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NeighborWorks® Video Demonstrates Value of Prepurchase Counseling in Preventing Foreclosure
A new video from NeighborWorks America demonstrates the value of homeownership education and counseling before purchasing a home.
At the center of this piece is a new homeowner who was proactive in getting the guidance she needed to become a responsible, lifelong homeowner. It also features NeighborWorks America CEO Ken Wade, who emphasized that prepurchase education is an important weapon against foreclosure.
The counseling services of network member Resources for Residents and Communities of Georgia Inc. were highlighted in this video as well.
The video was done in partnership with National Business Series, a production company that does educational documentaries for public television.
View video.
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| Remembering George Knight |
| NeighborWorks America has released a new memory book about the life of George Knight — a man of great intellect, thought, humility and compassion who lead our organization from 1990-2000.
George passed away in August of last year.
Undoubtedly, the impact of NeighborWorks —
where thousands of lives and communities have been transformed through homeownership and reinvestment— would not have been possible without George’s passion for community change. See the new memory book about his life. It includes his “lessons learned on justice, humility and the real deal.” |
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| Experts Stress Urgency of Green Housing |
| A NeighborWorks Green Symposium held in Phoenix May 6 attracted some of the most innovative thinkers in green affordable housing. They stressed the urgency of green housing, given environmental and energy concerns. The symposium focused on helping organizations “green” their housing development plans and offered a newly released Green Roadmap as a tool for the housing development process. View highlights, including presentations and video clips at nw.org/green. |
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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 Launches Social Media Presence |
| NeighborWorks America announced this month the launch of a new social media program. By engaging in a range of social media platforms – from a new blog and Facebook fan page to Twitter and Flickr – NeighborWorks is connecting to its audiences with a new, interactive dimension and more rapidly disseminating news and information about the organization and the housing and community development field.
“The addition of a social media presence to our communication strategy enables NeighborWorks to interact with our target audiences about the issues that are important to them. It will continue to raise the profile of NeighborWorks as a leader in the nonprofit industry and give us the opportunity to build audience feedback and needs into our strategic planning,” said Linda Cotton Perry, director of Development and Communications at NeighborWorks America NeighborWorks America.
Learn how you can stay connected with NeighborWorks America.
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| NeighborWorks America Names Additional Award Winners |
| In May, NeighborWorks America announced the 2009 NeighborWorks Government Service Award recipients, an honor that recognizes elected or appointed officials at the local, state, and federal levels. All have made significant contributions to improving the lives of the people in their communities through support for affordable housing and community development. NeighborWorks also announced the recipient of the 2009 NeighborWorks Business Leadership Award. Launched in 2007, the NeighborWorks Business Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding community volunteer from the private sector each year. In April, NeighborWorks saluted eight resident leader volunteers from around the country for their outstanding contributions to their communities. Learn more about the NeighborWorks Awards Program. |
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| Volunteers From Across the Country Gear Up for National NeighborWorks Week |
| More than 160 NeighborWorks organizations are slated to participate in National NeighborWorks Week this year, conducting nearly 300 events nationwide. In addition, NeighborWorks Plants! will be held on June 6 and more than 100 organizations will beautify their neighborhoods with trees, plants, vegetables and flowers. Find out more details and sign up for an event near you! |
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| Face-Lift for Foreclosure Prevention |
| The Obama administration is attempting to revive the stalled Hope for Homeowners program that could restore equity to hundreds of thousands of borrowers whose home values have plummeted. According to the Washington Post, after eight months, the program has helped just one borrower secure a more affordable loan. President Obama signed legislation earlier this month simplifying and lowering the cost of the program for lenders and borrowers. Lenders that participate also are eligible for incentive payments from government bailout funds.
The article also reports that the revised program is now attracting some unexpected backers: Investors who had refused to consider the program's requirement that they forgive some of a borrower's mortgage balance if the home is worth less than is owed, known as being underwater, are now trumpeting that provision. Read more from Washingtonpost.com.
