I’m a contract CFO for multiple smaller CDFIs around the US who are supporting those in our communities that are starting small businesses, trying to get financing to buy a vehicle to get to a job or earn a living in the gig economy, and small developers bringing affordable housing onto the market. No one else is making this financing available. I work to see thriving communities here in the US that make our local economies vibrant and healthy. The CDFI Fund makes that possible.
CDFIs have been a vital role in our community by providing low-cost capital to businesses. Capital is not readily available in the rural area I live, so it’s imperative that CDFIs continue to receive funding that helps support small businesses and continue to grow small communities.
Throughout our tenure as a CDFI, (since 2010), KyHFH CDFI has been able to support our 31 nonprofit affordable housing entities with 0-2% loans for the construction of affordable single family housing units, capital equipment, staffing needs, energy efficiency upgrades, land acquisition, infrastructure, commercial property and neighborhood revitalization. Without the funding, support and brand of the CDFI, serving low-income clients, neighborhoods and entire counties in Kentucky would not be possible. To date, Habitat in KY has provided close to 8,000 units of affordable housing that serves a population who earn 80% and below the AMI, but also, our largest client base earns 30-60% AMI. Many of our clients transition from renters to first-time homebuyers as well as moving from a pre-1976 mobile home to a traditionally built housing unit, making their lives safer, more affordable and energy efficient. Who else could provide this type of support as well as improvements to our communities than a CDFI. Without the CDFI Fund, none of this would have taken place in the past, currently or in the future.