CDFIs are critical to driving real estate development in underserved communities and during challenging economic times. We have developed more than $100 M in projects using CDFI financing and it is a critical component to the capital stack, as well as important for delivering transformative projects to communities across the country.
CDFIs provide critical support to low- to moderate-income communities in the form of loans and technical assistance. This support provides individuals and businesses unable to access traditional financing the opportunity to build their financial acumen, responsibly manage debt while building credit scores and wealth, and eventually graduate to accessing traditional banking products. In the meantime, these individuals are able to start or expand businesses, become homeowners, purchase vehicles, and access capital to cover emergency situations. CDFIs played a critical role with this activity during the pandemic and are part of the essential fabric when it comes to uplifting local economies and providing individuals with a path to the American dream of homeownership and prosperity in a way that promotes self-sufficiency and self-reliance.
The purpose of CDFI funds are critical to the communities to be able to support people and programs such as affordable housing and financial literacy to improve the wellbeing of the community.