Meet Nadia Aguirre, Assistant Loan Processor

At United Housing, we make choices that leverage resources, allowing us to serve more people in the area of homeownership. With our lending department’s expansion and additional focus on identifying and assisting Spanish-speaking homeowners and clients, we were able to hire a loan processor who is fluent in Spanish. United Housing is pleased to add Nadia Aguirre to the lending department as assistant loan processor. Nadia is bilingual in English and Spanish, which will allow our organization to reach a wider range of individuals in our city.

“We’re excited about the future of our expanding lending department and United Housing as a whole,” said Executive Director Tim Bolding. “Nadia’s extensive background in the lending industry makes her a valuable asset to our team, and our ability to provide bilingual assistance to our clients is a huge advancement for United Housing.”

Nadia at our booth during the 2015 Frayser Fall Festival

Nadia’s experience in the field makes her an instant asset and fit for United Housing. For eight years, she was a financial counselor with Financial Counselors of America, where she served as a bilingual specialist and assisted with credit repair consolidation budgeting, mortgage modification, homebuyer education (HBE) debt management and drafted proposals for the Hardest Hit Fund.

A native of Mexico, Nadia attended the Chihuahua Institute of Technology in Chihuahua, Mexico, and Colegio Centro Cristiano in Santa Ana, El Salvador. Additionally, she is certified by NeighborWorks America in foreclosure prevention, HBE intervention and credit management. 

In her role as assistant loan processor with United Housing, Nadia is responsible for helping both English- and Spanish-speaking individuals throughout the loan approval process, which includes collecting and verifying applicant information, interviewing individuals who need assistance with loans and preparing loan documents.

“I’m very excited and happy to join such a great organization and environment,” said Nadia. “I look forward to assisting people of all backgrounds who have lending needs.”

We are thrilled to have Nadia join our team, and know her addition will greatly benefit customers both now and in the future. Check out the People on the Move highlight in the Memphis Business Journal for more on her new role. For more information on how we can help, call (901) 272-1122 or visit http://bit.ly/14F0Fx0.

Priscilla Reed Embraces New Role with United Housing

As the Lending Department at United Housing continues to expand, we're pleased to announce that Priscilla Reed has accepted a new position as Lending Manager. Previously, Priscilla served as our Special Projects Coordinator, assisting clients in foreclosure prevention and financial literacy. 

A former underwriter with experience in the private sector, Priscilla relishes the opportunity to work one-on-one with people who are dedicated to repairing their homes. She also holds certification from NeighborWorks America as a financial capability counselor, reflecting on her tremendous client-focused coaching skills. 

Sarah Williams (front left) signs her Home RePAIR loan with Priscilla Reed (right). This was the first Home RePAIR loan done completely in-house and funded by United Housing. 

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to teach more people about the benefits of financial planning," said Priscilla. "It's our goal to bring a high level of financial literacy and planning to a wider audience. The strategy includes outreach and marketing, so that more people in Memphis and the Mid-South will know what they can do through United Housing."

Priscilla's first order of business as Lending Manager is administering Home RePAIR, an in-house home loan program. Qualifying clients can take out a 1.5% loan of up to $15,000 to cover the span of 10 years in order to upgrade their homes. RePAIR lending is an important part of United Housing's strategy to help people who may not otherwise have access to financial professionals. Learn about UHI client Preston Gilliam's experience with the RePAIR program here: http://bit.ly/1RbIJ04. 

With the addition of the Lending Department, United Housing now offers three major areas of financial improvement for clients: homebuyer education, foreclosure mitigation counseling and lending through Home RePAIR. As our staff evolves, we will better reflect our focus on lending to enable us to assist more people. Because of this, more people will have access to loans to repair their homes, which in turn will make neighborhoods and communities stronger and more stable. 

Please join us in congratulating Priscilla on her new role! The Memphis Business Journal highlighted her in a recent People on the Move feature. She is ready and eager to help you with your lending needs. For more information on how we can help, call (901) 272-1122 or visit http://bit.ly/14F0Fx0.

Lukas Alfen Making a Mark in Memphis

This past summer, United Housing hosted Lukas Alfen, an eighth grade Science teacher at Woodstock Middle School through Teach for America - Memphis, as an intern. During his internship, Lukas helped develop a process for getting financial education to teachers through financial literacy tools that are used across the country. These tools help teachers share with their students how to mitigate bad spending habits and bad credit scores through financial education at an early age. 

