Capital One’s $25 Million Homeownership Initiative Surfaces “Innovative Ideas” for Increasing Housing Affordability in U.S. Communities

Kerone Vatel, Senior Vice President and Head of Community Finance, Impact and Investment at Capital One

“The Open Call reflects the core mission of Capital One’s Community Benefits Plan: turning innovative ideas into scalable, real-world solutions for low- and moderate-income communities.”

Kerone Vatel, Senior Vice President and Head of Community Finance, Impact and Investment at Capital One

“The overwhelming national response underscores a broad, cross-sector engagement in advancing housing affordability. We were inspired by the range of bold, collaborative solutions put forward and their potential to bring sustainable homeownership within reach for more households across the country.”

Kristen J. Molyneaux, President and Co-founder of Lever for Change

“These 10 finalists represent the bold thinking and deep commitment needed to create new possibilities for homeownership.”

Kristen J. Molyneaux, President and Co-founder of Lever for Change

“Their ideas have the potential to open doors for more individuals and families and strengthen communities for generations to come.”

Dr. Shena Ashley, President of the Capital One Foundation and Vice President of Community Impact and Investment at Capital One

“At Capital One, we believe that lasting progress happens when we invest directly in locally driven solutions and provide organizations the resources needed to expand their impact.”

Dr. Shena Ashley, President of the Capital One Foundation and Vice President of Community Impact and Investment at Capital One

“These 10 finalists are developing some of the most promising, creative approaches to creating new pathways to homeownership in communities all around the country.”

Vicki Lake, Director of Community Health Institute, Community Redevelopment Agency of Jackson, Inc.

“Our threefold approach to achieving pathways to home ownership throughout the City of Jackson includes policy (zoning) changes, builder, and buyer incentives all designed to create and promote workforce housing, housing for young families, and the ability of older adults to have affordable smaller housing options.”

Lakota Vogel, Executive Director, Four Bands Community Fund

“If awarded, this investment by Capital One will add 125 homeownership units to Cheyenne River's housing stock, and that will be life-changing for many Lakota families for generations to come.”

Ashley D. McLeod, Executive Director, Great Lakes Housing Service

“Community land trusts give families the chance to buy a home at an affordable price while keeping that home affordable for the next family, too.”

Ashley D. McLeod, Executive Director, Great Lakes Housing Service

“By turning future property tax revenue into funding today, this model can help more communities build affordable homes sooner.”

Sabrina Lippman, CEO, Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester County

“By pairing rental-to-ownership conversions with shared-ownership models, we can help families build wealth, strengthen their communities, and create an approach that other high-cost markets can adopt.”

Bill Bynum, CEO, Hope Enterprise Corporation

“HOPE's Y-16 Program provides tailored mortgage solutions that help long-term renters become homeowners.”

Bill Bynum, CEO, Hope Enterprise Corporation

“Being named a Capital One Scaling Pathways to Homeownership finalist shines a national spotlight on an innovative model with the potential to create wealth-building opportunities for thousands of families across the Deep South.”

Beth Howe-Yarlott (Apsáalooke), Board Chair, Mountain Shadow Association

“What we are building in Lodge Grass is more than a program — it is homes where children come first, built by the families who will live in them.”

Raul I. Raymundo, Co-Founder & CEO, The Resurrection Project

“Now, we have an opportunity to bring that model to more people — partnering with trusted partners organizations in new places and using technology to make the journey to homeownership more accessible.”

Tom Collishaw, President & CEO, Self‑Help Enterprises

“By combining innovative mortgage solutions with lower-cost construction methods, we can create a model that not only works in California’s San Joaquin Valley but can be replicated across the country to help thousands more families achieve the dream of owning a home.”

Dianna Bowser, President & CEO, Southside Community Development & Housing Corporation

“We’re proud of the difference we have made so far in Emporia, VA, and we’re excited about the potential to expand our work so that hundreds more families across the region can gain the benefits of a safe, decent, affordable place to call home.”

Dr. Kelvin R. Adams, PhD, President & CEO, St. Louis Community Foundation

“The Scaling Pathways to Homeownership funding allows us to bring these elements together to pilot, then scale, a coordinated set of tools.”