Rockville, Md. – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has contracted Abt Global to study two different strategies for helping households that receive HUD assistance. Through the Moving to Work Expansion Asset Building Cohort, Abt will analyze the effects of two asset-building strategies on financial and housing stability. The study will help HUD build evidence about whether housing can serve as an effective platform for financial empowerment.
Abt will evaluate two asset-building programs under the $3.7 million contract:
- The Opt-Out Savings Account Program: Public housing authorities (PHAs) will make monthly deposits into an escrow or personal savings account for public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participants over a two-year period. The goal is to increase the number of households with a bank account and enough savings to meet small financial emergencies. Some participating PHAs will partner with organizations to provide financial education and coaching, tailored banking resources, and other services.
- The Rent Reporting Program: PHAs will report the rent payments of participating public housing households to credit bureaus for at least 24 months to help those households build credit. Typically, rent payments are not reported, so the goal will be to improve participants’ access to credit.
“Different families will benefit from different supports to establish financial wellbeing, and housing stability can be a vital part of that process,” says Eduardo Castellon, Abt’s Vice President of Housing and Asset Building. “We look forward to helping HUD and participating PHAs to determine what works best for their communities.”
For more than 55 years, federal, state, local and non-profit clients have trusted Abt to deliver multidisciplinary approaches that address complex housing, community, and societal challenges. Every day, we work with our partners and communities to ground solutions in data, lived experience, and equity.
About Abt Global
Abt Global is a global consulting and research firm that combines data and bold thinking to improve the quality of people's lives. We partner with clients and communities to advance equity and innovation—from creating scalable digital solutions and combatting infectious disease, to mitigating climate change and evaluating programs for measurable social impact. https://www.abtglobal.com
Contact:
Eric Tischler
eric_tischler@abtassoc.com
(301) 347-5492
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Public Warning: Recruitment Phishing Scam Impersonating Abt Global
Abt Global has become aware of a phishing scheme targeting individuals with fraudulent interview requests and job offers. Abt’s secure IT systems and private applicant information have not been compromised; scammers are impersonating Abt employees, using the company name and branding to mislead and engage potential job seekers in fake recruitment processes. Scammers might reference real job openings or describe fake opportunities that generally match individuals’ professional backgrounds, with the goal of establishing communication and eventually obtaining private financial information to defraud people. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Trade Commission warn that employment scams such as this are a growing cyber threat. Abt urges anyone who is contacted about employment opportunities to exercise caution and know that: All communication from Abt Global will be from an Abt employee using the @abtglobal.com email domain (e.g., recruiting@abtglobal.com). We do not use third-party recruiters. Abt Global recruiters will only schedule interviews for candidates who have applied for a position through our secure portal. You may view your application status through the applicant portal on Abt Global Careers. No corporate or IT systems at Abt are affected by this scam. The scammers are using Abt’s logo and employee names to impersonate the company. You can directly contact us at recruiting@abtglobal.com with any questions or concerns. Abt is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community. We caution individuals to be vigilant in protecting personal data and vetting communication with new contacts from any company. Do not respond or provide any personal information if contacted by someone claiming to represent a company to which you did not submit a job application or profile. This scam can be perpetrated against any business and individuals who recognize and trust its name. For information on Abt recruitment practices and policies, please visit our careers page or email recruiting@abtglobal.com. To report a scam, visit: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.