US BANK EMERGES AS
IE HOUSING CHAMPION

Powered by a generous $1 million gift from U.S. Bank, IECF and Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services Inc. (NPHS) have rolled out the Inland Empire Down Payment Assistance program (IEDPA), making homeownership more accessible for low- and moderate-income families in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

“We were inspired by our work with the San Diego Foundation’s down payment assistance program a few years ago,” says Rockette Ewell, Vice President, California Region Community Affairs Manager for U.S. Bank, when explaining her company’s decision to invest. “The Inland Empire DPA program brings together resources from both the public and private sectors to support access to homeownership for families who otherwise would not be able to make the dream of owning a home a reality.”

Ewell has spent most of her more than 30 years in banking in community affairs and corporate social responsibility. “At U.S. Bank, I’ve had the privilege of supporting our efforts to create stable jobs, better homes, and more vibrant communities,” she says.

Ewell is quick to recognize U.S. Bank’s long-term relationship with IECF and the fact that Humane Housing is a key element of the Vital Conditions Framework. “We know IECF shares our focus on supporting access to affordable housing and will collaborate with us to ensure that our contribution will have a meaningful impact in the region.”

Ewell applauds IECF’s partnership with NPHS to provide pre-purchase counseling to prospective home buyers as part of the down payment assistance program. “Engaging NPHS completes the circle of support for prospective home buyers,” she says, noting U.S. Bank’s long relationship with NPHS that includes philanthropic support, board service, and volunteer engagement by their bankers.

Additionally, U.S Bank will be the Housing Champion at this year’s IECF Policy and Philanthropy Summit. “While we’ll be one of the presenters, we’ll be surrounded by leaders speaking about topics that will help us keep U.S. Bank at the vanguard of critical issues affecting the Inland Empire and beyond,” Ewell says.