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Stronger Together: How CDFIs and HBCUs Build Lasting Change

Stepping onto the campuses of Tougaloo College in Mississippi or Talladega College in Alabama means entering institutions that extend far beyond the traditional role of higher education. These colleges have fueled civil rights movements, trained generations of leaders, and served as vital lifelines for their surrounding communities. Yet, like many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), they embody a paradox: an outsized impact sustained despite undersized resources.

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Through data-driven member focused research, advocacy, and policy change, HOPE works to dismantle barriers to financial inclusion and create opportunities for families and communities to thrive.

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Publications

From research briefs to blogs, our publications highlight the work, stories, and policy insights that drive economic opportunity in underserved communities.

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Newsletters

Explore press releases, news reports, and quarterly updates highlighting our work with communities across the South.

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Data & Visualization

Dive into interactive tools and visualizations to see the trends and opportunities shaping economic inclusion in the Deep South.

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Table 1: Rural areas with the lowest and highest shares of single-family purchase and refinance loans purchased by the GSEs, 2024.

Table 1: Rural areas with the lowest and highest shares of single-family purchase and refinance loans purchased by the GSEs, 2024.

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Power Struggle: How High Energy Burdens Harm Families in the Deep South

Power Struggle: How High Energy Burdens Harm Families in the Deep South

Figure 1. Average Residential Energy Burden for… Read More >
Long Term Poverty Across the Deep South over 50 year period

Long Term Poverty Across the Deep South over 50 year period

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The Economic Effects of Climate Change in the Deep South

The Economic Effects of Climate Change in the Deep South

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Total Relief Funds by State in the Deep South

Total Relief Funds by State in the Deep South

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Estimated Lifetime Earnings of Black Adults by Education Level

Estimated Lifetime Earnings of Black Adults by Education Level

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Circular HBCU Economic Model

Circular HBCU Economic Model

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Small Business Lending Access in the Deep South by Race

Small Business Lending Access in the Deep South by Race

Figure 1: Full Approved Small Business Loan… Read More >
Generosity in the Deep South by Region & Race

Generosity in the Deep South by Region & Race

Figure 1: Religious Giving Patterns by Race Black households have Higher Rates of Religious Giving Despite than White Counterparts Figure 2: Charitable Giving by Region Southerners Give a Larger Share of Their Income to Charity than other Regions Figure 3:… Read More >
HDMA Income in the Deep South by Race

HDMA Income in the Deep South by Race

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Black Generational Wealth in the South

Black Generational Wealth in the South

Figure 1: The National Racial Wealth Divide The… Read More >
The disparity between Black and White homeownership rates across the Deep South

The disparity between Black and White homeownership rates across the Deep South

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Household income at age 35 for children born to low-income parents

Household income at age 35 for children born to low-income parents

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HOPE Member Pulse Survey: Initial Insights

HOPE Member Pulse Survey: Initial Insights

Chart 1: Member Confidence on Financial Future… Read More >
PWIs Outpace HBCUs in Indirect Cost Recovery Rates

PWIs Outpace HBCUs in Indirect Cost Recovery Rates

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Endowment Dollars for Public PWIs vs. Public HBCUs

Endowment Dollars for Public PWIs vs. Public HBCUs

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HBCUs Exceeda National Rate for Pell Grant Access

HBCUs Exceeda National Rate for Pell Grant Access

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$60.8 Million Investment Distribution to HBCUs in the Deep South

$60.8 Million Investment Distribution to HBCUs in the Deep South

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Bank Branch Decline in the Deep South (2010-2024)

Bank Branch Decline in the Deep South (2010-2024)

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Homeownership & Denial Rates by Race and Income

Homeownership & Denial Rates by Race and Income

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Federal Funds Provide Needed Water Infrastructure Upgrades for MS Delta & Deep South Communities

Federal Funds Provide Needed Water Infrastructure Upgrades for MS Delta & Deep South Communities

Figure 1. Percent of Households Lacking Complete Plumbing, Top 20 States Figure 2. Percent Households Lacking Complete Plumbing in Deep South Counties Read More >
Figure 1: Unbanked and Underbanked Rates in Deep South by Race

