[CPEO-BIF] "Northeast-Midwest Institute Study Assesses Federal Response to Blight"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Northeast-Midwest Institute Study Assesses Federal Response to Blight

(Washington, D.C.) - A new report released by the Northeast-Midwest Institute finds that most targeted and stable federal support for addressing blight is decreasing, time-limited, or stagnant in the face of rising supply and labor costs. The report: 
	• Characterizes the state of vacant and abandoned property in cities within the Northeast-Midwest region, in general; and the Great Lakes sub-region, in particular
	• Provides a brief overview of local approaches to addressing blight
	• Inventories federal programs that support rehabilitation, demolition, and land reuse
	• Describes federal legislative efforts in the 114th Congress
	• Assesses federal resources and makes policy recommendations to improve support
Vacant and abandoned property is a problem that in recent decades has plagued many Northeast and Midwest cities still recovering from post-industrial population and job loss. In many cases, the foreclosure crisis has exacerbated the problem. The cost of fighting blight--whether through rehabilitation, demolition, or land reuse--is high; in many places, the need greatly exceeds available funding. The report determines that although an array of federal resources exists for cities that are willing and able to invest time and energy, and to think creatively, when it comes to addressing blight, the largest, most stable, and most-targeted federal support for addressing blight is decreasing, time-limited, or stagnant in the face of rising supply and labor costs.

A link to the full report is available at http://www.nemw.org/report-assesses-federal-response-to-blight/.

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Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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