AARP is a non-profit membership organization people age 50 and over, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all people as they age. The website provides articles on topics such as housing and retirement options and home energy efficiency, and the AARP public policy institute offers publications on issues such as age discrimination in employment, Medicaid, and poverty in retirement.
AFSCME, The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees provides services to union members, in addition to employment protection, such as grants, scholarships, training programs and club discounts. Member service information can be found on this website as well as links to articles on national policy issues related to healthcare, workplace safety and job security and AFSME publications on related topics.
The Coalition of Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFI) website provides information on CDFI services, locations, and case study descriptions on CDFI-invested local programs such as affordable and transitional housing, homeownership, and small business development.
Citizen's Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) is a non-profit umbrella organization for affordable housing and community development activities throughout Massachusetts, focused on housing advocacy, research, community education and training, and coalition building. The CHAPA website features information on the National Community Stabilization Fund, the US Conference on Mayors Vacant and Abandoned Properties Task Force and the State Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, which publishes data reports on loss mitigation efforts by major mortgage servicers. The website also provides information on state and federal affordable housing policies and a foreclosure clearinghouse.
A non-profit, non-partisan, public policy, research and education insitute, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is dedicated to improving the lives of African Americans and underserved communities. The website for CBCF offers policy briefs and research reports on topics such as economic development, child care and education, and the effect of climate change on African American communities.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) provides educational and leadership development programs, such as internships, scholarships, fellowships and other services that increase opportunities for Hispanics to participate in and contribute to the policy making process. The website provides information on these services as well as highlighting CHCI's National Housing Initiative, with resources that facilitate homeownership for the Latinos in the United States.
Housing Partnership Network is an organization of members that develop, manage and finance affordable homes in order to revitalize communities and provide economic opportunities for lower-income and working families. The website offers information on affiliate members by state and their programs, community lending tools for pre-development and acquisition, housing counseling programs, housing partnerships and insurance, and innovation in housing design.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is the national association that represents the real estate finance industry, promotes fair and ethical lending practices, and supports professional excellence among real estate finance employees. The MBA website offers links to market data and forecast information, industry news reports, and professional development links.
Dedicated to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) website provides information on legislative initiatives and programs that support these goals. Specific programs such as Economic Empowerment list resources (reports, initiatives, related websites) related to minority housing opportunities and economic development.
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is dedicated to advocating for the provision of adequate and affordable housing and strong, viable communities for all Americans—particularly those with low- and moderate-incomes. This website lists information on and for member-administered programs such as Public Housing, Section 8, CDBG and HOME, professional development resources for redevelopment professionals, related publications, committee information, and a solutions database.
NAR's analysis of housing and economic indicators provides real estate professionals with tools to interpret the market and apply that knowledge to their business. In addition to NAR's own existing-home sales series, NAR Research monitors other indicators such as new-home sales, housing starts, producer prices, mortgage rates and more.
The National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders NAAHL, encompassing 200 organizations committed to increasing private lending and investing in low- and moderate-income communities, provides information on its website related to national housing policy such as the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, subprime lending and related issues, as well as publications on topics such as best practices in community lending, affordable housing loan consortia, and New Markets Tax Credits.
The National Association of Realtors is a member organization that offers professional development, on-line housing statistics, economic indicators and forecasts, updates on housing policy, and information on resources (grant opportunities and initiatives) on issues such as smart growth, diversity, gulf coast recovery, and a housing solutions database.
NCDA is a national nonprofit organization comprised of more than 550 local governments across the country that administer federally-supported community and economic development, housing and human service programs, including programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs. NCDA offers on-line information on community and economic development policies and legislative priorities such as the Neighborhood Stabilization program, conferences and training, and posts on-line technical assistant documents related to community development activities.
The National Community Land Trust Network is the umbrella organization supporting the work of community land trusts across the United States in order to promote sustainable development through the development of permanently affordable housing and the protection of working lands. The website publishes general information on land trusts, highlighting award-winning land trust initiatives, with links to resources including foreclosure information, case studies, and a community land trust tool kit.
