A Guide to State-Sponsored Housing Finance Programs, and a supplement listing such programs in MI, MN, MT, ND, SD & WI, available from Community Affairs, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, PO Box 291, Minneapolis, MN 55480-0291; 612-340-6913.
Closed Doors, Opportunities Lost: The Continuing Costs of Housing Discrimination, by John Yinger, available ($32.95) from the Russell Sage Foundation, 112 East 64 St., NYC, NY 10021, 212-750-6038.
"Out of Reach: Can America Pay the Rent?" a new study from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, shows that renters in every metropolitan area are having difficulty finding affordable housing. Available for $25 from NLIHC, 1012 14th St NW, Wash, DC 20005, 202-662-1530 x234.
Poverty & Race article series on using demographic data in environmental justice struggles, from the Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), edited by Kary Moss of the Sugar Law Center. Authors include attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, the Lawyers' Comm. for Civil Rights Under Law, the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, and academics from the University of Michigan's Dept. of Environmental & Industrial Health and School of Natural Resources & Environment. The six articles are available, for $2 per copy + self addressed envelope with 55 cents postage, from PRRAC, 1711 Conn. Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009.
It's Your Right; Legal Tips for Home Repair Fraud video, prepared by the Legal Counsel for the Elderly, sponsored by the AARP. The 16-minute VHS video aims to help elders and their advocates learn how to avoid falling prey to home scams and to teach consumers about their legal rights if they are home scam victims and already have signed a contract. The video portrays a home scam artist in action, draws a picture for viewers on what to do, and shows warning signs of common techniques many unscrupulous contractors use - such as talking fast to confuse homeowners and making repairs sound urgent. It also provides tips on what to look for in a reputable contract. Information: Legal Counsel For the Elderly, Inc., P.O. Box 96474, Washington, DC 20090-6474
NATIONAL GUIDE TO FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The first edition of this 775-page directory provides information on over 3,000 grant sources targeted to community development, including for housing rehabilitation, economic development and job training, and homelessness prevention. Directory listings are organized by state and include contact information, financial data about the giving organization as well as their specific interests, and examples of their recent grants. Extensive cross-indexing eases the search for the right funder. The directory also provides brief tips on successfully applying for a grant. Available for $95 from The Foundation Center, 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003-3076; 800-424-9836, for credit card orders. Foundation Center directories are also available at many libraries. In addition, the Center makes its extensive listings and many other funding-related materials available free of charge (although there is a charge for certain search-related services) at six major centers across the country and at many other smaller centers. To find the location of a center nearest you, call 800-424-9836. The Foundation Center is on the world wide web at: http://fdncenter.org
FUNDING SOURCES FOR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Another useful directory for fundraisers, published by Oryx Press, includes indexes by subject, organization, program type, and location. The 1995 edition included a very helpful chapter, "Guide to Proposal Planning and Writing," which provided a sample proposal letter. The current, 1996 edition of the Guide is available for $55 plus $5.50 postage from Oryx Press, 4041 North Central Avenue, Ste. 700, Phoenix, AZ 85012-3397; 800-279-6799.
Back to July/August 1996 index.