These are stories about the work and impact of NCRC members in their communities. What are the economic justice needs and solutions in your community? Submit your story ideas.
National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) member Community Builders of Kansas City does more than build houses – they build ecosystems where housing, jobs and community spaces work together to create more self-sustaining neighborhoods. Since 1991, the nonprofit has created over 600 affordable residential housing units and 500,000 square feet of commercial space that provide employment […]
Large banks, often shaped by profit-driven performance indicators, tend to prefer larger loan amounts ($1 million+), leaving small businesses in underserved communities to navigate funding challenges alone. The result is a financial landscape that can restrict economic mobility and long term wealth creation for historically underbanked communities. Founded in 2017 by Malcolm Sykes, a former
The legacy of the urban renewal era is still alive and well in many expensive cities across the US, such as San Francisco. Even many San Franciscans who received Certificates of Preference, a piece of paper meant to guarantee housing for those displaced by urban renewal, haven’t been able to build a community in the
In Russell, Kentucky, a historically Black neighborhood in Louisville, one organization is empowering residents to take an active role in community planning while ensuring real estate investments build generational wealth for the local population. Russell: A Place of Promise (RPOP) has been educating residents about real estate planning, engaging them in the land development process
Russell: A Place of Promise Empowers Residents to Build Community Wealth in Louisville Read More »
Despite soaring housing costs, stagnant wages, limited access to financing and the lingering effects of historical policies like redlining, many low- to moderate-income families continue to pursue the dream of homeownership. For over 20 years, the You Can Make It Home Ownership Center (YCMIHOC) has helped turn that dream into a reality in underserved communities
During this divisive time in American politics, an interfaith coalition in Nashville is giving the nation a stunning example of unity by bringing together people of all backgrounds to advocate for social justice policies. Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH) is a multi-racial and interdenominational coalition of churches, synagogues, mosques, community organizations, nonprofits and
The legacy of redlining in the US has left some communities at a considerable economic disadvantage, resulting in challenges that can only be addressed by strategically deploying accessible capital. However, many banks avoid lending in these communities, further exacerbating their shortage of quality and affordable housing. Capital for Change was born from a need to
For the past 17 years, the Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) has provided a range of programs designed to build wealth within low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. AHCOPA provides services to approximately 3,000 people each year via their pre-purchase, post-purchase and mortgage prevention counseling programs. When Kenneth Bigos joined AHCOPA as their Executive Director
Traditional banks often use the term “unbankable” for entrepreneurs they deem too small, too new or too financially risky. First Community Capital (FCC), a Riverside, California-based community development financial institution (CDFI), has spent six years challenging that label. FCC has deployed over $5 million to more than 200 entrepreneurs, many of whom are Black and
First Community Capital Helps Overlooked Entrepreneurs Become Bankable Business Owners Read More »
Attracting new investments in lower-income neighborhoods can feel like a Sisyphean challenge for many communities. But, there is a group that seems to have found a magic formula for combining the best efforts of community leaders, elected officials and policy professionals to create lasting change. Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in
Homeownership isn’t just part of the American dream – it’s a critical tool for building wealth and financial security. Because unique federal rules and regulations make it harder for tribal communities to achieve homeownership, the Tribal Homeownership Coalition of the Southwest (THOCSW) is working to bridge that gap. Founded in 1999 and serving Native communities
For 37 years, CASA of Oregon has been helping turn marginalized farmworker families into financially empowered landowners. Founded in 1988, CASA of Oregon began as a development consultant agency working with other nonprofits and housing authorities creating affordable housing for farmworkers and their families across Oregon. The organization now operates four interconnected programs, including affordable
Founded in 1973, the Empire Justice Center (EJC) is a legal advocacy nonprofit that fights for social and economic justice for disenfranchised New Yorkers by protecting and expanding their legal rights. Using a multi-pronged approach that focuses on litigation, education and advocacy efforts, EJC has provided services to more than 12 million people across a
In South King County, Washington, the African Community Housing & Development (ACHD) organization works to re-envision what community-driven housing development looks like for African immigrant communities. ACHD was established in 2018 from the community organizing efforts of Somali American mother and daughter Hamdi Abdulle and Bilan Aden. In the seven years since its inception,
As homeownership in the US gets less accessible, the Mississippi County, Arkansas Economics Opportunity Commission, Inc. (MCAEOC) is empowering its rural community members to become homeowners and build economic security by way of their support services. MCAEOC is one of 15 community action agencies in the state that were established under the 1964 Economic Opportunity
Arkansas Agency Empowers Low-Income Residents to Become First-Time Homebuyers Read More »
