Our Matched Savings Account was created especially for participants of Asset Building Programs, which help people with low income save and create new opportunities for themselves.

Run by non-profit organizations, Asset Building Programs provide participants with money management training and support them to set and achieve their personal savings goals.

Depending on the program, the goal may be to save for education, housing, starting a business, health care, household fixtures or personal items (such as eye glasses, computers). Participants save for these goals using their Matched Savings Account, and every dollar saved (up to a monthly limit) is matched three to one with funds raised by the community organization. Once their personal savings goals are reached, their savings and the matching funds are used for the purchase of these asset goals.

In the fall of 2007 we launched a special United Way campaign to raise dollars for Asset Building Programs and help to reduce poverty in our communities.

ACU helped to develop Winnipeg’s first asset building program and worked with SEED Winnipeg to start delivering the program in late 2000. We are now an active member of the Asset Building Network, which started in 2007, and offer the Matched Savings Account to participating members of the Network. These include:

• SEED Winnipeg
• Fort Garry Women’s Resource Centre
• Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre
• Rossbrook House
• Urban Circle Training Centre
• Nor'West Community Health Centre
• Villa Rosa
• Pluri-Elles
• MacDonald Youth Services
• Society for Manitobans with Disabilities
• Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM)
• Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corp
• BUILD