JVS Funds Futures

Many low-income individuals in entrylevel jobs lack the education, skills, and experience to make a substantial move up the career ladder. To help solve this problem, JVS offers the Funding Futures Individual Development Account (IDA) program. IDAs allow individuals to build assests by saving income that is matched $2 for every $1 they save. Federal Assets for Independence and the United Way provide the matching funds to help low-income working adults save money towards a college education.

Serving 40 clients, the IDA program helps participants create a career and education plan as a means of moving up the career ladder. In addition, program participants must attend several workshops including financial literacy courses that are aimed at helping them become self-suffi cient adults through economic empowerment. The job upgrade possibilities that become available to participants upon graduating, along with the life planning and fi nancial management skills that they will acquire as a result of participating in the program, will enable them to overcome the destabilizing condition of poverty.

To read the full Spring 2007 Newsletter please click here