News

A Way to Stay in Your House  If you are in default on your mortgage loan or at risk of defaulting, contact Angela Belcher at abelcher@thehousingfund.org or (931) 572-8454 to schedule an appointment to discuss possible workout options for your specific situation.  A household budget and the current mortgage terms will be reviewed during the appointment.   Recommendations will be made, offering potential solutions to the mortgage default, which may include options to remain in the house, as well as options to dispose of the property prior to a foreclosure sale. All foreclosure intervention counseling services are provided at no cost to the client.

CEO joins News Channel 5 Open Line to discuss affordable housing in Nashville.

In the News…

President & CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta visits Nashville

Friday, January 19, 2018 – The Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta invites you to join a select group of business, civic, and community leaders to A Breakfast with Raphael Bostic, 15th President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve

The Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta welcome Raphael Bostic as he takes his position among the nation’s monetary policymakers. Nashville Branch regional executive Lee Jones and deputy regional executive Laurel Graefe will host and moderate a discussion about President Bostic’s interests and views on the economy. A Harvard- and Stanford-educated economist, President Bostic was the Judith and John Bedrosian Chair in Governance and the Public Enterprise at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California (USC). He was assistant secretary for policy development and research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2009 to 2012. During the 1990s, he served as a research economist with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and in 2001 he became a professor at USC.

Cost of Growth Series and Forum

December 20th – The Tennesseean completed its series of monthly columns on growth, housing, displacement and the future of Nashville’s neighborhoods. Opinion Engagement Editor David Plazas and photographer George Walker IV told the stories of the community and individual residents. Marshall Crawford, President & CEO, shared the stage with a strong group of committed individuals to offer insights and perspective about the growth, housing, displacement and the future of Nashville’s affordable housing conversation.

Barnes Fund Partners with The Housing Fund to Create Nashville’s First Community Land Trust

December 19, 2017

The Barnes Housing Trust Fund, a grant program within the Mayor’s Office of Housing focused on creating affordable housing options, has announced that The Housing Fund, a local nonprofit, has been selected as their partner organization to create Nashville’s first Community Land Trust (CLT).

“If Nashville is going to close the housing needs gap, we are going to have to be bold and innovative in our solutions to build, preserve, and maintain our supply of affordable housing,” said Mayor Barry. “A Community Land Trust is just that type of innovative initiative that will preserve and protect land for affordable housing, while helping to build and maintain safe and affordable housing units.”

CLTs are organizations whose primary purpose is the creation and stewardship of permanently affordable housing. CLTs maintain ownership of the land under a single-family or multifamily development and sell the housing units on its land to qualified homeowners. The CLT typically caps resale prices for housing on its land in order to preserve affordability for future generations of residents. This tool can help us to combat displacement and preserve affordability in neighborhoods in transition.

In fact, cities such as New York, Denver, and Portland have all adopted CLTs or similar models to help address affordable housing shortfalls and long-term preservation concerns. According to Fannie Mae’s Duty to Serve Underserved Markets Plan issued in May 2017, there are approximately 225 active CLTs in the United States supporting 20,000 rental and 15,000 homeowner units, respectively.

“The CLT model forces us to have new conversations not only about the creation of new affordable housing units, but also about the preservation of existing housing units and entire communities,” said Marshall Crawford, President & CEO of The Housing Fund. “This is a positive step towards bringing attainable and healthy housing to Nashvillians of all income levels.”

Housing will be made affordable initially through public subsidies, private donations, or other public measures like the donation of public land. The ground lease used by the CLT will be an effective and durable mechanism for ensuring access to affordable housing for future populations. The Housing Fund, a private nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that has served Nashville communities for over 20 years, will look to Metro government for grants for development costs and land acquisition. The CLT model works best when land is owned debt-free by the CLT, allowing the CLT to remove the entire cost of the underlying land from the selling price of housing and other improvements. This model has the flexibility to combine uses of land, levels of income, and types of housing within the same project – or in different projects developed on contiguous parcels of land or scattered throughout Davidson County.

“Nashville’s rapid growth has created one of our greatest hurdles to affordable housing: skyrocketing land prices,” said Councilmember Colby Sledge, who serves on the Barnes Trust Fund Commission. “With a Community Land Trust, we can begin to remove this hurdle and work with our nonprofit and private-sector partners to create lasting affordable housing throughout the city.”

There are still a number of steps that need to take place before a viable, effective, long-term CLT can be established in Nashville. Starting next year, The Housing Fund will work with stakeholders to craft a community vision for Nashville’s CLT, identify staff needs, and establish an advisory committee. Full implementation of the trust is anticipated to begin in FY2019-20.

