Rebuilding Financial Stability: How Clearwater and TSOS Are Helping People Move Forward

At Clearwater, we believe financial wellness is about so much more than numbers. To us, it’s about stability, confidence, and creating a path forward.

For the past four years, we’ve partnered with Missoula’s Temporary Safe Outdoor Space (TSOS) to offer monthly financial education workshops. Every third Thursday, we show up to talk through real-life topics—budgeting, fraud prevention, saving strategies—meeting people exactly where they are on their journey.

We know that for many participants, the first visit isn’t always by choice. But what we’ve seen—and what keeps us coming back—is what happens after that first session.

As Robyn Cooper, TSOS Lead Peer Support, shared with us, “It’s been a great partnership. We’ve had clients open bank accounts, start saving, and even come back to tell us how impactful the program has been.”

That’s what matters most to us.

Because our goal isn’t just to have people attend a workshop—it’s to help them build skills that last.

We’ve seen participants open their very first bank accounts. We’ve seen people begin saving consistently—sometimes for the first time in their lives. Through specific offerings, sometimes we’re able to help those dollars go even further, reinforcing the progress participants are already making through TSOS.

Participants have shared that they’ve been able to save anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 in just a few months—funds that can go toward moving costs, securing housing, and taking the next step forward. It’s not just about the dollars saved—it’s about the realization that saving is possible.

That shift changes everything.

For our Financial Educator, Erika Sylvester, every workshop brings something new. Some sessions include familiar faces, others introduce entirely new participants. But what remains constant is the openness in the room—people sharing their stories, their challenges, and their goals.

As Erika puts it, “We want to help people get back on their feet. Sometimes housing challenges have impacted every part of their financial life. Other times, it’s been the final straw that led to needing a fresh start. However we can help, we want to provide the tools that set them up for success.”

That’s what this work is really about.

At the end of the day, these aren’t just participants in a program—they’re our members.

We’re proud of the work we’re doing alongside TSOS. We’re proud of the people we get to support. And we’re reminded every day that when people have the right tools—and the right support—something powerful happens.

And it’s all thanks to you, our member-owners. Simply by banking with Clearwater, you empower us to continue investing in and supporting the communities we serve.