The increase in the homeownership rate from 63.8 percent in the first quarter of 1994 to almost 70 percent in the first quarter of 2005 and its subsequent fall to 67.1 percent in the first quarter of 2010 has cast doubts on the effectiveness of the government’s policy of subsidizing mortgage interest rates and lowering down payments. Although a substantial amount of academic research has focused on the effects of GSE intervention in raising the homeownership rate, less attention has been paid to race/ethnic and regional differences. One of the novel features of this study is that it provides a scenario of what would happen to homeownership rate at the national or regional level, and among race/ethnic groups without the GSEs.
NEW YORK State Senator Brad Hoylman (Manhattan) introduced a new bill, S.9539, to allow Medicaid reimbursement for violence prevention programs. Hospital and community-based violence prevention are proven tools to end retaliatory cycles of community violence, keep communities safe, and heal from an era wracked by gun violence. Any Medicaid beneficiary who has been involved in or injured by community violence and has been referred by a healthcare provider would be eligible.