These streets fight crime
Safe streets underpin healthy communities where people want to live, shop, work and play. That's why dozens of Newark's city and community leaders are taking steps to stop crime before it starts. They came together at a recent Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design workshop, sponsored by Together North Jersey with LISC support, to learn how the built environment promotes or inhibits crime in their neighborhoods. And they're now developing targeted safety plans that will make their communities stronger. More[+]...
Pioneering philanthropy
As LISC’s senior vice president of lending, Elise Balboni touches virtually every loan LISC makes to revitalize communities across the country. She brings that wide range of expertise to a new book called “New Frontiers of Philanthropy: A Guide to the New Tools and New Actors that Are Reshaping Global Philanthropy and Social Investing.” The book examines the revolution taking place in philanthropy and social investing, focusing on new financing models and tools that are helping foundations expand their impact. Balboni co-authored a chapter focused on fixed-income opportunities and features an innovative bond offering from a top charter school operator as an example. Balboni is among the country’s foremost experts on charter school finance and has led groundbreaking research that evaluates the credit quality of the sector. More[+]...
Gut check on federal housing programs
In the midst of a nationwide affordable housing crisis, why would we hack away at the very federal programs that attract private capital to build homes families can afford? That's the question LISC's Denise Scott asks in a New York Times blog, rejecting the idea that we have to choose between rental housing and homeownership opportunities to help families. She argues for expanding successful programs like the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit and fully funding others like the Capital Magnet Fund. "Too many Americans are struggling to find decent, affordable housing of any kind," Scott stressed. "What we need are federal housing policies that provide choices for low- and moderate-income Americans to rent or own." More[+]...
