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VHC News Clips, volume 2009-2 (July 9, 2009)
One More Fight for a Housing Authority
Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, July 9
(RECAP: Proponents of creating a housing and redevelopment authority in Arlington County are planning to appeal a judge's ruling that struck down their proposal for a ballot referendum in November, prolonging and escalating a battle over affordable housing that dates back several decades.)Nye Bill Would Help Vets with Rent
The Daily Press, July 6
(RECAP: Glenn Nye's bill would provide short-term assistance to veterans who are on the brink of homelessness. They could receive payments for rent or mortgage arrears, security deposits for rental properties, and utility bills or arrears. It would be limited to three months.)New Evidence on the Foreclosure Crisis
The Wall Street Journal, July 6
(RECAP: What is really behind the mushrooming rate of mortgage foreclosures since 2007? The evidence from a huge national database containing millions of individual loans strongly suggests that the single most important factor is whether the homeowner has negative equity in a house -- that is, the balance of the mortgage is greater than the value of the house. This means that most government policies being discussed to remedy woes in the housing market are misdirected.)Builders Pan Tougher Runoff Rules
The Daily Press, July 5
(RECAP: State officials are planning tougher stormwater regulations on developed properties, a move criticized by home builders struggling from the recession.)In Marked Shift, Fairfax County Turning from Housing Buys
The Washington Examiner, July 5
(RECAP: Fairfax County supervisors are exploring how to spend the little money left for affordable housing without directly buying up apartment buildings, turning away from a costly and controversial program that began with Northern Virginia 's building boom.)To Be or Not to Be Fairfax County?
The Washington Post, July 5
(RECAP: Executive Anthony H. Griffin raised the possibility of officially making Fairfax a city, prompting discussion among county supervisors about whether the community of more than 1 million residents should highlight its status as an enormous jobs center that is rapidly urbanizing or embrace its classic suburban nature.)HUD CINCH Report Details the Changing Affordability of Rental Units
Reprinted from National Low Income Housing Coalition's Memo to Members, July 3
(RECAP: A new report by HUD analyzing changes in the U.S. rental market from 2005 to 2007 finds that the number of rental units affordable to the lowest income households significantly declined during that time period.)Ongoing Uncertainty
The Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 2
(RECAP: As for the town of Culpeper 's plan to combat the impacts of foreclosure on three of its neighborhoods by getting into the housing business, not everyone agrees that's a good idea.)Developers Want Part of $33.7M for Affordable Housing
Washington Business Journal, July 2
(RECAP: Developers of 22 affordable housing projects in D.C. are seeking a slice of $33.7 million the city will receive in federal stimulus money from the Treasury Department.)Fannie, Freddie to Refinance Larger Underwater Loans
Bloomberg.com, July 1
(RECAP: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will begin refinancing mortgages with loan-to-value ratios of as much as 125 percent as the Obama administration seeks to boost participation in its anti-foreclosure programs.)
