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| Shaun Donovan Confirmed as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
| The Senate has confirmed former New York housing official Shaun Donovan as Housing and Urban Development secretary. He was New York City's housing commissioner, a position he had held since 2004. Members of both parties praised his qualifications to lead HUD at a January 13 confirmation hearing before the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. At the hearing, Donovan promised a more aggressive and far-reaching effort to ease the mortgage crisis and promote affordable housing. Learn more. |
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New Compelling Video Captures the Impact of NeighborWorks America and Make It Right on
New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward Residents |
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Over the past three years, NeighborWorks America has developed more than 30 strategic partnerships with local organizations throughout the Gulf Coast. One of those partners is Brad Pitt’s Make It Right in New Orleans, through which NeighborWorks America is providing Lower Ninth Ward residents with homeownership and financial education to help them achieve sustainable homeownership. This matches up well with Make It Right’s sustainable philosophy, which incorporates green building features that reduce utility costs and have other benefits.
NeighborWorks America recently completed a video that captures our work with Make It Right. Please take a moment to view this compelling story, which features not only the nature of the partnership with Make It Right, but also the Lower Ninth Ward residents who we’ve helped to return home. View video
Learn more about NeighborWorks Gulf Coast Rebuilding activities
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| Community Strategies represent the shared experience of NeighborWorks America and its member organizations 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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| NeighborWorks CEO Ken Wade to be Featured in TV One Special Real Estate Realities: When the Boom Goes Bust |
| On February 20, TV One will present Real Estate Realities: When the Boom Goes Bust, a prime-time special with Washington Post Columnist and TV One Financial Correspondent Michelle Singletary. With the help of NeighborWorks CEO Ken Wade, and top real estate professional Desiree Callender, Singletary will analyze the options for three African American individuals going through the housing meltdown. They will discuss loan interest resets, options when facing foreclosure, and taking advantage of the market's lower home prices. See a sneak peak. |
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NeighborWorks Network Expects Investment in Multifamily Portfolio
to Approach $700 Million in 2009 |
| NeighborWorks America anticipates continued growth in investment in the NeighborWorks® portfolio of owned and managed multifamily rental housing, forecasting the total investment in the portfolio to grow by more than $50 million, or just over 8 percent of the investment made in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. Last year, NeighborWorks organizations invested in excess of $644 million in multifamily properties. The expected growth in 2009 translates into approximately 5,000 additional units of quality, affordable and increasingly environmentally sustainable housing. Learn more. |
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| NeighborWorks Organizations Recognized for Innovations in Home Building |
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NeighborWorks organizations around the U.S. were recognized with a range of residential building awards in 2008, including commendation for outstanding environmental construction, creative financing and design. The 244 organizations in the NeighborWorks network include more than 80 members that are single- and/or multi-family homebuilders and remodelers. Read:
NeighborWorks Organizations Win 2008 National Homebuilding Awards
Champlain Housing Trust Wins United Nation’s World Habitat Award
NeighborWorks Organization Homewise Wins $2.75 Million Wachovia NEXT Award and EPA Water Efficiency Leader Award
Colorado NeighborWorks Organization Wins Built Green Home of the Year Award
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| Investors, Supporters and Stakeholders of Housing and Community Development Organizations Get New Evaluation Tool from NeighborWorks America |
NeighborWorks America has announced that it would begin offering a state-of-the-art organizational assessment tool that will assist investors, nonprofit partners, governments and others to evaluate nonprofit organization activity and community impact. Based on an internal assessment process and technology developed over the past 25 years, PROMPT™ creates an objective measure that will help nonprofit organizations of different types improve their ability to improve the lives of residents and communities. Learn more about PROMPT™ and Organizational Assessment Services at NeighborWorks America.
