STRIVING TO MAKE HOUSING INSURANCE AFFORDABLE

Rough Notes, Dec 2004 by Zinkewicz, Phil

Pittman said that one of the most notable programs of the NlA has been the loss prevention partnerships. "During the three-year data collection period of this pilot from 2000 to 2003, the program has educated more than 6,000 individuals in home safety seminars, conducted more than 1,300 home safety evaluations during home inspections, made at least 600 loans and grants, and created a national home safety loan fund that granted or loaned more than $2.5 million for home safety," Pittman says.

Among other NIA initiatives are:

* Implemented the Certified Community Insurance Counselor Certification Training Program, training employees of communitybased organizations to educate consumers about insurance, how it works and how to effectively manage potential risk. Five hundred counselors have completed the program and have been certified since 2001.

* Created a traveling version of the training program to take the certification training "on the road" to cities across the country.

* Tripled insurance industry contributions to local NeighborWorks organizations to $31.5 million, with additional major contributions going to national programs and initiatives.

* Increased membership of regulators in the NIA from one to eight.

* Strengthened relationships and built trust between insurers and community development organizations.

Says Pittman: "Through the NIA, insurance partners have come to view this partnership not as a philanthropic effort, but as a solid business investment. In turn, community organizations have learned how they can produce consumers focused on risk mitigation," adding that nine of the leading writers of homeowners insurance are represented in the NIA.

Some of the insurance industry representatives that have become NIA members include: Allstate Insurance Co., American Family Insurance, American National Property and Casualty Cos., American Skyline Insurance Co., Farmers Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual Group, MetLife Auto & Home, Nationwide, Safeco, State Farm, St. Paul Travelers and USAA. Pittman says that insurance company representation at NIA is split evenly between direct writers and agency companies. NIA also has support from various insurance industry trade associations such as the already-mentioned IIABA, the American Insurance Association, the National Association of Independent Insurers and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Cos.

As for future plans, the NIA is looking to expand the organization's current work in risk mitigation by establishing the Risk Mitigation Program (RMP). "The RMP will promote asset protection at the personal community and commercial levels," says Pittman. "It integrates homeownership, resident leadership and multi-family housing initiatives to accomplish its mission. We will also explore opportunities in mortgage life and auto insurance."

For more information:

NeighborWorks

Web site: www.nw.org