Affordable Housing Network Steering Committee member Phyllis Caldwell-George is the President & CEO of Financial Pathways of the Piedmont (FPP), located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The organization provides services and resources to help individuals achieve financial well-being as well as credible, trustworthy assistance to clients to help them prosper and attain their goals, including housing and homeownership. Phyllis has been with the organization for over 25 years; she shared that she remembers making referrals to FPP as a recovery analyst years before she joined the organization as a financial counselor in 1998. 

The persistent housing disparities in Phyllis’ community have continued to fuel her passion and commitment to take a holistic approach to affordable housing and financial well-being. FPP’s approach is informed by the reality that affordable housing is affected by multiple factors, including, but not limited to childcare costs, mental health, access to transportation, and physical wellness. Affordable housing is sustainably achieved when there is a balance among all factors of individual and communal well-being. FPP’s efforts in the community also honor the expertise of community residents. Phyllis believes that a challenge cannot be properly addressed until those who are closest to the issue are instrumental in the decision-making process.

Looking ahead to 2024, Phyllis shared some exciting plans for FPP. The organization will be launching the Black Homebuyers Club; this initiative will not only boost the number of Black homeowners, but also build and sustain an extended community for support, resources, and knowledge. FPP will also expand its holistic approach to financial counseling and broaden its network of community partnerships.

Phyllis advocates for increased funding to ensure that her organization, and so many others, can reach and serve the surrounding communities. She also pushes for the dismantling of silos and supports collective, transparent conversations to honestly tackle and eradicate disparities for current and prospective homeowners and renters.