 |
Neighborhood Reinvestment
Awarded More Than $2.15 Million for Housing Counseling Efforts
HUD has announced its FY 2003 Housing
Counseling Awards, and once again, Neighborhood Reinvestment
applied for and was granted one of the top awards. The Corporation
was awarded more than $2.15 million for its comprehensive
homeowner counseling application, and $271,000 for Section
8 voucher homeownership counseling. This year’s award,
totaling over $2.4 million, is the highest award that the
Corporation has ever received. More information will be released
soon on the home page of www.nw.org.
MacArthur Announces Major Rental Initiative;
NeighborWorks Network Affiliates Included
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced
a 10-year, $50-million effort to preserve and improve affordable
rental housing –- in what Jonathan Fanton, foundation
president, called “an essential component of a balanced
national housing supply.”
Two NeighborWorks organizations -- AHC Inc. of Arlington,
Virginia, and Community Housing Partners Corporation of Richmond,
Virginia -- and a related NeighborWorks capital corporation
-- Neighborhood Capital Corp. -- are among the MacArthur recipients
to date. View
article.
America's Homeowners Give Themselves High
Marks For Home Maintenance According to Sears/
NeighborWorks Survey
American homeowners know a great deal about home care, are
extremely competent at handling key maintenance tasks and
would appear to be doing a good job of maintaining their homes,
according to the results of a nationwide survey.
The survey of 1,002 American homeowners was conducted by Sears,
Roebuck & Co. in conjunction with the Neighborhood Reinvestment
Corporation, which founded and supports the NeighborWorks
network of more than 225 locally based affordable housing
and community development organizations nationwide. The survey
is part of Sears' American Dream Campaign (SADC), a $100 million
commitment to strengthen families, homes and communities.
Asked to grade the job they do of maintaining their homes,
80% of the homeowners surveyed gave themselves a "B"
or better, and 83% described the primary home care person
in their household as "very handy" or "somewhat
handy." Seventy-four percent say they enjoy home maintenance.
The survey was designed to measure how well Americans care
for their homes, probe attitudes about home ownership, ascertain
what Americans know about home care, and pinpoint areas where
they could use assistance. View
press release.
Sears Refreshes Homes
at a Dozen NeighborWorks Sites as Part of $1.3 Million NeighborWorks
Alliance
Sears
continued its partnership with the NeighborWorks network through
the fall of 2003 with an emphasis on homeowners home maintenance
needs. The $1.3 million, two-year Sears’ alliance with
12 NeighborWorks sites is funding postpurchase training
programs and the development of a national curriculum. Part
of the program will provide up to 2,000 gift cards for graduates
of the groups’ postpurchase training.
The 12 NeighborWorks sites include Colorado Rural Housing
Development Corp., CDC of Long Island, Fifth Ward CRC, Gwinnett
Resource Housing Partnership, Los Angeles NHS, NHS of Chicago,
NHS of New York City, Northside NHS, Nuestra Comunidad, Philadelphia
NHS, St. Petersburg NHS, and San Antonio NHS. View
article.
|
|
 |
 |
| Community Strategies represents the shared experience of the NeighborWorks network and Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation in various topics of community development and affordable housing. |
 |
| 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. |
 |
| 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. |
 |
| Find lists and charts on Neighborhood Reinvestment and the NeighborWorks network organizations. |
|
|
|
Beyond
Housing Creates For-Profit Lender for Low-Income Borrowers
In a move to protect low-income families from predatory lenders,
Beyond Housing/Neighborhood Housing Services of St. Louis has created
a for-profit entity, Community Lending Corp., which it hopes to
grow to $10 million by 2007. Community Lending Corp. has raised
$750,000 and made three loans in excess of $37,000 for home purchases
and refinancings in Pagedale, a suburb in north St. Louis County.
View
article.
Two
Network Affiliates Win MetLife Awards
Two NeighborWorks organizations on opposite sides of the country
-- Neighborhood Housing Services Inc. of Boise, Idaho, and Urban
Edge Housing Corp. of Roxbury, Massachusetts -- have been selected
as 2003 winners of MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable
Housing. View
article.
