Fund Donates to Latino Homeowner Program

The Community Revitalization Fund Inc., a Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co., has announced a $1.5 million investment in a new program launched by the National Council of La Raza to assist Latino homeowners.Called "From House to Home: Strengthening Families and Maintaining Homes," the program was designed to help close the gap in housing financial services and education while targeting three areas: improving the financial stability of a Latino family in the long term; conducting research studies to identify the needs of Latino homeowners; and designing financial strategies that will help Latino families maintain their homes. According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Latinos will account for up to 40% of all new homeowners over the next 20 years. But they need "guidance in the homebuying process," said La Raza president and chief executive officer Janet Murguia, as well as "knowledge about how to maintain your home and potentially leverage it for building other assets and greater wealth."