http://www.knowledgeplex.org A comprehensive news and information resource for the affordable housing and community development field. Powered by Fannie Mae Foundation. en-us Copyright 2008, KnowledgePlex 2008-05-09T22:56-04:00 feedback@knowledgeplex.org, info@knowledgeplex.org http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1733521.html Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. (2nd CD), issued the following news release: In a culmination of months of bipartisan debate and discussion, the House of Representatives today approved broad legislation to combat home foreclosures and implement overdue reforms to the housing market. Included in the bill is an amendment offered by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to expand flexibility for service ... http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1731721.html The city of Raleigh issued the following news release: The Raleigh City Council voted unanimously at its May 6 meeting to provide low-interest loans to two new affordable rental housing projects. http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1731751.html BATON ROUGE — A Senate committee gave swift approval Thursday to a proposed "Bill of Rights" that would grant sweeping new benefits for Road Home applicants who assert that the contractors running the homeowner grant program are not following the policies set by the Louisiana Recovery Authority. http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1732551.html May 8—Potential Dallas-Fort Worth homebuyers who are nervous about whether it's a good time to purchase a house might find some comfort in a new report. But analysts caution not to get carried away with the data. The just-released study by Center for Economic and Policy Research and National Low Income Housing Coalition projects that D-FW homebuyers could see one of the best increases ... http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1731651.html Members of a charity group threatened with arrest while trying to feed homeless people at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point have filed a federal lawsuit against state parks officials, claiming interference with their constitutional rights. The faith-based organization Welcome INN provided meals in the park's picnic area on two consecutive evenings in February without incident, according to the ... http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1731431.html Although 14,000 housing units are needed to end chronic homelessness in Los Angeles County, only about 2,800 are available or will be in the near future, according to a report released Monday. http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1728451.html Need a dollar? Maybe two? Don't beg here unless you have a guitar. Or you're a Girl Scout. Or you have a Salvation Army kettle. The City Council is on its way to outlawing "verbal" soliciting in Clearwater's two biggest key areas of revitalization: the downtown and the beach. The council on May 15 is expected to approve the requisite second reading of the ordinance. It passed ... http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1732001.html A Charleston County foreclosure sale Tuesday involved two homes built by the nonprofit group Charleston Habitat for Humanity but also was unusual because the sale could mean a windfall for the Habitat clients who defaulted on their loans. http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1731881.html Real estate investors may soon have a rare opportunity to corner the market on student rentals in Boston. Forest Properties, a Newton-based real estate firm, is putting on the sales block a portfolio of apartment buildings in the student-packed neighorhoods of Allston and Fenway. http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1733591.html CONCORD — The House put the final nail in the coffin of the payday lending industry, approving a Senate version of a bill yesterday that effectively closes their doors on Jan. 1, 2009. http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1724541.html CenterPointe, a Lincoln-based program for people with mental illness and addiction problems, will begin construction soon on a complex with 10 apartments for low-income clients. The fully handicapped accessible, one-bedroom units will be constructed at 32nd and Overland Trail Road, said Topher Hansen, CenterPointe executive director. http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1720981.html THOMASVILLE, Ala., May 7 /PRNewswire/ — The Alabama Housing Finance Authority, Bennett and Company, and Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise) today celebrated the grand opening of Country Club Cottages, 32 newly constructed affordable homes for seniors earning 50 percent or less of area median income in Thomasville, Alabama. Country Club Cottages is located at 705 Cogle Street ... http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1725501.html Louis Generes III didn't accept the official calculation of his Road Home rebuilding grant, but he was willing to follow the program's rules for mounting a challenge. Apparently that was a big mistake. Fourteen months after Generes, a Metairie resident, complained about his damage estimate to the Road Home's "dispute resolution" team, not even state officials in charge of ... http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1720731.html Drawing together an unprecedented number of volunteers from around the country, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition partners joined forces on their toughest challenge yet: the building of three homes and a church in Katrina-ravaged Louisiana. The project also marked a milestone for equipment rental leader United Rentals, Inc., which has donated countless hours and equipment usage to the popular television ... http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1726471.html May 7—A housing complex planned for Watertown's north side has grown twofold. Ryan G. Churchill, a design engineer for GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying of Watertown, revealed plans for a 200-unit complex, dubbed Creek Wood, along Mill Street at a city Planning Board meeting Tuesday.