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NLC Conference Sessions To Address Foreclosures and Finance Crisis
by Bill Barnes
Delegates at the Congressional City Conference in March will find an array of events and new NLC resources designed to help city officials understand and take appropriate action in response to the continued unfolding of the foreclosure crisis and the broader financial difficulties that have ensued.
“Foreclosures and wide disarray in financial markets present terrible challenges to households, businesses and municipal governments,” said NLC President Cynthia McCollum, council member, Madison, Ala. “NLC aims to help officials respond to these challenges.”
On Tuesday March 11, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, will address these issues when he speaks at the afternoon general session. In addition, several workshops and NLC leadership group meetings will address a wide array of housing issues including the federal and local response to the foreclosure crisis. A schedule of all these events is below.
The NLC website (www.nlc.org) will soon have a prominent section dedicated to home mortgage finance and foreclosures. Municipal leaders will have access to NLC's legislative advocacy materials, a list of resources for assisting home owners at risk of foreclosure and publications from NLC that offer a range of best practices from cities across the country.
The NLC publications that will be available at the conference and also online include:
• A new City Practice Brief on Anti-Predatory Lending Ordinances presents examples of anti-predatory loan ordinances enacted locally by cities in order to control predatory lenders. Information includes how cities define predatory lenders, restrictions against predatory lending and penalties to enforce the laws.
• A new City Practice Brief on Foreclosure Assistance Programs provides examples of partnerships and coalitions, loan counseling programs and emergency fund programs that cities are using to assist homeowners at-risk of foreclosure.
• A new Municipal Action Guide on Preserving Affordable Housing suggests that the current emergency can present opportunities to invigorate your city’s affordable housing program.
• Helping Families Achieve Financial Stability Action Kit
• Family Financial Stability Special Report
Foreclosure-related events at the conference will start on Saturday March 8 and continue through the conference. Changes may occur and additional events may be added. Please consult the conference program for final times and room locations. Events and meetings include the following listed below.
The CityFutures Program luncheon on Saturday, March 8 will feature a speaker on the broad scope of the issue. CityFuture Panel members and Advisory Council members are the main audience. If others want to attend, please let Christy McFarland (mcfarland@nlc.org) know by February 29 so space can be made available.
The CityFutures Panel on Equity and Opportunity will meet on Saturday, March 8, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hannah McKinney, vice mayor, Kalamazoo, Mich., will chair this panel meeting and facilitate a discussion on impacts of foreclosures on families and neighborhoods and how cities can respond. All registered delegates interested in contributing to this discussion are invited to attend.
The Community and Economic Development Policy and Advocacy Committee will meet, Sunday, March 9, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
The Finance Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Policy and Advocacy Committee will meet Sunday, March 9, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A presentation will set up a discussion on how the foreclosure issue has affected city budgets and its affect on municipal bonds.
A workshop, Federal Responses to the Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis, will take place Monday, March 10, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
A workshop, Local Responses to the Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis, will take place Tuesday, March 11, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
A workshop, Connecting Families to Public Benefits: Strategies that Work, will take place Tuesday, March 11, from 10:30 a.m to 11:45 a.m. Cities can help eligible families claim public benefits at little cost through an array of outreach strategies. This workshop will focus on city partnerships with local United Ways that connect families to multiple benefits using the Benefits Enrollment Network screening tool. In addition, the workshop will highlight local strategies to tap federal funds for programs that help children and their families.
Details: For more information on the Congressional City Conference, please visit www.nlc.org.
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