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| Renters Get New Protection From Foreclosure |
| The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that 40 percent of the households that lose their homes to foreclosure are renters evicted after the bank takes the home from their landlord. Renters now have more protection against losing their homes under the new foreclosure prevention bill President Obama signed into law on May 20. Starting immediately, the law requires that tenants who pay their rent on time can remain in their home until the end of their lease, unless the bank sells the property to someone who intends to make it his own residence. Even without a lease, renters must be allowed to stay in their home for 90 days after the foreclosure. The provision is scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. Learn more at WashingtonPost.com, including a link to state-by-state analysis of eviction and foreclosure laws. |
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| NeighborWorks CEO Ken Wade Testifies at Congressional Hearing on Foreclosure |
| On May 13, NeighborWorks America CEO Ken Wade testified before the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity on: “The Role of NeighborWorks and Housing Counseling Intermediaries in Preventing Foreclosures.” Wade’s testimony focused on the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, as well as other NeighborWorks efforts to address the foreclosure crisis. Read his testimony. |
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| The President’s FY 2010 Budget Includes $166.8 Million for NeighborWorks America |
President Obama released details of his FY 2010 Budget on May 7, and it includes $166.8 million in funding for NeighborWorks America. The NeighborWorks appropriation has a base budget of
$133 million to continue to provide financial and programmatic support, including promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, to affiliated NeighborWorks organizations and the broader community development field. It also allows an additional $33.8 million to continue the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) program, in response to what is expected to be a continuing foreclosure problem in FY 2010. View more details. Download NeighborWorks FY2010 Budget Justification. |
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| HUD FY 2010 Budget Released; Calls for Increased CDBG Funding |
| U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan has announced HUD’s budget for Fiscal Year 2010. The budget includes measures to “substantially” increase funding for Section 8 tenant-based rental vouchers; increase funding for, and fully fund, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program; and contribute $1 billion towards the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF). The gross budget authority proposed for HUD for FY2010 is $46.34 billion, a 10.8 percent increase over the gross budget authority of $41.83 billion for FY2009. Learn more. |
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| NeighborWorks Organization Board Member Becomes U.S. Treasurer |
| NeighborWorks America congratulates Rosie Rios, who serves on the board of directors of NeighborWorks member The Unity Council, on her nomination to be U.S. Treasurer by President Obama. See the press release. |
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Neighborhood Stabilization Round II Competitive Grants, Deadline July 17
Register Today for a NeighborWorks Webinar on Energy Star Requirements of These Grants |
| The May 4 notice on Neighborhood Stabilization Round II grants indicates that all gut rehabs must be built to Energy Star for New Homes criteria. In light of this requirement, NeighborWorks is sponsoring a webinar on Energy Star on June 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. Our partners from the Southface Energy Institute will be conducting the webinar to explain Energy Star, what it is, what is required, how to qualify a home for this program. The intent is to inform all builders about the program as they develop their NSP II programs. The webinar is open on a first-come, first-served basis and can accommodate about 150 people. Registration for the meeting is now open. If you have questions, please contact Keshea Dudley. |
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| HUD Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing, Applications Open June 15 |
| On May 13, HUD released its guidelines for its $250 million Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing. The program provides up to $15,000 per residential unit to reduce energy costs, reduce water use, improve indoor environmental quality and provide other environmental benefits. Applications for this program can begin to be submitted on June 15. See guidelines. Read the program overview [PDF]. |
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| Assets for Independence Now Accepting Grant Applications, Deadline June 25 |
| The Federal Assets for Independence (AFI) Program is offering grant funds for asset-building programs nationwide that provide low-income individuals and families with tools they need for long-term economic success. Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, AFI offers five-year grants of up to $1 million to nonprofits and state, local and tribal government agencies. The average grant is approximately $350,000. Learn grant details. |
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| HUD Grants to Clean Up Dangerous Lead in Low-Income Housing, Deadline July 20 |
| HUD is making more than $117 million available to eliminate dangerous lead-based paint hazards from lower income homes and protect young children from lead poisoning. The grants are being offered to states and local governments through HUD's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control and Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Programs.
