FHFA Releases Equitable Housing Finance Plans for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released Equitable Housing Finance Plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 2022-2024. The plans are designed to promote sustainable homeownership and rental housing opportunities for traditionally underserved Black and Latino communities nationwide.
Freddie Mac says it will be exploring action in five key areas:
- Addressing the homeownership gap
- Strengthening investment within formerly redlined areas.
- Financing the creation and preservation of affordable housing
- Increasing opportunities for renters
- Helping to address disparities among Black and Latino communities
Fannie Mae says its plan will focus on three areas:
- Housing preparation
- Buying or renting
- Moving in and maintaining sustainable homeownership
The 2022-2024 plan activities, which will be updated annually, address barriers experienced by renters, aspiring home owners, and current home owners – particularly in Black and Latino communities. These activities include but are not limited to:
- Consumer education initiatives for renters and home owners;
- Credit reporting to help tenants build credit profiles and enable better access to financial services;
- Expanding counseling services to support housing stability;
- Deploying technology to improve access to sustainable credit and fair home appraisals; and
- Special Purpose Credit Programs to address barriers to sustainable homeownership.