President's Commentary - Building Sustainable Communities: 2009 and a look forward
Date Published: 03/01/2010
Author: LISC
LISC President & CEO Michael Rubinger comments on 2009 and looks forward to 2010.
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2009 hardly seems like a year in which low-income communities could realize ambitious visions of revitalization. Escalating unemployment, staggering foreclosures, waning philanthropic contributions and decimated public coffers left many neighborhoods struggling just to protect hard-won gains. How, in the worst financial crisis we've seen in generations, could they maintain that fragile stability, much less grow?
In truth, some couldn't. Too many families lost their jobs and homes, and whole communities suffered from increased blight and crime as a result. But in spite of that, many of the places where LISC works did, in fact, navigate the myriad pressures of 2009 well and continued to implement plans that helped raise their overall standards of living. Building Sustainable Communities is one important reason why. Continued[+]..
Type: Topical report