Baltimore’s Housing Future: a Documented Opportunity
Baltimore is often described as a city in need of reinvestment.But new data tells a more accurate story: Baltimore is a city with strong housing demand — waiting for the right homes to be built. According to An Analysis of Baltimore City’s Residential Market Potential (January 2026), commissioned by Live Baltimore and conducted by nationally […]
Freddie Mac Empowers Gen Z to Shape the Future of Housing Finance
Our esteemed partner Freddie Mac continues to open powerful doors for young, diverse professionals—a collab with HomeFreeUSA’s Center for Financial Advancement® that promotes career pathways AND drives innovation. HBCU Bowie State University student, CFA scholar and Freddie Mac intern Heavyn Harper participated in the company’s annual intern case competition, which invites interns to develop solutions […]
Empowering Tomorrow’s Real Estate Leaders: Develop the Developer 2025
At HomeFree-USA, our mission has always been to expand pathways to homeownership, build wealth, and strengthen communities. The Develop the Developer℠ Academy (DTDA) advances that mission by transforming the pipeline: not only helping families purchase homes, but preparing local entrepreneurs to build them. Addressing a Critical Industry Gap Women, Black, and Hispanic real estate developers currently […]
Iyanna’s Story: Rising from the Fire with Help from the Hand-Up Fund
As a student at Morgan State University and a Center for Financial Advancement® (CFA) Scholar, Iyanna was focused on building her future. She had just started a summer internship through the CFA program — excited, ambitious, and determined to make her mark. But one devastating moment changed everything. A sudden fire tore through her family’s […]
The Future of Financial Services
AI is transforming the financial services industry. Here’s how nonprofits are changing the game. In the financial services industry, it’s not enough to check in occasionally with leads to assess their financial needs. Tracking potential homebuyers at every segment of the sales cycle is critical to success. Factor in an uncertain economy that is being […]
Honoring Our Affiliate Awardees at the Reaching Millions Conference
From September 14–17, 2025, HomeFree-USA hosted its annual Reaching Millions Leadership & Business Development Conference in Denver, Colorado. This gathering brought together hundreds of leaders, lenders, housing counselors, developers, and advocates all committed to one mission: expanding homeownership and building wealth for diverse communities nationwide. One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity […]
Over $1M in assistance has already helped more than 100 Philadelphians become first-time homeowners
HomeFree-USA is thrilled to celebrate—with Wells Fargo’s extraordinary $5 million investment in the NeighborhoodLIFT Program—that, in less than three months, we have removed barriers to homeownership for 111 first-time homebuyers, with another 42 in process, as of September 2nd. Many thanks to Mayor Cherelle Parker and the City of Philadelphia for your support, as well […]
HomeFree-USA Center for Financial Advancement® Announces 2025 Annual Recognition Award Honorees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Celebrating Excellence in Partnership, Leadership, and Scholar Achievement Celebration is a powerful way to affirm the values that guide us. The HomeFree-USA Center for Financial Advancement® (CFA) proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 Annual Recognition Awards, honoring the outstanding partners, universities, liaisons, and scholars who have exemplified the mission of financial empowerment, leadership, […]
Develop the Developer℠ Academy Opens Applications, Supported by Freddie Mac and Industry Partners
HomeFree-USA Opens Applications for 2025 Develop the Developer℠ Academy, With Support from Freddie Mac and Industry Partners Empowering Local Developers to Build Stronger Communities – Applications Due September 26 Landover– September 2nd, 2025 — HomeFree-USA is proud to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Develop the Developer℠ Academy (DTDA) — a five-day […]
Future-Proof Housing and Homeownership Strategies: Harness Gen Z’s Creativity
As the housing landscape rapidly evolves, the fresh perspectives and energy of Generation Z are indispensable assets for developers, policymakers, community organizations, and financial institutions. Born between the mid‑1990s and early 2010s, Gen Z has grown up amid rapid technological change, social activism, and economic uncertainty. Their deep fluency with digital tools, combined with a […]