HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-21 Award
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Mary Copper
From: Mary Copper
Sent: Thursday, March 16,2006 11 :53 AM
To: 'Ross Wilburn'
Subject: Hi Ross, Steve Rackis asked me to send something to you on this:
Notable New Initiatives:
We would like to commend the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors' Fair Housing Ambassadors
for their new initiative with the ICHA. After expressing an interest in doing something for the
community they have successfully collaborated with the ICHA to provide Homebuyer Education
classes, not only for Housing Authority participants, but for all families in the community who are
interested in pursuing homeownership opportunities. Families must attend and satisfactorily complete
the pre-assistance homeownership and counseling program before receiving homeownership assistance
from the ICHA. These services will promote personal responsibility, increased self-snfficiency, and
result in enhanced quality of life for Ie area low-income residents.
Mary Copper
Program Coordinator
Iowa City Housing Authority
410 East Washington
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
319-887-6061
, ,
3/16/2006
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Phone: (319) 356-5400
FAX: (319) 356-5459
roD: (319) 356-5404
Washington Street . Iowa City . Iowa . 52240.1826
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
City Council
Steven J. Rackis, Housing Administrator
A-jU'
Wednesday, March 15,2006
Certificate of Appreciation Presentation - Iowa City Area of Realtors Fair Housing
Ambassadors
The Iowa City Housing Authority operates three (3) Homeownership programs. Before
commencement of homeownership assistance, a participating family must attend and
satisfactorily complete a pre-assistance homeownership and counseling program.
The Housing Authority created a curriculum and initially utilized other non-profit and quasi-
governmental agencies to provide the classes. After meeting with mixed performance results, the
Housing Authority conducted the classes in-house. Most recently, the Housing Authority entered
into a successful partnership with the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors Fair Housing
Ambassadors.
As in many stories, "the rest is all history". The Iowa City Area Association of Realtors Fair
Housing Ambassadors now conducts a four (4) week Homebuyer Education class, not only for
Housing Authority participants, but for all families in the community who are interested in
pursuing homeownership opportunities.
The first session was February 8th - March 1, 2006. Eighty-one (81) families participated;
Seventy-four (74) completed the program, receiving a "Certificate of Mortgage Readiness";
Seventy-five (75) Housing Authority participants attended; four (4) of these families signed
purchase agreements; with five (5) others "Pre-Approved" by a local lender and looking. To
address the credit issues identified by some of the attendees, the Housing Authority scheduled a
"Credit Repair" workshop that Iowa State Extension Services will conduct on March 23, 2006.
The Homebuyer Education curriculum includes:
Is Homeownership Right for Me?
Financial Management.
Shopping for Your Home.
Shopping for Your Loan.
Closing on Your Loan.
Taking Care of Your New Home.
Predatory Lending.
Fair Housing.
Glossary of Terms