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VHC News Clips, volume 2010-04 (July 29, 2010)
New National Campaign Created to Combat Loan Modification Scams
Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia , July 28
(RECAP: The current economic climate has provided fertile ground for con artists who seek to take advantage of desperate and distressed homeowners. As a result, a coordinated national campaign, the Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network was created. The Lawyers' Committee is leading a large-scale mobilization of resources in a comprehensive campaign to enhance and support existing state and local efforts, increase scam reporting, educate homeowners, and work with law enforcement. Housing Opportunities Made Equal is hosting FREE training Monday, August 26 .)Lenders Crack Down on New Mortgages
Chesterfield Observer, July 28
(RECAP: Olga Bates has been busy settling into her townhome at Lakepointe after securing a new mortgage. She found the process to be relatively easy. But Bates is the exception to the rule. Home ownership is bending under the weight of a meticulous approval process that's left potential buyers in a state of apprehension.)Council Studies Proposed Arts, Community Initiative
Gazette Virginian, July 28
(RECAP: South Boston Town Council studied a preliminary pre-application outline for a $235,000 creative arts and community development/housing initiative at its monthly work session Monday evening. The project is designed to use monies from a unique combination HUD/VDOT planning grant to emphasize economic development through the arts and culture, with a focus on downtown development and redevelopment.)Falls Church Housing Corp. Chief Answers Doubts About Wilden Project Modification
Falls Church News Press, July 27
(RECAP: In an exclusive interview, Carol Jackson, executive director of the non-profit Falls Church Housing Corporation, addressed the major concerns being raised by some F.C. City Council members over the FCHC's request for a minor modification in the terms of use of a $2 million City loan.)City Releases Documents on Housing Corp $1 Million Request
Falls Church Times, July 27
(RECAP: Today the City of Falls Church released a number of documents relating to the Falls Church Housing Corporation's emergency request for release of $1 million of the $2 million loan the City Council agreed to in March.)CHNED Launches Campaign to Raise Priority Level for Affordable Housing.
HAND News and Notes, July 27
(RECAP: The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development kicked off its "Continuum of Affordable Housing" campaign to raise the priority level of affordable housing for Washington , DC residents and triple local funding.)Wilden Senior Housing Project Suddenly Up for Grabs in F.C. Once Again
Falls Church News Press, July 26
(RECAP: Just when it looked like the City of Falls Church was finally going to push ahead with a senior affordable housing project, securing a 6-1 approval from the City Council just a few months ago, the fate of the Wilden House project is once again hanging in the balance. A special meeting of the F.C. City Council has been called for this Thursday night to determine whether or not an amendment to the agreement from the spring will be permitted.)Chesterfield Master Plan Deadline Extended
Richmond Times Dispatch, July 26
(RECAP: Crafting a plan for Chesterfield County 's future will take a few months longer than anticipated. The spirit of the work so far looks to cluster future growth in already developed areas, while leaving untouched areas green. Turner said it was based on the "five C's": centers, corridors, community, countrysides and connections.)City Street Named After Former Mayor
Charlottesville Daily Progress, July 25
(RECAP: There is a tiny gravel street in Fifeville that is easy to drive past, barely noticeable next to a busy home construction site. But the path that has yet to be covered in asphalt will have a name more recognizable than most. The street, which leads into a mixed-income neighborhood of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, has been dubbed Francis Fife Way , after the former city mayor.)A Battle for Affordable Housing in D.C.
Socialist Worker Online, July 25
(RECAP: Residents and activists have taken over a parcel of land in Northwest Washington , D.C. , and erected a tent city to protest the broken promises of developers and city officials to build affordable housing in a city suffering badly in the economic crisis.)Council to Hold Special Meeting on Financing of The Wilden
Falls Church Times, July 24
(RECAP: The Falls Church City Council will hold a special meeting on Thursday evening, July 29, to discuss the financing of the 66 unit senior affordable housing project at 350 S. Washington Street , known as The Wilden.)Landlord has Words for Town in Boarding House Plan
Culpeper Star-Exponent, July 23
(RECAP: Local businessman Steve Corbin says he doesn't understand why the town is singling out his boarding house on East Piedmont Street . He maintains the five-bedroom property is well kept and provides an essential need: affordable housing.)House and Senate Make Progress on FY11 Appropriations
NLIHC's Memo to Members, July 23
(RECAP: Congress had a productive week of appropriations work, with both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees passing FY11 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development spending bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee also marked up its Department of Agriculture bill, which includes funding for rural housing programs.)NLIHC Responds to HUD, Treasury Questions on the Federal Government's Role in Housing Finance
NLIHC's Memo to Members, July 23
(RECAP: NLIHC provided comments on July 21 to a joint request from the Department of the Treasury and HUD for input on the establishment of a more stable and sound housing finance system. The questions come as the current economic and housing crises have raised serious issues regarding the U.S. housing finance system, specifically Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.)NHTF and Other Extender Bill Provisions Need New Legislative Vehicle
NLIHC's Memo to Members, July 23
(RECAP: With new Senator Carte Goodwin and Maine Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins voting in the affirmative, the Senate finally passed H.R. 4213, extending unemployment insurance for the long-term jobless. While the extension of unemployment is good news, the bad news is that the rest of H.R. 4213, including $1.065 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund and several provisions related to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, was stripped out.)Rural Housing Appropriations Bill Passes Senate Subcommittee, Committee
NLIHC's Memo to Members, July 23
(RECAP: In additional FY11 appropriations action, the Senate has taken up an FY11 spending bill that includes the rural housing programs administered through the Department of Agriculture.)Grant to Fund Housing for Seniors: Common area, 11 new living units expected to be built within the next year
Northern Virginia Daily, July 23
(RECAP: Senior citizens will have another alternative for affordable housing thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Earlier this week, the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging learned from Rep. Bob Goodlatte that it would be receiving the grant to build 11 housing units and a common area in the next year.)‘Ahead of the Curve': Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia launches new program in Lorton.
The Connection Newspapers, July 22
(RECAP: Habitat for Humanity is one of those groups seeing a decrease in donations and as a result, the organization is changing its business model in an effort to maintain the level of service it has provided for decades. That change came in the form of an agreement between Habitat and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's National Community Stabilization Trust to help turn foreclosed and abandoned houses into affordable homes for low-income families earlier this month, and the results can already be seen in Lorton.)Study: Apartments to be Needed in City's Uptown Over 4-5 years
Martinsville Bulletin, July 22
(RECAP: A new study projects a market for 262 to 296 more apartments in uptown Martinsville over the next four to five years. The study cites a market for a total of 150 to 184 multifamily apartments: 8 to 12 upscale, 20-24 moderate-upscale, 40-48 moderate and 82-100 affordable.)Some Mall Businesses are Irked by Panhandling. Is the new Downtown shelter to blame?
C-Ville Weekly, July 19
(RECAP: It's not yet 1pm, but Steve is closing in on his $30 panhandling goal. His feet bracket a black duffel bag and a blue Maxwell House coffee container with a few bills inside. He doesn't ask for money aloud, so a potential donor must get close enough to read his sign: “Due to the economy, I find myself unemployed and homeless and hungry, and health is bad. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.”)News Clips Archives
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