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Most organizations listed above work closely together on housing issues. Local <br />government staff work with the non-profits on a regular basis, since most nonprofit <br />activities are supported with local funds. Communication could be improved between <br />housing development agencies and social service agencies that provide support and <br />empowerment for families receiving housing assistance. <br />Private Industry <br />a. Private lenders (especially those interested in achieving the lending goals of the <br />Community Reinvestment Act), public lenders like FmHA, builders, realtors, and <br />developers, whose assistance will be crucial to the success of any housing initiatives <br />undertaken in Orange County. <br />b. Utility companies develop construction and energy conservation standards to <br />reduce energy costs. They also provide information and training on energy-saving <br />practices in home, such as how to install insulation and weather stripping. Low interest <br />loans are available from utility companies for the purchase and installation of insulation <br />from utility companies for the purchase and installation of insulation, high efficiency heat <br />pumps and other energy conservation measures. <br />c. Many commercial banks have responded to the Community Reinvestment Act with <br />programs to finance decent, affordable housing.. Banks. in Orange County with such <br />programs include Wachovia, NationsBank, Central Carolina Bank, First Union National <br />Bank, and Centura Bank, First Citizens and BB&T and Hillsborough Savings Bank. These <br />special lending programs are targeted to households that do not qualify for the lenders' <br />regular programs and may have rates slightly lower than conventional rates, lower down <br />payment requirements or special underwriting treatment. <br />K. COORDINATION OF RESOURCES. With the creation of Orange Community Housing <br />Corporation, Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough demonstrated the <br />desire to cooperate among the several jurisdictions to provide the best housing assistance <br />that will serve the low and moderate income residents of Orange County. With respect to <br />coordination of resources, all agencies will continue our history of communication regarding <br />projects in progress, applications submitted to state and federal funding agencies, <br />programs that are particularly successful or troublesome, and other sharing of information <br />and sources of funds. <br />The existing coordination of services has been furthered enhanced with the creation of the <br />Orange County HOME Consortium whose members include Orange. County, Carrboro, <br />Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Additionally, a group of non-profit housing service providers <br />and several community activists have formed ABODE: Coalition for Housing Diversity in <br />28 <br />