In honor of today being World Teacher's Day, we caught up with Lukas to hear about his teaching journey and investment in the community. 

How long have you been teaching at this school?

I am in my second year at Woodstock Middle School as part of my two-year service commitment for Teach for America. Prior to beginning at Woodstock, I taught summer school at Memphis Business Academy in Frayser. 

 

What led you to the Teach for America program?

I joined the program because of my work as a teaching assistant during my undergraduate studies at Syracuse University. While there, I saw the impact a dedicated teacher can have on mindset and achievement of their students. I noticed how the strong relationships built in school helped facilitate success for students outside the classroom walls. I also felt that Teach For America would give me the opportunity to experience life in a unique part of the country, different from the Northeast.

What is the best part about teaching? Most challenging?

The best part about teaching is getting to know my students. Having conversations and hearing their opinions gives me a clearer perspective on not only myself, but my goal here in Memphis as well. Each student is so full of potential that I need to ensure I am intentional in directing their energy in ways that will prepare them for success in grade school and beyond.

The most challenging part about teaching for me is finding the time to accomplish all of the goals I have for my classroom. There are only so many hours in a day to teach students, prepare lessons, measure data and support extracurricular activities, that finding any down time is almost impossible.

Have you been able to use what you learned at United Housing this summer in your classroom this fall?

Working at United Housing has helped me better understand Memphis as a city and a community. The need to drastically improve the financial literacy skills of children in Memphis quickly became apparent. Because of this, I have committed myself to teaching the importance of learning financial education and money management skills early on to help open up opportunities in adulthood.

What inspires you to give back to your community?

My students inspire me each and every day. The teachable moments I have with them make all the work worthwhile. Going into a profession for the money was never something I wanted to do, as I would rather make a career in which my value would be measured in the impact I had on others.

Family takes advantage of United Housing's Home RePAIR program

After hearing about United Housing's Home RePAIR program on The Bev Johnson Show on 1070 WDIA, Preston and Barbara Gilliam knew right away it was exactly what they needed. The couple quickly contacted United Housing for an application, and within days they were notified of approval of the 1.5% loan to help repair damages to their home's roof and ceiling.

"We could not be happier about the work performed on our home," said Preston. "Mr. William Hampton and his Network Construction organization went above and beyond; the workers were courteous, respectful and did a wonderful job."

Preston and Barbara Gilliam - guests on The Bev Johnson Show on 1070 WDIA.

Many people need home repairs, but don't know who to call, which is why the Gilliams took the opportunity to be guests on The Bev Johnson Show's "Ask the Expert" segment. They wanted to share with others how smooth and organized the process was for them, so that others, who may not necessarily have cash on hand, can still upgrade their homes. In addition to visiting the studio to show gratitude to Bev Johnson for airing this helpful information, the Gilliams also wrote a thank you letter to United Housing. 

"We want to thank United Housing for having this loan program and taking us through the process," they wrote. "From start to finish, every step of the process was handled in a professional manner, and we are very pleased with the outcome."

United Housing's program and services ensure quality repair work and good inspections in order to keep people's homes maintained and in good condition. 

"Receiving the thank you letter was a treat for our staff," said Tim Bolding, Executive Director of United Housing. "Through our work, we can help provide real solutions to housing problems and help customers live in safe and healthy homes. If we can get more people's homes repaired, then neighborhoods will continue to be positively impacted."

For more information on how we can help fix your housing needs, call (901) 272-1122 or visit our website.

 

United Housing & St. Therese team to provide home for women

Landmark Community Bank Offers Low Interest Loan To Facilitate Purchase

 

When St. Therese of Lisieux – the “Saint of the Little Way” – said more than a century ago that people in distress could be saved by small acts of kindness, she may not have been thinking about food and shelter for women who are survivors of trauma and homelessness. But a Memphis non-profit has used the teachings of the Little Flower, as St. Therese is known, as an inspiration to build community with and for women who are looking to rebuild their lives after being on the streets.

