Winter 2013
Complete Issue 
Contents
The Foreclosure Legacy
by Nellie M. Gorbea, HousingWorks Rhode Island
Foreclosures depleted the already limited supply of affordable workforce
housing in Rhode Island, hurting families and the state’s ability to attract
business.
Mapping New England: Rent Cost Burden over 30 Percent, by County
by Kaili Mauricio, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
A reasonable amount to pay for rent is 30 percent of income, a goal
possible in less than half of New England, where the extremes are more
pronounced than nationwide.
Rental Housing in Rhode Island
by Chris Hannifan, Housing Network of Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, affordable rentals are in short supply—a challenge
for underemployed residents and for policymakers. The author offers
recommendations.
Homelessness Prevention: An Inexpensive Solution
to a Costly Social Problem
by Emily S. Anderson, Journey Home Inc.
Believing that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, Journey
Home is measuring the effectiveness of rapid-rehousing efforts in Hartford,
Connecticut.
Maine Communities Foster Immigrants’ Small
Businesses
by Alexandra Alvarez and Jody Harris
Maine Center for Economic Policy
Municipalities that create a supportive environment for entrepreneurial
immigrants reap economic and cultural benefits.
Innocent but Incarcerated: 10,000 Lost Years
by Gretchen Bennett,
The New England Innocence Project
It takes money to rally proof that you’re innocent once you’re convicted
of a crime. Volunteer lawyers assist low-income people who have a
reasonable case.
Building Community through the Arts: The North Adams Story
by Jaye Fox, studio21south
In North Adams, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass
MoCA) may be better known, but the local arts community’s creative
placemaking is ensuring that local people benefit.
Role-Playing Our Way to Solutions
by Miriam Axel-Lute, National Housing Institute
Airing opposing viewpoints through multiplayer scenarios can help
stakeholders solve formerly intractable community development challenges.
The Story of a Sausage Business
by Claire Greene, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
The cooperation of many players enabled the successful financing of a
Vermont sausage company’s expansion.
The Green Retrofit Initiative
by Elizabeth Glynn,
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
The Green Communities Act of 2008 makes it easier for low-income
multifamily properties to weatherize and save on energy costs.
When High Finance Meets Age-Old Problems
by Kristin Kanders, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Social impact bonds, which pay only for success, help governments and
nonprofits collaborate in a new way to solve societal ills.
The Wisdom of Crowdfunding
by Juanjuan Zhang,
MIT Sloan School of Management
A herding study shows that when potential lenders at Prosper.com see
other lenders betting on a higher-risk borrower, they assume, often
correctly, that the borrower can be trusted.
Articles may be reprinted if Communities & Banking and the author are credited and the following disclaimer is used: "The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston or the Federal Reserve System. Information about organizations and upcoming events is strictly informational and not an endorsement."
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