Applicants for this funding may be state, tribal or local governments. The deadline for applying for a grant is July 20, 2009.
Applications may be downloaded from the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control's Web site at www.hud.gov/lead. For more details see HUD's grant announcement.
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| Chicago Symposium to Focus on Using Social Media to Engage Communities |
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Social media Web sites are gaining in popularity and attention from organizations. To learn more about the ever growing list of social media resources available to you — many free of charge — attend the Chicago Training Institute this August, where you can take part in the special social media symposium, Social Media and Web 2.0: Engaging Community and Achieving Mission. Join us for this innovative symposium where you will learn about cutting-edge social media tools and experience them firsthand. Learn about ways organizations are taking advantage of the technologies of sites such as Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, Digg and more! Registration for the Chicago Training Institute and the Social Media Symposium now! Register online!
Also, don't forget to join LeadersforCommunities.org, a new professional networking site for leaders in the community development field to connect with each other and share knowledge, resources, tools and job opportunities. Learn about the other ways that you can stay connected with NeighborWorks America.
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| Community Building & Organizing to Expand into the Enhanced Community Engagement Professional Certificate Track |
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Community engagement brings together individual, institutional and social network interests to serve the common good. It is through the community building, community organizing and community leadership that community engagement happens. Ultimately, it is through connecting people that communities thrive.
Be a leader in making the connection. NeighborWorks America has expanded and enhanced the existing Community Building and Organizing content area to become the Community Engagement content area, featuring a new Community Engagement professional certificate program. We’re launching exciting new courses, and many courses will be updated to address the latest trends and needs in the field. The certificate program consists of a series of courses and a practicum that together provide the conceptual framework, specialized tools and interpersonal and technical skills necessary to accomplish successful community engagement through community organizing, community building and community leadership. The new track will be announced at the Chicago Training Institute.
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| Foreclosure Intervention and FHA-Insured Homes E-Learning Recently Released |
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Seasoned foreclosure counselors can explore a wide variety of intervention options available to homeowners in distress by taking the latest online learning course, HO346el — Understanding and Applying Foreclosure Intervention and Loss Mitigation Tools. Participants learn to identify the most critical financial factors in foreclosure cases, review and analyze brief case scenarios, and then choose the loss mitigation tool that best addresses a homeowner’s mortgage problems.
HO253el — FHA-Insured Loans: An Affordable Mortgage Option, just recently released as a new e-learning opportunity, is designed for homeownership counselors seeking the nuts and bolts of FHA guidelines and loan requirements for a rapidly changing lending environment. This online course prepares counselors to assist clients in determining if the FHA program is a viable mortgage option based on financial circumstances.
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| Special Notice: Be Sure You’re Prepared for Your Next Trip to a NeighborWorks Event |
| Per TSA's Secure Flight guidelines, remember that you must provide your travel arranger with your legal name (exactly as it appears on your government-issued photo identification), date of birth, gender and redress number (if applicable). Make your trip a smooth one and remember to have all your information in place before you travel. For more information on travel and flight guidelines, visit www.tsa.gov. |
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| Green Roadmap for the Project Development Process Available |
| NeighborWorks America recently made available a Green Roadmap for to help community development organizations
green affordable housing. The Green Roadmap defines how to assure green outcomes for each phase of the development process. View Roadmap.
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| NeighborWorks Guide on Greening Nonprofit Organizations |
| NeighborWorks America announced earlier this month the availability of a new guide titled Greening Your Nonprofit from the Inside Out: A NeighborWorks Guide for Community Development Organizations. This guide provides tools and strategies to go green, from understanding how to measure an organization’s environmental impacts to choosing quick and easy ways to improve office practices. The guide also includes case studies from current NeighborWorks organizations to how nonprofits are incorporating green elements into their business operations. Download the manual. |
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