Registered Development Savings Plan (Rdsp) AS a Vehicle for Asset Accumulation for Low Income Canadians

The multi-service neighbourhood centre, St. Christopher House, has worked with a social policy expert and diverse low-income community members to develop and test the idea of a Registered Development Savings Plan (RDSP): a designated savings accounts for social assistance recipients to accumulate assets and save for important life goals including obtaining work, education, training, and home ownership. St. Christopher House’s concern about income security issues led to the Community Undertaking Social Policy (CUSP) project with an income policy expert working in the frontline agency over the winter and spring of 2002/03. This approach provided St. Christopher House and the diverse community it serves with an opportunity to respond to longstanding poverty problems. For example, the lack of a financial cushion causes people receiving welfare to remain on assistance much longer than they otherwise would. Insufficient personal resources often put them back on welfare when a relatively small household financial crisis occurs. It also contributes to some families coming on to social assistance in the first place. [abstract]

Publication Date: 
2003