Building Savings for Success: Early Impacts from the Assets for Independence Program Randomized Evaluation

This report presents first-year findings from an evaluation of the Assets for Independence (AFI) program at two sites — Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, NM and RISE Financial Pathways in Los Angeles, CA.

Findings show that the AFI program increased low-income participants’ savings after one year. There is also evidence of a range of several beneficial secondary impacts, including reductions in material hardship and improvements in perceived financial well-being.

This is the first evaluation of the AFI program to use a randomized controlled trial. The study assesses the program’s early effects on participants’ savings, asset ownership, and economic well-being.