Whatley Recognizes 'Hometown Heroes', Urges Realtor Leaders to Tackle Affordable Housing Issue in Their Communities

8/15/2002

From: Lucien Salvant of the National Association of Realtors, 202-383-1176 or lsalvant@realtors.org

CHICAGO, Aug. 15 -- Four Realtors(r) were honored as "Realtor(r) Hometown Heroes" for their extraordinary contributions to the real estate profession, at a gathering of National Association of Realtors(r) leadership here. Cathy Whatley, NAR president-elect, praised the four Realtors(r) for their volunteerism, initiative, and willingness to make a difference in their communities and to the real estate business.

Whatley also urged the 1,200 Realtor(r) association leaders to initiate an affordable housing or housing opportunity program in their communities by June 2003.

The Housing Opportunity Program will create long-term initiatives to raise awareness about the current housing problem, and will include research and data gathering, coalition building, education, legislative-regulatory action, and communications. An HOP Web page will be unveiled at the November convention to serve as a clearinghouse of programs Realtors(r) can use to promote housing opportunities in their communities.

"I want Realtors(r) to become known for helping to a create healthy communities where all Americans, no matter what their income level, will find a full range of viable housing opportunities," said Whatley. She said that Realtors(r) could find no higher purpose than to do everything in their power to create that.

Whatley asked state and local associations to participate in the program by creating at least one affordable housing opportunity within their communities, either on their own or in coalition with other housing-related or community groups. Such efforts might include restoring a substandard housing project, building a new home, or refurbishing an existing one.

In citing the Hometown Hero honorees, Whatley said they had the courage to step up to the challenges that confront the real estate profession and the Realtor(r) Organization. "Each of these four extraordinary people is a Realtor(r) Hometown Hero because, in the end, their agendas benefit Realtors(r). They benefit the real estate business. And they benefit the communities in which Realtors(r) live and work."

The four honorees are Mary Hudson Glazer, of RealLiving Inc., Independence, Ohio, a pacesetter in developing programs and training Realtors(r) on the Fair Housing Law; Sandra Goldstein, of Sandra Goldstein & Assoc. Inc., Key Biscayne, Fla., whose leadership on smart growth in the Miami area helped to bring about consensus on development in Dade County; Chris McElroy, of The Group-Harmony, Fort Collins, Colo., started a program that puts a face on affordable housing in the city and creates a model that Realtors(r) can replicate in their communities; and Jackie Simon, of Avery-Hess, Realtors(r), Gaithersburg, Md., who trains Realtors(r) to serve people with disabilities under the fair housing laws.

Whatley said that NAR will continue to recognize at least one Realtor(r) Hometown Hero every month, starting at the annual meeting in November in New Orleans. Association executives can nominate members for the honor by filling out a form online at http://www.realtor.org, where winners will be featured throughout the year.

In addition, Whatley urged state and local associations to work together to share ideas and successful programs. In an initiative already under way called "Progressive Partnerships," some state and local associations are joining together and with community groups to tackle common problems instead of duplicating efforts and programs. She also said that through shared services, the Realtor(r) Organization can deliver new levels of service efficiently, reduce costs, and enhance member productivity.

The National Association of Realtors(r), "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing more than 800,000 members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

------ Information about NAR is available at http://realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the Web site's "News Media" section.