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Administration for Children and Families US Department of Health and Human Services
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Office of Community Services -- Asset Building Strengthening Families...Building Communities

Planning for Wrapping Up Your AFI Project

Focus:

The call focused adjustments to procedures and reallocation of resources that AFI grantees have used to insure that goals for participation and asset purchase are met by the end of the project period.

Key Points:
  • It is never too early to plan for closeout. Set interim benchmarks for enrollment, financial education, savings, and asset purchase that will keep you on track to complete your project with sufficient time for an orderly closeout and successful participants.
  • AFI projects are encouraged to adjust their project designs as needed to insure success; however, do let the program manager know what changes are proposed and how they will improve outcomes.
  • Attention to credit and debt status of participants early on will substantially increase the number of successful savers and asset purchasers as the project moves to conclusion. Therefore, intake and a realistic assessment of an applicant's position are important.
  • The kinds of support or case management participants need may vary from early enrollment to the asset purchase process.
  • With careful assessment and strong case management, projects may be able to use a "fast track" approach for some participants, shortening the time needed to complete project requirements (but no less than 6 months from the time of their first IDA deposit).
  • It's important to stagger completion and to schedule it well ahead of the final days of the project.
  • In practice, for participants, AFI Projects are actually two-to three-year programs, not five years; that's the time they have to save, train and make their purchases.
  • Bringing participants through asset purchase may call for different skills than case management and support. Be sure participants understand the "drop dead" dates for using their savings and matching funds.
  • Under certain circumstances, AFI Projects may apply for a one-year extension to use their existing funds.
Presenters:
  • James Gatz, Program Manager, Assets for Independence, Office of Community Services
  • Vanessa Cooper, Catholic Charities, San Jose, California
  • Jill Lorom, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), Wiscasset, Maine
  • Terence Floyd, Co-Opportunity, Inc., Hartford, Connecticut
  • Amy Shir, Assets for Independence Resource Center
Resources:
  • Assets for All Education Checklist (.doc 254KB) (.pdf 50KB)
  • Assets for All Education Planning (.doc 283KB) (.pdf 102KB)
  • Assets for All Home Improvement Checklist (.doc 264KB) (.pdf 106KB)
  • Assets for All Homebuying Worksheet (.doc 252KB) (.pdf 48KB)
  • Assets for All How to Buy a Home Checklist (.doc 302KB) (.pdf 113KB)
  • Assets for All Starting a Business Resources Guide (.doc 270KB) (.pdf 114KB)
  • Assets for All Business Planning (.doc 252KB) (.pdf 48KB)
  • Money Smart Resources (.doc 43KB) (.pdf 22KB)
  • San Jose First Time Buyer Guide (.doc 85KB) (.pdf 74KB)
  • Planning for Wrapping Up Your AFI Project (.doc 150KB) (.pdf 66KB)

For more information on this topic, please contact the Assets for Independence Resource Center: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding; info@idaresources.org; 1-866-778-6037.