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HUD
Awards Neighborhood Reinvestment
$7.75 Million Toward NCHEC Homeownership Counseling Goal |
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Neighborhood
Reinvestment Corporation has received a $7.75 million
HUD grant to standardize counseling services nationwide
and provide training to housing counselors working at
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. The Corporation
recently opened the NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership
Education and Counseling (NCHEC) for this purpose.
Neighborhood
Reinvestment also received from HUD
$1.85 million in housing counseling grants, designated
as follows:
- $1.3 million for comprehensive counseling
- $275,000 for homeownership voucher counseling;
and
- $275,000 for predatory lending counseling
View HUD
press release.
To learn more
about NCHEC, visit www.nw.org/nchec
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| Kenneth
D. Wade Addresses Homeownership Education Issues in Washington
Post Online Chat |
| Kenneth
Wade, Neighborhood Reinvestment's chief executive officer,
spoke about homeownership education and other affordable
housing issues in an online chat on the Washington Post's
Web site. View
transcript. |
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| Neighborhood
Reinvestment, Joint Center, Release Reports on Property
Management and Partnerships |
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Two new studies
were recently published by Neighborhood Reinvestment
and the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard
University as part of the Fellowship Program for Emerging
Leaders in Community and Economic Development.
The studies
are:
Assessing
Property Management for Affordable Housing
Marc Diaz compares self-management and third-party property
management of nonprofit-owned, affordable multifamily
rental housing. View
report. [PDF]
Bridging Sectors: Partnerships Between Nonprofits
and Private Developers Amy Chung explores multifamily
housing development partnerships. View
report. [PDF]
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| Community
Strategies represents the shared experience of the NeighborWorks
network and Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation in various topics
of community development and affordable housing. |
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| The
NeighborWorks Training
Institute is dedicated to providing the highest quality
training for community development practitioners. Learn
about the latest classes and symposia on leading-edge
topics. |
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| Neighborhood
Reinvestment, working closely with members of the NeighborWorks
network and partners, produces a wide-variety of publications. Most
are free and others cost a nominal fee to order. For a complete
listing and order forms, go to NeighborWorks Publications. |
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| Find lists
and charts on Neighborhood Reinvestment and the NeighborWorks
network organizations. |
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| Most
Rhode Island Jobs Don't Pay Enough to Provide Housing, Says
Report |
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A new report initiated by NeighborWorks member Woonsocket Housing
Development suggests that Rhode Island must both provide subsidies
and encourage the construction of many more housing units. The
study, authored by Eric Hangen and Edmund Wong, indicates that
machinists, nursing aides, preschool teachers and those in dozens
of other occupations can't afford to buy a house or rent an
apartment in 34 of Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns. Or, if
they do buy or rent, they are probably spending a larger portion
of income on housing than they should. Joseph Garlick, executive
director of the Woonsocket Housing Development Group, said he
hopes the numbers will shift the focus from talk about housing
to action. View
report [PDF] |
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| The
Philadelphia Inquirer Notes Accomplishments of NeighborWorks
Organization |
"Its
efforts are limited only by its annual budget," The
Philadelphia Inquirer says of 30-year-old Philadelphia
Neighborhood Housing Services. The NeighborWorks organization
is currently focusing on revitalizing two neighborhoods in West
Philadelphia. The mission, executive director Bernard Hawkins
told the Inquirer, "is to keep viable neighborhoods
from falling prey to the ills that can destabilize them, either
by helping residents buy vacant houses that have been rehabilitated
or making sure houses that are occupied remain in good repair."
The newspaper reported that "about 200 people a year participate
in the agency's counseling programs for first-time homeowners.
More than 250 take advantage of such programs as facade treatment,
which include repair or replacement of stairs and sidewalks;
weatherization and porch repair; replacing systems such as furnaces;
and home-inspection services, which help pinpoint where houses
need work."
