Greetings!  

We hope this Piece by Piece update finds you well. We have a number of items to share today. A reminder to PBP Partners, send in your Public Commitment form soon. You will find a link to the form on the left. Also on the left you will notice that we have archived all previous updates on the initiative.

Mixed Income Communities Initiative (MICI)

to Convene Piece by Piece Policy Sector: 

On Wednesday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m., the MICI meeting will be dedicated to a policy sector discussion for Piece by Piece.  Agenda items include an overview of specific county-based strategies to combat foreclosure and review of foreclosure and other housing-related legislation pending or planned at the Georgia General Assembly.  The meeting will take place at the offices of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) at 40 Courtland Street in the Harry West Conference Room.   If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Dorothea Reed at [email protected] as space is limited in the room.

Federal Foreclosure Funds at Risk: 

On March 9, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee voted to end the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) by rescinding funds allocated for NSP Round 3.  Georgia's NSP3 allocation is $50.4 million.   The House Financial Services Committee also approved legislation to terminate the US Treasury's authority to provide new assistance under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).  The bills will now move to the House floor and the Senate Banking Committee for further consideration and action.  For full text of the legislation, please see links below.  For more information about these bills and/or to find out what you can do to take action, please contact Clare Duncan, policy director for the National Housing Conference (NHC), a Piece by Piece partner organization, at [email protected].

HR 861 NSP Termination Bill

HR 839 HAMP Bill 

Leveraging HUD 203K:  Restoring Homes, Families and Communities - An Educational Event on May 25

On May 25, lenders, real estate professionals, builders, remodelers, housing counselors and other housing professionals are invited to attend a training event to highlight the HUD 203K lending product as a tool to help provide homeownership opportunities in the region and help spur investment in vacant properties.   The event is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on May 25 at the Atlanta Board of Realtors located at 5784 Lake Forrest Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA  30328.   The event planning committee currently includes the Atlanta Board of Realtors, ANDP, Bank of America, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, NeighborWorks America, Wells Fargo, Westside Home Builders Association,  and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Registration is not yet open.  We will alert you as soon as the registration link is live. 

New Resource Guide Available to Help At Risk Homeowners:

HUD's Atlanta Office Region IV has released a newly updated brochure (February 2011) to help consumers at risk for foreclosure.  The brochure provides advice, direction and useful resources to families struggling to make mortgage payments.  The brochure - "Are You At Risk of Foreclosure?" -- is available on HUD's website.

Clayton County Housing Summit Dates Confirmed: 

The Clayton County Housing Summit has been confirmed for May 12 - 13 at the Morrow Center in Jonesboro, GA.  HUD Assistant Secretary Ron Sims has been invited to participate.  Please note the date change.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions regarding the Piece by Piece public commitment forms due on April 8.  We look forward to receiving your submissions.   

Sincerely
Susan Adams
Piece by Piece Coordinator