[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 1996

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 25th Anniversary of 
Community Economics, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Oakland, CA 
instrumental in helping communities in Northern California's Bay Area 
and throughout the United States pursue the important goal of providing 
decent, safe, affordable housing to residents and communities. I also 
wish to acknowledge and honor co-directors Janet Falk and Joel 
Rubenzahl who have provided a combined 37 years of service as dedicated 
staff members to Community Economics. These remarkable individuals have 
spent a total of 50 years committed to the development of housing for 
low-income people.
  Community Economics, in 1971, began as the Community Ownership 
Organizing Project, to study opportunities for community-based economic 
development. Recognizing the critical need for affordable housing, the 
organization later focused its resources to develop programs for such 
living units and incorporated as Community Economics in 1977. The 
growth of Community Economics, paralleling the growth of nonprofit 
organizations, became the key vehicle for providing affordable housing 
and other greatly needed services in our communities.
  Community Economics has supported and worked with numerous such 
nonprofits, providing technical assistance and helping to secure 
funding, and investor dollars for the development of safe, decent, 
attractive, and affordable housing. With the introduction of the 
Federal Law Income Tax Credit in 1986, Community Economics helped lead 
the way, assisting nonprofit organizations to best utilize the program 
and enabling corporate investors to form partnerships directly with 
nonprofits, maximizing the investment dollars to benefit communities. 
Over the past 25 years, Community Economics has worked with nonprofit 
organizations to develop over 13,000 units of housing for low-income 
families, seniors, and people with special needs.
  After joining the organization in 1976, Joel Rubenzahl led the 
organization's move into the area of housing and its work with 
corporate investors. This is his twentieth year with Community 
Economics. In her 17 years with Community Economics, Janet Falk has 
made important contributions in the areas of advocacy and public policy 
development, in addition to her work with nonprofit organizations. I 
join the many organizations and individuals in our activist community 
to honor Community Economics on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary. 
We also honor Janet Falk and Joel Rubenzahl, along with the many 
nonprofit organizations and the individuals that staff them, for their 
hard work and dedication to the daunting task of providing decent, 
safe, and affordable housing for all our people.

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