Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension and Expansion Enacted Into Law. On November 6, President Obama signed into law legislation that would extend for six months the Homebuyer Tax Credit, allowing individuals an $8,000 tax credit for first-time home purchases. The law also extends to homebuyers who already have purchased a home in the past to purchase a new principal residence and claim a $6,500 tax credit. In addition to the tax credit extension, the law extends unemployment insurance for 14 weeks for individuals whose insurance expires.

NACEDA Atlanta Member Testifies Before U.S. House on Residential Foreclosures. On November 2, Andy Schneggenburger, Executive Director of Atlanta Housing Association of Neighborhood-based Developers (AHAND) testified on the impact of the financial crisis on affordable housing development in Atlanta. He informed a U.S. House Subcommittee on Government Oversight and Reform that Atlanta CDCs developing single-family housing have been unable to acquire construction financing from the banking industry; that multifamily housing construction financing also is difficult to attain; and that LIHTC investors are few, bringing development activity to a near-halt. Schneggenburger also urged the subcommittee, as it considers legislation to address residential foreclosures and financing of affordable housing, to extend the Housing Credit Exchange Program authorized under ARRA, increase the investors' Housing Credit Carry-back period for up to five years, and expand eligible LIHTC investors to include LLCs, S-Corps, and others. NACEDA commends Andy Schneggenburger on his testimony and advocacy.

HHS Calls on Communities to Increase Medicaid Outreach. Announcing the start of a national campaign to find eligible uninsured children in the Medicaid program, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called on states and communities to increase their efforts at enrolling uninsured children. About 5 million children who are currently eligible for coverage under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program are not yet covered.

USDA Encourages Use of State and Local Offices. Following up on NACEDA's meeting with U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Victor Vasquez (see NACEDA News, first item), the agency has shared with NACEDA a list of State Directors to coordinate with CDCs on community development activities locally. NACEDA strongly encourages CDCs to capitalize on the wealth of resources and funding opportunities with USDA and its state and local offices. NACEDA also commends USDA for working to create a Regional Development program as well as to reinstate its former Community Affairs Office. Access USDA's list of Directors: (Farm Service Agency) (Rural Development)

NACEDA Board Urges HUD to Support CHDOs. On November 10, NACEDA President Diane Sterner and Executive Director Jane DeMarines sent a letter to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, urging him to work aggressively with PJs to understand the sustainable value of CHDOs and to strengthen regulations for operational funding.

NACEDA Signs On to NSP Modification Letter, joining the Foreclosure Task Force in urging Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL) to "support a legislative fix that would permit redevelopment or rehabilitation of vacant properties to qualify for the 25% low-income set-aside requirement of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Although NSP funds may be used for the purchase and redevelopment of vacant properties, the statute precludes the renting or selling of these homes to very low-income households from counting toward the requirement that 25% of funds be spent on families with incomes below 50% of Area Median Income. Therefore, only abandoned or foreclosed homes count toward satisfying the 25% requirement." Chairman Dodd previously introduced this provision as an amendment to the T-HUD Appropriations bill.

NACEDA Launches Interactive Website for Managing Neighborhood Change Collaborative Competitions. NACEDA and Root Change have created a Ning site for the competitions, which are designed to target open-source, innovative, and workable solutions to the challenges of managing neighborhood change. NACEDA encourages participation from everyone committed to guiding equitable development in their communities. Visit the site at: http://neighborhoodchange.ning.com/ or contact NACEDA's Director of Special Projects at smckinley@naceda.org.

NACEDA Hosts Peer Webinar on Innovative Approaches to Combat Foreclosures with presentations from member State Associations in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The purpose of the November 12 event was to create a forum to discuss challenges, promising strategies and lessons learned in combating foreclosures in your states and cities. Presentations covered new legislative initiatives, outreach and organizational efforts and major challenges in the three states. Members identified the need for more accurate and timely data on foreclosures occurring in their states as well as a lack of available resources to support counseling efforts.

NACEDA Participates in USGBC Greening Affordable Housing Summit. On November 10 and 11, the U.S. Green Building Council hosted a Summit on Greening Affordable Housing as part of their annual Greenbuild Conference in Phoenix Arizona. Sessions covered topics such as transit oriented development and implementing green building standards. NACEDA is working to build its role as a liaison between the community development field and green professionals--working to share resources and expertise through partnerships with Enterprise Community Partners and USGBC--and has planned a green webinar for early 2010, as well as a training green and TOD workshop at its 2010 Summit.

Enterprise VP Teaches Sustainability. Enterprise Vice President of Green Initiatives Dana Bourland appeared recently as a "professor" on fastcompany.com's 30 Second MBA program. Speaking about the importance of sustainable business practices, Bourland urged businesses to be flexible and adapt when old practices become obsolete.

