[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E976-E977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY HOUSING WORKS OF ESCONDIDO, CA

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2003

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Community 
Housing Works (CHWorks) of Escondido, CA for receiving the Fannie Mae 
Foundation's annual Maxwell Award of Excellence on May 13, 2003.
  Community Housing Works was created by the 2002 merger of Community 
Housing of North County and the San Diego Neighborhood Housing Services 
to provide housing, reinvestment and community leadership opportunities 
throughout the San Diego region. CHWorks was one of eight organizations 
hand-picked to be an inaugural member of the San Diego Foundation's 
Organizational Effectiveness capacity building program.

[[Page E977]]

  Community Housing Works helps the homeless and also helps people 
achieve stable rental housing and homeownership by providing personal 
finance education, homeownership classes and counseling, and low-income 
and first-time homebuyers with down payment and closing costs. This 
organization has acquired and refurbished more than 70 homes and helped 
more than 400 low and moderate income people buy homes in San Diego 
County. They have also rehabilitated nearly 800 apartments in well 
maintained rental complexes. Their award winning designs have received 
national recognition, from TIME magazine to the American Institute of 
Architects.
  The Fannie Mae Foundation is recognizing Community Housing Works 
today for their dedication to the refurbishment of the Bandar Salaam 
apartment complex. Due to the efforts of CHWorks, the Bandar Salaam 
apartment complex is now a safe, renovated home for 340 residents, and 
it will remain affordable for the next 55 years. This complex is 
primarily occupied by Somali refugees with large families. Prior to the 
acquisition by CHWorks, many of the Somali residents found the living 
conditions no better than at the refugee camps that they had fled. 
Bandar Salaam has evolved into a place where people are creating a land 
of peace in the community.
  The success of this project is due to the creativity and flexibility 
of CHWorks, and the commitment of a number of private financing 
sources, including the San Diego Housing Commission, the Bank of 
America, the California Equity Fund, and the San Francisco Federal Home 
Loan Bank. I would also like to recognize the incredible efforts of the 
dedicated and organized community of the Bandar Salaam complex. These 
residents were willing to accept many challenges in order to make their 
community vibrant and healthy.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating Community 
Housing Works, the residents of the Bandar Salaam complex, and all 
those who assisted in making this project a success.

                          ____________________