Media Interest: NACEDA's Second Annual Capacity Building and Policy Summit. Attending/covering the event, held March 31-April 2 in Washington, DC, were: Community Development Digest, Nonprofit Quarterly, Shelter Force and Housing Development Reporter. Congressional Quarterly also covered the agenda for the meeting and publicity surrounding the Summit garnered interest from a Financial Times reporter, who subsequently interviewed Executive Director Jane DeMarines. Look for coverage in future issues.

NJ CDC Serving Public Good By Rehabbing Vacant Properties. HANDS, Inc. is taking the lead in developing a special purpose entity, due to its record of success, Housing Director Wayne Meyer told attendees at the NACEDA Summit on April 1. HANDS serves Orange and East Orange, NJ (pop. 101,000), bordering Newark, have faced a destabilizing influence of approximately 1,000 vacant problem properties.

NeighborWorks America CEO Testifies on Hill. At an April 10 hearing, Ken Wade said his organization could well administer an additional $180 million proposed for housing counseling in H.R. 3221. (See "FHA Housing Stabilization..." under Capitol Hill.)

Save the Date: NeighborWorks Training Institute Featuring Foreclosure Crisis Symposium: May 5-9 in Cincinnati. The weeklong institute will include "Weathering the Storm: Stabilizing Communities in the Wake of Foreclosure" (HO907 Symposium). NeighborWorks Training Institute

Save the Date: Building Green: Affordable Housing Conference: May 9, 2008 in Indianapolis. Organized by Indianapolis Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) and Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED), among other groups, this one-day conference will feature three tracks of speakers on a wide variety of topics including innovative techniques, financing opportunities, and case studies. The registration fee is $50. For More Information, click here to Visit IACED's Website

Affordable Housing Forum: May 13-14 in Pittsburgh. Sponsored by Local Initiative Support Corporation, NEF, Fannie Mae and MARC-NAHRO, the forum will help participants understand the key elements of the development process and asset management techniques. For complete registration information and a schedule of events, For more information visit www.marcnahro.org

Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Passes in Senate by an 84-12 vote on April 10. H.R. 3221 would provide $3.92 billion in Community Development Block Grant monies for a neighborhood stabilization fund to purchase foreclosed properties for resale or rent, as well as $180 million through NeighborWorks for housing counseling, and require that 25% of funds be targeted to households at 50% of area median income or below. The bill was introduced by Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, as compromise legislation after the non-movement of S. 2636, a housing stimulus package introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in February. It also includes tax relief totaling $10.9 billion over 10 years, provisions include an additional standard deduction ($500 single, $1,000 joint) for non-itemizing homeowners who pay property taxes, increased funding for mortgage revenue bonds, a $7,000 credit to buyers of homes in foreclosure, and for struggling homebuilders and other companies a write-off of current losses. These provisions were proposed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA). See the committee's press release.

Administration Demanding That Congress Produce FHA Reform Stand-Alone Bill Including RBPs. The authorization for the mortgage insurance agency to charge risk-based premiums was deliberately omitted from the House- and Senate-passed versions of the Federal Housing Administration modernization bill. The Senate's is now within larger foreclosure prevention legislation, which the Administration is trying to derail.

Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008 Introduced in House by Housing Subcommittee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) on April 16. H.R. 5818 would create a $15-billion, HUD-administered loan and grant program to help states and communities purchase and resell foreclosed homes as quickly as possible. Loans would be zero-interest.

FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008 Introduced on April 17 by House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). H.R. 5830 would create a new Federal Housing Administration program to insure refinance loans at reasonably sustainable levels for struggling homeowners, up to a maximum aggregated original principal obligation level of $300 billion. At an April 9 committee hearing on the then-draft bill, Frank said if lenders do not buy in voluntarily, a regulatory response would be needed. Republicans criticized the plan, led by Ranking Member Spencer Bachus (R-AL), who said it would encourage lenders and borrowers not to settle but rather to wait for a bailout at the expense of 51 million homeowners (out of 55 million) who keep up with their payments. At an April 10 hearing on FHA's role in addressing the housing crisis, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) focused on the need for policy not to ultimately push bad loans into the agency and thereby cause its insolvency. Frank announced that his committee would mark up the legislation on April 23 and 24.

