NAAHL Statement on Racial Equity and Justice
Overcoming racism is both morally imperative and essential to America’s social cohesion, economic prosperity, and world leadership. Our nation cannot fulfill its promise otherwise.
Relentless police killings of Black people have intensified public attention and reinvigorated the urgency to dismantle racism within individuals, institutions, and systems. Structural racism and White privilege persist across many aspects of American life – including housing and neighborhood opportunity – which continue to diminish the quality of life for Black and all communities of color. Injustice has deepened racial income and wealth gaps, in turn making it harder for people of color to catch up.
Racial equity and justice are at the heart of NAAHL’s mission “to expand economic opportunity through the responsible financing of affordable housing and inclusive neighborhood revitalization.” As a national alliance of major banks and mission-based capital providers, we believe deeply in the power of community development to improve neighborhoods and to create opportunities for economic mobility. Quality affordable housing in vibrant neighborhoods and well-paying jobs are platforms for educational opportunity, financial security, health, and public safety – all of which are essential to racial equity.
NAAHL has a long record of service to low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. NAAHL members provide more than $100 billion in financing annually for affordable housing and community development. We also advocate for policies that stimulate investment and achieve fair housing.
However, we also acknowledge our industry’s failure to meet other responsibilities to communities of color. We have sometimes redlined neighborhoods and otherwise denied credit on fair terms. We have missed opportunities to develop and deploy the financial products that communities need. We have insufficiently engaged the power and agency of Black, Latinx, and all people and communities that have suffered under systemic racism.
For NAAHL, racial progress begins with redoubling our commitment to engage and support Black and all underserved communities of color. We have an affirmative and continuing responsibility to:
- Oppose – and reverse the effects of – such practices as redlining and predatory lending;
- Support anti-racist policies and oppose discriminatory policies;
- Guide the institutions that we represent to better understand and address racial inequities;
- Expand access to capital on sustainable terms;
- Increase and re-circulate spending within communities of color, including through customers who will direct our financing to benefit minority-owned businesses and workers of color;
- Partner with allies to pursue racial justice; and
- Ensure that NAAHL’s internal policies and practices promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This time of crisis presents America’s best opportunity for racial progress. NAAHL is part of this movement. This is our time to act.
Our members are fully committed to racial equity and justice
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Our members are fully committed to racial equity and justice
Amazon, Goldman Will Offer Small-Business Lines of Credit
An ‘Overwhelming’ Moment: Behind BofA’s $1B Racial Justice Commitment
Behind PNC’s $88 Billion Commitment to Invest in Communities
BofA Details Investments to Help Black- and Hispanic-Owned Businesses
Can Multimillion-Dollar Pledge To Black Banks Help Close Wealth Gap?
Morgan Stanley Pledges $15B Help Low-Income Communities
PNC Pledges $1 Billion to Fight Racism
Truist Commits $40m To Loan Fund Aimed at Closing Racial Wealth Gap
U.S. Bancorp Enlists CDFIs’ Help to Aid Minority Entrepreneurs
U.S. Bancorp Pledges $116 Million to Address Racial Inequality
Wells Fargo Invests in More Black-Owned Banks
Bank of America Pledges $60 Million for BIPOC Affordable Housing Developers
Citi Launches More Than $1 Billion in Strategic Initiatives to Help Close the Racial Wealth Gap
American Express Commits More Than $200 Million Towards Their Shop Small Campaign
Bank of America Adds $10 Billion to Affordable-Housing Plan Through 2025
Citi Invests in Mortgage Tech in Push to Close Racial Wealth Gap
The $30 Million Bond Will Support Housing Developers of Color
Bank of America Announces Expansion of Racial Justice Initiatives
Chase Doubles Housing Grant Program as American Banks Reckon With Low Minority Homeownership
Exclusive: Goldman Sachs Invests $10 Billion In New ‘One Million Black Women’ Initiative
JPMorgan Chase Commits $30 Billion to Advance Racial Equity
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NEF Closes $85m in Committed Capital for Its Emerging Minority Developer Fund
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