When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself

Long-Term Harm Chapter 8. Yes, in Your Backyard Chapter 9. And to the Ends

Because participants are in the program for several years, mentoring teams and program staff have ample opportunity to walk with them in restorative relationships, helping both the poor people and the mentors to have a renewed sense of dignity and hope, to develop new patterns of behavior, and most important to experience the healing of Jesus Chris

IDAs are within the capacity of most churches because they can be operated on a very small scale of even one to five participants.

IDA programs can also be used to minister to youth,

provided with financial education that seeks to improve their capacity for budgeting and managing their resources. In addition, there is usually training related to the asset the participant wants to purchase, such as small-business management training or home ownership courses.

are typically

two to three years—they

Matching funds for IDA programs can come from churches, individual donors, foundations, financial institutions, and federal and state governments.

IDA programs seek to build the wealth of poor people by encouraging them to save money out of their earned income.