NACEDA News

National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations        March 29, 2021

Federal News

FHFA Authorizes $1+ Billion for Affordable Housing

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) authorized the disbursement of $1.09 billion for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's affordable housing allocations for 2020. This is the largest amount ever disbursed and more than double what was provided last year. Of the funds, $711 million will go to HUD for the Housing Trust Fund and $383 million will go to the Department of the Treasury for the Capital Magnet Fund. Read the FHFA announcement.


Member News
Illinois Enacts CRA Law Championed by Housing Action Illinois
Governor Pritzker signs Illinois CRA bill

Housing Action Illinois and the Woodstock Institute co-led an advocacy campaign that led to the passage of the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act, which was signed into law by Governor Pritzker on March 23. This state law mandates an oversight system to ensure that residents are equitably served by all three main segments of the mortgage lending market: banks, credit unions, and state-licensed mortgage companies. Housing Action will continue to represent and bring community-based organizations into the process with the state regulating agency and industry stakeholders during the rule-making stage.

“The passage of the Illinois CRA is particularly critical at this time as we recover from a pandemic that has disproportionately impacted historically redlined communities, and we look forward to working with our members and other community-based partners to ensure there is strong implementation of this new law,” notes the Housing Action Illinois announcement, which provides information about glaring investment disparities throughout Illinois. Mortgage lenders in Chicago, for example, have invested more in a single White neighborhood than in all the Black neighborhoods combined. Illinois joins Massachusetts as the second state in the nation to provide comprehensive oversight of lending activity.


Healthy Places
Impacts of Ohio Empowering Communities Grant Program Documented
Old Brooklyn Farmers Market, Cleveland, IL

The Ohio CDC Association partnered with the CareSource Foundation to provide $436,000 in Empowering Communities grant funding to five community development nonprofits in 2019. Grantees worked with local residents to develop programs that address their communities' unique health challenges. The programs provide a wide range of services including health screenings, dental and vision services, health screenings, health fairs, summer camp, tutoring, community outreach events, farmers’ markets, fitness activities, free transportation, public park improvements, building of community resource centers, community empowerment teams, and job readiness and coaching. 

An external audit was conducted to understand how the Empowering Communities funds increased resident engagement in activities addressing the social determinants of health, increased self-advocacy and community organizing skills, and improved community well-being. Take a look at the impact report and executive summary. Grantees discussed their programs and impacts in this inspiring March 23 webinar.

The benefits of the Empowering Communities collaboration extended through the NACEDA network. The Ohio CDC Association introduced Prosperity Indiana to the CareSource Foundation, which resulted in a similar grant program to improve the social determinants of health in Indiana communities.

Funding & Job Opportunities 

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