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| Wade
Praises Work of NHS of Waco at Annual Event |
Kenneth Wade, chief executive officer of Neighborhood Reinvestment,
lauded Neighborhood Housing Services of Waco for its robust
housing production in its community. "The NHS of Waco is
considered a workhorse among the network," Wade said at
the organization's celebratory event attended by 200. "It's
not just the size that matters, but the spirit and heart, too.
The efforts of your organization match what we often see in
bigger cities." He noted that while the national average
for homeownership is about 68 percent, Waco's rate lags at 48
percent. But in the past year, Waco NHS has helped 160 families
become homeowners, he added. Waco NHS provides down payment
loans, gives financial counseling and provides education courses
for first-time buyers.
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| Merrill
Lynch Provides $1 Million for Housing Projects in Orange County,
California |
| Merrill
Lynch provided a $1 million loan to be administered by the Orange
County Affordable HomeOwnership Alliance and Neighborhood Housing
Services of Orange County for low- and mid-income housing projects.
NHS of Orange County is a NeighborWorks organization based in
Anaheim, California. |
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| Nehemiah
Corp. Seeks Regulation of Down-Payment Assistance Industry |
Nehemiah
Corp., a leading provider of down-payment assistance,
is advocating that HUD provide more regulation of the
industry it helped create, The American Banker
reported. The Sacramento nonprofit plans to release a
"code of conduct" that it hopes the rest of
the industry will adopt, including guidelines on using
funds and pricing transactions, as well as documentation
of gift fund requests, disclosure of processing fees,
and regular internal audits. The article suggests that
the Zero Down Payment Act, introduced by Rep. Pat Tiberti,
R-Ohio, would remove the 3 percent down-payment requirement
on Federal Housing Administration-backed loans for first-time
buyers, thereby eliminating the need for down-payment
assistance providers.
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Opportunity and Progress: A Bipartisan Platform for National
Housing Policy |
In
a new book, former HUD secretaries Henry Cisneros and
Jack Kemp, as well as Kent Colton and Nicolas Retsinas
reassert housing as a national priority and ask that the
federal government assume its place at the table partnering
with states, localities, and both public, and private-sector
organizations to address housing issues throughout the
nation. View
ordering information.
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| Hope
Awards, December 1 |
The
HOPE (Home Ownership Participation for Everyone) Awards,
are for organizations or individuals making outstanding
contributions to increase minority homeownership. The
awards includes a $10,000 honorarium, speaking opportunities,
and an expense-paid trip to a gala at the National Building
Museum in Washington, D.C. The HOPE Awards is an industry
awards program created by a partnership of real estate
associations including the National Association of Realtors.
For more information, visit www.hopeawards.org.
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| Wachovia
Regional Foundation's Neighborhood Development Grants,
December 1 |
The
Wachovia Regional Foundation's Neighborhood Development
Grants support comprehensive community development projects
that target specific neighborhoods in New Jersey, Delaware
and Pennsylvania. The project must be based on a current
resident-driven neighborhood plan. Grants vary in size
from $100,000 to $750,000 and are disbursed over three
to five years. Grants are approved twice each year through
a two-phase application process. Phase one deadline for
the development grants is December 1. More
information.
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Applications for Urban Excellence Award, December 13 |
The Bruner Foundation is accepting applications for its
2005 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence. The award
recognizes well-designed urban places "that incorporate
political, community, environmental, and formal elements
into an inclusive and multidimensional whole." One
Gold Medal winner will receive $50,000, and four Silver
Medal winners will receive $10,000 each. Applications
are due Dec. 13. Mailto:application@brunerfoundation.org
. Download the application: www.brunerfoundation.org
.
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| Farm
Labor Housing Loans and Grants, December 27 |
The Department of Agriculture is making available loans
and grants for construction or rehabilitation of multi-family
housing and emergency services for migrant and seasonal
farm workers. Loans range from $165,000 to $670,000. More
information.
