Congratulations to The Meadows and First Realty Management Corp. (First Realty) for earning the national Community of Quality designation from the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA).

Located in North Smithfield and managed by First Realty, The Meadows provides 80 long-term affordable rental homes for seniors in a beautiful, vibrant setting. In earning this award, First Realty was acknowledged as providing the highest quality affordable housing to lower-income residents, while adding value to the larger community.

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CNNMoney.com recently visited the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence to see the great work being done by the Olneyville Neighborhood Corporation. The article, entitled "What $1 million buys in a blighted neighborhood" highlights the success of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, (NSP)  - federal funding meant to stabilize communities hit hard by foreclosures.

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The Bourne Mill development in Tiverton has been named a finalist in the Best Historic Rehabilitation Utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits category for the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association's 2010 Historic Rehabilitation Awards. The Bourne Mill apartments include 66 affordable homes funded in part with $2.52 million from the Building Homes Rhode Island program.

The award ceremony is scheduled for October 19 in Boston, Massachusetts. 14 finalists from ten states were named in six categories. Read more at the NH&RA website.

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After passing a motion to proceed on the conference report of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, HR 4173, the Senate yesterday passed the sweeping financial reform bill 60-39. The bill includes $1 billion for a third round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP3) funds.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program has been instrumental in assisting states and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties. Rhode Island received $19.6 million in the first round of NSP funding to target 11 communities hardest hit by foreclosures.

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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released their American Housing Survey (AHS), a thorough look inside the homes of millions of Americans. The survey represents a comprehensive national sample of the more than 130 million residential housing units and looks at everything from the square footage of the unit to the number of homes with access to public transportation.

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Congratulations to Bristol, RI for being named in the Family Circle's annual 10 Best Towns For Families list. The publication cited the town's affordable homes, top-notch schools, and overall sense of community. Read more at the Family Circle website.

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22 June, 2010 — Today, the lead Cabinet secretaries from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) – from the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Veterans Affairs (VA) – joined Executive Director of the USICH Barbara Poppe to unveil and submit to the President and Congress the nation's first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness. Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes accepted the plan on behalf of President Barack Obama.

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At a Capitol Hill luncheon ceremony on June 2 in Washington, D.C., Newport Heights, the former Tonomy Hill public housing development that is now home to more than 340 Newport families, was named a winner of a 16th Annual Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award. Every year, recognition is granted to the most outstanding Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties, representing the best examples of rental home development nationwide.

This year, of the more than 40 entries submitted from 22 states, Newport Heights Phase IV was chosen as the winner in the Public Housing Revitalization category.

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Home Depot Foundation president Kelly Caffarelli authors a great and informative blog about affordable homes. Our recent release of a public opinion survey of 500 likely voters got her to thinking about the cause of affordable housing in general. In short, she wonders why aren’t we passionate about affordable housing as a cause?

Read her thoughts and share your own at:

http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/blog/a-passion-for-home/

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