DCBS Media Release

August 1, 2002
For More Information:
Richard McGavock, 503-947-7201

Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services joins national task force

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services is one of five insurance regulators and one insurer to join the NeighborWorks^® National Insurance Task Force (NITF). Convened by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation in 1994, NITF works to develop partnerships between the insurance industry and community-based organizations. This work helps homeowners reduce risk and improve the safety of their homes and creates better-educated customers for insurers.

"Oregon is excited to join NITF in its efforts to help families realize their dreams of home ownership. NITF members share our interests in insurance accessibility, affordability, loss prevention and consumer education, and together we can make a positive difference in people's lives," said Joel Ario, Oregon Insurance Administrator.

The other new NITF members are: the New York State Insurance Department, the Indiana Department of Insurance, the District of Columbia Department of Insurance and Securities Regulation, the Ohio Department of Insurance and American Skyline Insurance Company in Baltimore, Md. These organizations will work closely with community development corporations to address insurance issues of mutual concern.

"These new partners will bring additional knowledge and expertise to our work and enable us to expand the results of our successful pilot projects to additional markets," said NITF director Todd Pittman.

The National Insurance Task Force is composed of insurance companies, insurance industry trade associations, insurance regulators, educational institutions, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and the members of the national NeighborWorks^® network. The NITF's annual Insurance Symposium and national meetings, part of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute, will take place August 7-8 in San Francisco.

Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation is a public, nonprofit organization established in 1978 to revitalize urban and rural communities by mobilizing public, private and community resources at the local level and expand affordable housing opportunities for lower-income households through the NeighborWorks^® network. The NeighborWorks^® network is a collaboration of more than 220 nonprofit community-based organizations in urban, suburban and rural communities nationwide. In FY 2000, NeighborWorks organizations helped more than 34,000 lower-income families purchase, repair and maintain their homes and attracted nearly $1.3 billion in total direct investments in their neighborhoods.

For information on participating in the National Insurance Task Force or attending the symposium, contact Todd Pittman, NITF Director, (404) 347-6203 or tpittman@nw.org.