CONVERGENCE Memphis

Our Goals

1. Amplify the outreach and counseling efforts of the Memphis affordable housing industry to increase the number of African Americans that are Mortgage Ready, and purchasing in Memphis communities.  
2. In the target communities, facilitate neighborhood revitalization that increases efforts to improve the existing supply of affordable housing and promotes an equitable and accessible housing finance system to make investments.
3. Focus outreach on sustainable homeownership and preservation through strategies to sustain generational financial well-being.

Workstreams

Consumer Outreach and Education: We will communicate educational opportunities and information to consumers such as homebuyer education and housing counseling. This workstream also incorporates the Information/Trust Gap, which is designed to debunk common myths and misperceptions that are causing residents to self-select out of the homeownership market and inhibiting them from interacting with formal players in the homebuying chain.

Affordable Products and Programs: We will improve awareness for consumers and practitioners around the availability of affordable products and programs for potential homebuyers.

Market Solutions and Resources for Practitioners: We will facilitate better market intelligence around the highest and best use of property and parcels in anchor communities for practitioners including lenders and real estate professionals; improve awareness and understanding for practitioners around available affordable resources for renters and homeowners; identify and expand on available financial and technical resources to assist community partners and aspiring homeowners; and address target area market gaps in housing inventory by identifying parcels and properties available for rehab and infill construction around anchors, and by connecting builders, residents, and community development organizations with industry and capital resources for implementation.