Our initiatives
Equity in Mortgage Access
NHS works with a variety of Task Force members to address barriers in mortgage lending that keep borrowers of color from advancing through the process.
Lending Equity Ordinance
The recently passed City of Chicago Lending Equity Ordinance, championed by the Housing Policy Task Force, increases transparency and accountability in banking by giving the public access to critical lending data.
The LEO accomplishes the following:
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Requires lenders to publish data on loan interest rates by race, staff diversity, and lending volume
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Makes lending data publicly available
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Establishes an annual City Council hearing to discuss lending data and hear from impacted individuals
For more information, please read our fact sheet
Mortgage Access Initiative
This initiative is a collaborative effort of financial institutions, mortgage lenders, CDFIs, and housing advocates to increase mortgage access for Black and Brown borrowers in the Chicagoland area.
The MAI works to address the underlying mortgage lending systems that result in higher denial rates for Black and Brown borrowers.
We aim to accomplish this by:
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Partnering with banks to identify barriers in mortgage lending and working together to implement solutions
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Engaging with residents to and consumers to better understand the nuances of the homeownership journey
Equity in Appraisals
NHS is working with the Chicago Rehab Network and other advocates to address the systemic undervaluation of Black and Brown homes and neighborhoods in Chicago.
We are currently engaging with appraisers, realtors, financial institutions, homebuyers, and homeowners to reform the appraisal process and address its longstanding racial inequities.
Collecting Appraisal Stories
We are currently collecting the stories of homeowners and homebuyers who have had a negative experience with appraisers and/or have received low appraisals.
If you or someone you know has had issues with an appraisal, please consider sharing your story
Appraisal Reform
We are currently working to reform the appraisal process by:
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Improving complaint systems at the state and national levels
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Increasing consumer protections with state and national regulatory agencies to address appraisal complaints
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Developing best practices for equity in the appraisal process by studying federal regulations and their local implementation in home valuations