dentontexasforeclosures.com
Ready for a glimmer of positive economic news? For the first time since the housing market crashed in 2006, the number of U.S. homes heading towards foreclosure fell during the second quarter of 2010.
To survive the recession, many Americans are spending their money more wisely; I know I have switched to more efficient light bulbs, carpool more for my kids’ activities, and eat out less. Foreclosures affect each of our communities, with plummeting property values, increased crime, and lower tax revenues to fund basic government services. In MPC’s August edition of Re-Connection, we updated you on our interjurisdictional foreclosure recovery work with the West Cook County Housing Collaborative, six communities working together to address shared housing challenges. This group –Bellwood, Berwyn, Broadview, Forest Park, Maywood, and Oak Park -- has amazed me with their progress, thanks to inspired local leaders and some help from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), which provides grants to states, local governments, and nonprofits, on a competitive basis.
Innovative partnerships are likely to come up again and again during four upcoming discussions about the future of our region. Dubbed Chicago Forward, sponsored by PNC and organized by the Chicago Tribune’s Trib Nation, the series takes on extra relevance with Mayor Daley’s huge announcement this week that he will retire at the end of this term. The first forum, on the outlook for education, will be Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m., in Northwestern University’s Thorne Auditorium, at 375 E. Chicago Ave., in Chicago. I’m looking forward to listening to an impressive group of panelists, moderated by Tribune Editorial Page Editor Bruce Dold, who will weigh in on such pressing questions as how will we overcome budget shortfalls, legislative gridlock, and lagging test scores. Tickets are $10, and can be purchased online at chicagotribune.com/tribnation.
Collaboration will also be a theme at Mercy Housing’s Oct. 5 Moving Forward Together event. Our talented colleagues at Mercy Housing promise a gathering that will promote “partnerships to address the foreclosure and housing crisis in the Chicago and Milwaukee regions.” Tickets for the general reception (3:00-4:00) and program (4:00-6:00), held at Swissotel, 323 E. Wacker, Chicago, are $100 each.
Check back next week, when I plan to weigh in on the top challenges facing Chicago’s next mayor.