SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) announced June 2, the launch of the Student Loan Empowerment Network (SLE Network), a network of community-based and legal aid organizations that will provide free assistance to Californians struggling to understand and pay off their student loan debts.
“The Student Loan Empowerment Network will help Californians understand their student loan debt and, in some cases, break the cycle of debt that many borrowers are facing,” said DFPI Commissioner Clothilde V. Hewlett. “At the DFPI it is our goal to empower all Californians to take control of their financial outlook through resources and education, and the Student Loan Empowerment Network is a shining example of working toward that goal.”
California residents with any amount of current student loan debt are eligible to access resources through the network. Borrowers looking for assistance through SLE Network can fill out an intake form at studentloanhelp.dfpi.ca.gov or call (888) 774-2227. From there, borrowers will be connected to a network coordinator who will refer them to a SLE Network organization based on their assistance concerns and location. Network organizations include:
- BALANCE
- National Consumer Law Center
- MyPath
- East Bay Community Law Center
- International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Sacramento
- The Cambodian Family
- Koreatown Youth & Community Center
- Lutheran Social Services of Southern California
- Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA)
- Bay Area Legal Aid
- Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
- Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino
- Legal Aid Society of San Diego
- Public Counsel
As part of DFPI’s mission to protect consumers from financial risks, fraud and abuse, in January, DFPI awarded $7.25 million in grants to 14 organizations throughout California to offer general and specialized legal aid support to the more than four million California student loan borrowers who currently carry more than $148 billion in student loan debt, both the largest in the nation.
The Student Loan Empowerment Network was authorized via Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2022-2023 budget to further the state’s commitment to providing Californians who hold student loans with vital information about their rights and options.
Additional information can be found at studentloanhelp.dfpi.ca.gov or (888) 774-2227.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The statewide Student Loan Empowerment Network connects California student loan borrowers to community-based organizations for help understanding their student loans, obtaining legal aid and putting them on a path toward economic mobility.
