[CPEO-BIF] 1 million new homes in next 10 years for 14 cities

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

For Release  Noon - Wednesday November 3, 1999
HUD No. 99-224
Further Information: In the Washington, DC area: 202/708-0685 Or contact
your local HUD office
           
CUOMO ANNOUNCES PILOT CITIES FOR PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL BUILD
ONE MILLION NEW HOMES OVER NEXT 10 YEARS 

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today
announced 14 cities have been chosen for pilot programs that will be used
as models for a national initiative to build an additional 1 million new
homes over the next 10 years in America's cities. 

Each pilot city selected today will initiate innovative approaches to
reduce barriers to new construction and foster creative relationships with
home builders and the home building industry, in an effort to increase the
number, quality and affordability of new housing. For more info go to:
http://www.hud.gov/pressrel/bdhminit.html 

The pilot cities are: 

BALTIMORE, MD 
DAYTON, OH
TAMPA, FL
BUFFALO, NY
HOUSTON, TX
SAN ANTONIO, TX
CHICAGO, IL
LOUISVILLE, KY
ST. LOUIS, MO
CINCINNATI, OH
PHILADELPHIA, PA
WASHINGTON, DC
COLUMBUS, OH 
SACRAMENTO, CA


Vice President Al Gore, who announced the Building Homes in America's
Cities Initiative in February, said today: "The selection of these pilot
cities is a positive step that will help transform the American Dream of
homeownership into a reality for hard-working families in our cities. This
partnership will add to the reinvestment in our cities that is vital to
their future." 

HUD, the National Association of Home Builders and the U.S. Conference of
Mayors signed a Memorandum of Understanding in February agreeing to work
together to make the initiative a reality. At that time, the groups said
the initiative would begin with the selection of pilot cities. Cuomo said
today: "The partnership HUD has established with the National Association
of Home Builders and the U.S. Conference of Mayors to build more homes in
our cities will create a more prosperous urban America in the 21st century.
New homes transform neighborhoods and transform lives by attracting the
residents, businesses, and jobs cities need to reverse decades of decline." 

The goal of the initiative is to produce 100,000 new housing units a year
over the next decade in America's cities, including both single-family
homes and apartments, though the focus of the effort will be on increasing
homeownership. 

Cuomo said the initiative will help narrow the homeownership gap dividing
suburbs from cities, and whites from minorities. The Secretary announced
last week that during the third quarter of 1999, 73.7 percent of suburban
families owned their homes - compared with just 50.5 percent of families in
central cities, which are the major communities in a metropolitan area. At
the same time, 73.5 percent of white families were homeowners, compared
with just 45.5 percent of Hispanic families and 47 percent of black families. 

Cuomo announced selection of the pilot cities at a ceremony marking the
50th Anniversary of the Housing Act of 1949. The landmark legislation
elevated housing to a national priority and set the goal of "a decent home
and suitable living environment for every American family." 

The anniversary event was sponsored by the National Association of Home
Builders, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the National Building Museum and the
National Housing Conference. 

The pilot programs for the urban home initiative will develop models to use
as part of the national effort. 

An advisory council called the Council on Building Homes in America's
Cities - made up of representatives from HUD, the National Association of
Home Builders, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and community based
organizations - determined the selection criteria for the pilot cities. 

Now that the pilot cities have been selected, the Council will facilitate
communication and interaction between HUD, participating cities, home
builders and others in the housing industry, and other community-based
organizations. The Council also will monitor the initiative's progress,
develop models of successful approaches and compile and communicate best
practices agreements. HUD will provide specially trained staff, known as
Community Builders, in the first participating cities to help mayors and
home builders identify new federal resources, such as the HOME Program,
Homeownership Zones, Empowerment Zones, and technical assistance grants as
well as to ensure coordination of existing federal resources and programs. 

NAHB will work through its more than 800 state and local home builder
associations to encourage home builders to pursue urban residential
development opportunities, while working with local jurisdictions to
identify and remove barriers to urban home construction. 

The Conference of Mayors will urge its members to join in the partnership
and work with HUD and NAHB to help cities develop and implement strategies
for removing barriers to new home production.                  




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