Stories
The Farm Bill’s Potential for Supporting Rural People and Places
The Farm Bill presents an opportunity to provide rural communities and people the resources they need to flourish. LISC’s Mark Kudlowitz and Nicole Barcliff examine where things stand in Congress and how the legislation can support the needs of families while also revitalizing communities that have long experienced capacity constraints that hinder community and economic development opportunities.
To Safeguard Homes in California, Promote Affordability Through the Foreclosure Intervention Housing Preservation Program
California’s recently formed Foreclosure Intervention Housing Preservation Program (FIHPP) is poised to fund nonprofit housing groups to buy rental properties in or at risk of foreclosure and quickly convert them to long-term affordable housing. Now, FIHPP is hanging in the legislative balance. LISC’s Tahirih Zigler and Enterprise Community Partners’ Jacqueline Waggoner weigh in on the imperative of safeguarding the program to help spare many Californians from the preventable tragedies of displacement and homelessness.
With the Updated CRA in Limbo, What Comes Next?
LISC’s Matt Josephs takes a look at the long-awaited modernization of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), calling it "fair, workable and strong." But he also warns of the chilling effects of uncertainty, as a legal challenge stalls implementation of the final rule, and offers a series of next steps for banks, regulators and community development practitioners. "Right now, it is critical that we maintain the momentum around CRA,” he writes.
LISC Awarded a $28M HUD Section 4 Grant to Strengthen Local Nonprofit Housing Organizations Serving Under-Resourced People and Places Across the U.S.
LISC is among three of the country's largest community development and housing groups receiving a total of $83M in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 4 capacity building funding. LISC will use its $28M allocation to support 480 community development corporations nationwide, focusing on affordable housing access in historically disinvested communities. The grant includes a three-to-one match commitment of $85 million.
Strong Support for Communities in the 2024 State of the Union
LISC’s Matt Josephs reflects on this year’s State of the Union speech, taking particular note of the president’s comments about affordable housing, child care, climate solutions and community safety. "Taken as a whole, the speech offered a strong and hopeful statement of purpose,” Josephs said, adding that it will take sustained leadership at all levels "to translate promising ideas into on-the-ground progress for families and communities.”
How Expanding Access to ARPA Has Expanded Access to Child Care
To support the struggling child care sector during and after the pandemic, Congress dedicated billions in child care relief funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The LISC Child Care and Early Learning team explores how minor but important changes in the administration of ARPA funding directed to child care programs can streamline deployment and make federal fund distribution more equitable.