And when the Memphis-based Community of St. Therese of Lisieux approached United Housing, Inc. (UHI) in need of space for three women in transition, the message resonated. Thanks to a partnership with the Lisieux Community, UHI, the Presbyterian Women (PCUSA) and Landmark Community Bank, those women now have a safe place to live as they work to get back on their feet.

“We participated in the national Community Stabilization Trust program that resulted from the settlement with the major national banks affected by the financial crisis. The banks provided foreclosed properties to non-profits like UHI for use as affordable housing,” said Amy Schaftlein, director of development and communications for UHI, a non-profit affordable housing agency that serves families in the city of Memphis, Shelby County and West Tennessee. “When organizations like St. Therese have a need, those properties could be fixed up and rented for a dollar a year for two years with an option to purchase, and meanwhile address a critical social challenge.”

Lisieux Community President Sandra Ferrell says a grant from the Presbyterian Women (PCUSA) allowed her organization to take the next step, not only purchasing the house but also making needed renovations. Landmark Community Bank in Memphis provided the low-cost loan through a state-level community reinvestment program.

“A foreclosed house had been sitting vacant for years, and now these three women have a home. It’s such a wonderful partnership of local and national organizations working together to make a difference on several levels,” Ferrell said. “Many times, people who find themselves on the street never learned to live as part of a family, and we help provide them with education, life skills, employment assistance and other programs. As St. Therese taught, we can do small things that add up to mean a lot to these women’s futures.”

Now two of the participants are starting at Southwest Community College, and everyone involved has felt the impact. Landmark Community Bank Senior Vice President Bryan Jones says the bank selects opportunities to support local non-profits each year.

“This initiative has such a direct impact on Memphians who desperately need the help and want to get back into society,” Jones said. “We’re blessed to have organizations like United Housing and the Lisieux Community in our midst, and Landmark Bank was honored to play a small role in connecting the dots and offering the financing that provided a stable home.” 

The home has a capacity for five women to participate in the two-year program. The Lisieux Community has made tremendous strides in helping women transition back into the workforce and community. For more information, visit www.lisieuxcommunity.org.

Financial Literacy for All

Getting Started in Financial Literacy

Did you know that the month of April is National Financial Literacy Month? Priscilla Reed, Special Projects Coordinator at United Housing, Inc., shares her knowledge as a certified financial capability counselor in the following blog post.

Priscilla Reed, MBASpecial Projects Coordinator, United Housing, Inc.

With a background in foreclosure prevention, I help people save their homes using many different tools, but one of the most important tools is building a monthly budget. During my time at United Housing, I have found that the basic rules of budgeting and spending are the same at various levels of financial health. Because of this, I am able to communicate and help people from all walks of life. I encourage you to read on in order to see what I've included in the essentials of financial literacy. President Obama declared April Financial Literacy Month in 2011, saying, “I call upon all Americans to observe this month with programs and activities to improve their understanding of financial principles and practices.” (www.whitehouse.org)

It is very important to achieve and maintain financial solvency.  Being financially literate helps you build savings, improve credit and eliminate debt.  On the contrary, as I have seen with past clients, the absence of financial literacy can cause a consumer to build no savings, increase debt and develop poor credit.  In addition, it can negatively affect health and is a known cause of divorce. Now that we have looked at the pitfalls of lacking financial knowledge, let’s look at how we can better achieve it.

What Is Financial Literacy? 

Financial literacy is the ability to understand money and make sound monetary decisions. According Investopedia, financial literacy also "involves intimate knowledge of financial concepts like compound interest, financial planning, the mechanics of a credit card, advantageous savings methods, consumer rights, time value of money, etc.” (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financial-literacy.asp, 2015.)

Get To Know Your Spending Habits

The first step of being financially sound is tracking your spending, which can also be one of the most challenging tasks.  It is very important to know what is earned and what is spent in order to increase savings and avoid debt.  How do you avoid overspending?  Create a budget.  If you don’t like the word budget then develop a “spending plan.”  A spending plan allows you to track what you spend and save. Yes, savings is an expense. If you treat it as an expense, then you will be sure to pay yourself.  Once you’ve established a budget or spending plan, you must periodically check it to ensure it's functioning properly and make necessary adjustments. 

