Ohio CDC Association Programs

Training

OCDCA conducts regular training for nonprofit groups throughout Ohio . For a complete listing of all planned trainings for 2006, see the link to our Trainings Page below.

Training Calendar | Internal Link

Technical Assistance

The Ohio CDC Association has recently secured funds in order to provide technical assistance to microenterprise programs, community economic development projects sponsored by nonprofit community-based organizations and local governments during the 2004 calendar year. To find out about eligibility requirements, benefits, and the amount of money available for each category, see the links to the right of the page.

Micro Enterprise | Internal Link

Commercial/Economic Development | Update in Progress

HOME Technical Assistance | Update in Progress

CHDO Technical Assistance | Update in Progress

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Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)

What Are IDAs?

"Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are savings accounts matched by public and private sources that are restricted to high return investments such as pursuing a college education, starting a business, or buying a first home.

IDAs enable people to escape poverty and achieve wealth through asset acquisition, increasing knowledge about financial systems, and changing behaviors of spending and saving."

- Writer Unknown

How OCDCA Participates

Ohio IDA Program List
A list of current programs that OCDCA updates at least yearly and provides to the public and for advocacy purposes.

A map of all IDA providers in Ohio

Ohio IDA Network Meetings
Quarterly meetings for practitioners and stakeholders that allow networking, training, and advocacy efforts as a group.

IDA Training
Yearly training provided to practitioners for the betterment of their programs.

Assets for Independence Grant (AFIA) Demonstrations
Management, TA, training, and more for two demonstrations equaling 1.5 million of federal IDA Match dollars.

IDA Technical Assistance
Practitioners and trainers do on site training and assistance to IDA programs at all levels.

IDA Research and Evaluation
Ohio CDC Association collects data from the AFIA Demonstrations and other sources and provides it to the field.

IDA Advocacy and Lobbying
OCDCA advocates on behalf of programs for things like an individual tax deduction for IDA contributions on your Ohio tax return, A 2-year TANF set aside for IDAs, and the passage of the recordation fee for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund which will conceivably provide more match dollars for IDAs.

In addition, in 2003, OCDCA organized a day of lobbying combined with an IDA Network meeting where IDA practitioners met with their representatives in the Ohio House.

Asset Specific Training
This includes homeownership and microenterprise train the trainer and curriculum courses provided to practitioners on an approximate every other year cycle.

Financial Education Training
OCDCA is planning a train the trainer course for 2004 that will allow programs to provide Financial Education in house ( reduces cost), while focusing on outcomes, and trying to standardize Financial Education content for IDA programs around Ohio.

Financial Education Advocacy & Lobbying
OCDCA has proposed a financial education task force headed by a state agency that will look at low cost ways of incorporating financial education into everyday life, while encouraging various state agencies that provide or should provide financial education to talk to each other.

Financial Education Resources
A list of financial education resources available online

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How do I enroll?

This process is currently being updated. Please check back soon!

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AFIA Grantees

AFIA grantees recommended and required documents for case management:

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OHTF Special Projects

AFIA Grantees - Announcing: The Homeownership IDA Special Project!

Press Release - April 22, 2004

Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) announced Thursday that it has launched a new matched savings program, through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF) called the Homeownership IDA Special Project.

The project is a matching fund program for low and moderate-income residents of the counties supported by the following agencies:

Adams-Brown Community Economic Opportunities Inc.
Hancock-Hardin-Wyandot Putnam Community Action Commission
Licking County Coalition for Housing
Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission
Stark County Out of Poverty Partnership
Community Action Program Committee of Meigs and Gallia County Inc.

The OHTF Homeownership IDA Matching Fund Program will allow residents of Adams, Brown, Hancock, Hardin, Wyandot, Putnam, Licking, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Williams, Stark, Meigs, and Gallia County to deposit at least $50.00 a month in special matched savings account, called an Individual Development Account (IDA), toward the purchase of a home.

Participants savings deposit will be matched at a ratio of 2:1 in order to make purchasing a home a realistic goal within a 2-year period for a low-income family.

The OHTF Homeownership IDA Matching Fund Program is part of a new and innovative approach to combating asset poverty that focuses not just on meeting the most immediate needs of low-income families, but also focuses on the long term benefits of assisting working low-income families acquire a modest stake in their communities, by owning a home.

The OHTF dollars will be used by OCDCA to provide downpayment assistance, homebuyer education, and counseling during the period May 2004 through May 2006 for 67 homebuyers. Fifth Third Bank and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services are also supporting the OHTF Homeownership IDA Matching Fund Program by providing matching funds and administrative support.

