People

In Memoriam: David Bryson, Housing Advocate for the Poor

David B. Bryson, lawyer and housing advocate, died Dec. 25 of lung cancer. He was 58.

Bryson was a staff lawyer and later deputy director for the National Housing Law Project in Oakland, CA, and had worked with similar groups for over two decades. An advocate for residents of public and other subsidized housing, Bryson played a crucial role in developing housing legislation and regulations. Considered an authority on the complexities of federal housing programs, he taught many lawyers and advocates how to tailor legal support for the poor.

Sheila Crowley, president of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, called Bryson's death "an immeasurable loss to the progressive housing movement." "He knew more about housing law and the housing rights of poor people than anyone else in the country," Crowley said. "He was brilliant and unpretentious. He could explain intricate details of housing law to non-lawyers with clarity, patience, and common sense."

He is survived by his wife, Anita, a daughter, and two sons.

The Fannie Mae Foundation has named Andrew Plepler senior vice president of housing and community initiatives and Glen Howard senior vice president and general counsel. Plepler will oversee the foundation's national grant-making efforts, five regional offices, nonprofit outreach, and community development efforts in Washington, DC. 

Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation's NeighborWorks® network generated more than $1 billion of direct investment in over 1,000 lower-income communities during FY 1999 to help 26,000 lower-income families purchase, improve, and maintain their homes and 61,000 families receive pre-purchase and post-purchase homebuyer counseling. Information: Debra A. Daniels, NRC, 202-220-2354; Mark Burneko, NRC, 202-220-2360.

Freddie Mac has launched a pilot $100 million single-family construction initiative to expand affordable homeownership opportunities nationally and two pilot affordable mortgage programs in five cities: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Sacramento, San Antonio and Washington, DC. One program will allow builders to cover the borrower's downpayment, up to 3 percent, and one will provide builders constructing new homes in urban neighborhoods with a financial safety net through a reserve fund set up by participating cities. Information: Freddie Mac, 703-903-3933; corprel@freddiemac.com.

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition and seventeen of its members have received fair housing initiatives program (FHIP) awards from HUD totaling nearly $5 million. The awards were given for education and outreach services related to fair housing and for fighting actual housing discrimination. Information: NCRC, (202) 628-8866, www.ncrc.org

PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. has announced a $2.5 million affordable housing initiative to expand homeownership for Native Americans and immigrants. PMI will fund housing rehabilitation and invest in loans made to underserved individuals and families. PMI's first alliance has been formed with Unity Council, in Oakland, CA. Information: Glen Corso, PMI, 415-393-6429, fax: 415-291-6154.

Seven community service organizations won the Annie E. Casey  Foundation's (AECF) first three-year, $3.5 million "Families Count" awards for success in strengthening families and helping them overcome the challenges of life in economically disadvantaged communities. The recipients are: Abriendo Puertas, Miami, FL; Alliance Schools Initiative of the Interfaith Education Fund, Austin, TX; The Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY; Community Action Project of Tulsa County, Tulsa, OK; Kaleidoscope, Inc., Chicago, IL; Parent Services Project, Inc., Fairfax, CA; and Project Match, Chicago, IL. Contact: Stan Wellborn, AECF, 410-223-2978; Diane Camper, AECF, 410-223-2948; Mike Gelb, Shandwick Public Affairs, 202-434-8514.

Fannie Mae Chairman Franklin Raines announced a Mortgage Consumer Bill of Rights at the National Association of Home Builders annual conference in Dallas on January 14. The bill of rights spells out "rights" to access to credit, the lowest cost mortgage available, knowledge of a mortgage's true cost, freedom from regulatory burden, and knowing "what is behind a lender's mortgage decision."

Entergy Corp., a New Orleans-based electric utility, has donated $250,000 to the Foundation for the Mid-South to support economic development and education in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, the January 7th edition of the Arkansas Gazette reported. Over the past nine years, Entergy has contributed $2 million to the foundation. Information: Beverly Divers-White, Foundation for the Mid South, Inc., 601-355-8167.