Identify Needs vs Wants

On your road to becoming more financially literate and healthy, be mindful of the differences between needs and wants. Before making a purchase, ask yourself, “Is this a need or a want?”  You may have to step back from a purchase to think about it.  Although habits are hard to break, it can be done. It may take a few months to get into a good financial pattern and reap the benefits, but the important thing is to stay focused and determined.

Remember, no matter where you are in the process of financial literacy, the ultimate goal is to become financially capable.  National Financial Literacy Month is a great time to start!

Open House at Wolf River Bluffs Development

Join us for our Open House at our Wolf River Bluffs development in Frayser on Sunday, April 26 from 2-4 p.m. Located close to Midtown and just eight minutes from downtown, this development allows access to wooded parkland, providing a rural feeling in an urban setting. Starting at $129,000, these MLGW EcoBUILD certified homes feature an eco-friendly design with solar generated electricity, which can save the homeowner up to $50 per month in utility costs.

 

During the event, Crye-Leike Realtor Jimmie Hopson will be on-site to give tours of the model home, and Sheila Middleton with Magna Bank will also be on-site to pre-qualify buyers interested in these units. Arrive early because the first 10 attendees will receive Kroger gift cards, and all attendees will get a free t-shirt and complimentary refreshments!

This development is currently in Phase One and consists of 10 homes with open floor plans, real hardwood floors and large lot sizes. These units feature three bedrooms, two baths, a two-car garage and a separate formal dining room, great room and eat-in kitchen.

Not sure you're able to own a home due to financial reasons? Let us help you with your credit and provide you with tools to become a homeowner by enrolling in our free Homebuyer Education program. Learn how Tamika Walker, our first homeowner in Wolf River Bluffs, used our free services to purchase her first home.

At United Housing, we believe that Home Matters, and we look forward to meeting you at our open house to begin your path to homeownership. For more information, call (901) 272-1122 or visit uhinc.org.

View images of the home's interior below.

 Each Wolf River Bluffs home features Energy Star appliances

The homes are MLGW EcoBUILD certified 

Living room and dining room feature real hardwood floors

 Universal design throughout the home and high ceilings in the living room

Covered backyard patio

Two-car garage and solar panels by Sharp Manufacturing

People and Places Conference Part III: Health and Housing

This is Part III of a series by Staff Blogger Amy Schaftlein, Director of Development + Communications at United Housing.

Last week I wrote about how Memphis can learn from D.C.'s Housing Production Trust Fund Baseline Funding Act to mitigate population loss and blight in our city. Blight, poor housing stock and vacant properties also pose health threats for many families, and relying on local government funding cannot alleviate all issues associated with unhealthy living situations. This post delves into how Community Development Corporations (CDCs) can partner with the health sector to have a bigger impact in our neighborhoods.

For too many communities and families, zip codes determine health. The People and Places Conference session entitled, "Engaging the Health Sector," asked the question: How can the community development field work with the health sector in a more collaborative way to alleviate ills associated with poor housing, unsafe neighborhood conditions and other neighborhood-based issues that plague American communities? The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco convened a HealthyCommunities Conference and invited other banks to invest in CDCs working with the health sector to decrease health issues faced by low-income communities and give the banks CRA credit at the same time. 

Shelterforce Panel (photo courtesy of Shelterforce)

Last week, United Housing visited Jackson, Tenn. to join in discussions with the state of Tennessee's Medicaid program, TennCare. TennCare's Money Follows the Person program is a Rebalancing Demonstration Program that focuses on transitioning long-term care systems and institutionalized elderly and disabled into homes in the community. Tennessee saves $41,000 per person they move to care in a community setting and out of a institutional care. TennCare called a Stakeholder Meeting in Jackson to get feedback and input on how Tennessee should spend the saved dollars in the Rebalancing Fund. 

Affordable Housing, potentially development and rehabilitation grants to assist in the purchase and accessible rehab of a home, were among the opportunities proposed. Nonprofit Housing developers will be the targeted agencies to receive this type of funding. Another, a cheaper and quicker solution is a proposed voucher program that will give priority to elderly and disabled folks without the support system to use vouchers to transition into the community - temporarily - for 2-5 years. The group wanted to make sure that the housing developments were coordinated with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency's monitoring capacity. While none of the proposed rebalancing funds are confirmed nor fully defined, it is one step toward a model for healthcare and housing to work together on a larger scale for a healthier future for Tennessee. The amount of funds available are not yet being shared.

