"Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play a crucial role in providing financial services to low-income communities—areas often overlooked by traditional banks. These mission-driven lenders offer affordable loans to small businesses, schools, grocery stores, daycare centers, and homebuyers who would otherwise struggle to access capital, helping to spur economic growth and stability across the country. Shrinking or defunding CDFIs threatens to dismantle this vital system, cutting off financial access for those who need it most. Without CDFI funding, many will face an even steeper uphill battle to build businesses, secure housing, and create jobs, deepening economic disparities in states already facing significant financial challenges. In this article, we explore, as an example, how CDFIs benefit homebuyers across the state of Mississippi."