I have watched how CDFIs support small business owners and home owners where banks and credit unions could not. The amount banks charge is often above what people can pay, CDFIs that are nonprofits even the playing field for them by investing in the people and not company profits.
The work that CDFIs do helps us all realize the American Dream. They stimulate the economy, locally and nationally, and give credence to the idea of picking oneself up by one’s bootstraps to make a better tomorrow for their community.
CDFIs fill a critical void in funding the development of affordable housing. They provide below market interest rates, have flexible terms, and can respond to critical funding needs with more flexibility than a traditional bank/credit union.