The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) is a member association of more than 600 community-based organizations, formed to bring together community reinvestment organizations from across the country so as to increase the flow of private capital into traditionally underserved communities. NCRC's website posts information on public policy, research, and financial services related to community reinvestment. Its research library includes mulit-media publications on best practices, fair lending, and national studies on lending trends.
In order to foster quality housing research and to advance the practice of housing reseach as a science, The National Consortium of Housing Research Centers publishes housing research information on line from member organizations on topics such as green building, affordable housing initiatives, disaster relief, and innovative materials and design.
National Council of La Raza, dedicated to improving opportunities for Hispanic Americans through advocacy and initiatives, posts information and links on its website related to topics such as foreclosure prevention in Latino communities, community and family wealth-building, economic development and employment, immigration and education.
National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), a nonprofit organization made up of state Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs), posts information on its website related to three key programs: Mortgage Revenue Bonds (MRB), Housing Credits, and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME). The website also publishes an annual factbook with the results of state Housing Finance Agency programs, and highlights affordable housing advocacy priorities
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling, dedicated to promoting financially responsible behavior nationally and building capacity for its members, publishes a homeownership crisis resource center on its website offering on-line debt advice to home owners on avoiding foreclosure and other topics, as well as an on-line communication service for members and stakeholders to allow them to communicate on critical issues related to credit counseling.
National Housing Conference (NHC) is a membership organization presenting a unified voice for housing through nonpartisan advocacy, research and promotion of policies and legislation that promote suitable housing in a safe, decent environment. NHC's research affiliate, the Center for Housing Policy, publishes research, reports, and media releases on its website on developing solutions to issues such as increasing affordable housing, the effectiveness of housing policies, and the housing landscape for working families.
A coalition of national, state and local organizations working to improve the ways we plan and build the towns, cities and metro areas, Smart Growth America includes many national organizations advocating on behalf of historic preservation, the environment, farmland and open space preservation, neighborhood revitalization and more. Its website outlines campaigns and projects such as revitalizing urban neighborhoods, the governor's institute on community design, community walkability, vacant property revitalization, neighborhood schools, and training and leadership development, and includes smart growth publications and advocacy materials.
The American Securitization Forum’s (ASF) Web site describes the group as a broadly-based professional forum through which participants in the U.S. securitization market can advocate their common interests on important legal, regulatory and market practice issues.
Its membership encompasses all aspects of the securitization industry, including issuers, investors, financial intermediaries, rating agencies, legal and accounting firms, trustees, servicers, guarantors, and other market participants.
The principal goals of the ASF are as follows:
- Consensus. To build consensus within the U.S. securitization industry on issues of broad importance to the industry;
- Advocacy. To mount principled and focused efforts to advance the ASF’s substantive positions, chiefly by interacting with appropriate governmental, regulatory, accounting, legislative and other policy-making bodies;
- Education. To inform and educate the securitization community and related constituencies, and to sponsor substantive, high-quality conferences and educational programs.
The National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations is a member group of organizations working with residents to strengthen their communities by building affordable and mixed income housing, implementing neighborhood economic development strategies, and providing essential services for youth, families, seniors, people with disabilities and the homeless. The website hosts links to state member associations and policy updates on related current topics including the foreclosure and economic crisis and the effect on affordable housing.
HousingEconomics.com, published by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and available by subscription, provides information on housing forecasts, market trends, economic analysis, and archival data relating to the housing industry. The website provides housing statistics on categories such as construction costs by location, annual housing starts and sales data (current and historic), employment data, and national, state and metro area housing industry forecasts.
The American Bankers Association was developed to enhance the role of financial services institutions, representing banks of all sizes on issues of national importance, including community, regional and money center banks and holding companies, as well as savings associations, trust companies and savings banks. Its website offers professional and business development resources for members, as well as a description of annual priorities, including predatory lending and protecting home ownership, minority banking institutions and small business development
TRF is committed to financing neighborhood revitalization through progressive, socially responsible community investing throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Its on-line resource center provides links to application forms for financing, and policy and staff publications, including Creativity and Neighborhood Development: Strategies for Community Investment and other success stories.
