#WelcomeMe #FairHousingMatters Social Storm By NCRC Join NCRC on Dec. 2 and answer: What does it mean to have a home where you feel welcomed free from discrimination? Join the #WelcomeMe #FairHousingMatters Challenge! [Sample posts]
News
NCRC Announces Expanded Community Benefits Agreement With First Merchants Bank
NCRC
The National Community Reinvestment Coalition and First Merchants Bank recently revised their Community Benefits Agreement, bringing the bank’s total commitments to low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities to $2 billion over the next five years. [Read more]
Research
How And Why CRA Reform Proposals Must Improve Access To Credit And Capital For Small Businesses
By John Silver
In late spring of 2022, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) proposed the most far-reaching changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations since 1995. The bank agencies sought to update the regulations in order to increase access to credit and capital for traditionally underserved communities including smaller businesses. [Read more]
Views
Funding For Racial Equity: How Stronger Partnerships Can Increase The Impact Of Local, Grassroot Organizations
By Manan Shah
Grassroots organizations are often seen as trusted actors well-positioned to tackle a community’s most pressing racial inequities. When funders do not include these organizations within their investment portfolios, it widens the chasm of disparity and slows progress. [Read more]
Hydroponic Farming As A Solution To Systemic Food Insecurity
By Kyle Kelley
As many communities around the country struggle with food insecurity, hydroponic farming has been introduced as a viable solution. Many low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities are challenged with a lack of access to grocery stores and local, nutritious food within reasonable proximity. Residents of these communities are left to survive on unhealthier diets. This is a systemic issue disproportionately affecting people of color, who are more likely to live in places shaped by decades of disinvestment and neglect. [Read more]
Videos
Generational Wealth: Credit Barriers For People With A Criminal History
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans have a criminal record. Re-entry into society poses barriers and their ability to build generational wealth. We spoke with advocates, a CDFI, and the CFPB about the barriers that exist for people with a criminal record to build wealth and what can be done to overcome these barriers. [Watch here]
Events
Advocating For Racial Equity With Personal Finances
December 1, 2022, 2-3 pm ET
Advocating for Racial Equity through Personal Finances will discuss using your individual power to advocate for racial equity through how money is used. Our society was founded on and perpetuates inequities based on countless characteristics, but the areas we will focus on will be race and gender. We will embark on a journey towards advocating for race/gender equity with finances personally and professionally for yourself and the individuals with which you work. [Register here]
Native CDFI 3rd Annual Policy And Capacity Building Summit
December 6, 8:30 am ET - December 8, 2022 8:30 am ET
Join NCRC President and CEO Jesse Van Tol at the 2022 NCN Policy and Capacity Building Summit. From Dec. 6-8, 2022, Native CDFI practitioners, funders, policymakers, and other industry partners will gather for the summit in Washington, DC, to learn, share, and network. [Register here]
In the News
Critics Call Federal Home Loan Bank System 'Corporate Welfare'
By Kate Berry, American Banker
Megan Haberle, senior director of policy at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, suggested that the banks' role be expanded to include support for down payment assistance programs and for lending to first-time homebuyers. But other panelists said those activities are already supported by other agencies including the Federal Housing Administration and the other government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. [Read more]
Property Comparisons Are At Heart Of Appraisal Bias, Advocacy Groups Claim
By Kyle Campbell, National Mortgage News
The valuation process is meant to be technical and objective, but news reports of Black homeowners needing to use white stand-ins to obtain fair market valuations on their homes have called that objectivity into question. A study conducted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition this summer found that racial disparities in home valuations exist and that biases in selecting comps are a big factor. [Read more]
On Our Radar
New Measure Of Climate’s Toll: Disasters Are Now Common Across US
By Christopher Flavelle, The New York Times The rising toll of climate change across the United States has been measured in lives lost, buildings destroyed and dollars spent on recovery. But a report released on Wednesday uses a different measure: Which parts of the country have suffered the greatest number of federally declared disasters? [Read More]
More Homeowners Using Helocs As Financial Safety Net
By Veronica Dagher, The Wall Street Journal
As high-interest rates drive up the cost of borrowing money, more people are tapping the equity in their homes. Americans took out $66 billion in home-equity lines of credit, or Helocs, in the second quarter, a 40% increase from a year ago and the largest amount in almost three years, according to data from real-estate analytics firm Attom Data Solutions. [Read more]
Resources
A DC Hub For Nonprofits, Events And Work For nonprofits and social sector ventures in DC: Do your work and meetings at the new Just Economy Club in DC. It’s hosted by NCRC in the historic Union Trust building at 15th and H Streets, just around the corner from The White House. [Read more]
Learning & Training Hub Register for NCRC's catalog of professional development courses for community development leaders. [Learn more]
Research And Reports We have an extensive library of research and reports that dates back many years; now available in one convenient location! [View all]
Racial Wealth Snapshots Browse our catalog of socioeconomic briefs and infographics. [View all]
Sign And Share The Just Economy Pledge America should not only promise but deliver to all Americans opportunities to build wealth and live well. Sign the pledge and share it to help us expand the movement for a Just Economy. [Sign and Share]
Fair Lending Tool Use our interactive tool to produce a report on mortgages, small business lending and bank branch networks for any city, county or metro area in the nation. [Access the tool here]
TreasureCRA Page CRA will be essential for COVID-19 economic recovery in the communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Use the tools on this page to reach your friends and local leaders. [Read more]
Support our work
Join the Just Economy Club, the network for individuals who support NCRC’s research, publishing, investigations, training, advocacy and programs. Join Here
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