HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5103 Offered June 20, 2006 Commending Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc., on the occasion of its 35th anniversary. ----------
Patrons-- McClellan, Alexander, Amundson, BaCote, Barlow, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Dance, Ebbin, Hall, Howell, A.T., Hull, Joannou, Jones, D.C., Lewis, Marsden, McEachin, Melvin, Moran, O'Bannon, Poisson, Scott, J.M., Shuler, Spruill, Toscano, Waddell, Ward, Ware, O. and Watts
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WHEREAS, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc., an outstanding nonprofit corporation founded in 1971 with a mission of “ensuring equal access to housing for all people,” celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc. (HOME), provides information and assistance to the public through a wide variety of housing-related services, including pre- and post-home-buying counseling for families, credit counseling, and financial assistance; community education on housing issues; training for the housing industry, government agencies, and service providers on fair housing and non-discriminatory practices; and other diverse ongoing and ever-evolving innovative services and initiatives; and

WHEREAS, HOME services are provided through the organization's three separate centers: the Center for Housing Leadership, the Center for Housing Education, and the Center for Housing Advocacy; and

WHEREAS, HOME began its rental counseling program with support from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Richmond in 1974; and

WHEREAS, in 1982 the United States Supreme Court unanimously upheld HOME in a fair housing case, Havens v. Coleman, which set a national precedent expanding fair housing enforcement nationwide; and

WHEREAS, in 1988 HOME helped establish the National Fair Housing Alliance, which strengthened the fair housing movement across the country; and

WHEREAS, HOME partnered with the General Assembly in 1991 to add fair housing organizations to the list of entities that may bring fair housing cases to court; and

WHEREAS, in 1999 HOME won the national community development award from the United States Department of Housing and Community Development for its role in making homeowners’ insurance available in minority neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, in 2002 HOME became a Virginia regional loan fund administrator, providing below market loans and down payment assistance to low- and moderate-income homebuyers throughout the Richmond area; and

WHEREAS, HOME has facilitated great and just changes in the accessibility of housing, has provided valuable housing services, and has spearheaded important legislation and initiatives on behalf of all of the citizens of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc., on the occasion of its 35th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to representatives of Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation for its exemplary public service and its commitment to the housing needs of the citizens of the greater Richmond area.