Archive | Research + Publications
“The Community Empowerment Fund: A Matched Savings Model as an Innovative Approach to Housing the Homeless"
Researchers examine an innovative new program’s ability to help people experiencing homelessness attain and retain permanent housing through asset building and access to financial services.
Peer-reviewed, published article available through the Journal of Poverty: Special Issue on Housing the Homeless
By: Alexandra Biggers, Maggie West, Allison De Marco (UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute), Jess Dorrance and Kim Manturuk (UNC Center for Community Capital).
Abstract
Prevention efforts, rapid rehousing, and housing-first approaches have been major contributors in addressing homelessness. However, budget cuts may jeopardize these gains. The objective of this article is to use administrative data to examine an innovative new program’s ability to assist those experiencing homelessness to attain and retain permanent housing through asset building and access to financial services to build a more financially secure future. Results suggest that this program does foster savings and the attainment of permanent housing. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Loretha's Hope for a Home Story
Loretha’s Hope for a Home from F8 Visuals on Vimeo.
“Matched Savings and the Homeless: A Study of the Community Empowerment Fund.”
By: Alexandra Biggers (UNC Class of 2014), Honors Thesis for UNC Department of Policy Policy. This report documents the quantitative results of CEF’s matched savings program during our first two years of program operation. View Here
The CEF Asset Roadmap
by Jonathan Young . Envisioning a pathway for homeless and near-homeless members to build assets and achieve financial security, published Feb 2013. View Here
Founding Story and Documentary Kit
Documentary chronicling CEF’s founding story: To Borrow, Budget and Save
A complement to the above documentary, the CEF Documentary Kit includes a timeline of of our founding, a catalogue of our founding partners, and other documents that accompany our founding story and this documentary.
“Catching Fire: The University Micro enterprise Movement in 2012”
By: Luz Gomez and Elaine Edgcomb, FIELD at the Aspen Institute, Washington, D.C., October 2012. This report documents the “dynamic landscape” of campus-based microfinance organizations in the U.S., including an extensive case study on the Community Empowerment Fund. View Here
Thank You from CEF Members
Thank You from CEF! from F8 Visuals on Vimeo.
2012 by Jonathan Young F8visuals
CEF Member Stories : What is Worth Fighting For
2012 by Jonathan Young F8visuals
CEF Documentary: To Borrow Budget and Save
CEF Documentary
Be sure to check out the Documentary Kit that includes a full timeline of CEF’s founding story,
an epilogue to the documentary, and a list of discussion questions to consider after viewing the Documentary!
