Nation's Cities - April 4, 2011

April 4, 2011
NATION’S CITIES WEEKLY 3
Home Ownership Still Viewed as Essential to the American Dream
by James Brooks
The overall optimism of
the American public is evident
in the latest Allstate/National
Journal Heartland Monitor Poll
focusing on home ownership
and aspirations to achieve and
sustain “the American Dream.”
Even with the full force of an
economic recession hitting so
many, nearly 60 percent of
Americans surveyed believe that
they are living the American
Dream, defined as the opportu-
nity to go as far as your talents
and hard work take you and to
live better than your parents.

Among the factors that those surveyed believe are definitely
part of reaching the American Dream, home ownership
outranked retiring comfortably, graduating from college
and becoming wealthy.
said that owning a home helps
to achieve the American Dream,
and 70 percent would advise a
family member or close friend
to buy a house to build long-
term assets. Among the fac-
tors that those surveyed believe
are definitely part of reaching
the American Dream, home
ownership outranked retiring
comfortably, graduating from
college and becoming wealthy.
best reason to own a home,
which is especially curious
given the general perception
that owners are more connected
and committed to a community
by virtue of simply being an
owner.
There is a schism in America
over whether an increased num-
ber of home owners has an effect
on the stability of a community.
Only 42 percent of those sur-
veyed agree with the statement
that increasing home ownership
results in communities that are
more stable, because people are
encouraged to put down roots
in a community, start families,
and become active citizens in
their neighborhoods.
On the other hand, 51
percent said that encourag-
ing home ownership has made
communities less stable because
it encouraged people to take on
too much debt, which when
coupled with unemployment
has lead to increased foreclo-
sures that hurt communities.

Street Level View
Access to Credit

What made this possible
was the availability of mortgage
credit to many more poten-
tial owners. This economic and
social policy, supported by fed-
eral, state and local actors, was
designed to boost more families
up the ladder to the middle
class.
When reflecting on how
expanded access to credit has
impacted the millions of home
mortgage foreclosures nation-
wide since 2006, 52 percent
of those responding to the sur-
vey laid the blame squarely at
the feet of banks and lend-
ing institutions for misleading
borrowers and approving bad
loans. Thirty-two percent of
respondents blamed the mort-
gage crisis on individuals who
agreed to mortgages that they
could not afford.
When it comes to individ-
ual decision making, the sur-
vey found that 40 percent of
Americans said that having a
place to raise a family is the best
reason to own a home. This
exceeded building equity (26
percent) and making a long-
term investment (13 percent) as
reasons to own.
Only 6 percent of Americans
said that being part of a neigh-
borhood and community is the
Figures from the U.S.
Census Bureau show that fam-
ily household income remained
basically unchanged from 2000
to 2007. However, during that
same period, the home owner-
ship rate jumped from about
66 percent of households (the
highest rate on record dating
back to the early 1960s) to 69
percent of households (a new
record high).

About the Survey
The Allstate/National
Journal Heartland Monitor Poll
is a quarterly effort that looks at
various aspects of the American
economy. The eighth install-
ment of the poll focused on the
future of home ownership. The
survey of 1,000 adults was con-
ducted in early March and has a
margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
Local Leaders Asked to Host Community Discussions for Earth Day
by Corinne Kisner
and Christina Cernansky
While great strides have been made
in the advancement of sustainability, the
approaching commemoration of Earth
Day this April provides an opportu-
nity to remember that local actions
and involvement are necessary catalysts
for implementing change. Local leaders
are on the front lines of sustainability
— addressing the impacts of climate
change, creating green job opportuni-
ties, finding energy savings and promot-
ing a healthier environment.

By engaging their communities in discussions
about sustainability, local leaders can help con-
stituents and other stakeholders reach common
ground, share experiences, voice new ideas and
plan a sustainable future.
Conversation. Following these events,
Earth Day Network will compile suc-
cess stories and best practices and dis-
seminate a report to local governments
worldwide.
By engaging their communities in
discussions about sustainability, local
leaders can help constituents and other
stakeholders reach common ground,
share experiences, voice new ideas and
plan a sustainable future.
These collaborative efforts can pro-
duce effective sustainability strategies
based on the community’s insights, and
can encourage wide-spread participation
from individuals whose contributions
are valued.
Ultimately, this day will elevate the
collective voice of local governments
in the national and international envi-
ronmental dialogue. Earth Day is an
occasion to celebrate the environment
and encourage residents, businesses and
all sectors of the community to com-
mit to building a sustainable and green
economy — beginning with an inclusive
conversation.

Details: For more information
regarding how to host an event in your
community, visit the Earth Day Network
website at http://www.earthday.org/
campaign/global-day-conversation. For
any questions, please contact Christina
Cernansky, Director of Advocacy at
Earth Day Network, at Cernansky@
earthday.org or (202) 518-0044.