WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2010) – U.S. Congressman Michael Honda (CA-15), Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, applauded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s approval of the nation’s first network of housing counseling organizations dedicated to serving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders facing foreclosures or who need general housing counseling.
“HUD’s recognition of National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development is an important step forward for AAPI communities,” said Rep Honda. “Too many people have lost their homes in this foreclosure crisis. With such great need, this designation for National CAPACD will support our community to get back on their feet. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus is proud of National CAPACD’s work.”
The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development is now an intermediary for HUD and will support a national network of nonprofit community based organizations in ten states providing services in more than ten AAPI languages and communities.
“Without trusted and trained housing counseling organizations,” Honda continued. “AAPI communities often have nowhere to turn to access reliable information about their housing options in their own language or with an understanding of the community’s cultural context. The multilingual, nationwide network of AAPI housing counselors, who are trained professionals, will be a key resource for the community.”
According to Census data recently released, Asian Americans have suffered the largest percentage decline in homeownership of any racial group. Many Asian American and Pacific Islander homeowners found it difficult to find assistance in the language or the cultural understanding they needed.
Others have been targeted by fraudulent or misleading vendors offering services, which often resulted in the loss of their homes. The Network is providing counseling to homeowners facing foreclosure and community based financial education on strategies to find alternative housing opportunities.
“Low and moderate income families are facing much more challenging credit markets,” said U.S. Congressman Al Green (TX-9), Chair of the Housing Taskforce for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “The creation of this national Asian American and Pacific Islander housing counseling network is essential towards efforts to help all families find and keep homes and the first step to securing the vibrancy of AAPI communities across the country. I congratulate National CAPACD and its local partners on this significant milestone.”