Burlington Community Land Trust Receives Award
Burlington Community Land Trust (BCLT) received the 2003 Jim and
Patty Rouse Award this month at a ceremony during The Enterprise
Foundation's Annual Network Conference. BCLT, a Vermont NeighborWorks
organization, was recognized for its leadership in affordable housing
and neighborhood revitalization, especially its impact on Burlington's
Old North End. City of Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle joined BCLT
and partners, neighbors, and residents to celebrate BCLT’s
accomplishment. "BCLT has a terrific track record in bringing
innovative community revitalization to Burlington neighborhoods,
in particular the Old North End, by strengthening community fabric
through successful homeowners and committed renters in high-quality
housing as well as significant community
commercial resources," said Clavelle. He noted that BCLT "consistently
demonstrates an ability to bring diverse groups together, achieve
consensus, and take actions that will improve people’s lives."
A New Jersey Strategy
on Problem Properties
It became obvious to HANDS – Housing and Neighborhood Development
Services Inc., an Orange, New Jersey, NeighborWorks affiliate, that
pivotal deteriorated properties were having an unusually strong
negative influence on neighborhoods. They came up with an innovative
strategy. View
article.
New Orleans Program
Encourages Police Officers to Purchase Homes in Emerging Neighborhoods
NHS of New Orleans is working with the New Orleans Police Department,
the city of New Orleans, and Hibernia Bank to help police officers
and employees of the New Orleans Police Department purchase low-cost
homes, refinance current mortgages, renovate blighted properties,
and improve their credit. The idea behind the program is to boost
property values, reduce crime rates, and revitalize rundown neighborhoods
by encouraging police officers to move in. NHS, a NeighborWorks
network organization, is providing homebuyer counseling for participants.
NHS of the Inland Empire Partners with Provident
Bank Mortgage on Donation Program
Provident Bank Mortgage pledged a donation of $20 for every retail
loan originated on properties located in the Inland Empire of Southern
California over the last quarter of the year. The donation will
be used to help fund a YouthBuild Program, which includes the purchase
of tools and equipment necessary to create a hands-on training environment
for low-income youth.
 |
Federal Grant
Applicants are Required to Have a DUNS Number
As of October 1, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) is requiring that federal grant applicants provide a
Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements
on or after October 1, 2003. OMB has determined that there
is a need for improved statistical reporting of Federal grants
and cooperative agreements. The number will be used by the
Federal government to provide a means to identify entities
receiving Federal grants and their business relationships.
The number will be used for tracking purposes, and to validate
address and contact information. The DUNS number will supplement
other identifiers required by statute or regulation, such
as tax identification numbers.
The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant is submitting
a paper application or using the government-wide electronic
portal www.grants.gov.
Organizations should verify that they have a DUNS number or
take steps to obtain one at no cost by calling a dedicated
toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711. Individuals
who would personally receive a grant or cooperative agreement
award from the Federal government apart from any business
or non-profit organization they may operate are exempt from
this requirement. More information is available on OMB’s
Web site or HUD’s
Web site.
Neighborhood Reinvestment has not required NeighborWorks organizations
to have a DUNS number, but we recommend that organizations
obtain one if they are applying for any Federal grants in
the future.
Lead Paint NOFA
Comments
The Office of Health Homes and Lead Hazard Control at HUD
is soliciting public comment on Notice of Funding Availability
for Health Homes and Lead Hazard Programs to ascertain whether
proposed information collection is necessary for proper performances
and enhances quality and utility of the program. Comments
end December 29, 2003. To learn more, visit: www.hud.gov
CDFI TA Data Collection
The CDFI Fund at the U.S. Treasury is soliciting public comment
on data collection to evaluate the utility and quality of
the Native American CDFI Assistance Program Application. Comments
end December 29, 2003. To learn more, visit: www.cdfifund.gov
Section 811 Data Collection
The Office of Assistant Secretary for Housing at HUD is soliciting
public comment on proposed information collection on Section
811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities. Comments
end January 9, 2004. To learn more, visit www.hud.gov.
