Please fund the Dane County Housing Authority first-time home buyer program

To the Community Development Block Grant Commission:

I'm concerned by the commission's recommendation to cease funding of the Dane County Housing Authority (DCHA) first-time home buyer seminars - for several reasons.

First, the seminars offer a no-nonsense education that is difficult to find anywhere else. As a participant in several previous seminars I've seen how volunteers from the real estate, lending, insurance and home inspection fields work together to educate community members on the home buying and home ownership process. Buying a home can be an overwhelming process, especially for the first-time home buyer. The DCHA seminars provide community members with a solid foundation for responsible home ownership. At a time when Dane County foreclosures are at an all-time high, it's the wrong time to be cutting this program.

Second, the classes educate community members on how they can apply for funds that make home ownership more accessible to people with limited financial means. These public funding programs aim to increase the levels of home ownership for the middle and lower middle classes. Eliminating the DCHA seminars directly contradicts this goal.

Third, the demand for these classes is huge. I've participated in two classes this year where 40 people were in attendance. People from all over the county and from a variety of backgrounds who spent six hours together learning about and discussing the path to home ownership. A DCHA seminar is a true community and multicultural event.

Last, the DCHA seminars give back to the community by promoting fiscally responsible home ownership. Dane County has a large inventory of unsold and vacant homes. The DCHA seminars help to fill these homes with new owners who are financially ready and personally very eager for the dream of home ownership. The graduates of the DCHA program help to solidify communities and shore up the tax base. Think of this from a financial perspective alone. Hundreds of people graduate from this program each year, but the program pays for itself after only a small percentage of the graduates enter the world of home ownership. All of the new home owners from this program pay property taxes. At a time when local revenues are lagging, isn't this one of our most pressing community needs?

Times are tough and there are many deserving programs served by the commission. But the DCHA program is unique. It gives back to the community on so many different levels. Before you decide to cease funding of this program I urge you to reflect on all of the benefits the community will be losing if this program is lost.

Thank you,

Dan Miller, Keller Williams Realty and DaneCountyMarket.com