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NeighborWorks Training Institute: December 13-17, New
Orleans |
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New Orleans is the site for the next NeighborWorks Training
Institute to be held December 13-17, 2004. Featuring expanded
homeownership and community lending training offered by
the NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and
Counseling (NCHEC), courses in Spanish and an array of
networking and idea-sharing opportunities, New Orleans
is one of the year's most popular NeighborWorks Training
Institutes' venues. Registration
information. |
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| NeighborWorks
Training Institute Symposium Focuses on Board Empowerment:
December 16, New Orleans |
Through peer sharing, presentations, discussion groups
and resource materials, you will work with fellow board
members and experts in the field to develop creative ways
to inspire your board to become a community of learners
eager to discover and implement new ways to improve their
performance.
It all takes place Thursday, December 16, 2004, when stakeholders
and experts in the field of board governance gather for
NeighborWorks Training Institute's one-day symposium,
Unleash the Power of Your Board! Rejuvenate and Realize
Your Board’s Potential.
The symposium will provide the forum for experienced and
novice board members, executive directors and other stakeholders
to learn new skills and tools to better align values and
commitment with practices so that community development
work remains fresh and vibrant. It promises to inspire
and invigorate you.
The registration deadline is Monday, November 29. For
more information or to download a registration form, visit
Symposium
information |
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| Regional
Training Institute in Denver, February 2005 |
The
Rocky Mountain district’s Regional Training Institute
will be held February 7-11, 2005 in Denver, Colorado.
Featuring intensive core and specialized education in
all aspects of affordable housing and community development,
the Rocky Mountain RTI will offer a symposium and other
content related specifically to issues facing the region.
While the event focuses primarily on Rocky Mountain states
and Texas, courses in the Native American, homeownership
and community lending, and rural subject areas are open
to a national audience. View
information. Download information on Native
American community development training. [PDF]
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| CHAM
(Consortium of Housing Asset Managers), Dec. 9-11 |
| The
fifth annual conference for asset management professionals
will be held December 9 -11 in New Orleans. Join LISC,
Enterprise and Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation as
they exchange learning experiences with the top CDC asset
and property managers, funders, lenders, state and local
housing agency staff, and industry experts. This year’s
sessions cover fraud protection, linking asset managers
to the development process, Year-15 issues, “green”
building techniques, leasing commercial space in mixed-use
buildings, maximizing return from third party managers,
improving resident support systems, and much more. For
more information and to register, visit the LISC
Web site. |
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| Strengthening
the Case for Homeownership Counseling |
| Strengthening
the Case for Homeownership Counseling: Moving Beyond "A
Little Bit of Knowledge" by Steven Hornburg, Emerging
Community Markets, makes the case for higher industry
standards. The report was commissioned by Neighborhood
Reinvestment. View
report [PDF, 295KB] |
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| New
Web Site for Family Strengthening Policy Center |
| The
National Assembly announced the launch of its new Web
site, www.nassembly.org/fspc,
as a part of its Family Strengthening Policy Center. The
Center, sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, aims
to make family strengthening a priority by mainstreaming
neighborhood-based, family-centered practices, programs
and policy. |
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| 'Illegal
to be Homeless' Ranks 'Meanest' Cities and States |
| The
National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has released
a report "Illegal to be Homeless: The Criminalization
of Homelessness in the United States," a comprehensive
study of homeless civil rights violations. This study
surveyed current laws that criminalize homeless people
and ranks the top “meanest” cities and states
in the country in their response to homelessness.
View
ordering information. |
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| Bike
& Build: Pedaling to End Poverty Housing |
Through
fund-raising cycling trips, Bike & Build raises money
for and awareness of affordable housing efforts. Its events
act as a catalyst to build homes, foster the spirit of
service, and empower young adults... mile by mile, house
by house. Visit www.bikeandbuild.org
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| Design
Advisor: Porches and Balconies that Work for You and Your
Neighbors |
Everybody loves a porch, and balconies are a favorite
place to relax. It is important to think about porches
and balconies in all of their roles: as enjoyable semi-private
outside living spaces and as visual and functional areas
of transition between the public street or sidewalk and
the private area of the house. This month, Design Advisor
looks at porches and balconies and the role they play
in the lives of residents and communities. View
Design Advisor.
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