National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations October 16, 2018

Policy Update

TAKE ACTION to Defend the Community Reinvestment Act

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released an Advanced Notice of Public Rulemaking on the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). NACEDA and other national advocates are deeply concerned by the direction of the notice, which includes questions almost exclusively oriented toward making regulatory compliance easier for financial institutions, most notably through the overly-simple approach referred to as a one-ratio compliance standard. The questions miss significant opportunities to enhance the regulation's impact on serving the needs of low- and moderate-income communities. 

Further, we are concerned by the OCC's decision to act without the participation of the other two bank regulators on CRA: the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. 
The three bank regulators have always coordinated with each other on rulemaking for CRA. The OCC's approach ignores over a decade of work on CRA reform by all three regulators, financial institutions, advocates, and community groups.

NACEDA urges every community development organization to write a letter to the OCC. This sample letter from NCRC provides a template. Submit your comments by November 19. 

Senator Warren Introduces American Housing & Economic Mobility Act

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced legislation that would invest $450 billion in affordable housing programs over a decade, funded entirely by an increase in the estate tax to pre-Bush era levels. The bill would also bolster the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) by expanding its oversight to include credit unions and non-bank mortgage lenders. It provides incentives for inclusive zoning and broadens protections in the Fair Housing Act. Read the NLIHC fact sheet. Advocates are hopeful that the bill will gain traction if party control of Congress changes after the election.

Congress Passes Opioid Legislation, Including Housing Assistance

Congress passed a bipartisan legislative package to help address the opioid crisis, including a grant program for comprehensive recovery centers that include housing and job training, as well as mental and physical health care. The bill awaits the President's signature. CBPP describes the housing provision.

Submit Comments on Fannie Mae's Duty To Serve Plans

The FHFA requests comments on four proposed modifications to Fannie Mae's Duty to Serve plans, including reducing the baseline and targets for purchasing and rehabilitating certain distressed properties. Comments are due on November 2.  

 

Thriving Networks

People & Places April 15-17

                                                                                                                                                                      

17 National Organizations Join Forces to Present People & Places 2019

Be part of the event that galvanizes the movement! Join people from different regions, cultures, and national networks as we share what's working to advance prosperity and strengthen places. We'll inspire each other, strengthen our skills, unite our networks, and raise our voices on behalf of the communities we serve. Plan to attend April 15-17 in Arlington, Virginia (minutes from DC and the U.S. Capitol).

Empower Your Community — Get Out the VOTE!

Community-based nonprofits are particularly effective at getting out the vote. Encouraging the low- and moderate communities you serve to vote can play a critical role in the election.  Nonprofit VOTE offers easy-to-implement strategies and voter information for your state. Access posters, toolkits, and more in their voter engagement library. Please note that nonprofits can educate voters on the process of voting and the issues at stake, but cannot endorse or oppose any candidate or party.

Ohio Enacts Payday Lending Reform

Bipartisan legislation was signed into law in Ohio, reigning in predatory payday lenders and overcoming a well-financed lobbying campaign by the payday lending industry. Ohioans for Payday Loan Reform led the advocacy effort with Ohio CDC Association as a coalition leader and the Pew Charitable Trusts. The bill achieves three mainstays of safe small-dollar lending: lower prices, affordable payments, and reasonable time to repay. "This reform will help stop the debt traps and save Ohioans more than $75 million a year that can be invested back into our local communities," said Nate Coffman of the Ohio CDC Association.

Coffman detailed their "lessons learned" in his presentation on Fighting Predatory Lending With Statewide Coalitions at NACEDA's 10th Anniversary Summit, September 12-14 in Philadelphia. The session also included presentations by NACEDA members from Indiana, Texas, and Michigan on how their coalitions are using polling, advocacy, and messaging to combat predatory lending and offer small-dollar lending alternatives. 

 

Healthy Places

Philadelphia Association Will Host Health + Housing Summit

The Philadelphia Association of CDCs will host Philadelphia Health + Housing Summit on December 13 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. Featuring Dr. Kelly Kelleher of Nationwide Children's Hospital and Sister Mary Scullion of Project HOME, the event will examine how housing providers, local government, hospitals, insurers, and managed care organizations can work together to improve health outcomes by improving housing.

NACEDA Summit Examined Strategies for Healthy Places

What policies and partnerships are working to improve the social determinants of health in low-income communities? Three NACEDA summit sessions brought together community developers, policymakers, insurers, and health providers to examine effective strategies. Click on the session titles to access presentations and speaker information.

Funding Opportunity — Housing as the Rx for a Healthy Life

Fannie Mae's Sustainable Communities Innovative Challenge is looking for applicants to re-imagine quality affordable housing as the prescription for a healthy life and the future of sustainable communities across the nation. If you’d like to help create healthier, sustainable communities submit your idea by November 1, 2018. 

 

Creative Places

Financial Institutions Talked Creative Placemaking at NACEDA Summit

Jamie Bennett from Artplace America facilitated the session Creative Placemaking Investments: The Role of Financial Institutions and CDFIs at NACEDA's 10th Anniversary Summit. Wayne Meyer of New Jersey Community Capital described their Creative Placemaking Loan Fund, a flexible capital fund for arts- and culture-driven neighborhood projects. Douglas Schaefer of Woodforest Bank discussed how small banks can use the arts as a tool to identify authentic community needs and invest in entrepreneurship and small businesses. Melissa Kim of Philadelphia LISC shared the challenges and opportunities of partnering with investors locally on creative placemaking initiatives. David Black from the OCC discussed the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) as it relates to the arts and reviewed OCC's Advanced Notice of Public Rule-Making on CRA. The NACEDA Summit also featured these creative placemaking sessions:

LISC Kicks Off Creative Placemaking Webinar Series

LISC's webinar series How to Do Creative Placemaking will offer practical and tactical advice for community development practitioners, artists, and local leaders. The first webinar on Developing Partnerships and Shared Values is November 14 at 2:00 pm EST. Monthly webinars will be offered through April.

 

Resources

JPMorgan Chase Launches AdvancingCities Initiative

The AdvancingCities Challenge will make investments of up to $3 million in up to 30 cities across the U.S to support job training, affordable housing, and other economic development programs. Selection depends on regional collaboration. Apply by November 13, 2018.

 

Job Postings

Senior Manager
National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB)
San Antonio, Texas

To post a job opportunity, contact Suzanne Gunther. A $25 donation is suggested.

 

Funding Opportunities

Go to our website for current grant opportunities. They're updated throughout the month.

Funding Opportunities