A special post written by Chairman John Hope Bryant

I was recently interviewed by ABC News’ Janai Norman to discuss troubling new data on Black homeownership. The Financial Times found that Black Americans are almost twice as likely to be turned away for mortgages as white applicants with the same income. LendingTree reported similar numbers—Black applicants nationwide are 1.7% more likely to be denied.

The truth is, this isn’t just about today’s underwriting decisions. It’s about a 175-year hangover from systemic discrimination in banking and housing. From the failure of the Freedman’s Bank after Lincoln’s assassination to redlining in the 20th century, too many families were locked out of wealth-building through homeownership. And because financial literacy was never taught widely in our communities, that gap persists.

But here’s what I know: credit is everything. Nothing changes your life faster, outside of God or love, than raising your credit score. We’ve mapped every ZIP code in America and found 200-point differences between neighborhoods just minutes apart. That spread translates into more than access to loans. It impacts the businesses you see, the restaurants you eat at, and even life expectancy. Yes, life expectancy!

At Operation HOPE, we are raising credit scores, lowering debt, and building savings—helping families become mortgage-ready and bridging the gap between “unqualified” and “qualified.” Our HOPE coaches aren’t lowering standards; rather, they’re raising competency. That sounds good on the surface and is worthy of applause and admiration. But the real impact is that it equates to billions of dollars in homeownership capital unlocked for families once told “no.”

Homeownership is still the number one wealth-building tool in America. Closing the homeownership gap isn’t just a moral imperative, but also an economic one. As I often say, my rich friends need my poor friends to do better, if only to stay rich.

Again, we’re not trying to change the fundamentals of the game. We’re working to make it more just, equitable, and fair so that others can access the system and begin building wealth.  Let’s start counting rent payments, utilities, and other real-world data that shows responsibility. Let’s fix the system’s inputs so every qualified family can access the American Dream.

The gap is big, but the solution is simple: education, credit, and opportunity. And with the right coaching, we can get there together.

Watch my ABC interview here.