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| NeighborWorks America Applauds NeighborWorks Alliance of Vermont for their Role in State Supreme Court Decision on Foreclosures |
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Vermont homeowners in danger of foreclosure will now know who to call for free foreclosure prevention assistance thanks to a move by the Vermont State Supreme Court. In an emergency amendment to the state Rules of Civil Procedure, which went into effect on January 1, 2009, Vermont homeowners entering into foreclosure will now receive a notice that contains contact information for nonprofit organizations — including five Vermont NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Centers — that offer free foreclosure prevention help. Read press release.
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| Experts Predict Second Wave of Foreclosures |
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According to a recent 60 Minutes report, a new wave of mortgage rate adjustments could force more homeowners to default. The report pointed to two types of exotic mortgages, called "Alt-A" and "option ARM," that had become popular during the housing boom, but are now beginning to reset. The option ARMs, in particular, lured borrowers in with low initial interest rates — so-called teaser rates — sometimes as low as one percent. But after two, three or five years those rates "reset." They went up, and so did the monthly payment. Read 60 Minutes Report.
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| Disturbing New Trend: 'Loan Modification Firms' Prey on Struggling Homeowners |
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NeighborWorks America is concerned about the foreclosure rescue schemes that are proliferating across the country as the economic and housing crises deepens. In this disturbing new trend, "loan modification firms" prey on desperate homeowners, bombarding them with Web, television and radio ads promising them relief from foreclosure. But these scam operators often have no special ability to intervene on behalf of distressed borrowers or to work out loan modifications, repayment plans or other alternatives with lenders. All they want is to sign up clients and take their money. Here's information on the most prevalent scams, as well as other information for homeowners to prevent foreclosure.
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| Fannie Mae to End Tenant Evictions in Foreclosures |
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Fannie Mae announced the establishment of a new National Real Estate Owned (REO) Rental Policy that will allow qualified renters in Fannie Mae-owned foreclosed properties to stay in their homes. The company currently has an eviction suspension in place through the end of January, which will allow for the new policy to be fully operationalized prior to the suspension concluding. See Fannie Mae’s announcement.
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| NHS Representative on Federal Reserve Board |
| Patricia Garcia Duarte, president and CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix has been named to the Consumer Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for a three-year term. The Council advises the Board on the exercise of its responsibilities under the Consumer Protection Act and on other consumer financial services matters. Learn more. |
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| Praxis Project: Call for Proposals for Communities Creating Healthy Environments, Deadline February 26 |
| The Praxis Project is proud to announce the Call for Proposals for Communities Creating Healthy Environments (CCHE) — a new grant initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support community organizing and policy advocacy to increase access to healthy food and safe places to play in communities of color. CCHE will provide funding and technical assistance for up to ten local community organizing groups and indigenous nations with grants of up to $250,000 over three years. Youth led organizing groups in communities of color are strongly encouraged to apply. |
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| Bank of America Awards Applications |
| The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative is accepting applications for 2009 awards. This program recognizes and rewards individuals and organizations making a difference in communities across the country, and is divided into three categories: Neighborhood Builders, Local Heroes, and Student Leaders. The student leaders program recognizes high school juniors and seniors identified as exemplary young people with a passion for improving their communities. The Neighborhood Builders award funds up to $200,000 for operating support. The Local Hero’s award is $5,000 to eligible charitable organizations. Learn more, including application deadlines for the three separate awards, on the Foundation’s Web site.
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| Online Registration Still Open for the Atlanta NeighborWorks Training Institute |
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Online registration is open for the NeighborWorks Training Institute in Atlanta, GA. The online registration deadline is now extended to January 28, 2009. The Training Institute runs from February 16 – 20, 2009, and will feature the Homeownership Symposium, Preparing Organizations to Lead in the New Era of Homeownership, being held Wednesday, February 18. For the Atlanta Training Institute only, you can register for the Symposium for only $235! That’s a savings of $100. In these tough financial times, NeighborWorks wants to be sure you have access to the training and skills that will help you do the work that needs to be done.