FDIC Compliance Examiners Learn About Impact of Nonprofit Housing Providers and CRA 

December 11 – During a statewide meeting of Tennessee based compliance examiners for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Marshall Crawford, President & CEO, had the opportunity to share some perspective about the impact nonprofit housing provides are having the housing market. Additionally, he provided some insight on how banks invest in nonprofits to help examiners consider the impact of different types of activities, and give more credit to those that are truly creating new or preserving affordable housing units.

December 5th – Celebration of Partners and Investors

Photos by Roland at www.rolandsphotography.net

A Conversation with Marshall Crawford, CEO of The Housing Fund

As we move into a new year, it’s always helpful to reflect on changes we’ve made and characteristics we’d like to improve within ourselves. But, for this moment, I would like for you to reflect on what’s currently happening in our community. Whether you’ve lived in Nashville your entire life or recently arrived here to pursue a dream, we can all agree on the hospitality and livelihood that make our city a unique place filled with love and compassion.  I challenge you to think about what changes in the community are necessary, and what improvements we wish to see happen as contributing members of Nashville.

The Housing Fund Appoints Marshall Crawford New President/CEO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 9, 2017) – The Housing Fund has named Marshall E. Crawford, Jr. as its new president and chief executive officer.

Crawford, 51, most recently served as president of the housing and multifamily development division of Community Ventures Corporation in Lexington, KY.

The Housing Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and creative leadership to help individuals and communities create and maintain affordable and healthy places in which low- and moderate-income people can live.

“Marshall brings a vast amount of experience and a ton of enthusiasm to The Housing Fund, and we are looking forward to continuing with our mission of providing affordable housing and supporting affordable communities in Nashville and the state,” said Doug Lesky, chairman of the THF board of directors.

Crawford will assume his duties later this month, replacing Joan Davis, who has served as interim director for the past year.

“Having spent some time in Nashville over the course of my career, I am very excited to return to this city and be part of all the wonderful things that are happening,” Crawford said.

Crawford’s experience includes stints with NeighborWorks America as senior director for the Southern Region from 2003 to 2016, the Office of Thrift Supervision for the Department of the Treasury from 1999 to 2003, loan officer with Prudential Savings Bank in 1999 and small business loan officer with the Small Business Administration. He worked in Nashville in 1995 at then Third National Bank.

Crawford served in the U.S. Army from 1987 to 1992 as a logistics specialist, with station postings in Fort Knox, Ky., and Nuremberg, Germany.  Crawford, a 1995 graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance,  received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2006. He  also earned an executive leadership certification from Georgetown University in 2016.

The Housing Fund Hires Experienced Lender

Nicole Robben joins The Housing Fund from Milwaukee, WI.  Nicole brings a wealth of experience as a lender; she spent several years with LISC in Milwaukee, WI.  Her positive attitude and commitment to housing and community development will be a major asset for the Nashville environment and the entire state of Tennessee.

Marshall Crawford, CEO, serves as Master of Ceremonies for Nashville Area Junior Chamber of Commerce

August 14, 2017 – The goal of Pitch Nashville is to connect ambitious innovators with the people that can make their idea a reality. By leveraging our relationships with influential members of the community, and mobilizing an excited group of young professionals, the Nashville Junior Chamber aims to provide momentum and a tangible solution towards the affordable housing crisis in Nashville.

Eight talented presenters or teams of presenters will make an eight minute presentation on how they plan to solve Affordable Housing in Nashville in front of a live audience of key influencers and an expert panel of judges. These judges will then decide on a winner who will receive access to a number of community leaders already working on the problem who have

https://www.facebook.com/events/257431851329628/ Judges include Adriane Bond Harris (formerly from The Housing Fund, now with The Mayors Office), David Plazas (The Tennessean), Bill Freeman (CEO, Freeman Webb), and Eddie Latimer (CEO, Affordable Housing Resources).  Current sponsors include First Community Bank, Wagon Wheel Title, Civil Site Design Group, and Accurate Mortgage.  They’re expecting 150-200 attendees.

Terry Woodall, The Housing Fund – New Board Member for Dismas House, Inc. 

September 25, 2017 – Dismas was pleased to induct new members to the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board this past August at the Annual Business Meeting. New and returning members had a chance to review the exciting year ahead for Dismas House and learn about future initiatives for the organization in the upcoming fiscal year.