NeighborWorks America Announces $1.9B for Community Stabilization. Grants have been allocated to local organizations to facilitate the purchase, rehabilitation and distribution of foreclosed properties in areas plagued by high foreclosure, in order to help low- and moderate-income families who have lost their homes.

Bank of America Has Modified 445,000 Mortgages over the past 21 months, according to the bank's recently released report on its grantmaking activities of 2009. The report showed the bank's support for CDFI activities and Community Development Banking.

Benefits of State Anti-Predatory Lending Legislation Highlighted in the most recent issue of the HAC newsletter, reporting on a study published by the University of North Carolina's Center for Community Capital. The study shows links between strong anti-predatory lending laws and lower default rates at the state level, and discusses the effects federal pre-emption will have on this link. Read the report at www.ccc.unc.edu/news.php.

CFED Celebrates and Encourages Innovation. The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) hosted its first Innovation Summit in Washington, DC in late October. The Summit featured representatives in fields such as asset building, microfinance, behavioral economics and financial education with novel and creative approaches to building financial security. Summit attendees shared ideas, collaborated on problem-solving "missions" and listened to a range of speakers on the value of innovation, social enterprise and the innovation process.

Cleveland Foundation Launches New Green Business Cooperative. Evergreen Cooperative Laundry, the first of a network of green worker cooperatives, held its grand opening late last month. It was developed through a partnership of the Democracy Collaborative (a NACEDA member), the Cleveland Foundation, the Ohio Employee Ownership Center, and Shorebank Enterprise Cleveland. A 4-minute video produced by the Cleveland Foundation is available. A related article ran on the front page of the business section of the Plain Dealer.

Pennsylvania Community Developers To Host Conservatorship Workshop. On December 2, the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations and Regional Housing Legal Services will host a workshop on conservatorship for CDCs trying to rehabilitate blighted neighborhoods in Philadelphia. This ambitious workshop will cover a variety of subjects related to the process of filing conservatorship petitions.

North Carolina Association Celebrates 20 Years. NCACDC celebrated 20 years of service through community development last week at a fundraiser in Raleigh. The association also recognized Susan Perry-Cole, its President and CEO, with a scrapbook commemorating her service over more than a decade.

'Affordable Housing 101': November 18-19. This free event, held at THEARC in Washington DC, will cover the process of developing affordable housing. The workshop is sponsored by the Faith-Based Development Initiative and other groups. For more information and to RSVP, email Jennifer Bonsall at lbonsall@enterprisecommunity.org or call (202) 842-9190.

Green Retrofit and Market2Market Program Dialogue: Thursday, November 19 at 2:00 p.m. NACEDA and LISC are partnering to host a conference call to discuss these two programs through the HUD Office of Affordable Housing Preservation. To participate or listen in, contact Sarah McKinley. Participants must register by noon on Monday, November 16.

Foundation Center Webinar, 'Turning Economic Crisis into Opportunity': December 1. Learn how nonprofits can survive economic crisis by building sustainable long-term strategies. This first of three sessions costs $45. (More info.)

HAND Holiday Mixer: December 3 at 6:00. Enjoy a cocktail reception, a view of downtown Washington, D.C. and excellent affordable housing networking opportunity at Bank of America's Penthouse, All HAND Members are invited and encouraged to attend, but please RSVP to jnorcross@handhousing.org.

NeighborWorks Training Institute: December 7-11 in Washington, DC. Rising to the Challenge: Stabilizing Communities in the Wake of Foreclosure will focus attention on innovative policy, financing, property acquisition and development strategies. Learn about comprehensive best practices to help us all improve and advance sustainable communities. Policymakers, funders, practitioners, developers and property managers will share the latest and most effective techniques and ideas to get the work done in your community. (Register.)

The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development is hosting its annual fundraiser on Tuesday, December 8 in Washington, DC. "A Place to Call Home: Stories from Along the Housing Continuum" will feature a theatrical production and cocktail reception. Click here to purchase tickets.

New Partners for Smart Growth: February 4-6, 2010 in Seattle, WA. Join leaders from across the U.S. to tackle new solutions to curbing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing dependence on foreign oil, creating a green economy, and building more livable, walkable, and healthy communities at the 9th annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference. (Info.)

Our thanks to Housing Assistance Council, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, NLIHC, CD Digest, Associated Press, National Council on State Housing Agencies, The Washington Post and Opportunity Finance Network.

Copyright © 2009 by NACEDA. All rights reserved. Any republication must be credited to NACEDA.