Jackson has extended its Debt Defeater Campaign through the end of November, giving residents another window to get free help managing bills that have grown hard to handle.
The Office of Financial Empowerment said the program is meant to help people confront, manage and reduce debt that can destabilize household budgets, especially heading into the holidays.
Participants can meet with professional counselors at no charge. The campaign also uses a milestone framework so people can mark measurable progress along the way.
Tyler Carr, director of the Office of Financial Empowerment, said some residents saw the earlier pitch and were not ready, while others may be hearing about it for the first time.
Carr told WBBJ the extension creates another chance for people to climb aboard when they finally feel prepared to tackle what they owe.
Counselors work on both hard and soft money skills, including budgeting, debt management, impulse control and accountability to goals residents set for themselves.
City officials said those habits are designed to last after the counseling sessions end, not just during a short campaign window.
Leaders also argue that money freed from debt payments can circulate back through Jackson's small-business economy as households regain breathing room.
Residents interested in the campaign can ask the Office of Financial Empowerment how to schedule a counseling slot before the November deadline.
Community readers following the story through local and national outlets will see updates as officials release more verified detail.
Editors will continue tracking primary reporting rather than unverified social media claims circulating around the headline.
Sources: WBBJ; City of Jackson Office of Financial Empowerment