[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 63 (Thursday, May 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        TRIBUTE TO THE CONCORD AREA TRUST FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING

                                 ______


                            HON. DICK SWETT

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 19, 1994

  Mr. SWETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding 
organization from my district, the Concord Area Trust for Community 
Housing, which recently received the Maxwell Award of Excellence for 
the production of low-income housing. Concord Area Trust for Community 
Housing, known throughout Merrimack County and New Hampshire as CATCH, 
is a community-based group and the only nonprofit housing producer in 
the capital region. Since its founding in 1990, CATCH has been 
successful in both renovating and constructing much-needed housing for 
low-income families.
  CATCH's award-winning project is deserving of national recognition. 
CATCH constructed 26 three-bedroom townhouses for low-income families, 
three of which were previously homeless. Additionally, CATCH is 
providing 2 years of training for the residents in budget management, 
group decisionmaking, property management, and other skills needed for 
successful homeownership. With the help of grants from both a Federal 
CDBG grant and support from the Concord Community Housing Investment 
Pool, a consortium of six local banks formed through CATCH's 
initiative, CATCH has been able to make a significant contribution to 
the improvement of its community.
  Each year, the Fannie Mae Foundation, recently renamed in honor of 
former chairman and chief executive David O. Maxwell, recognizes the 
tireless efforts of nonprofit organizations--like CATCH--which have 
produced the best examples of low-income housing projects during the 
12-month eligibility period. The Fannie Mae Foundation is awarding a 
grant of $25,000 to CATCH in recognition of the success of its most 
recent project.
  Mr. Speaker, CATCH's hard work and dedication to the less fortunate 
members of our community is an example to all of us. It is comforting 
to know that organizations such as CATCH exist to help provide housing 
and guidance for those citizens who sometimes tend to be forgotten. 
There are so many people in New Hampshire, in both the private and 
public sectors, who deserve credit for this award. CATCH's leadership 
in working with the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, its 
affordable housing fund and the Concord Community Housing Investment 
Pool demonstrates that public-private partnerships can work effectively 
to increase access to home ownership.
  Mr. Speaker, the Concord Area Trust for Community Housing exemplifies 
the dedication and promise that is so much needed in our society today. 
This organization's hard work and dedication to the people of New 
Hampshire deserves our respect. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating CATCH and saluting their efforts as a 1994 Fannie Mae 
Foundation Maxwell Award recipient.

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