Recently, BlueHub Loan Fund President Karen Kelleher was featured on the Next City podcast, where she discussed how community development financial institutions (CDFIs) like BlueHub are making affordable housing possible in both red and blue states. In the episode, Kelleher highlights a recent project in Nashville that transformed two abandoned motels into affordable studio apartments—an initiative made possible through innovative, mission-driven lending.
Kelleher explains how CDFIs step in where traditional banks often won’t, structuring complex deals that prioritize community needs over profit. She also warns that eliminating the federal CDFI Fund would make financing these critical projects far more difficult.
To hear the full conversation and learn more about how CDFIs are helping communities thrive, listen to the podcast on Next City.