Elizabeth Velasco and her family started the new year in a new home of their own. The dream was made possible with the help of NeighborWorks Home Partners through a new loan product that offers mortgage-like financing for manufactured homes.

Velasco had rented a home with her family in Bloomington, Minnesota, for years. After a recent divorce, she started looking at homeownership options, including a sustainable manufactured home.

Any time of year that staff at Housing Partnership of New Jersey can get a client into a new home is the best time of year, says Stephanie Otaegui, program director for the housing counseling department. And during a season when people talk about hope is a good time to talk about their work.

One fifth of NeighborWorks® America’s nearly 250 network organizations serve in areas that include Native land or include large Native populations. Many have meaningful partnerships.

But for organizations both in and outside the network that are interested in expanding work in Native communities – or those who have little to no experience working with Native organizations – it can be hard to find the right rhythm and footing. How do you know the best way to approach a Native organization? How can you offer help while centering the community’s vision?

At least five volunteer Santa Clauses will help Montgomery Housing Partnership, the Kensington Chamber of Commerce and the Wheaton Fire and Rescue Squad hand out gifts to residents as part of the Angels for Children Toy Drive. The program, which has been going for 27 years to get gifts to kids around holiday time, is growing. But there’s also a growing need, says Robert A. Goldman, executive director of MHP.

NeighborWorks America’s podcast, The Community Effect, dropped this week with a focus on technology and housing innovations. Ernest Coney Jr., CEO of CDC of Tampa and Nick Mitchell-Bennet, executive director of come dream, come build, join NeighborWorks President & CEO Marietta Rodriguez to take a deep dive into the issue. The podcast can be found here, and the transcript is below.

Along with taking classes and making connections, residents attending the NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute have a chance to learn about the city they visit, and to see local community development in action.