Creating Opportunity Where it is Needed Most
The Mid South is home to more than 1/4 of the persistent poverty counties in the U.S., where more than 20% of the residents have lived in poverty for at least 30 years.
Persistent Poverty Counties
IMPLICATIONS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY IN THE MID SOUTH The implications of persistent poverty are severe, limiting opportunities for families and communities with regard to education, health, jobs, and the ability to build assets for the future.
County Health Rankings Lowest 25% by state
Education Low-Performing School Districts
High-Cost Mortgage Lending Counties above state avg.
Non-White Residents Counties above state avg.
Unbanked More than 1.5 times the national avg.
Unemployment More than 1.5 times the national avg.
Business Lending New Orleans, Louisiana
Commercial Loan Borrower Characteristics 2015 %
0%
10
%
90
80
%
%
70
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
10
0%
Other
33%
High-Impact Commercial Loans*
21%
36%
O
th
er
N
on
-P
ro fit
M
W O
B*
42%
*Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses
High-Impact
67%
*Loans in economically distressed areas, minorityand women-owned businesses, community facilities, or loans that leverage public programs
Consumer Lending College Station, Arkansas
Other
37% In 2015,
57%
Consumer Loans in Economically Distressed Areas
of HOPE’s consumer loans were
credit-builder loans & payday loan alternatives. Economically Distressed
63%
Mortgage Lending Biloxi, Mississippi
Mortgage Loan Borrower Characteristics 2015
%
0%
10
%
90
%
80
%
70
4%
79% 52%
High-Impact Mortgage Loans*
H
Lo om Fir w s -In e t-T co Bu im m ye e e r
Fe m
al
e
M
in
or
ity
%
60
%
50
%
40
%
30
%
20
10
0%
Other
54% 76%
High-Impact
96%
*These are loans to minority, female, low-income or first-time home owners.
ABOUT HOPE HOPE is a family of development organizations dedicated to strengthening communities, building assets and improving lives in the Delta and other economically distressed parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Comprised of a regional credit union (Hope Credit Union), loan fund (Hope Enterprise Corporation) and policy center (Hope Policy Institute), HOPE has provided financial services, leveraged private and public resources, and shaped policies that have benefited more than 650,000 residents in one of the nation’s most persistently poor regions.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES RETAIL FINANCIAL SERVICES • Checking & savings accounts, credit cards, debit cards, ATM cards • Individual Development Accounts, IRAs • Secured and unsecured loans, automobile loans, home equity loans, payday loan alternatives, debt consolidation loans • Access via regional branches, mobile banking, online banking, kiosks, micro branches, shared branching network • Financial counseling
HOMEOWNERSHIP & AFFORDABLE HOUSING • Single-family mortgages • Low-Income Housing Tax Credits • Financing for development of rental and owner-occupied housing • Affordable housing development
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY FACILITIES LENDING • • • •
Loans for small & medium-sized businesses New Markets Tax Credit financing Public agency capital and credit enhancements Financing for nonprofits, community facilities, healthcare facilities, grocery stores and charter schools • Loan participations
INTERMEDIARY SERVICES • Project finance consulting • Program design and management • Loan fund administration
POLICY ANALYSIS & ADVOCACY • Financial Inclusion • Economic Justice • Community Development
Arkansas • Louisiana • Mississippi • Tennesssee www.hopecu.org | www.hope-ec.org | hopepolicy.org 1-866-321-HOPE (4673)