Inclusive Finance Strategic Content

I've worked with Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) that are non-depository loan funds and their nonprofit partners. These organizations prioritize lending to low-resource individuals underserved by the mainstream banking industry, focusing on democratizing access to capital for home buying, foreclosure prevention, business startup and operations, and clean energy upgrades.

Their overarching goal is not only to help mitigate the racialized wealth gap, but also to stabilize all low and moderate income rural and urban communities, regardless of demographic makeup.

As a strategic storyteller, I created content to align with my clients comprehensive impact messaging strategy. Well-researched blog posts like I writeare an integral part of this strategy, enhancing organizational reputation and recognition through solid thought leadership.

However, I'm more than just a writer drafting blog posts to fill your content calendar. I'm your thought partner, collaborating to create a distinct people-first content strategy for each cornerstone piece of content.

Because it's adapted to fit your overarching strategic communications needs, this content will help your organization convey its impact, communicate effectively with its core audiences, and build its content library.

My unique combination of a corporate communications background and significant experience in content writing and strategy about residential mortgages, small business development, operations, and lending, and personal finance enables me to offer these solutions.

My understanding of the legal aspects of developing finance industry communications and content allows me to help you guide my deliverables through your legal review process, barring exceptional circumstances.

So, if you need a professional strategic storyteller to work with the leadership in your organization to develop the cornerstone content that helps you achieve its goals, contact me for a complimentary 30-45-minute introductory call.

Expert advice on bankruptcy and foreclosure

Connecticut attorney Theresa DeGray's passion for helping homeowners prevent foreclosure stems from her personal experience with bankruptcy. In 2009, despite being a lawyer, she found herself overwhelmed by debt and unsure of her options. Struggling with medical, credit card and student loan debt, DeGray felt trapped and unable to move forward with her life.
“I was living with my parents and desperate for a solution,” she remembers. “So, I turned to a lawyer I’d worked with years earlier who sug...

The Hidden Mental Health Toll of Foreclosure: What Housing Professionals Need to Know

Foreclosure can be a devastating experience, impacting homeowners not just financially but also emotionally and psychologically. As a housing professional, recognizing the mental health challenges your clients may face is crucial.
By acting with empathy and connecting clients with appropriate resources, you can help them navigate this difficult process. This blog post explores the common mental health effects of foreclosure, offers insights from expert research, and provides national and state-s...

The State of US Housing Market in Spring 2024: What's in store for buyers and sellers?

According to Zillow, “the value of a typical home in the US is $349,216 – up 40.8% compared to pre-pandemic. The typical monthly mortgage payment, assuming 20% down, is $1,809.” Here are other real estate statistics from Zillow that home sellers and buyers should consider:
But what may challenge sellers in this market is mortgage payments that buyers now face. According to Zillow, “The typical mortgage payment is up 9.4% from last year and has more than doubled over the course of the pandemic, r...

Case Studies: How SUN Helped Two Families Refinance Out of Foreclosure

While BlueHub SUN’s buy-back product may be more familiar to housing professionals, SUN also offers homeowners facing foreclosure the option to refinance into a new mortgage. Refinancing out of foreclosure is rare for homeowners with significant financial hardships. However, for homeowners with equity in their homes, SUN may be able to offer a new affordable mortgage to allow them to keep the property and avoid eviction. SUN’s refinance product does not have a shared appreciation mortgage becaus...

Helping Homeowners in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Prevent Foreclosure

Consumer bankruptcy filings in the U.S. rose 16 percent to 434,064 in the year ending December 2023, compared with 374,240 in December 2022. Both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies saw increases. This is the fourth straight quarter of rises in bankruptcy filings, following a decline of over a decade. Homeowners may consider bankruptcy when they’re facing foreclosure. But there may be different outcomes depending on which they file they should discuss with an attorney before they do.
Chapter 7...

Navigating Financial Hardship: Foreclosure Prevention for Homeowners

Financial hardship can arise suddenly, putting your most valuable asset – your home – at risk. While foreclosure may feel like an alarming prospect, strategic action can help protect your home even in difficult circumstances.
This guide provides practical steps to recognize and respond to financial distress, whether you are just beginning to struggle or are already facing foreclosure proceedings. It suggests ways to work with lenders to request relief, find available government assistance progra...

HomeFree-USA's Collaborative Approach to Homeownership Counseling

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) recently released its “2023 State of Housing in Black America” (SHIBA) report. It offered new research on the depth of the Black-White wealth gap relative to Black homeownership. Analyzing 2022 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, NAREB found Black homeownership lingers at 45%, which is only slightly higher than it was two years after the 1968 Fair Housing Act was signed into law. This legislation prohibits discrimination in the rental...