To support its core mission of improving the lives of disadvantaged children, the Annie E. Casey Foundation provides grants, research and evaluation initiatives, and direct services such as technical assistance to support low-income communities and families. The website links users to descriptions and resources related to initiatives supported by Annie E. Casey such as Neighborhood Development, Rebuilding Communities, and Families Count.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to encouraging the self-sufficiency of individuals and promoting collaboration in communities through providing grants to organizations in areas of poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and promoting non-profit and philanthropic initiatives internationally and domestically. The website offers grant information on these focus areas, as well as posting publications on programs and initiatives it funds. Examples of specific initiatives funded include workforce development, income security, race and reconciliation, and citizen participation.
Dreambuilder Investments, LLC is a mortgage resolution and investment company that offers partnership opportunities and alternatives to foreclosure to lenders, investors and home owners in distressed markets. The website presents basic information about the company including contact information.
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation that offers grants, loans and other resources internationally to organizations and individuals in four focus areas: strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement. The website offers information and links to resources on these topics domestically and internationally, including diverse publications, a grants database, and resources for grant seekers, grant makers and donors.
NCB Capital Impact provides financial support and technical assistance to co-operative initiatives that support underserved communities. Their website posts information on approaches to long-term sustainability for co-operatives and on the challenges to financing affordable and co-operative housing, charter schools and community health centers and related solutions such as New Markets Tax Credits, limited equity and shared equity models.
A network of private financial intermediaries identifying and investing in opportunities to benefit low-income and low-wealth people in the US, the Opportunity Finance Network website provides information on financial investment products for individuals, investors, CDFIs, and mortgage originators, as well as relevant news articles on policy and programs related to increasing investment opportunities to low-income communities.
The CDFI Fund is supported through the US Department of Treasury to promote economic revitalization through expanding the capacity of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to provide credit, capital, and financial services to underserved communities. This website lists resources for CDFIs and Community Development Entities to apply for monetary awards, such as New Markets Tax Credits and the Bank Enterprise Award, in order to support financing community and economic development initiatives. The website features a CDFI Fund mapping tool that enables users to create maps and reports on funding-eligible census tracks and counties.
Fannie Mae was created in 1938 under federal charter in order to support affordable housing development, expand the availability of mortgage funds and to support the U.S housing market in all communities under all economic conditions. The website provides information (articles, reports) and resources (links to grants, lending and mortgage products, extensive homebuyer resources and foreclosure prevention tools) useful for organizations and individuals interested in facilitating and sustaining homeownership and housing stability in communities. Webcasts, articles, and e-newsletters on topics such as the mortgage market, national housing surveys, and disaster relief are also available.
This division of Freddie Mac compiles data on major economic and housing and mortgage market indicators and offers annual forecasts based on those indicators. Information found on this link includes news releases, weekly commentaries, reports and other publications on topics like adjustable-rate and conventional mortgages and refinancing activities, as well as links to resources related to foreclosure avoidance, homeownership tools, properties for sale and Freddie Mac financing products.
Established by the Office of Policy Development and Research at HUD in 1978, HUD USER is designed to provide a database of information to community development researchers, policymakers, academics on priority housing and community development issues in the US. The website offers links to publications and data sets, newsletters and resource links on a broad range of topics related to housing and community stabilization such as housing production and technology, fair housing and housing finance, housing policy and market analysis, economic development strategies, lessons learned and case studies.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) is a nonpartisan organization of cities in the US with populations of 30,000 or more, designed to promote effective policy development, strengthen federal-city relationships, ensure that federal policy meets urban needs, provide mayors with leadership and management tools, and create a forum for mayors to share ideas and information. The website highlights priority areas for legislation and programs such as the livability and environmental health of cities and brownfields redevelopment, housing, employment, and community development; and offers news, reports and videos on related topics and best practices.
