Economic Inclusion

SBA: Council on Underserved Communities Reconvened

Administrator Guzman restores Council to address the immediate needs and concerns of underserved and underrepresented communities hit hard by COVID-19 The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that it is reconvening the Council on Underserved Communities (CUC) under the authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). In conjunction with the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda, the restoration of…

HUD: FHA Takes Steps to Remove Barriers to Homeownership for Those with Student Loan Debt

Updates to Single Family student loan monthly payment calculation expand access to FHA-insured mortgage financing for creditworthy individuals, particularly in communities of color The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Friday announced updates to its student loan monthly payment calculations to take steps to remove barriers and provide more access to affordable single family FHA-insured mortgage financing for…

Federal Reserve: Report Issued on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households

in the fourth quarter of 2020, nearly one-fourth of adults said that they were worse off financially compared to a year earlier, reflecting the economic fallout and distress resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Reserve Board’s report, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020, which was released on Monday, found a larger share of adults…

ABA: Banks Encouraged to Submit Nominations for Annual ABA Foundation Community Commitment Awards

The ABA Foundation is seeking submissions for its ninth annual Community Commitment Awards. The awards, one of the industry’s highest honors for extraordinary bank commitment to communities, recognizes innovative, high-impact programs that improve the quality of life for customers and communities banks serve. The entry period ends July 1. “Over the last year, America’s banks worked…

FHFA: New Refinance Option Announced for Low-Income Families with Enterprise-Backed Mortgages

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced today Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will implement a new refinance option for low-income borrowers with Enterprise-backed single-family mortgages. Eligible borrowers will benefit from a reduced interest rate and lower monthly payment. FHFA estimates that borrowers who take advantage of the new refinance option could save…

CDFI Fund: FY 2021 Small Dollar Loan Program Round Opens for Applications

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) opened the fiscal year (FY) 2021 funding round for the Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL Program) today. SDL Program funding is intended to expand consumer access to financial institutions by providing alternatives to high cost small dollar lending. The SDL Program funding…

HUD: $28 Million Awarded to Help Public Housing Residents Secure Employment and Higher-Paying Jobs

Housing Authorities in a dozen communities will receive funding under Jobs Plus The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced a $28 million investment to 12 public housing agencies (PHA) to help families increase their earned income and improve their economic mobility. See chart below of today’s funding announcement. Awarded through HUD’s…

FDIC: Strategic Plan to Reinforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Within the Agency and Among the Financial Institutions It Supervises Released

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today released the agency’s latest strategic plan to incorporate and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in every aspect of its mission and operations. Read the FDIC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan. “My goal is to build and maintain an FDIC workforce that is talented, diverse, and committed to…

HUD: $5.5 Billion in Grants Awarded to Local Communities for Affordable Housing and to Serve Individuals and Families

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced $5.5 billion in funding to local programs throughout the country that provide affordable housing, community development and economic opportunity, and support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. View a complete list of all the communities who received funding. “These core programs provide our local partners…

SBA: PPP Re-Opening and New Guidance Announced

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday,…