As part of NCRC’s mission to end discrimination and to increase fair and equal access to credit and capital for underserved communities, NCRC’s National Neighbors program conducts fair housing testing and investigation for government agencies, municipalities and other interested organizations.
Fair Housing Organization Initiative
Through the Fair Housing Initiative Program under a Fair Housing Organization Initiative grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) will conduct fair lending investigative activities to identify and combat abusive foreclosure prevention scams in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. This 12-month project aims to support local enforcement of fair housing and fair lending laws, build the capacity and effectiveness of non-profit fair housing organizations, and aid consumers who have been victimized by foreclosure prevention provider scams.
Though the project is national in scope, it will include targeted outreach in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) that
(1) are largely, historically segregated;
(2) have been hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis; and
(3) have minority populations that have experienced disparate levels of subprime lending
NCRC will work with local partners to review consumer documents, and identify problematic foreclosure prevention providers. Additionally, through training and collaboration, NCRC will increase the capacity of participating organizations so that they may better address systemic discrimination and consumer protections violations beyond the grant term.
Private Enforcement Initiative
Through a FHIP Private Enforcement Initiative grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) will address systemic discrimination in mortgage lending and loan servicing. This is a 12-month project that aims to assist with the enforcement of fair housing and fair lending laws and aid distressed consumers who are facing problematic loans due to the illegal actions of lenders and servicers.
Though the project is national in scope, it will include targeted outreach in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) that
(1) are largely, historically segregated;
(2) have been hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis; and
(3) have minority populations that have experienced disparate levels of subprime lending
NCRC will work with local partners in MSAs to assist in loan document review, and to identify problematic loans, servicers, and loan originators. Additionally, through training and collaboration, NCRC will increase the capacity of local fair lending and housing counseling agencies so that they can better address the issue of systemic discrimination in mortgage lending and loan servicing beyond the grant term.
Supporting Inclusive Communities Through Fair Housing Planning
Are you a public or private sector fair housing planning practitioner? Would you like to learn more about producing an effective Fair Housing Plan or an Analysis of Impediments on a state, regional, or local basis? If so, we invite you to join your colleagues – including community development and housing professionals, public and private sector leaders, & local government officials – for this immersive, interactive and engaging hands on program to learn about the latest fair housing planning developments, best practices & models that are being realized nationwide today. Actual case studies and barriers to fair housing choice—and possible solutions– will be reviewed, useful fair housing resources and “tools of the trade” will be shared, and model solutions will be identified, discussed and applied by participants. This advanced fair housing planning colloquium, approved by and funded with support from the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity Fair Housing Initiatives Program, will focus on how participants can collaborate and partner with other stakeholders to achieve equal housing opportunity.
Participants will learn about model programs and innovative approaches from fair housing experts and discuss how to comply with existing fair housing planning requirements, including the obligations of Community Development Block Grant program recipients and related HUD-funded initiatives that engage in government contracting, consulting, supporting, training and other services to ensure equal housing opportunity.
Participants may use HUD funds to attend this training with approval from their HUD contract officer. Please join the National Community Reinvestment Coalition at one of the following scheduled locations:
Orlando, FL – February 19-20, 2013 (Double Tree Orlando, Downtown)
Washington, DC – March 20 – 21, 2013 (NCRC Annual Conference, Capital Hilton Hotel)
Los Angeles, CA – April 4 – 5, 2013 (Beverly Garland Hotel)
Brooklyn, NY – May 22 – 23, 2013 (Aloft Brooklyn Hotel)
Chicago, IL – June 11 – 12, 2013 (John Marshall School of Law)
IAOHRA Conference – August 2013 (TBD)
Charleston, SC – September 10 – 11, 2013 (Marriott Downtown Charleston)
If you have any questions or would like to contact our National Neighbors’ team, you can contact NCRC via Contact Us or at 800-475-NCRC (6272).
