[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6995]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF RICHLAND COUNTY

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                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 2008

  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Neighborhood Housing 
Services, NHS, of Richland County for the 25 years of service this 
agency has provided to its communities. As America's first Rural NHS, 
Richland County has partnered with numerous entities in the areas of 
housing, insurance, and construction, allowing this agency to offer 
comprehensive services and assistance to area residents.
  NHS of Richland County is able to revitalize communities and address 
current needs. Recent initiatives have addressed the mortgage crisis 
and the August 2007 flood in western Wisconsin. With interest rates 
rising and property values decreasing, many hardworking families have 
had an increasingly difficult time making their mortgage payments, thus 
now more than ever it is especially important that our local 
communities have the necessary resources to provide affordable housing 
for those who need it most.
  NHS of Richland County responded to this need and in 2007 when in 
spite of this downturn in the housing market they assisted 81 
households with loans and maintained a near zero percent foreclosure 
rate. NHS also created the Responsible Homeownership, R-HOME, 
initiative. This project is a comprehensive mortgage loan program 
created to better serve the needs of consumers with little or no credit 
history. In addition to the above endeavors, when the flood of August 
2007 hit, NHS was part of local flood recovery effort in providing 
critical assistance to families.
  Foreclosure prevention, homeownership seminars, flood recovery 
assistance and establishing renewable energy systems are just a few of 
the programs contributing to the success of Richland County's 
Neighborhood Housing Services. Since 1983, NHS of Richland County has 
responded and assisted over 3,000 households by building 39 affordable, 
energy-efficient homes, repairing more than 40 homes in the tornado 
stricken town of Viola, Wisconsin and constructing a 25-unit apartment 
complex for low-income seniors.
  I applaud Neighborhood Housing Services of Richland County for 
providing invaluable support for homeowners in western Wisconsin, being 
a leader to housing services around the country and most importantly, 
upholding their motto of ``Neighbors Helping Neighbors.''

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