From individual development accounts to community asset building : an exploration in bridging people-and place-based strategies
Author(s)
Rice, Solana
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Alternative title
From IDAs to community asset building
Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.
Advisor
Lorlene Hoyt.
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Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are matched saving accounts for low-income individuals to save for the purchase of an asset. As one of many national initiatives that encourage homeownership, this thesis explores how community-based organizations use this tool in concert with other community development efforts to not only help individuals purchase homes, but also help families maintain the asset. Unlike most research on IDAs, this thesis studies organizations, not individuals, as its unit of analysis because organizational capacity and decision-making greatly shapes the participant experience. Through the study of three community-based organizations that have IDAs as a component of their work, this thesis finds the ability to 1) quickly establish trust through developing relationships and reputation, 2) respond to local housing markets and participant demand, and 3) connect to resources and services puts these organizations at the forefront of using Individual Development Accounts as a versatile economic development tool that is part of a larger agenda of creating communities and neighborhoods that can sustain homeownership.
Description
Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2005. Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-97).
Date issued
2005Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and PlanningPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Urban Studies and Planning.