In order to qualify for the OHTF Homeownership IDA Matching Fund Program eligible households will have earned income at or below 200% of poverty level (approximately 65% Area Median Income), have assets totaling less than $10,000, and be Earned Income Tax Credit eligible.

In addition, all program participants must take part in financial and homeownership education workshop series designed to assist in preparing for homeownership, as well as credit & budgeting counseling. The workshops will be provided locally through the Adams-Brown Community Economic Opportunities Inc., Hancock Hardin Wyndot Putnam Community Action Commission, Licking County Coalition for Housing, Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission, Stark County Out of Poverty Partnership, and Community Action Program Committee of Meigs and Gallia County Inc .

Information about The OHTF Homeownership IDA Matching Fund Program, including detailed eligibility information, is available from Ohio CDC Association at 614-461-6392 ext. 205 (voice).

Program Guidelines | Internal Link

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IDA Resource Links

KnowledgePlex	This site, powered by Fannie Mae Foundation with 22 Founding Partners, is the most comprehensive free resource for credible information about affordable housing and community development. See especially the Hot Topic "Wealth and Asset-Building for Lower-Income Populations."

The Beehive	One Economy publishes the Money section website which features this page on IDAs.

The Trickle Up Program	Founded in 1979, the Trickle Up Program's mission is to help the lowest income people worldwide take the first step up out of poverty, by providing conditional seed capital and business training essential to the launch of a microenterprise. This proven social and economic empowerment model is implemented in partnership with local agencies. This webpage discusses the IDA.

Corporation for Enterprise Development	The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) promotes asset-building and economic opportunity strategies primarily in low-income communities. CFED does a great deal of work on IDAs and other self-sufficiency strategies and operates the IDA Network.

The I.D.A. Network	The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) operates the IDA Network.

Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation	Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation has conducted a number of studies on welfare reform and related topics. Read The MFIP study cited in the Sard and Springer article.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities	The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities offers a variety of studies on welfare reform and TANF reauthorization, including the study referenced by Sard and Springer. CBPP also did a study on Family Self-Sufficiency programs operated by public housing authorities.

The Center for Social Development	The Center for Social Development (CSD) is a leading academic center in social development, developing and building capacities of individuals, families, and communities, in contrast to a more traditional social services focus on maintenance and problem solving.

The Urban Institute	The Urban Institute, a nonpartisan economic and social policy research organization, offers information on welfare reform and TANF reauthorization.


Other Information
For more information on states and IDAs, see the IDA State Policy Guide: Advancing Public Policies in Support of Individual Development Accounts by Carl Rist and Karen Edwards. (Order at www.idanetwork.org , click on Publications.)

Books
Fannie Mae Foundation's forthcoming book on welfare reform and housing will be published later this year. To request a free copy, send an e-mail to Fannie M ae referencing "Welfare Reform and Housing Book" in the subject line; include your postal mailing address. (An e-mail notification will be sent when the book is published. If an address is included in your message, a copy will be mailed to you also.)

Newman, Sandra J., Editor. 1999. The Home Front: Implications of Welfare Reform for Housing Policy. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press. Got to The Urban Institute Press, Click on Bookstore)

Sherraden, Michael. 1991. Assets and the Poor: A New American Welfare Policy . Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. To read a review on Amazon.com, go here.

Michael Stegman. 1999. Savings for the Poor: The Hidden Benefits of Electronic Banking . Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution Press.

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Americorps *VISTA

Ohio Community Revitalization AmeriCorps *VISTA Project (OCRP) is a statewide 20-site national service program administered by OCDCA with support from the Corporation for National Service (CNS) and the Ohio Housing Trust Fund throughout Ohio.

VISTA members improve neighborhoods through affordable housing development, community organizing, asset building and economic development. OCDCA also administers a national grant from CNS for IDA program sites.

Ohio CDC Association has been involved with the AmeriCorps* VISTA Program since 1995. Our Project, the Ohio Community Revitalization VISTA Project (OCRVP), has placed AmeriCorps* VISTA members in low-income neighborhoods and communitites across the state of Ohio. AmeriCorps* VISTA members create lasting changes in the housing conditions of economically depressed areas across the state through work in affordable housing development, homebuyer education, economic literacy programs, Individual Development Accounts (IDA) and community organizing. The OCRVP is funded by the Corporation for National Services (CNS) and the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF).

Each year the OCRVP is allotted 20 VISTA Members slots, which are funded by CNS and the Office of Housing and Community Partnerships (OHCP), Department of Development, state of Ohio. These slots are divided into 10 standard slots (CNS provides all the funding for the member) and up to 10 cost-share slots (OHCP contributes to the living allowance of Members).

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