseling sessions and workshops. With the addition of these ten organizations, EDCAP is fulfilling its goal of establishing a “hub-and-spokes” service delivery model, with EDCAP as the “hub” managing its live centralized helpline (888-614-5004) and overseeing a statewide network of regional organizations acting as the “spokes” which will provide free consumer assistance services to borrowers in their respective communities.
EDCAP is a first in-the-nation program exclusively focused on helping student loan borrowers manage their debt. This program will be overseen by the NYS Department of Financial Services. All services provided through EDCAP and its network partners are free. This expansion comes at a critical time as borrowers navigate the complex student loan repayment system, try to benefit from the latest relief available, and prepare for payment resumption.
The selected partner organizations are not only committed to addressing the student loan crisis but have a strong record in helping and reaching those most in need. The organizations are as follows:
- Brooklyn Legal Services (NYC)
- Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Buffalo, Inc. (Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Orleans, Wyoming)
- Day Care Council of New York (NYC)
- Empire Justice Center (Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga, Westchester)
- Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates)
- Nassau Suffolk Law Services (Nassau, Suffolk)
- Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans)
- New York Legal Assistance Group (NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester)
- The City Bar Justice Center (Consumer Bankruptcy Project) (NYC)
- United Way of Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk)
“Student loan debt is a crisis in New York and across our nation, creating financial hardships for borrowers, perpetuating generational poverty, and choking the economic potential of millions of people in our country burdened by these loans,” said David R. Jones, CSS President and CEO. “We launched EDCAP in response to the great need to offer free, independent, unbiased advice and counseling services to student loan holders who cannot rely on their loan servicers to look out for their financial health. Thanks to funding from Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, we are expanding EDCAP statewide so that more New Yorkers struggling with student loan debt can benefit from these services, and make informed decisions when it comes to managing their debt and securing the economic future.”
“Over two million New Yorkers carry educational debt. Student loans are complicated, loan servicers often provide inaccurate information, and many don’t know how to access programs designed to help them such as income driven repayment or loan forgiveness,” said Kristin Brown, President & CEO of the Empire Justice Center. “EDCAP is a first in the nation program to provide free, reputable assistance, connecting borrowers with trained advocates to help them navigate the process and manage their student loans. Empire Justice Center is proud to be an inaugural grantee.”
“If there is something we have learned about this crisis it is that student loan borrowers need independent and unbiased advice to navigate our federal lending system and benefit from the programs that already exist,” said Carolina Rodriguez, Director of EDCAP. “New York is leading the way on this issue. I look forward to working with our partner agencies and the Department of Financial Services to ensure every borrower in our state has access to the information and guidance they need to manage and when possible, eliminate their student debt. This will lead to greater economic stability for New Yorkers and our state.”
Since its launch in 2019, EDCAP has saved consumers in New York millions by helping borrowers apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), get out of default, avoid wage garnishments and social security offsets, resolve disputes with loan servicers, access cancellation and relief programs, and much more. EDCAP will continue to offer remote counseling services and serve every county in New York State. EDCAP’s partner agencies will focus on reaching and serving borrowers in their respective communities.
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The Community Service Society of New York (CSS) has worked with and for New Yorkers since 1843 to promote economic opportunity and champion an equitable city and state. We power change through a strategic combination of research, services, and advocacy to make New York more livable for people facing economic insecurity. By expanding access to health care, affordable housing, employment opportunities, debt assistance, and more, we make a tangible difference in the lives of millions. Join us at www.cssny.org.