Release date: 11/24/2020

Contact: 
NeighborWorks America Media
202-760-4097
[email protected]

Expert available to discuss widening gap between black and white homeownership 

What

As the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies’ newly released “2020 State of the Nation’s Housing Report” highlights, the gap between Black and white homeownership widened this year. On Nov. 19, NeighborWorks America President & CEO Marietta Rodriguez served as a panelist on a Harvard University panel and addressed how racial disparities in homeownership harm generations to come. Specifically, she noted that homeownership is a key driver, if not the biggest driver, to building wealth that can be passed down through families and we need to turn the tide. NeighborWorks America’s Housing and Financial Capability Survey shows there is a growing disparity with only 40% of Black people owning homes.

Our expert can discuss:
 

• how the homeownership gap is widening as is the wealth gap between Black and white U.S. adults
• real stories about how NeighborWorks America has helped people obtain homeownership and build wealth through raising their credit scores and with significant down payment assistance.   
• lessons from the housing crisis in 2008 that could be used now to help prevent a new crisis

When

November 24, 2020 – ongoing, via phone, email, Skype/Zoom

Experts Available

Marietta Rodriguez, President & CEO, NeighborWorks America - housing and mortgage issues, housing counseling, long-term economic impacts

Marietta Rodriguez has created and executed strategic initiatives that address some of the toughest challenges facing low-income families: homeownership, foreclosure prevention, community building and engagement. A strong communicator and subject matter expert, Rodriguez was named an expert witness by the Federal Trade Commission in three areas of specialty: mortgage finance, credit repair and loan modification. Rodriguez is an established national spokesperson whose media credentials include CNN Money, Fox Business, CBS Evening News, ABC Nightly News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
Read full bio.

Susan M. Ifill, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, NeighborWorks America – nonprofit housing management, urban programs and planning, banking and lending

Susan M. Ifill comes to NeighborWorks America from its network organization Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City (NHSNYC), where she served as chief executive officer. She led a team of housing professionals responsible for addressing the issues of affordable housing and fighting displacement in New York City neighborhoods through education, grants and affordable loans. Prior to joining NHSNYC, Ifill was the senior vice president and chief retail officer for Carver Federal Savings Bank in New York.
Read full bio.

About NeighborWorks America
For more than 40 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., a national, nonpartisan nonprofit known as NeighborWorks America, has strived to make every community a place of opportunity. Our network of excellence includes nearly 250 members in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. NeighborWorks America offers grant funding, peer-exchange, technical assistance, evaluation tools and access to training, as the nation's leading trainer of housing and community development professionals. NeighborWorks network organizations provide residents in their communities with affordable homes, owned and rented; financial counseling and coaching; community building through resident engagement; and collaboration in the areas of health, employment and education. In the last five years, our organizations have generated more than $40 billion in investment across the country.