Citibank Testimony June 25, I998 

Good afternoon. My name is Lydia Tom and I am director of Housing and Finance for The 

Enterprise Foundation’s New York office. I would like to tell you briefly about Enterprise’s 

involvement with Citibank, and how the bank has partnered with Enterprise in working to 

improve the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods, through the development of housing 

and support services, both nationally and in New York. 

Citibank has been an invaluable partner in helping Enterprise to provide different financial 

resources to low-income communities. Citibank has assisted us on many levels: as a funder, tax 

credit investor and loan source. 

Enterprise and Citibank have been working together since 1991. Enterprise was established by 

Jim and Patty Rouse in 1982 to provide the opportunity for low-income Americans to secure 

decent affordable housing and move up and out of poverty. Since that time, Enterprise has 

helped create over 86,000 affordable apartments nationally, including 8,000 in New York. 

Citibank has worked with Enterprise in many cities around the country, including New York, 

Buffalo. Rochester, Syracuse, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Florida, San 

Antonio, St. Louis, Nevada and California. 

Since 1991, Citibank and the Citicorp Foundation have provided $987,000 in grants to Enterprise 

and S1.75 million in below market rate loans. Citibank has provided or committed to provide 

$74 million in equity through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. This $74 million includes ’ 

$50 million invested in the New York Equity Fund, as well as nearly $20 million in national 

mnds that have supported special needs housing in New York. This housing serves the formerlyhomeless. the elderly, those with a history of mental illness or substance abuse, and those with 

AIDS. 

These numbers have a real impact on communities. The funds have been used to extend credit to 

low-income families for homeownership, to develop affordable rental housing by placing equity 

from Citibank in tax credit eligible multi-family housing and to support special programs 

through grants. in such areas as job training and child care that improve the quality of life for 

residents. 

As an investor in the tax credit and a source of predevelopment loans, Citibank has facilitated the 

creation ofaffordablc housing for those who need it most. You may have read a recent New 

York Times article that noted that the number of housing needy families in the United States 

outnumber affordable apartments by 4.4 million. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit has 

been a valuable tool in filling this gap. Citibank’s total commitment to the credit will help 

product an estimated 1,750 safe, decent affordable homes nationally. 

Citibank is also participating in Enterprise’s CityHome program, an effort with NYC and The 

Community Preservation Corporation to provide homeownership opportunities for low and 

moderate-income families. Citibank will be providing mortgages for these first-time buyers. 

CityHome targets smaller, abandoned City-owned buildings and helps bring stability to 

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neighborhoods by transforming eyesores into community assets and bringing back owners to 

deteriorated blocks. 

Predevelopment loans are another tool Citibank has provided for the development of affordable 

housing. In New York, Citibank has provided $1.5 million in predevelopment funds over the 

past two years. This includes some monies to upstate regions. These funds help nonprotits pay 

for expenses such as architectural and legal fees, so that construction can close. 

Support services such as child care, job training and greening projects build on housing and 

uplift the quality of life in neighborhoods. Citibank has been sensitive to these needs. Citibank 

was an early funder of a child care initiative Enterprise established. Through this project, two 

facilities have been developed that provide quality child care for over 200 children from lowincome families. Citibank also provided mnds for a training program connected with one of 

these centers through which low-income women receive training in the Montessori Method of 

early childhood development while working as teacher aides and classroom assistants. This 

program, serving about 20 women, has made it possible for several participants to get off welfare 

and pursue a career in early childhood education. 

Citibank has also used its resources to fund employment initiatives, a major concern now that 

welfare reform has impacted communities. On a national level, Citibank fimds made it possible 

for Enterprise to launch the Volunteer Institute in 1994. The Volunteer Institute provides 

training for AmeriCorps volunteers solicited by selected nonprofit groups for community safety 

programs. Thanks to Citibank’s generosity, this program has had outstanding results for people 

at very low income levels, some of whom are having their first experience in the work world. 

Citibank also funded a new job training effort in New York called the “Treekeeper Training 

Program” which will train residents in low-income neighborhood in tree maintenance and 

landscaping and link them with jobs with smaller landscaping contractors looking to create citybased work crews. 

On the community level, Citibank has used its resources to develop creative partnerships to meet 

local needs. Through its Culture Builds Community program, Citibank funded a program, 

implemented by Enterprise and Trees New York in 1995, to plant street trees along W. 159’h St. 

in Washington Heights. The Community League of W. 1 59rh St. was the local sponsor. Residents 

helped plant and have since cared for and maintained the trees. Not only has the program helped 

bring greenery to the block, but the care of the trees has served as an organizing tool for tenant 

associations. 

Finally, the leadership of Citibank senior executives has been a great asset to Enterprise. Janet 

Thompson and Emiho Femandez serve on Enterprise advisory boards in New York and Miami, 

respectively. In New York, Janet has been instrumental in examining ways in which Enterprise 

and Citibank can contribute to a more comprehensive approach to community development. 

Other Citibank executives have been very active in Enterprise New York’s “Junior Board”, a 

group of young professionals who participate in hands-on activities in neighborhoods, such as 

planting community gardens and furnishing community rooms. Citibank has been very helpful 

with Enterprise’s annual Network Conference, which now involves over 1,300 housing 

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professionals from around the country. Citibank executives have addressed the conference and 

participated in workshops. 

Enterprise supports the application for Citibank and Travelers to merge. We hope that this is an 

opportunity to expand services to low-income communities, through the combination of 

Citibank’s existing initiatives with the resources that Travelers brings, including $100 million in 

tax credit investments made by Salomon Brothers. 

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