Appropriations Process Stalled
On Tuesday, November 18, the Senate approved the FY 2004 VA-HUD
and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act by a voice vote.
However, the bill will most likely only move as part of a
larger, omnibus measure with five other appropriations bills.
The House and the Senate hope to complete this process prior
to Thanksgiving, and have funded the government under a continuing
resolution through Sunday, November 23. If Congress can’t
agree on appropriations, Medicare, and energy reform prior
to Thanksgiving, it is anticipated they will enact a long-term
continuing resolution that funds the government (and Neighborhood
Reinvestment) until February 2004 at FY 2003 funding rates.
For questions, please contact Michael Butchko in Neighborhood
Reinvestment’s Office of Public Policy and Legislative
Affairs at mbutchko@nw.org.
|
 |
CDFI Technical
Assistance Grants
The CDFI Fund at the U.S. Treasury is accepting grant applications
for technical assistance grants. The deadline is rolling. The
grants are $50,000 each and supports capacity building assistance
to start-up and early-stage CDFIs and entities planning to become
CDFIs. Visit: www.cdfifund.gov
|
 |
Atlanta Training
Institute, February 23-27
The new date for
the NeighborWorks Training Institute in Atlanta is February
23-27, 2004. NeighborWorks participants will attend at the
special rate of $150. This Institute will feature a
Symposium: "Achieving Excellence in Community Development
– Investing in Leaders, Returning Results"
This symposium on Thursday, February 26, will feature an interactive
session on achieving excellence in your organization and in
the communities you serve. Learn valuable tools and strategies
on the use of performance measures. Transform your organization
and prepare for the next five years! This Symposium is a component
of Neighborhood Reinvestment’s Advanced Practitioners
Platform (APP).
Courses to Strengthen Your Board! The NeighborWorks Training
Institute is expanding its commitment to strengthen boards
of community development organizations. The curriculum will
feature newly developed courses and others that are especially
relevant to board members, staff and residents.
Courses in Spanish – We continue meeting the growing
demand for Spanish-speaking practitioner training by offering
two courses in Spanish: "Métodos de Educación
para Compradores de Casa: Adiestrando al Adiestrador"
(5-day course) and "Consejería para el Comprador
del Hogar" (2-day course). If you are a predominately
Spanish-speaking community development practitioner working
with a growing Latino population, these courses will help
you learn important skills and tools.
Information about this Institute will soon be available on
www.nw.org/training.
Be sure to check the Web site soon for course listings and
more information!
|
 |
Measuring Success in
Community Development
Resources
are now available from the NeighborWorks Training Institute's
symposium, Measuring What Matters: How Do Organizations
Demonstrate the Difference They Are Making in Communities?
Resources include session summaries, resources from the
symposium notebook, and useful Web links. The content in this
new Web section will continue to be expanded as new resources
become available. www.nw.org/measures
Home
Ownership Trends by Race and Ethnicity Available from The
Mumford Center
The Mumford Center's
Web pages on home ownership trends for whites, blacks, Hispanics
and Asians now have new estimates based on the latest census
information. We have reanalyzed the data to provide accurate
information for these groups about levels of homeownership,
plus the effect of
homeownership on segregation, and the characteristics of the
neighborhoods where renters and homeowners of each group live.
Data are provided for every metro area, plus its city and
suburb portions. View
trends.
Two
New Studies from The Joint Center and Neighborhood Reinvestment
The Joint Center
and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation announced completion
of research papers on two important community development
topics: Community Development in Dynamic Neighborhoods:
Synchronizing Services and Strategies with Immigrant
Communities and Sustaining Home Ownership Through Education
and Counseling. View
press release.
HUD
Housing Counseling Broadcasts
HUD offers webcasts
on a variety of topics, including how to avoid predatory lending
and how to spend grant funds. Visit www.hud.gov/webcasts/archives/index.cfm
|
|
|
