Bond: Organizations like NeighborWorks Key to Helping Families Find Affordable Housing, Avoid Foreclosure
WASHINGTON, DC. – March 23, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) today addressed Missouri and national advocates for better neighborhoods and moderate- and low-income housing at the National NeighborWorks Association’s (NNA) Annual Legislative Day. During the event, Bond stressed the importance of the work done by organizations like NeighborWorks, particularly during the housing crisis, to help families find affordable housing and save their homes from foreclosure through services like counseling.
“I have seen first-hand the countless benefits you have provided to low-income families and communities in rural and urban areas in Missouri,” said Bond. “NeighborWorks and its network have been effective in providing affordable housing through sensible and efficient rental and homeownership programs. Simply put, you know how to do housing the right way.”
Chris Krehmeyer, Executive Director of Beyond Housing said, “The National NeighborWorks Association is honored to have Senator Kit Bond speak at our 2010 Legislative Day. The NeighborWorks organizations serving the state of Missouri as well as the 235 NeighborWorks organizations from across the country are grateful for the Senator’s long-time commitment to affordable housing for the low and moderate income families and communities the NeighborWorks network serves.”
During the event, Bond praised the NeighborWorks organizations in Missouri, including Beyond Housing in St. Louis and Neighborhood Housing Services and Westside Housing in Kansas City, and organizations across the nation for being on the forefront of providing affordable housing and services for low-income Missouri families. The Senator stressed the importance of the NeighborWorks’ network in providing affordable housing through sensible and efficient rental and homeownership programs.
The work done by NeighborWorks organizations is even more important during the current housing crisis, when millions of families and neighbors are impacted by foreclosure, which has devastating repercussions on not only families, but entire communities, the Senator pointed out. Bond has long emphasized that to help families in danger of losing their homes of foreclosure, counseling is key. During the height of the housing crisis Bond worked on a bipartisan basis with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Chris Dodd (D-CT) to provide NeighborWorks funds to counsel more families – totaling $475 million beginning in fiscal year 2008. Since then, thousands of homeowners have been able to avoid foreclosure through counseling services, including help with negotiations with lenders, formulating repayment plans, locating non-profit assistance, and suspension or reduction of payments.
While the economic and housing crisis brought much needed attention to the need for affordable housing, Bond urged the NeighborWorks organizations to continue their critical advocacy in the future. Like the Senator, these organizations understand that good housing is fundamental to individuals, families, and communities.
“I urge you to voice loudly the benefits that NeighborWorks and its network provide to families and communities and that you stand by not only to help us out of this current housing crisis, but also to prevent future housing crises.”
Bond is a long-time leader in the fight for low-income housing as ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds our nation’s housing programs.
