CLEARFIELD – Want to own your own home or maybe continue your education? Central PA Community Action (CPCA) has a program to help you do that.
Recently CPCA received a $25,000 grant from the Administration of Children and Families, Office of Community Services. Along with a very generous donation of $25,000 from Northwest Savings Bank, with these combined funds the Assets for Independence (AFI) Program was created. This program is designed to assist low to moderate income families who fall under 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline save for their goal of homeownership or continuing education. AFI is a dollar for dollar matching savings account to build assets.
Twenty four (24) savings accounts will be available ranging from $1000 to $2000. To receive the match for the savings account, participants must designate the goal for which they are saving toward, demonstrate a regular savings habit for a 24 month period, reach the target dollar amount in which they intended to meet, and attend four (4) information classes on financial education and information specific to their chosen goal. This program is available to the residents of Centre and Clearfield counties and accounts will start to open January 2012. To assist residents that may be interested in the program, two informational meetings will be held Dec. 14 at the CPCA Annex, 214 E. Cherry St. at 6:00 p.m. and Dec. 15 at the CPCA Philipsburg Office, 14 S. Front St., Philipsburg at 6:00 p.m. The meetings will discuss the details of the program and answer any questions.
“Currently there are no other savings accounts that are paying a 100% interest rate. Getting a $1 for every $1 you save is an excellent opportunity for residents to save for the home they have always dreamed of or to have money for continuing education” states Tia Lansberry, Planning Coordinator for Central PA Community Action. The program is can also be used for your children that will be attending college in the next few years. Last year, CPCA served over 19,000 unduplicated individuals through our vast array of services. CPCA’s primary services includes housing services, weatherization, rental housing, case management, food services, heating and utility assistance, employment assistance and training, consumer information and referral, and transportation services. CPCA’s mission is “strengthening our communities by helping families and individuals in Centre and Clearfield counties to become self-sufficient”. For more information on the Assets for Independence Program or any of CPCA’s programs please call CPCA at 765-1551 or 800-822-2610.