These are unparalleled times, but NeighborWorks America remains committed to creating opportunities for people to live in affordable homes and strengthen their communities, says Kim Drayton, principal member of Thrive Inspire Inc. Drayton led a course on remote homeownership counseling during NeighborWorks' Virtual Training Institute, offering pointers to help housing counselors embrace remote counseling. 

"There's nothing wrong with Black people that ending racism can't solve," says Andre Perry, a fellow at Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program where he studies Black majority cities.

Training isn't just a way to keep certifications current; it's a way to keep knowledge current. And as current events continue to create moving targets for affordable housing and community development professionals – with eviction moratoriums, unemployment, rental relief, and a kaleidoscope of grants and programs – housing counselors, educators and trainers need to keep up.

Victor Cruz, former wide receiver for the Super Bowl-winning New York Giants, believes giving back – and coming back – to a community can inspire others. He brought his own brand of inspiration to a conversation with Marietta Rodriguez, president and CEO of NeighborWorks America, during an afternoon workshop sponsored by JPMorgan Chase.

One valuable tip for counselors to share with clients opting for a disaster-related mortgage forbearance? Keep a careful log of the people you talk to, say Jen Harris and Patty Brown, trainers for "Foreclosure Intervention Services During Disaster Recovery," a course hosted during the NeighborWorks Virtual Training Institute (Aug. 17-21).

Black homeownership rates continue to lag behind those of the white community. This is a gap that the affordable housing and community development fields have strived to close for generations. And the issue hasn't gotten better over time. In fact, communities of color are consistently among the hardest hit during economic downturns. 

With the expiration of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, renters across the country are wondering what to do as eviction moratoriums and expanded unemployment end. This puts rental counselors in a challenging spot.