Public Meeting # 3

Our economy has been an issue of much debate in the mainstream media lately. It is an issue that is hitting home to a lot of people in the US right now. A direct result of the downward spiral our economy has taken is the incredible increase there has been in the area of home foreclosures.

On October 24th, Valmarie Turner brought this issue up before The Citizens Advisory Board Committee. Valmarie is the contracts unit manager for the Affordable Housing Office for Hillsborough County. She spoke about the neighborhood stabilization program that will be coming to Hillsborough county. She explained that the program is a result of an act that the president signed in July which set aside money for a foreclosure initiative. I was surprised that I had not heard about this act amidst all the foreclosure coverage that has been going on lately in the news. This act signed by the president will bring in over 19 million dollars to our county which will help to stabilize those communities that have the higher rates of foreclosure. Valmarie informed the committee that the county is focusing on the orient park area, the area surrounding our university and the clair mel progess village area. I live off campus, but I do live in this area and although I have seen that we are in close proximity to neighborhoods that are far from flourishing, I never really thought about the fact there are probably a lot of people here struggling to keep their homes.

Valmarie said that her office will be working with nonprofits to acquire the properties and work through lenders. At first, I didn’t quite understand how this is going to help the people who are struggling to make ends meet. When Valmarie elaborated in speaking to Don Coryell, she stated that the county isn’t looking to keep the properties and is working to instead help people who wouldn’t qualify for a home, to get a home and help them with down payments. In essence it seems like a catch 22. There were people who needed help to begin with, because they couldn’t pay their mortgages, so they ended up having to foreclose and move. However, these people didn’t receive the help that now new residents will be receiving. The program is wonderful for the people who weren’t able to qualify previously, but it is also at the expense of those who needed help to keep their homes to begin with. And sadly, it seems that a lot of government programs are like this – in order to do some good, you end up doing something of a disservice to others. In the end, at least some people are being helped.