Assets for Independence (AFI) helps provide families with individual development accounts (IDAs) that allow them to save by matching their personal savings for specific investments, such as buying a home or enrolling in higher education and training…

The Administration for Children and Families’ Assets for Independence (AFI) program recently issued $7.1 million in federal grants to 30 organizations. The AFI program provides grant funds to a wide range of eligible organizations to assist low-…

This Administration for Children and Families resource defines financial literacy and provides detailed information on ten key financial capability services: financial education, financial coaching, financial counseling, credit counseling, credit…

Studies show that low-income families are more likely to be unbanked and “underbanked” than families with higher earnings. Lacking a bank account or depending on alternative financial services leads to significant financial barriers for low-…

The West Coast Poverty Center released a short summary about a study that explores matched savings programs and low-income people's ability to accumulate assets depending on individual desires to save and ability to act on those preferences. The…

The Office of Community Services awarded 18 Assets for Independence (AFI) grants totaling more than $3.9 million to community-based organizations and government agencies, which will provide low-income individuals and families with access to…

This resource is from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and provides an overview of the key components of the Foundation’s financial stability activities for low-income families in Baltimore and the State of Maryland with Baltimore’s CASH Campaign…

Using microdata from the American Dream Demonstration, this study examines factors associated with savings and savings goal achievement (indicated by a matched withdrawal) among participants of individual development account (IDA) programs.…

Savings accounts that are started when children are born can allow parents to build savings to pay for college, home ownership, and businesses. This report is from the Center for Social Development, the Corporation for Enterprise Development (…

This report includes data on 831 homebuyers in 17 states who purchased homes using Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) between 1999 and 2007. Data show that low-income homeowners who participated in programs that used IDAs to purchase homes…