Goal$avers is a local program that can help low-to-moderate income individuals and families save money to buy a first home, pay for school, or start a small business. Goal$avers is made possible by a grant-funded partnership between the Brazos Valley Community Action Agency (BVCAA) and the United Way of the Brazos Valley.
After filling out an application and qualifying for the program (income, residency, and asset restrictions apply), participants in Goal$avers establish a savings account called an Individual Development Account into which they place money toward their home, school, or business goal. At the end of six months, Goal$avers matches at a rate of 2 to 1 the money the participant saved, up to $2000. For example, if a participating family saves $2000 toward their homeownership goal, Goal$avers provides an additional $4000, for a grand total of $6000! Now that’s a lot of tuition or a chunk of a down payment on a house or for a business!
While Goal$avers is open to everyone who meets the qualifications, this program can be especially helpful to people who have disabilities in building their independence through reaching housing, educational, or vocational goals. One thing that people with disabilities need to keep in mind when applying for Goal$avers is that only earned income can be saved toward the match. SSI and SSDI cannot be used for the match.
For more information please contact Goal$avers Program Coordinator Tara Lazaro at (979) 255-8301 or by email at ida@bvcaa.org.