ACORN is a national grassroots community organization with chapters in 110 US cities, working with affiliate community organizations and supporting low and moderate income communities though organizing, advocacy, negotiation, and direct action. The website offers access to a members' center (anyone can sign up) to find out about community events and services, information on ACORN campaigns such as predatory lending, living wage, better schools, foreclosures and affordable housing, as well as legislative action alerts and multi-media press releases.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is a federation of national and international unions. Its website lists information on member unions and affiliates as well as links to articles on topics such as green jobs, civil and worker's rights, and the impact of the housing mortgage crisis on low-income families.
The Center for Responsible Lending is a non-profit organization focused on research, policy development, coalition building, litigation and communication for the purpose of protecting homeownership and family wealth from abusive financial practices. Their website posts articles and research highlighting recent policy trends in home-lending, reports on the sub-prime lending crisis, and links to organizations that work to fight predatory lending practices and prevent foreclosure.
Community Stabilization Project utlizes grassroots organizing, advocacy, and human service to inform, educate, and organize low-income tenants and people of color to take action to preserve and increase the supply of affordable housing in the Saint Paul, Minnesota metro area. It's website provides written and visual information on case studies of community stabilization in the St. Paul area through the use of these tools.
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to conducting research that demonstrates the competitive advantage of cities in order to promote successful strategies that fuel inner city development. The ICIC website hosts publications comparing the competitive advantage of development initiatives, as well as information on programs and strategies that encourage and sustain capital investment in inner cities.
LivingCities is a national community development institute that offers grants and financial investments, expertise, and resources that support community development, sponsor important research, and promote policies that benefit cities and their residents. Their website lists links to projects, neighborhood case studies, publications and community development tools for over 20 major US cities. It also provides research publications on urban development policy, census and neighborhood data, child well-being indicators, and tools to diagnose the quality of life in cities.
National CAPACD is a national advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the community development needs of diverse and rapidly growing Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, refugee and immigrant communities. Its website focuses on key program areas such as access to housing, data policy, economic justice, and community preservation and revitalization through highlighting the work of affiliate organizations and through links to local and national resources.
Dedicated to fostering decent, affordable housing and a vibrant, inclusive communities, the National Housing Institute focuses on supporting progressive, community-development policies and practices through publications, research, and advocacy. The website provides resource links and publications that can be downloaded on subjects such as sustainable and equitable revitalization, re-sale restricted housing practices, shared equity homeownership, housing discrimination and rebuilding post-disaster.
With over 100 local affiliates in 35 states and the District of Columbia, The Urban League is devoted to empowering African Americans and underserved communities to enter the economic and social mainstream through direct service programs, advocacy and research. The website posts information on the Urban League's programs such as civil rights and racial justice, economic empowerment, health and quality of life, as well as a listing of affiliates by state and publications such as the State of Black America, Urban Influence Magazine and policy institute reports.
The National Vacant Properties Campaign, a project of Smart Growth America (SGA), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech, and the Genesee Institute, works to create a unified coalition of organizations acting to make vacant property reclamation an attainable goal nationwide. The Campaign website links users to a national network of vacant property practitioners and experts, reports on the community benefits of vacant property reuse and case studies of successful initiatives, and information on how to access technical assistance and training.
The nonprofit Center for Community Self-Help and its financing affiliates Self-Help Credit Union and Self-Help Ventures Fund provide financing, technical support and advocacy for groups left out of the economic mainstream. The website provides information on topics such as predatory lending, tax credits, CDFI support, and the sub-prime mortgage crisis as well as commercial and residential lending products and a listing of homes for sale.
The Genesee Institute provides planning and research technical assistance tools to local jurisdictions and non-profit organizations on issues related to vacant and tax foreclosed properties, sustainable neighborhoods, shrinking cities, economic revitilization, land banking, urban sprawl, and growth management. Their website details the types of technical assistance offered, as well as information on upcoming seminars, links to affiliated organizations, and reports highlighting case studies in Flint, Michigan (where the organization is headquartered).