Figure 1: Unbanked and Underbanked Rates in Deep South by Race

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Median Auto Loan Balances in Deep South

Median Auto Loan Balances in Deep South

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Figure 1: HOPE Workforce Diversity Comparison to Banking Industry

Figure 1: HOPE Workforce Diversity Comparison to Banking Industry

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Table 1: Housing Characteristics by Banking Status of Deep South

Table 1: Housing Characteristics by Banking Status of Deep South

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Mortgage Homeowner & Denial Rates in the Deep South

Mortgage Homeowner & Denial Rates in the Deep South

Table 1: Homeownership Rates in the Deep South by… Read More >
Top Ten Challenges for All Women in the Economy

Top Ten Challenges for All Women in the Economy

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The Wage Gap, Homeownership, and Economic Mobility

The Wage Gap, Homeownership, and Economic Mobility

Table 1: Wage Gap Disparities by Race and Gender… Read More >
Slave Population Across the United States

Slave Population Across the United States

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Racial demographics and economic hardship across United States counties

Racial demographics and economic hardship across United States counties

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Use of Expanded Child Tax Credit by Family Income

Use of Expanded Child Tax Credit by Family Income

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Households Fully Banked by Race

Households Fully Banked by Race

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High-Cost Debt Traps & Wealth Racial Gaps in Memphis

High-Cost Debt Traps & Wealth Racial Gaps in Memphis

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NMTC Allocations to Minority Led CED Entities

NMTC Allocations to Minority Led CED Entities

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Rural borrower statistics and delinquency rates across the Deep South

Rural borrower statistics and delinquency rates across the Deep South

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The State Small Business Credit Initiative: A $3 Billion Opportunity for the Deep South

The State Small Business Credit Initiative: A $3 Billion Opportunity for the Deep South

Table 1: 2021 Deep South SSBCI Allocations Chart 1: SSBCI Lending To Target Areas Table 2: Deep South SSBCI Allocations and Programs, 2010-2017 Table 3: Deep South SSBCI Lending Impact Read More >
Incarceration rates across different states in the United States

Incarceration rates across different states in the United States

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New Markets Tax Credit Investments in Majority People of Color Counties 2003-2017

New Markets Tax Credit Investments in Majority People of Color Counties 2003-2017

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The total annual allocation of funds for the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program

The total annual allocation of funds for the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program

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Status of Certain Programs Funded by the MS Coronavirus Relief Fund

Status of Certain Programs Funded by the MS Coronavirus Relief Fund

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Allocation of $60 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), divided into first and second draws.

Allocation of $60 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), divided into first and second draws.

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PPP Loans Under $150,000 Made in Mississippi and Louisiana by Type of Lender

PPP Loans Under $150,000 Made in Mississippi and Louisiana by Type of Lender

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Debt in the Deep South by Race

Debt in the Deep South by Race

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Percentage of Allocated Funds for Rural & Persistent Poverty Parishes by Type and Race

Percentage of Allocated Funds for Rural & Persistent Poverty Parishes by Type and Race

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Employment Income Loss Underscore Magnitude of Financial Hardship in the Deep South from the Pandemic

Employment Income Loss Underscore Magnitude of Financial Hardship in the Deep South from the Pandemic

Figure 1: Deep South Households with Loss of Employment Income by Race since March 2020 Figure 2: Deep South Households with Loss of Employment Income by Income Level since March 2020 Figure 3: Initial Unemployment Claims in Deep South States… Read More >
Review of Arkansas Ready for Business Program: Gaps and Opportunities

Review of Arkansas Ready for Business Program: Gaps and Opportunities

Table 1: Median and Average Grant Allocation by… Read More >
CDFIs and MDIs Continue to Cater to Small Businesses Despite PPP Barriers

CDFIs and MDIs Continue to Cater to Small Businesses Despite PPP Barriers

Table 1: CDFI and MDI PPP Lending Compared to… Read More >
Distribution of Deep South MDIs and Assets (Banks vs. Credit Unions)

Distribution of Deep South MDIs and Assets (Banks vs. Credit Unions)

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Deep South MDI Banks & Credit Unions with Asset Size

Deep South MDI Banks & Credit Unions with Asset Size

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Mississippi Post-COVID 19 Rental Survey Results

Mississippi Post-COVID 19 Rental Survey Results

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Job Losses & Furloughs: April 2020

Job Losses & Furloughs: April 2020

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Credit Denials by Income & Race across the U.S

Credit Denials by Income & Race across the U.S

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Data across the Deep South and the national average by racial demographic.

