Asset Funders Network Library
Library Archive 2008 Resource Links
The Asset Funders Network shares successful strategies and approaches that have helped low-income Americans save for home ownership, higher education, small business and long-term investment opportunities. The following articles support that purpose.
2008 Article Library
Financial Services, Asset-Building, and the Unbanked
This funders brief, prepared by the Center for Financial Services Innovation in partnership with AFN, provides an understanding of the changing financial services landscape, new financial service innovations,and how to promote access to financial services for the unbanked. Read more>>
Today's Epidemic: Idea for Comprehensive Approach to the Foreclosure Crisis Issue Brief by Asset Funders Network and Center for Responsible Lending
This brief, prepared by the Center for Responsible Lending in partnership with the Asset Funders Network, seeks to provide background on the foreclosure crisis and guidance to foundation looking for opportunities to strategically intervene in this crisis. Read more >>
Smart Growth Policies for industrial states
Smart Growth America has developed state policy packages on several model smart growth policies that would help older industrial states. The policy packages identify the best state policy provisions and the political strategy, coalition building, messaging, and targeted research necessary to get these policies passed through state legislatures. Click here to view the first two packages on historic preservation tax credits and state land banking policy, which are now available. More state policy packages will be published in the coming months.
Smart Growth has several experts who are great sources of policy and strategic advice. For more information, view their website or contact Kate Rube at (202) 207-3355 x14 or krube@smartgrowthamerica.org.
Social Investment Forum
Community Investing opens doors to low and moderate income neighborhoods facing foreclosures in light of the current sub-prime mortgage crisis. Read more >>
Determinants of Asset Building
The Urban Institute has recently released a new report, providing a conceptual framework to explain saving and asset accumulation across the entire population and to account for the low levels of saving and asset accumulation in the low-income population. Read more >>
This report is part of Poor Finances: Assets and Low-Income Households, a series on poverty, asset building, and social policy. Read more >>
Saving for Microenterprise Development
The latest edition in FIELD's Funder Guide Series takes a close-up look at why IDAs work for microentrepreneurs and what has been learned about the accomplishments and challenges of IDA programs. Read more >>
Borrowing Trouble: Predatory Lending in Native American Communities
This report by First Nations Development Institute details the predatory practices of lenders that target Native American communities across the nation, including case studies of five Native communities that have adopted innovative programs to combat predatory lending. Read more >>
Understanding the Foreclosure Crisis: Don't Believe the Hype!
This article addresses the origins of the subprime crisis, evidence of unfair and deceptive lending, the need for intervention, and recommendations. Read more >>
High-Cost Lending in America's Metropolitan and Rural Areas
This report by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) shows that minority consumers, regardless of income level, are most at risk of receiving high-cost home mortgage loans. Read more >>
Improving Loan Servicing to Prevent Latino Foreclosures
This article focuses on how improving the mortgage servicing system is the linchpin to a successful foreclosure prevention strategy. Read more >>
A New Strategy for Wealth-Building
This article discusses the challenges faced by Latinos in financial markets and the role financial counseling plays in assisting them. Read more >>
Saving for Citizenship
A $1.85 million grant by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will help Opportunity Fund launch Saving for Citizenship, a new program that will help 500 low-income legal immigrants in Silicon Valley save money to apply for naturalization and become U.S. citizens. Read more >>
Economic In-Security of African-American and Latino Middle Classes
A new report shows that the vast majority of African-American and Latino families who have entered the middle class are either borderline or at high risk of falling out of the middle class altogether. Read more >>
Federal Disinvestment in Opportunity for Marginalized Communities
Federal Disinvestment in Opportunity for Marginalized Communities
This report from the Center for Social Inclusion describes the persistence of racism and racial discrimination in the actions and inactions of the U.S. government. Read more >>
Financial Services and Product Usage by Latinos in the United States
Most financial institutions do a marginal job serving the fastest growing ethnic population in the United States: Latinos. Read more >>
Growing Pressure on Congress to Adopt New Poverty Measure
A U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee held a hearing on July 17th, 2008 on a proposal to establish a new measure of poverty in the United States. Read more >>
Connecting Families to Good Jobs with Benefits
Many Americans in low-income neighborhoods don't have jobs that provide support like paid leave, health benefits, and career advancement. This publication describes the Annie E. Casey Foundation's efforts to link residents, schools, and community organizations with employers, agencies, and officials to help families obtain good jobs with benefits. Read more >>
PowerPoint Library
Right-click each link and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" to download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.
AFN Webinar Slides - December 11, 2008
AFN Webinar Slides - November 5, 2008
What Really Caused the Foreclosure Crisis?
Asset Funders Links & Online Resources
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