The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) engages in public education, policy advocacy, and grassroots organizing through focusing on issues related to housing justice, economic justice, healthcare justice, and civil rights. The website offers resource directories on issues related to homelessness including a national housing database for the homelessness and low income, and details the Bringing America Home Campaign to end homelessness.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to ending America’s affordable housing crisis through advocating for federal housing policy that will affect people with the lowest incomes. NLIHC posts on-line information about relevant national housing policies and initiatives, publications and research and state resources related to low-income housing development.
The Brookings Institution, a non-profit policy organization focused on research related to democracy, economic and social welfare and international cooperation, publishes a variety of articles on its website (in particular through its Metropolitan Policy Program and Economic Studies) related to community stability, poverty reduction, energy efficiency, and community revitalization policies and practices.
The Center for American Progress is a multi-disciplinary think tank dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action. This website provides reports, video features, and an opportunity to communicate with experts on topics such as on poverty reduction, neighborhood stabilization planning, and energy initiatives as a means for jobs creation and economic recovery.
A membership organization designed to research and promote policies, programs and legislation related to affordable housing challenges in American communities, this website provides links to affordable housing research, publications and policy initiatives, as well as an affordable housing clearinghouse, with links to member organizations and government agencies by categories. Examples of topic categories include secondary mortgage markets, public housing, home ownership counseling, energy efficient design, economic and community development.
The Center on Budget and Policy Initiatives utilizes research and analysis to inform policy and programs that affect low and moderate income people. Multi-media reports are available on this website on topics such as climate change, housing policy, economic stimulus, poverty alleviation, and immigrant communities.
The Joint Center for Housing Studies is Harvard University's center for information and research on housing in the United States, offering analysis on the relationship between housing markets and economic and social trends. The Center website provides links to other websites that provide specific information related to government, housing advocacy organizations and intermediaries, housing industry associations, housing sector media and publications, and university and research centers. Research and publications are also available on topics such as homeownership trends and issues, rental housing, and housing policy.
The Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech (MI) publishes research reports, speeches, and journals such as Housing Policy Debate on topics such as national and international development patterns, factors shaping metropolitan growth trends, sprawl and suburban development, and presenting local and national examples of housing policy, practice and implementation.
A leading advocate for policies in support of affordable housing and community development, Enterprise Community Partners offers financial products and services that support community stabilization as well as advocacy tools, training and information. The website offers extensive information about Enterprise programs such as trainings, grants, loans, and tax credit investment in areas such as community rebuilding and development (Gulf states, rural, Native American), affordable housing preservation, initiatives that support homeownership, green communities, schools and communities, and supportive housing. Also posted are local case studies from across the country on these topics, resource and funding databases, public policy updates, and links to financial products and programs.
A nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing and homelessness, Habitat for Humanity posts information on its website related to the direct volunteer services it offers in housing construction and disaster relief, as well as on-line financial fitness and housing finance tools, publications and homeownership success stories.
The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) offers assistance to working low-income homeowners and rural families through emphasizing local solutions and self-help strategies such as "sweat equity" (volunteer) construction. This website describes the services HAC provides to individuals and organizations such as loans, technical assistance and training, and posts a comprehensive library of technical reports and manuals, database links and policy updates on topics such as best practices and case studies, surveys of housing conditions, environmental concerns in rural development, and sub-prime lending and foreclosure in rural markets.
Dedicated to helping community residents transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities through community-based efforts, LISC offers a range of tools to finance local development as well as an on-line library and media center on topics such as affordable housing preservation, vacant properties, public housing, commercial revitalization, tax credits, rural housing and green development.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a trade association focused on promoting policies that make housing a national priority, provides information on its website on research, community outreach and charitable activities (grants), and resources for home builders (professional development trainings and publications, including a builders' bookstore) and home building activities.
Rebuilding Together is a network of more than 200 affiliates working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities through providing safe and healthy homes for disabled and aging homeowners, low-income families and those displaced by natural disaster. Its website outlines its national programs such as volunteer rehabilitation and construction opportunities, improving energy efficiency in homes, veterans housing and rebuilding in Gulf states. The website also provides links to related resources organized by type, and success stories.
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