 Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)
Objective
The objectives of the IDA Program are to increase the ability of low-income refugees to save; promote their participation in the financial institutions of this country; assist refugees in advancing their education; increase home ownership; and assist refugees in gaining access to capital.
Program Description
Individual development accounts are matched savings accounts available for the purchase of specific assets. Under the IDA program, the matching funds, together with the refugee's own savings from their employment, are available for purchasing one (or more) of four savings goals: home purchase; microenterprise capitalization; post secondary education or training; and in some cases, purchase of an automobile if necessary to maintain or upgrade employment.
IDA grantees provide matched savings accounts to refugees whose annual income is less than 200 percent of the poverty level and whose assets, exclusive of a personal residence and one vehicle, are less than $10,000. Grantees provide matches of up to $1 for every $1 deposited by a refugee in a savings account. The total match amount provided may not exceed $2,000 for individuals or $4,000 for households. Upon enrolling in an IDA program, a refugee signs a savings plan agreement which specifies the savings goal, the match rate, and the amount the refugee will save each month.
In addition, the IDA grantees provide basic financial training which is intended to assist refugees in understanding the American financial system, budgeting, saving, and credit. The IDA grantees also provide training focused on the specific savings goals. The specialized training ensures that refugees receive appropriate information on purchasing and managing their asset purchases.
Eligible Entities
Public or private non-profit organizations
Targeted Populations
In addition to persons who meet all requirements of 45 CFR 400.43, eligibility also includes:
- Cuban and Haitian entrants under section 501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-422);
- Certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to the U.S. as immigrants under section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, as included in the FY 1988 Continuing Resolution (Pub. L. 100-202); and
- Certain Amerasians from Vietnam, including U.S. citizens, under Title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 100-461), 1990 (Pub. L. 101-167), and 1991 (Pub. L. 101-513). For convenience, the term ``refugee'' is used in this notice to encompass all such eligible persons.
Geographic Area(s)
Currently, ORR funds 22 IDA grants in 18 states.
2008 IDA Grantees
Grantee Name |
City |
State |
|
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Alliance for Multicultural Community Service Inc. | Houston | TX |
2 |
Cambodian Mutual Assistance Assoc of Greater Lowell | Lowell | MA |
3 |
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County | San Jose | CA |
4 |
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden | Camden | NJ |
5 |
Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc. | St. Petersburg | FL |
6 |
Diocese of Olympia | Seattle | WA |
7 |
ECDC Enterprise Development Group | Arlington | VA |
8 |
Economic & Community Development Institute | Columbus | OH |
9 |
International Rescue Committee | New York | NY |
10 |
Maine Department of Health & Human Services | Augusta | ME |
11 |
Mountain States Group | Boise | ID |
12 |
Neighborhood Assets | Spokane | WA |
13 |
United Way, Inc. | Los Angeles | CA |
14 |
Western Kentucky Refugee Mutual Assistance Society | Bowling Green | KY |
15 |
Lao Family Community Development, Inc. | Oakland | CA |
16 |
World Relief DuPage | Wheaton | IL |
17 |
Women's Opportunities Resource Center | Philadelphia | PA |
18 |
ISED Ventures | Des Moines | IA |
19 |
New York Association for New Americans | New York | NY |
20 |
International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis | St. Louis | MO |
21 |
Jewish Family & Vocational Services, Inc. | Louisville | KY |
22 |
Catholic Charities of Tennessee | Nashville | TN |
Technical Assistance
ORR makes technical assistance available for its IDA grantees through ISED solutions. The ISED website includes many IDA resources specific to the ORR program. For specific technical assistance questions, contact Amy Shir, Asset Building Consultant: amy.shir@ised.us or 502-235-8710.
Other IDA Initiatives
The Administration for Children & Families, Office of Community Services (OCS) administers the Assets for Independence (AFI) program. For further information on AFI, see http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding/.
CFED, the corporation for Enterprise Development, is a nonprofit organization that helps Americans expand economic opportunity. One area of focus is their 2007 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, an evaluation tool which details individual state programs and policies designed to build assets. Additionally, CFED maintains a searchable IDA Directory which lists IDA programs nationwide.
Financial education resources are available from a variety of sources.
2007 IDA Program Announcement
Click here for information. (pdf 164KB)
Contact Information
Lisa Campbell
Program Manager
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Administration for Children and Families
901 D Street, SW
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: 202.205.4597
Fax: 202.401.5487
Lisa.campbell@acf.hhs.gov