United Housing is looking to continue partnerships with other service agencies locally, like Meritan, Inc. and Shelby Residential and Vocational Services (SRVS) to ensure quality, accessible home renovations for their customers transitioning into home care and community-based solutions. As a growing part of our housing development, partnerships with health insurance providers and healthcare agencies will be critical for the future of our housing development work.

Open House at United Housing's Wolf River Bluffs home for SRVS' customer.

Other examples of CDCs working with the health sector from the conference include:

·         Partner with Health Insurance Providers - how we can decrease costs by practicing mold abatement, for example.

o   Add housing needs as part of intake in health clinics

·         Healthy Foods financing with grocers in communities

·         Consult Health Facilities on tax credit opportunities (Do insurance companies have a tax burden that could warrant a Community Investment Tax Credit type incentive program?)

·         Coordination of affordable housing units with health clinics and services. For example, including a mental health liaison in permanent supportive housing units.

·         Look at nonprofit hospitals’ target areas and see where those areas overlap with CDCs' – then create something like ArizonaHealthy Communities

·         Partner with university hospitals

o   For example, APM in Philadelphia partnered with Temple University to inform Sustainable Communities initiative

·         Set up training workshops like Pennsylvania Associationof CDCs did with Jefferson University Hospital and Department of Health and Human Services

It will continue to be important to show how the impact of our work, as CDCs, affects health outcomes in our communities. By showing how our work addresses health disparities, we can more effectively influence policy and attract partners in hospitals and health clinics. It is an exciting time in community development and with the new community benefits obligations many hospitals have due to the Affordable Care Act, it could have as big of an impact on the community development sector as the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) had in the 1970s.

United Housing Offering FHA Mortgage Refinance Opportunity

United Housing is offering refinances on all 30-year Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage loans obtained after April 18, 2011. In early January, The White House announced the reduction of annual FHA mortgage insurance premiums by 0.5%, from 1.35% to 0.85%.

“The FHA’s streamlined refinance should allow for a smooth and quick transition to lower our customers’ mortgage insurance premiums,” said Priscilla Reed, Special Projects Coordinator at United Housing. “The little work required up front will in turn save borrowers approximately $80 per month, or about $900 per year, depending on where you live.”

For a borrower to obtain the FHA refinance through United Housing, they must have the following:

• A credit score of 580 or greater.
• An FHA mortgage for at least six months between April 18, 2011 and December 31, 2014.

A borrower does not need to have an appraisal or income documentation, as there are no income limits, and all fees will be added back into the loan amount. Additionally, the borrower must provide the following:

• Copy of Note
• Copy of the most recent mortgage statement
• Copy of the payoff or demand statement
• Note: Additional documents may be required.

Once United Housing obtains the borrower’s information, the organization will send it to its lender partner and fellow NeighborWorks America organization, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE). A team at CNE will pull credit, providing the borrower pays the credit check fees, and then the loan will be processed. The borrower will then close with a local attorney to complete the process, which should take about 10 days.

According to the White House report, in addition to saving people an average of $900 annually, the FHA is projecting that more than 800,000 borrowers will take advantage of these lower rates in the first year alone. The lowered premiums will create opportunities for 250,000 new homeowners to purchase a home over the next three years. New home buying activity will spur more residential construction and new jobs in the housing sector, further strengthening the market. Learn more in The White House release here.

Visit the links below for more information on the FHA refinance opportunity.

• The White House Blog
• The New York Times

People and Places Conference, Part II - How Memphis can learn from Washington's Housing Trust Fund

This is Part II of a series by Staff Blogger Amy Schaftlein, Director of Development + Communications at United Housing.

Hi everyone, if you've had a chance to look at last week's post, I talked about attending the People and Places conference in D.C. in early March. I am following up with you this week on the work that is being done across the country to fund housing development in tough neighborhoods. One thing I found striking is the amount of money the city of D.C. has invested in their housing production. 

The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development is a member association that leads nonprofit CDCs in ensuring that low-income residents have housing opportunities in the District of Columbia. The Coalition advocated for the creation of the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF), and since 2002, the HPTF has produced or preserved over 8,000 affordable homes.