THF Board of Directors and Staff Engage in Strategic Planning

September 29, 2017 – Board and Staff engage in strategic planning process at Habitat For Humanity’s new office.  The strategic planning process is just another step for the organization as it continues a transformational process to ensure the sustainability of longstanding CDFI.

November 8, 2017 – President & CEO to serve on Transit and Affordability Taskforce.

November 7, 2017 – Marshall Crawford, CEO, asked to serve as Mayor Megan Barry Launches Transit and Affordability Taskforce

Co-chaired by former Mayor Bill Purcell and Davidson County Clerk Brenda Wynn, Taskforce will identify policies and strategies to support small business and affordable housing growth along transit corridors

Mayor Megan Barry will convene a Transit and Affordability Taskforce, co-chaired by Davidson County Clerk Brenda Wynn and former Mayor Bill Purcell, that will offer policy, project, and programmatic recommendations to help Nashville’s decision-makers ensure that planned high-capacity transit corridors are safe, affordable and inclusive for everyone. The taskforce also will develop strategies to improve the economic prospects and equity of these areas and provide new opportunities for housing and commerce — all while avoiding displacement of the vital communities of residents and businesses that call these corridors home today.

“Housing and transportation are inseparable issues, as together they represent the highest cost-burdens for most working families,” said Mayor Barry. “If Nashville voters adopt Metro’s Transportation Solution in May of next year, we’ll face a tremendous opportunity to create affordable housing and commercial space along our major pikes and corridors so that Nashville’s future is more equitable. I’m grateful to all the taskforce members for their willingness to help identify and shape policies to ensure our community’s growth and prosperity is inclusive of all.”

Guided by best practices and lessons-learned from other cities, Taskforce members will recommend policies to ensure a long-term affordability strategy that preserves and creates opportunities for all Nashvillians to live and work in close proximity to transit. The Taskforce’s work product will be consulted as a guideline by which to implement near/mid/long-term policies, projects, and programs to prevent displacement of vulnerable residents and businesses as high-capacity transit infrastructure is constructed in Davidson County.  Early engagement of local stakeholders and leaders will enable the Metropolitan Government and its partners to harness community interest in this issue, and initiate thoughtful collaboration across neighborhoods and interested groups.

“Nashville desperately needs better public transportation options if we are going to continue to grow and succeed,” said former Mayor Purcell, who led the city from 1999 to 2007. “But we also need better housing options for working families, seniors, and younger workers, and I’m looking forward to working with our community members to help identify and shape the policies that will make that happen.”

The Taskforce will hold their introductory meeting on Wednesday, November 8 from 2-4PM at the Lentz Public Health Center. Additional meetings will be held through the end of the year with a goal of presenting a list of recommendations to the Mayor and Metro Council by early next year.

“I understand and share many of the concerns about transit investments leading to displacement, which is why I’m honored to help lead our city towards the policies that will ensure it doesn’t happen in Nashville,” said Davidson County Clerk Wynn. “I appreciate Mayor Barry’s commitment to equity and opportunity in our city, and I believe we can and will ensure that better public transportation leads to better access and affordability for all Nashvillians.”

The Transit and Affordability Taskforce is comprised of local affordable-housing advocates, owners of small businesses located along proposed high-capacity transit corridors, real-estate developers, and planning experts. Members include:
Ashley Northington, Agency Director & Chief Brand Officer of Denor Brands & Public Relations
Bill Phillips, Partner with Windrow Phillips Group
Councilmember Bob Mendes, Chair of the Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Committee
Brent Elrod, Director of Planning and Development with Urban Housing Solutions
Hal Cato, CEO of Thistle Farms
Hank Helton, Senior Vice President of Pathway Lending
State Representative Harold M. Love Jr.
Heather Powell, CEO of the Tennessee Kidney Foundation
Dr. James Fraser, Vanderbilt Professor and Independent Housing Consultant
Lilian Yepez, Co-owner of La Hacienda
Mark Deutschmann with Village Real Estate Services and the Urban Land Institute
Marshall Crawford, President and CEO of The Housing Fund
Michael King, Owner of Monell’s Dining and Catering
Nawzad Hawrami, Director of the Salahadeen Center
Patrick Green, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1235 and member of the PATHE Coalition
Paulette Coleman, Chair of the Affordable Housing Task Force of Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH)
Pearl Sims, member of the Edgehill Coalition and the Metro Planning Commission
Pete Wooten, Financial Advisor with Pinnacle Financial Partners
Phil Ryan, Vice President of Cherry & Associates