Sanford Bishop: “I strongly support H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007. As the name of this program…”

“I strongly support H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007. As the name of this program suggests, the revitalization of distressed public housing brings hope to millions of Americans--the hope of living in a community that cherishes family values, the hope of enjoying a stable living environment, and the hope of moving out of poverty and toward self-sufficiency. The HOPE VI program offers residents the ability to improve their housing opportunities by transforming severely distressed public housing into thriving mixed-income communities. The program has worked well since its inception in 1992 and I am pleased that the bill makes a number of significant improvements to HOPE VI to ensure that it is even stronger into the future. These changes include requiring full replacement for lost units and increased involvement of residents in planning the redevelopment. Furthermore, HOPE VI promotes the efforts of Congress in supporting a cleaner environment by requiring compliance with green building standards.”