Jul 27, 2015 2 min read

Community Action Southwest has eight remaining slots in its matched savings program, Assets for Independence, a program that provides a $2 match for every $1 saved.

Participants are eligible to receive as much as $4,000 in matching funds for the first $2,000 they save.

To date, 18 area residents have completed the program and acquired their asset while 65 are still saving toward their goal.

Participants must be residents of Washington or Greene counties and agree to open a savings account at one of nine partnering banks to save their earned income with the goal of using their savings and match money to purchase their first home, attend a trade school or college, or begin or expand a business.

Community Action Southwest links those saving for a first home to the Home Ownership Center, where housing counselors certified by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development review their credit scores, help them repair their credit as needed and guide them through the home purchase process.

For participants interested in attending a trade school or college, the agency’s post-secondary education coordinator can help determine a course of study, find a school and offer guidance with enrollment and the financial aid application process.

Assets for Independence was launched in 2011 when Community Action Southwest received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nine partnering banks have committed nearly $180,000 in matching funds for the program.

At Community Action Southwest, Sarah Schneider at 724-225-9550, extension 423, has additional information about the Assets for Independence program.