Announcements

  • CONVERGENCE Update and End of Year Reports

    We are excited to share some recent news about one of MBA's place-based affordable homeownership initiatives, CONVERGENCE Columbus, highlighted below. 

    CONVERGENCE Columbus Launches Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund

    CONVERGENCE Columbus and Homeport recently announced the launch of the Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund, a $1 million investment that will provide financial assistance to help close Columbus, Ohio's homeownership gaps.

     

    "The downpayment assistance from the fund will enable more families to enjoy the benefits of homeownership and the generational wealth-building opportunities that come with it. MBA is proud to support CONVERGENCE Columbus' vital work." --MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, discussing the Maude Hill Growing Homeownership Fund in Columbus, Ohio. Read more here.

    Throughout 2023, MBA's CONVERGENCE place-based initiatives worked toward closing the information, trust, resource, and market gaps that create barriers to homeownership in minority communities. Learn more here.  Highlights from the cities include:

    • CONVERGENCE Memphis acquired eleven lots in a predominately Black neighborhood, which are now under development as affordable, entry-level, single-family homes for owner occupancy. 
    • CONVERGENCE Columbus launched multiple initiatives including Bloom614.org, a consumer-facing website with information about buying and owning a home, and the Bloom614 Homebuyer Readiness Program, which provides an innovative, digital coaching experience for aspiring homebuyers. 
    • CONVERGENCE Philadelphia officially launched in March 2023 and established its workstreams and identified a set of goals for its first year of operation as part of a three-year strategic plan.