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Regional task force unveils plans for affordable housing in the Fredericksburg area Date published: 10/3/2008
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
This summer, two teachers, a firefighter and a school bus driver showed up at a class for first-time home-buyers. They and the 11 other class members thought the tide of foreclosures would translate into cheaper houses and the opportunity to own their own homes. Those 15 potential home-buyers also represent hope for a gloomy housing market. First-time home-buyers aren't only the most enthusiastic clients, said Realtor Vickie Clark-Jennings, but they help drive the market by buying houses in the lower price ranges. Still, most of the would-be buyers couldn't find a deal among the more than 500 foreclosed homes in the Fredericksburg area, said Cheri Miles, a counselor with the Central Virginia Housing Coalition and teacher of the home-buyer class. The majority of the houses they saw had been damaged by the previous occupants. Appliances and light fixtures ripped out, carpets torn up and walls spray-painted. "Teachers, firefighters come in with basic wages, looking for their first house," Miles said. "They save up enough to get into the home--the down payment, the closing costs--but they're not walking into this thinking, 'Oh, I have to have eight grand just to make the house livable.'" A plan proposed by the regional Affordable Housing Task Force could get help for Miles' students and other area residents trying to buy a home. The idea is for local governments to band together to purchase foreclosed homes, fix them up and sell them at an affordable price. "It is in our best interest to get these properties back up, with people living in them," said Fredericksburg City Councilman Matt Kelly, who serves on the task force. He and other members proposed the idea using credit from area banks. But in July, the federal government sweetened the pot when Congress passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act. That legislation gives $3.9 billion to localities nationwide for buying and rehabbing foreclosed homes. The task force doesn't know yet just how much could come to the Fredericksburg area, but estimates $5 million. The Department of Housing and Urban Development federal government encourages localities to apply for the money. Leaders of the George Washington Regional Commission, which ran the task force, hope local governments will work together to make this housing more affordable regionally.
Date published: 10/3/2008
Back then Popowitz was concerned with people's voices being heard but lately he has been seeing to it the voices of the people are stifled with his development committee.
To be heard, residents have to fill out a survey that was never mailed.
Meetings are practically held in secret, too.
Most committee members are from areas least affected, but BobbyP found room someone who does not live in the county, but is an employee of a developer
1st time buyers should strike while the iron is hot. However, too often "affordable housing" should be replaced with "greedy developers." Now that housing is slumped, they will be trying even harder than usual to suborn the toadsuckers in Richmond.
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