By Eugene T. Lowe
July 12, 2004

The Community Development and Housing Committee, chaired by Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory, met June 26 during the 72nd Annual Meeting and heard from several speakers before adopting 10 resolutions that will guide Conference of Mayors' actions in housing and community development for the next year. The speakers' presentations covered a variety of issues including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, mortgage banking and housing, and ending chronic homelessness. Three speakers discussed HUD's recently proposed GSE goals for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

The first speaker, Amintha K. Cinotti, President of the National Community Development Association (NCDA) briefed the mayors on the many challenges and accomplishments of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Cinotti is the Deputy Director for Planning and Development of the city of Providence. NCDA represents the appointed officials in our cities who manage the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Kim Kendrick, Jim Park, and David Dworkin served as a panel to explain the proposed goals for the government sponsored enterprises — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. HUD proposed the new goals, and Fannie and Freddie must meet them over the next several years.

Kim Kendrick, Special Assistant to Secretary Jackson, gave an overview of the proposed goals. As Special Assistant to the Secretary, Kendrick advises Jackson on a variety of policy issues.

Jim Park, Vice President of Industry and Trade Relations of Freddie Mac, and David M. Dworkin, Vice President, Housing and Community Development of Fannie each provided a brief analysis on the impact of the proposed goals on their companies as well as the housing market.

Park is responsible for Freddie Mac's external relationship with key housing finance industry trades, capital markets organizations, and community and housing-related organizations. He also provides guidance on key business and policy issues impacting Freddie Mac.

Dworkin is responsible for developing and implementing strategies used by the regional and partnership offices for enhancing Fannie Mae's effectiveness in communities across the country. Through the partnership offices and regional public affairs staff, he is responsible for Fannie Mae's support among a wide variety of external partners.

Michael F. Petrie, Chairman-Elect of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America also spoke. Petrie is President of P/R Mortgage & Investment Corp of Indianapolis and Chairman of Greensfork Township State Bank, Spartanburg (IN). Petrie briefed the committee on the activities of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The final speaker was Philip Mangano, Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Mangano reported on the progress of cities in developing 10-year plans to eliminate chronic homelessness.

Supporting Section 8 Funding urges HUD to consider its FY 2004 renewal funding formula and fully fund every Section 8 voucher currently in use across the country, and also urges Congress to continue to fully fund in FY 2005 every Section 8 voucher currently allocated.

Ending Chronic Homelessness: Endorsing Samaritan Initiative and Ending Long-Term Homelessness Services Initiative endorses the Administration's FY 2005 $70 million multi-agency budget proposal for the Samaritan Initiative which will help cities implement housing and supportive services strategies to end chronic homelessness; and, also endorses at least $45 million for the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration's Projects of Regional and National Significance for the Ending Long Term Homelessness Service Initiative.

Resolution of Support for HUD's Zero Downpayment FHA Proposal supports HUD's FHA Zero Downpayment proposal.

Supporting Preservation of Affordable Housing supports efforts to preserve affordable housing units, and recognizes preservation as an important component of efforts to address the current shortage of affordable housing in cities.

Endorsing Public Housing Reform Demonstration Program Known as Freedom to House supports the improvement of public housing by supporting the Freedom to House demonstration program and strongly encourages PHAs to participate in the program.

In support of HUD's Office of Healthy Homes Budget and Senator Bond and Mikulski's Request for $50 Million in Additional FY- 05 Funding for Lead Safe Cities encourages a variety of approaches to advance the elimination of lead hazards and the eradication of lead poisoning, and also calls for Congress to approve $50 million in funding for Lead Safe Cities.

Support for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) urges Congress to authorize and fully fund the Economic Development Administration.

Supporting the Government Sponsored Enterprises calls on Congress to ensure that the critical role that the GSEs play in the nation's housing finance system be maintained and strengthened.

Supporting the Effort to Encourage the Construction of Housing with Features that Provide Basic Access and Functionality to all Occupants And Visitors supports the purpose of Practical Housing for All and those efforts that provide features which foster independence and enable people of all ages and widely varying mobility and ambulatory-related abilities to function in the residential environment.

Support for HOPE VI urges Congress to sustain and increase funding appropriations for the HOPE VI Program and modify the program to authorize a mixed income, mixed financed community development program that is based on realistic and reasonable market assumptions; also requests that HUD and HOPE VI policy allow housing near places of employment including some industrial zoning which meet smart growth goals.