Administration Expands FHASecure Program Eligibility. Federal Housing Administration officials said the program would help 500,000 homeowners by year's end. At the April 9 House Financial Services hearing, HUD Assistant Secretary for Housing, Federal Housing Commissioner Brian Montgomery, said borrowers with spotty credit still would not get backing through FHASecure, which was introduced in August 2007 to help homeowners with rising adjustable rate mortgages.

McCain Now Says He Would Use FHA to Aid Homeowners. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain on April 10 proposed such plan to insure delinquent subprime loans, after having resisted broader government intervention on the housing crisis.

McCain Also Says He Would Consider Rolling Back CRA. He gave that answer to Larry Kudlow, a conservative pundit--a political class who lately find it fashionable to blame the Community Reinvestment Act for encouraging bad lending leading to the current credit crisis, according to Ellen Seidman, Director of the Financial Services and Education Project in the Asset Building Program of the New America Foundation, in an April 15 blog. The charge is nonsense, she said, because the program has done good work and was enacted 25 years before the onset of the crisis.

Dodd to Offer Foreclosures Bill. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) reportedly tried to make the draft legislation part of the foreclosure mitigation package passed by the Senate, but the HOPE for Homeowners Act now is gaining support. Dodd said April 16 that he would consult with stakeholders on the draft, and provide a formal version to the committee within two weeks.

Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 Approved By House Committee. Introduced on April 9 by Ways and Means Committee Chair Charles Rangel (D-NY) and marked up that day, H.R. 5720 would among other provisions increase each state's per capita limit of Low Income Housing Tax Credits by 20 cents (current limit $2.00 per capita) in 2008 and 2009. It would also make several changes to the Housing Bond programs and provide for certain first-time homebuyers a tax credit worth 10% of the purchase price of the home (up to $7,500). The committee's vote was 35-5.

New Markets Tax Credit Program Makes Top 50 in Innovations in American Government Awards Competition 2008. The federal program, which provides tax credits for investments in low-income communities, was recognized on April 15. (Harvard's pr ess release.)

More Rural Housing Letters Circulate in Congress. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) addressed multiple programs in his letter, while Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) focused on Section 514/516.

Senate SEVRA Bill Praised at Subcommittee Hearing on April 16. Stakeholders testified that the Section 8 Voucher Reform bill, awaiting Senate action, would streamline the program, save costs, and create overall improvements.

Ohio Considering $1.57B Economic Stimulus Package that would provide more than $1 billion for local infrastructure improvements, brownfields redevelopment and historic preservation for the state, which has been particularly hard hit by housing foreclosures. Some of the major components include $400 million to build roads, bridges, sewers and water systems; $300 million for renewable energy made from corn-based ethanol; and $200 million to revitalize cities and industrial areas. It needs to clear the General Assembly, and a $200 million portion on land-use conservation would be decided by voters this fall.

EPA, DOE to Host Workshop on Small Business Innovation Research on April 22 in Philadelphia to help small firms apply for and gain program funding. Workshop elements will include proposal writing and finding assistance. For more information or to register, call (215) 204-3856, e-mail sbtrain@temple.edu, or visit http://es.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/. Funding applications due May 21. Applicants demonstrating the merits of new, low-cost technologies that address energy and environmental priorities can compete for up to $70,000 out of a total of $415,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency or $850,000 from the Department of Energy.

One-Dollar Homes: Bargain Basement Price During Small Time Window in HUD's Home Sales to Local Governments Program. The HUD properties are listed at www.homesales.gov, but there is no HUD notification of when they will be sold for $1.00; this information is available from the contractor.

HUD Home Rent and Income Limits Reposted on April 8 with some corrections.

Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants. Deadline: June 30. See Federal Register, 2/5/08, pp. 6696-99 or http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs. Contact a USDA Rural Development state office or Melvin Padgett, RD, (202) 720- 1495.

Rural Capacity Building Initiative. Intermediary organizations can apply by May 5. See Federal Register, 2/4/08, pp. 6457-6466 or http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm. Contact a USDA Rural Development state office.

USDA Rural Development Notices for new construction of Section 515 rental housing, and Section 514/516 farm labor housing. Deadline: May 12. See Federal Register, 3/12/08, or http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/nofas/index.html. Visit http://www.ruralhome.org/infoAnnouncements_2008RDNOFAs.p hp.

USDA-RD Multifamily Revitalization for owners or purchasers of Section 515 or 514/516 rental property. Deadline: May 12. Contact Sherry Engel, (715) 345-7677 or sherry.engel@wi.usda.gov.

MetLife Foundation Excellence in Affordable Housing Awards totaling $180,000 for six nonprofit Enterprise Network members that have demonstrated leadership and effectiveness. Deadline: May 16. RFP alert (http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml? id=211100002).

Homeless Housing Services Grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Nonprofits, local governments, and tribes eligible. Deadline: May 29. See http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants /2008/ti_08_013.aspx. Contact Joanne Gampel (joanne.gampel@samhsa.hhs.gov), SAMHSA, (240) 276-2895.

Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance Grants of up to $500,000, plus below-market-rate loans of up to $5 million, for responsible charitable lending organizations with at least five years of experience. Community Development Financial Institutions encouraged to apply. Deadline: May 30. RFP alert (http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml? id=211100006).

Household Water Well System Grants from USDA Rural Development for nonprofits to make loans to homeowners. Deadline: May 31. See Federal Register, 1/28/08, pp. 4809-15 or http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/well.htm. Contact Cheryl Francis, RD, (202) 720-1937, cheryl.francis@wdc.usda.gov.

Financial Education Grants from First Nations Development Institute. A new program will provide grants and technical assistance to Native nonprofits working to increase the educational, homeownership, and financial assets of Native Americans. Deadline: June 2 (Letters of Inquiry).

Neighborhood Excellence Initiative programs, to which the Bank of America Charitable Foundation has committed more than $20 million in 2008 for organizations, individuals, and students who have shown a commitment to improving and revitalizing their communities. Awards of up to $200,000 will be given to nonprofit Neighborhood Builders and $5,000 for individual Local Heroes. Deadline: June 27. Info: http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/index.cfm? template=fd_neighborexcell.

Director Wanted for the New York Mortgage Coalition, a not-for-profit organization working to increase affordable homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families in the New York metropolitan area. The ideal candidate will have strong fundraising, multi-tasking and coalition-building abilities as well as a strong interest in community development. BA/BS is required, Masters preferred. Salary: $60,000-$70,000. Women and people of color strongly encouraged to apply. Submit resume by April 30 to Irene Baldwin at irene.b@anhd.org (e-mail) or (212) 747-1114 (fax).

Executive Director Wanted for the National Housing Institute, a 33-year-old progressive national non-profit dedicated to providing resources and information to those advocating and organizing for, and/or creating and preserving affordable housing and thriving communities. Qualifications include at least 5 years of significant leadership, management, supervision and team-building experience. Graduate degree in policy, planning, public administration, political science, or journalism preferred but not required. Competitive salary. Women and people of color encouraged to apply. Forward cover letter, resume, brief writing sample, and three references to edsearch@nhisearch.org by April 30.

Executive Director Wanted for the Laredo Main Street Program. Full job description available at www.streetsoflaredo.org. Qualifications include bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. university and five years experience in relevant area; must be well versed in Main Street Four-Point approach to economic downtown revitalization. Grant writing and public speaking experience a plus. E-mail resume and letter of intent to contact@aedpc.org by May 4.

Loan Fund Controller Wanted for Enterprise Community Partners. Requirements include undergraduate degree in accounting, CPA, five to seven years accounting experience; financial institution, real estate or non-profit experience helpful. Apply at http://careers.enterprisecommunity.org.

2010 Census Criteria for Alaska Native and American Indian Areas. Due dates: June 16 and June 30 for the respective areas. See Federal Register, 3/17/08, pp. 14203-14 (Alaskan) and 4/1/08, pp. 17303-14 (Indian), at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont08.html. Contact Michael Ratcliffe, Census, geo.tsap.list@census.g ov or (301) 763-3056.

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