Data across the Deep South and the national average by racial demographic.

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Debt in America: The Deep South by Race

Debt in America: The Deep South by Race

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The Great Recession: Job Losses & Unemployment Claims in the Deep South

The Great Recession: Job Losses & Unemployment Claims in the Deep South

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Current Employment Statistics by State & Metro Areas across the Deep South

Current Employment Statistics by State & Metro Areas across the Deep South

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CDFI Fund Institutional Report: Assets & Size by Race

CDFI Fund Institutional Report: Assets & Size by Race

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Cases & Casualties in the Deep South from COVID 19

Cases & Casualties in the Deep South from COVID 19

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Projected Number Jobs Loss during COVID 19 across the Deep South

Projected Number Jobs Loss during COVID 19 across the Deep South

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Average Wages for Industries vs. Leisure and Hospitality sector across the Deep South

Average Wages for Industries vs. Leisure and Hospitality sector across the Deep South

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Percent of Underbanked Households & Poverty Rate in the Deep South

Percent of Underbanked Households & Poverty Rate in the Deep South

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Social safety net benefits and relief measures across five Southern U.S. states during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social safety net benefits and relief measures across five Southern U.S. states during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Table 1:  Counties with Hospitals and ICU Beds in the Deep South

Table 1:  Counties with Hospitals and ICU Beds in the Deep South

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Single Female Households with Liquid Asset Poverty

Single Female Households with Liquid Asset Poverty

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Persistent poverty areas in parts of the Deep South, highlighting levels of critical care capacity

Persistent poverty areas in parts of the Deep South, highlighting levels of critical care capacity

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Women’s Median Earnings & Wage Gap by Race

Women’s Median Earnings & Wage Gap by Race

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Households Living in Liquid Asset Poverty in the Deep South

Households Living in Liquid Asset Poverty in the Deep South

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Rent-A-Bank Proposals Put Deep South Families at Risk of Predatory Lending

Rent-A-Bank Proposals Put Deep South Families at Risk of Predatory Lending

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Persistent Poverty Map by Race

Persistent Poverty Map by Race

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Hope Opposes Payday Loan Rule Repeal: Payday Loan Summary – Borrower Case

Hope Opposes Payday Loan Rule Repeal: Payday Loan Summary – Borrower Case

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Fair Lending and Homeownership Rates by Race

Fair Lending and Homeownership Rates by Race

Table 1:  Black and White Homeownership Rates for… Read More >
Louisiana, Mississippi Least Banked States in the Nation

Louisiana, Mississippi Least Banked States in the Nation

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Louisiana, Mississippi Least Banked States in the Nation

Louisiana, Mississippi Least Banked States in the Nation

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Deep South States among the Least Credit Worthy in the Nation

Deep South States among the Least Credit Worthy in the Nation

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How Hungry is America?

How Hungry is America?

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Understanding Food Insecurity in the Deep South

Understanding Food Insecurity in the Deep South

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The Significant Impact of Student Debt on Communities of Color

The Significant Impact of Student Debt on Communities of Color

Source:… Read More >
Prosperity Now Scorecard: Housing and Homeownership (%) by Race & State

Prosperity Now Scorecard: Housing and Homeownership (%) by Race & State

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Restoring the American Dream in the Deep South: Persistent Poverty in the Deep South

Restoring the American Dream in the Deep South: Persistent Poverty in the Deep South

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Policy in Action: Investments in the Local and Regional Food Economy

Policy in Action: Investments in the Local and Regional Food Economy

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HOPE Statement on CFPB Repeal of Payday Lending Protections

HOPE Statement on CFPB Repeal of Payday Lending Protections

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Number of HBCU’s per State

Number of HBCU’s per State

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