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Project Description

The Assets for Independence Act (AFIA) provides federal funds for the operation of individual development account (IDA) programs at the state and local levels, subject to requirements regarding who can participate and how the accounts will be financed and structured. The premise of the Act is that the offer of matching funds and the provision of program support services will promote savings, enable participants to purchase homes, start businesses and advance their education and thus improve their lives. The primary question that the AFIA evaluation must address can be stated as follows:
Has the Assets for Independence Act led to programs that achieved their intended results in a cost-effective manner?
From this question, the following questions arise:
1. Were programs implemented as intended under the Act?
2. Did the participants improve their lives in expected ways as a result of the program?
3. Are the programs cost-effective?

Project duration: Oct 2000 - Sep 2004

Sites studied include Nationwide

Sample Characteristics and Sites Studied

Experimental Impact analysis: n=500 low income individuals;
Non-experimental Impact analysis: n= 600 IDA participants;
Process/Implementation analysis: n= 14 sites.

Recent Findings in Brief

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