Check out the full list of courses being offered at the Atlanta Training Institute. Further information and a downloadable, faxable registration form are also available on the training Web site.
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| Neighborhood Development Council Certification Available through NeighborWorks Courses |
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The NeighborWorks Affordable Housing and Community and Economic Development certificate programs have partnered with the National Development Council to provide courses that lead toward both NeighborWorks and NDC certification. Learn about one of these courses starting at the Atlanta Training Institute.
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| Board Members Gain Focus in E-Learning Courses |
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NeighborWorks America continues to expand its e-learning courses, with the addition of a new course, Board Oversight and Governance. This online course is designed specifically for board members. Novices and seasoned board members alike will take away valuable knowledge and skills to enhance their performance. Learn more and register now for the brand new Board Oversight and Governance course, as well as the highly popular Foreclosure Basics e-learning course.
Also being introduced in January is A Board Member’s Guide to Ensuring Organizational Health, an e-learning course designed for board members of community development organizations. Participants will learn and apply skills, methods and tools, including NeighborWorks America's PROMPT™ Model, which will help them better monitor and diagnose indicators related to an organization's health and well being. Learn more about e-learning at NeighborWorks.
An additional option will be available shortly, titled FHA-Insured Loans — An Affordable Mortgage Option.
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| Dynamic and Thriving New Learning Community Available for Innovators-in-Residence |
| The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) has created an exciting new learning community called Innovation@cfed. Starting January 6, 2009, they have been accepting submissions of innovative ideas and applications for a select number of individuals to become Innovators-in-Residence. CFED is a national nonprofit that since 1979 has been promoting innovative approaches to expand economic opportunity. For more information, visit http://innovation.cfed.org |
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| New Resource on Building Materials Reuse |
| Building-related construction and demolition (C&D) debris totals more than 164 million tons a year. The largest share of this debris comes from building demolitions (53 percent), followed by building remodeling and renovation (38 percent) and finally construction (9 percent). Together, it comprises nearly 40 percent of the combined C&D and municipal solid waste stream. Landfilling this material incurs a significant economic and environmental costs. This document focuses in depth on one inspiring model, the Portland Rebuilding Center at Our United Villages, funded by NeighborWorks America, to illustrate an approach to reusing building materials. The hope is to encourage others to investigate and potentially initiate similar efforts in their own communities. Read United Villages: A Case Study on Building Materials Reuse in Portland, Oregon. |
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| Narrated Presentation of the Hope for Homeowners Program |
| Is HUD's Hope for Homeowners ("H4H") Program an option for your housing clients? NeighborWorks America has made available a 15-minute narrated presentation [WMV] covering the features, benefits and eligibility requirements of the program. |
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| NeighborWorks Releases Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Manual for Community Development Organizations |
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Community development organizations have an important role to play in helping communities prepare for and recover from disasters. With this in mind NeighborWorks has created a helpful tool community development organizations can use to help prepare for potential disasters facing their communities. The purpose of the handbook is to provide community development organizations (CDOs) with basic information useful for the following:
- Developing organizational continuity of operations plans.
- Proactively assisting their communities with preparedness.
- Pre-planning for recovery and actual disaster recovery.
Download Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Community Development Organizations.
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| New Reports on Greening Multifamily Housing |
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Six million units of the nation’s affordable housing (nearly 17 percent of the nation’s 35 million rental units), is federally assisted in some way and thus open to clearly targeted green policies. According to a new report from the Center for American Progress, much of this housing is at least 20 years old, with more than 65 percent of public housing stock built before 1970. The Center makes an argument for targeted emphasis on energy conservation in renovating these properties to generate significant energy and CO2 reductions. Read Green Affordable Housing: Within Our Reach.
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future, a network of social enterprise nonprofits, has also developed a White paper on this subject, and presented it at the NeighborWorks training Institute in December. Read BIG IDEA: Provide financial incentives for energy conservation in affordable rental housing.
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