[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF CHICAGO CELEBRATES ITS 25TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2000

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Neighborhood 
Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) for its effort and success in 
rebuilding urban neighborhoods on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
  NHS is a nonprofit neighborhood revitalization organization with 
programs organized around four major areas of activity: community 
development, neighborhood lending, real estate development and home 
ownership education.
  NHS promotes community development through 10 neighborhood-based 
programs offering home ownership, lending and rehabilitation services. 
Neighborhood Lending Services, the lending arm of NHS and an Illinois 
Residential Mortgage licensee, administers loan programs that finance 
home improvement, home safety repairs, purchase and home rehabilitation 
for low and moderate income families. The NHS Redevelopment Corporation 
buys and redevelops single and multifamily properties and builds new 
homes. Redevelopment activity is strategically targeted to support the 
work of neighborhood-based programs and to promote neighborhood 
development. NHS's NeighborWorks Home Ownership Center is an innovative 
approach to providing in one location all the services and training 
that customers need to shop for, purchase, rehabilitate, insure and 
maintain a home. NHS's Homebuyer Education and Landlord Training 
classes are offered at the Center several times per month in English 
and Spanish.
  Since 1975, NHS has rehabilitated more than 20,000 units of 
affordable housing for Chicago, families, including 334 units of low-
income rental housing owned and managed by the NHS Redevelopment 
Corporation. NHS has initiated more than 12,000 loans totaling nearly 
$250 million to help individuals purchase or rehabilitate homes. NHS 
has also generated more than $1 billion of investment in 19 Chicago 
neighborhoods and reclaimed 990 vacant and abandoned homes for 
occupancy by new homeowners.
  NHS's efforts in community development, neighborhood lending, real 
estate development and home ownership education have improved Chicago 
and its neighborhoods for thousands of families.
  I am very honored to commend NHS on its invaluable work. I have 
witnessed the vital difference NHS makes in our communities and I thank 
them for their work and commitment.
  Once again, I congratulate Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago 
for its exceptional dedication improving Chicago's communities.

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