In 2011, the Coalition started a Housing for All campaign to create solid streams of revenue for the HPTF.  The Coalition trained residents to speak out for affordable housing, mobilized supporters and challenged government officials to take action. Over the last two budget sessions, the Coalition won nearly $200 million to fund the HPTF of D.C. This is a huge feat. The strategy did not include identifying one dedicated revenue stream. Instead, they focused on raising a dollar amount that is not dependent on a fluctuating, dedicated source or one-time investment. The HPTF Baseline Funding Amendment Act of 2014 was passed supporting $100 million annual baseline funding for the trust fund, a miraculous win.

As Memphis begins to plan for housing needs in 2016 and beyond, a dedicated funding amount for housing will be extremely important to combat deteriorating housing stock and property values across the city. 

Memphis is losing population, and with that loss, we lose revenue and investment. Based on U.S. Census numbers, at least 80,000 more people moved out of Memphis than moved in between the years 2000 and 2010. Tipton County homes sales are up 48% from 2014. People in the middle-income range are moving out. They leave behind vacant homes that cost government and homeowners money. There is an estimated reduction of value of $1,058 for each house within a 1/8 mile radius. Abandoned properties cost local governments $20,000 per house for lost taxes, increased police and fire calls, and public works, code enforcement and safely problems.

A strategy to increase investment in our older, existing neighborhoods is necessary if we want to grow our tax base, decrease blight, support local businesses and attract outside businesses to our city. A Housing Trust Fund or dedicated funding stream for housing initiatives, and/or tax abatement strategies with strategic and committed investment from our local and state governments, are a few things that will help Memphis mitigate population loss, increase investment in our older, existing neighborhoods and help to stabilize losses in property values and tax revenues. 

A Look into the 2015 People & Places Conference in Washington D.C.

Hi, I'm Amy Schaftlein, Development and Communications Director at United Housing. Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend the People and Places Conference in Washington D.C. thanks to our partner organization, Livable Memphis. Livable Memphis sent me on a scholarship as an employee of United Housing, a member organization, and board member. I attended seven sessions covering housing and community development policy and advocacy and will share with you insights on these sessions through a lens of both a UHI employee and a volunteer on Livable Memphis board and Policy Sub-committee. 

The conference focused not solely on what organizations are doing, but how organizations are working with residents, neighbors, youth, elderly and immigrant families to strengthen communities. As the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (CDCs) said, the residents and stakeholders have agency and are active participants in creating and sustaining parks, gardens and small businesses in traditionally forgotten neighborhoods. This conference saw community development practitioners not only as those employed at nonprofit and community development organizations but also as those living and working in neighborhoods every day - volunteering at community gardens, schools, and in advocacy campaigns in their cities. 

People & Places has boasted that they are the most diverse and inclusive conference in more than a decade and there is evidence of that on every panel and in every discussion from talks on racial justice, to tackling issues facing immigrants in America today. 

To the right, John Paul Shaffer with Livable Memphis presents on creative placemaking and tactical urbanism as innovative approaches to neighborhood revitalization.

Speakers from leadership position in government included Deputy Secretary of Labor, Christopher Lu, at the Thursday breakfast event. He spoke about wage equality and doubling apprenticeships not only in manufacturing but also in the information sector, to help families increasing their education and earnings. At lunch, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Jay Williams, noted a startling statistic, “While our production numbers are back to what they were in 2008, we got there with 1 million less workers.” That statement says a lot about our economy. Yes, it is getting better, but families are not feeling it because many are not contributing to it. 

Assistant Secretary of Commerce Jay Williams with Steve Glaude, Executive Director of  the Coalition of Neighborhood Housing and Economic Development. Photo courtesy of @CNHED.

Over the next several weeks I will share three takeaways I had from this conference. One, as community development practitioners, we should continue to find ways to incorporate the health sector in our work. Secondly, if Memphis wants to invest locally in our housing stock, one option may be to create a Housing Trust Fund and finding ways, locally to sustain it like the D.C. organization, Coalition of Neighborhood Housing and Economic Development proposed in their virtual tour. Finally, in order to strengthen neighborhoods, building the capacity of our community to advocate for local public policies that work in their neighborhoods will be central to creating the kinds of political will and buy-in necessary to fund a Housing Trust Fund and other funding and legislation that will help build community.