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Summary

Abstract:
The collection contains documentation of the Affordable Housing Partnership and Capital Affordable Housing Funding Corporation's adminstrative activities.
Extent:
1.7 cubic ft.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Affordable Housing Partnership and Capitol Affordable Housing Funding Corporation Records, 1983-2001. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the AHP and CAHFC Records).

Background

Scope and Content:

The records of the Affordable Housing Partnership and its affiliated financial branch, the Capital Affordable Housing Funding Corporation document the founding of the AHP and CAHFC and their activities as providers of affordable loans for low to middle income families and business owners from their creation in 1986 to 2001. Given the topical nature of this record group, its individual files are separated into four major series: Administration, Meetings and Resolutions, Financial Information, and Subject Files. It includes the AHP and CAHFC's correspondence, meeting minutes and agendas, news clippings, press releases and newsletters, reports and testimonies.

The bulk of this record group is comprised of a group of subject files covering the major concerns of the AHP and the CAHFC. Most of these files concern the UTA bank protests that cover the years from 1984-1995. These documents discuss the prejudicial loan practices of Chase/Chemical Bank, Fleet Bank, Key Bank and NORSTAR Bank and the UTA's attempts to amend the Community Reinvestment Act responsible for regulating the loan practices of banks. This is seen as an important achievement for the cause of affordable housing. The Subject Files series is made up of an alphabetical list of topics important to the AHP.

In addition to the subject files series covering the specific activities of the AHP, this record group also includes documents that record the administration and financial aspects of the AHP and CAHFC. This record group contains all of the AHP's and CAHFC's minutes and agendas from 1986-2001, financial reports from 1990-2001, annual reports and goal statements from 1987-1998 and drafts of their mission statement and by-laws.

Finally, this record group includes a restricted Loan Application series. Series 5 holds actual loan applications and the AHP's resolutions on these applications, which contain sensitive information.

Biographical / Historical:

The Affordable Housing Partnership (AHP) was founded in 1986 after a series of protests staged by the United Tenants of Albany (UTA) as a reaction to the prejudicial methods of awarding loans practiced by several banks in the Capital District. This organization was originally called the Albany County Public-Private Partnership but its name was changed in 1989. The AHP is a non-profit forum designed to address the growing housing problem in the Capital District. As the UTA bank protests that culminated in 1995 attest (see administrative history of the UTA) many banks and loan companies in Albany County were severely discriminating against low-to-moderate- income families and business owners when awarding loans. Since governmental programs for assisting this population with buying homes and supporting businesses were extremely scarce during the 1980s, the Affordable Housing Partnership was created as a three-front approach to solving this problem. Members of the banking, public sector and local housing related community organizations were brought together to attempt to create programs to aid low to moderate-income clients.

At first this organization was merely informational in nature and participating banks were not asked to donate funds to provide clients with low interest loans. In 1989, after realizing that the sources for reasonably priced loans were extremely limited, the founders of the AHP took the final step and became a mortgage and loan company. The AHP accepts and reviews loan applications that are in turn funded by another institution, the Capital Affordable Housing Funding Corporation (CAHFC). One representative from each of the four banks currently participating in the AHP form the CAHFC. To maintain a vote in the CAHFC, the banks must contribute a certain investment; otherwise the representative is present at meetings only in an advisory position. While the value may change over time, the number of "financial units" an organization contributes determines the number of votes that institution has and therefore how influential the institution is in determining which loans are authorized. These funds are placed into a community loan pool for permanent mortgage and construction mortgage loan funds. Together, the AHP and CAHFC determine if a client fits their criterion for a reasonable risk.[1]

The mission statement of the AHP states that the organization will provide a frank forum for the exchange of information concerning the need for affordable housing in Albany County and the obstacles faced in efforts to meet those needs. Through this free exchange the AHP aims to promote programs that will aid in developing housing for low to moderate-income families, assess the efficiency of those that already exist and attempt to solve problems that stand in the way of creating such programs. They hope to achieve this through cooperating with other organizations devoted to helping low-to-moderate income families find housing and by providing a forum for local banks and housing organizations to discuss housing problems.[2]

The AHP is comprised of twelve members, four members from each of the banking, community and public sectors. A coordination team is in charge of ensuring that the agendas and meetings of the AHP are properly planned and that the recommendations of the partnership are acted upon. The meetings are presided over by the board chair. In the event of his or her absence, the vice chair, the president, the executive vice president, and the vice president serve in descending order of importance. If none of these people are available, the partnership can elect a president to preside. The Policy Committee of the AHP is responsible for reviewing loan applications and then presenting them to the board for final approval. The Capital Affordable Housing Funding Corporation then finances the loan.

While one of the major functions of the AHP is to act as a source for reasonably priced loans, the AHP also attempts to help their clients by creating programs designed to make the experience of buying a home easier. One such program is the Albany Home Store. This program, founded in 1997, attempts to simplify the complicated process of buying a home by providing a "one-stop" resource for advice and funding for first-time homebuyers. This program offers the buyer pre-purchase counseling, information on available homes and information on financing. The Home Store, with the aid of the AHP, puts clients in contact with banks and realtors thus facilitating the experience. Members of the AHP act as the coordinators for the Home Store by maintaining lists of available real estate, sponsoring homebuyer workshops, and participating in home buyer programs sponsored by banks, non-profit organizations, realtors and other such organizations in order to keep abreast of available housing programs.[3] 1. Affordable Housing Partnership, By-laws of the Affordable Housing Partnership (Albany, undated). 2. Affordable Housing Partnership, Mission Statement of the Affordable Housing Partnership (Albany, undated). 3. Division of Housing and Community Development, Albany Home Store. http://www.albanyny.org/business/homestore/index.asp (1 August 2002).

Acquisition information:
All items in this manuscript group were donated to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, by Roger and Maria Markovics in July 2001.
Processing information:

Processed in 2002 by Sarah Campbell.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into the following series:

  1. Series 1 - Administrative, 1986-2000
  2. Series 2 - Meetings and Resolutions, 1986-2001
  3. Series 3 - Financial Information,1990-2001
  4. Series 4 - Subject Files, 1983-2001
  5. Series 5 - Loan Applications, 1990-2000

All series are arranged chronologically with the exception of Series 4 and Series 5, which are arranged alphabetically.

Physical location:
The materials are located onsite in the department.

Contents


Access

Using These Materials

ACCESS:
The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
RESTRICTIONS:

Access to Series 5 is restricted. All other series are unrestricted. Consult a staff member for further details.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

PREFERRED CITATION:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Affordable Housing Partnership and Capitol Affordable Housing Funding Corporation Records, 1983-2001. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the AHP and CAHFC Records).

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