NAR Rises to White House Challenge on Minority Homeownership with Action and Support During National Homeownership Month 6/4/2003
From: Liz Johnson of the National Association of Realtors(r), 202-383-1043; E-mail: ljohnson@realtors.org WASHINGTON, June 4 -- The National Association of Realtors(r) is helping to meet President Bush's challenge to increase minority homeownership with a series of programs and initiatives that are already making a difference, the association announced today as America kicked off National Homeownership Month. "We have pledged our full support to this critical White House initiative, and, at the same time, we're making great strides to help minority families realize the centerpiece of the American Dream-a home of their own," NAR President Cathy Whatley, owner of Buck & Buck Inc. in Jacksonville, Fla., said. "Through programs that improve housing affordability and housing access, NAR is opening doors to homeownership for working families, minorities and others who have been left out of the ownership picture," Whatley said. "We are dedicated to this effort and we are making a real difference." NAR is one of 22 organizations and government agencies that have joined the White House in support of the Bush administration's "Blueprint for the American Dream Partnership" established last year. In designating June as National Homeownership Month, the president set a goal to increase minority homeowners by 5.5 million by 2010. "We applaud the president and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez for their leadership in this initiative. It dovetails with NAR's own efforts to increase minority homeownership opportunities," Whatley said. NAR, in partnership with five other real estate professional associations, launched the HOPE (Homeownership Opportunities for Everyone) Awards program October 10, 2001, to honor individuals and organizations that are making outstanding contributions to promote minority homeownership. On May 13, NAR and its partners and cosponsors presented awards to six more winners in the categories of brokerage, education, finance, project of the year, public policy, and leadership, in ceremonies that attracted more than a thousand attendees. The third HOPE Awards will be presented in May 2005. Among NAR's other ongoing programs in the affordable housing and minority homeownership arena are: -- The Housing Opportunities Program. Launched last year, this initiative focuses on narrowing the homeownership gap through coalition building, research, training and communications. A Web site (http://www.realtor.org/housingopportunities) acts a clearinghouse for successful affordable housing opportunity programs in communities across the nation that can be adapted in other areas; the site also shares a wealth of resources that can be used to help promote housing opportunities. -- Partnerships with Habitat for Humanity to build an affordable house for a family at each of NAR's annual convention cities and becoming a national underwriter of the "Congress Building America" program. -- Advancing legislation such as the "American Dream Downpayment Act," the "Renewing the Dream Tax Credit Act," and improvements to the Federal Housing Administration's mortgage insurance program. -- The "At Home With Diversity" program. This joint NAR and HUD program is designed to help real estate companies diversify their workplaces and certify real estate professionals who are trained in diversity outreach and have made a commitment to diversity principles. -- The National Summit on Housing Opportunities to be held on September 25 in Washington, D.C. NAR also is helping its state and local Realtor(r) associations mark National Homeownership Month with a kit called "This is My Home." The tools in the kit are designed to help Americans examine what the concept of "home" means to them and to highlight the Realtor(r)'s role in expanding homeownership opportunities. An online version of the kit, along with details of NAR's efforts to promote homeownership, is available online at http://www.realtor.org/homeownership. "We have cause to celebrate the highest homeownership rate in our country's history with 68 percent, or nearly 72 million families, owning a home of their own today," Whatley said. "But there are still millions of minority families of low or median income, women-headed households, new American families and other communities where homeownership rates are below 50 percent. We have much to do to live up to the goal of the Housing Act of 1949, which called for 'a decent home and suitable living environment for every American family,'" she said. "Realtors(r) are in the business of advancing homeownership opportunities for all Americans every day, and during National Homeownership Month we are going beyond business-as-usual," Whatley said. In honoring National Homeownership Month, Realtors(r) are sponsoring activities such as property improvement projects to aid the needy, essay contests centering on the theme of homeownership, financial counseling, homebuyer fairs, neighborhood revitalization initiatives and a whole host of community relations events. "Realtors(r) know that increasing America's homeownership base is not only good for families but also good for the economy and communities. Because homeowners put down roots, they tend to participate in community affairs and the business of local government. That commitment to make the democratic process work leads to better local communities," Whatley said. The National Association of Realtors(r), "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing approximately 880,000 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. REALTOR(r) is a registered collective membership mark, which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(r) and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. |