By Eugene T. Lowe
July 4, 2011

Newton (MA) Mayor Setti Warren, Chair of the Community Development and Housing Committee, in his opening remarks, encouraged the mayors of the Committee to urge their congressional delegations to fund the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the HOME Investment Partnerships program at $3.9 billion and $1.825 billion, respectively. The Committee met on June 17 and adopted 13 resolutions and heard from two speakers.

Barbara Poppe, Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, gave the committee an update on the progress of Opening Doors, the first ever federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, which was introduced last June. Agreed to by 19 federal agencies, the five-year plan has four goals: ending chronic homelessness by 2015; ending homelessness for America’s Veterans and their families by 2015; ending homelessness for families, youth and children by 2020; and setting a path to end all types of homelessness. This is being done through leadership and collaboration at all levels of government, and by providing housing, jobs, improving health and stability, and by re-tooling the homeless crisis response system. Poppe said early success includes “nearly 900,000 people avoided or more quickly exited homelessness … and over 23,000 homeless Veterans have moved from the streets and shelters into housing due to the HUD VASH program.” And she said that “while this plan is a federal priority, the success depends on local communities — and will need America’s mayors as front lineleaders.”

Phil Bracken, Executive Vice President of Industry Relations for Wells Fargo, described to the mayors the new alliance between the Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo that will assist mayors provide homeownership opportunities to their citizens and preserve communities hard hit by foreclosures. He told the mayors that, “While there is a crisis in housing, there is also opportunity.” The crisis is that U.S. households have lost more than $6 trillion in home values since 2006; nationally, house prices declined more five percent in the first quarter of 2011; the national foreclosure rate was 4.52 percent in the first quarter of 2011; and, the supply of homes — new, existing and distressed inventory — remains high, while demand remains low. But there is also housing opportunity: 17 million new household formations 2010 -2025 which includes 13 million — or 76 percent — new minority households.

Bracken said that the focus of USCM/Wells Fargo Alliance will be to: 1) Avoid preventable foreclosures and help keep people in their homes; 2) Help reduce excess housing inventory and stimulate demand for home purchases; 3) Support stabilization of communities and property values; and 4) Protect and promote the dream of homeownership in America.

To accomplish the alliance’s goals, regional mayoral forums will be held across the nation (when possible in conjunction with Wells Fargo’s Home Preservation Workshops). The first forum is scheduled for October 2011 in Washington (DC). In addition, best practices and other information will periodically be provided to mayors to help keep people in their homes, help reduce excess housing inventory and stimulate home purchase and to protect and promote homeownership. There will also be ongoing information provided through U.S. Mayor as well as additional web-based information and links.

• Full Funding of the CDBG Program Formula

• Affirming Policy in Support of An Increase to the Cap on CDBG Public Services Expenditures

• Supporting the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program

• In Support of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program

• A Call to Action on Homelessness

• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (“HCV”)

• In Support of Public Housing Funds

• Resolution to Protect Homeownership Access for Middle Class, Low and Moderate Income, and Minority Families

• Government Sponsored Entities (GSES)

• Support for the Green And Healthy Homes Initiative and Efforts to Expand the Nation’s Stock of Affordable, Green, Healthy, and Sustainable Housing

• Support President Obama’s Proposal to Promote Jobs and Investment Through the Creation of Growth Zones

• Supporting Public-Private Startup Initiatives

• Calling on Congress and the Administration to Support Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs