Research Reports and Studies

CAAB's report, A Closer Look at Credit Counseling Services in the District of Columbia, surveys credit counseling agencies to share with consumers the range of services that credit counselors provide, the fees they charge, and which agencies are most appropriate for which financial problems. Adobe Reader is required to view this report.

Sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation, KnowledgePlex is a vast resource on community development and affordable housing that includes a section on personal finance and asset creation with subsections on financial literacy, financial strategies and tools, and underserved financial markets. The site highlights research on asset building, a discussion board, a listing of events, and links to news and information.

The Brookings Institution breaks down its research studies by topic, and within the cities and suburbs section is a section on working poor and working families which includes papers on saving and wealth accumulation. Research from the past several years is listed, and includes studies on immigrants’ financial status, credit reports, and banking in the inner city.

CFED’s Assets and Opportunity Scorecard looks at state policies that affect how well American families are able to save for the future, pay for what they need, and achieve their financial goals. The scorecard gives each state a letter grade based on these measures: financial security, business development, homeownership, health care, education, and tax policy and accountability

The Urban Institute’s research on marriage includes discussions of the economic stability that can come with strong marriages, and how marriages can strengthen children.

This Urban Institute study explores asset building and debt reduction among low-income families.

Demos: A Network for Ideas and Action examines the increasing economic insecurity and declining opportunity for individuals and families in today’s society. The site includes research on asset building, debt, and inequality.

Neighborhood Info DC, a project of the Urban Institute and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, provides users with easily accessible data and statistics about individual neighborhoods, broken down by ward, cluster, and other specific geographic areas so community activists and nonprofit organizations can advocate for the needs in their communities.