A journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step - just as a unique, nationally-recognized program to expand homeownership opportunities for more American individuals and families began as a simple outreach by HUD's Rhode Island State Office.

Today, CARE - Community Awareness in Real Estate - is helping Rhode Island real estate professionals understand and serve the needs of non-traditional and underserved populations. It already is on its way to becoming a RI institution: the President of the National Association of Realtors, Richard Mendenhall, recently visited Rhode Island to recognize the first graduating class and honored them at RIAR's annual meeting.

CARE grew out of a National Homeownership Week meeting last year that HUD's Rhode Island State Office convened between state housing organizations and the Rhode Island Association of Realtors (RIAR). The first discussions about developing a new educational program to increase homeownership took place between HUD staff and RIAR officials, but the partnership was quickly expanded to include the state's two largest affordable housing providers: Rhode Island Housing (the state housing finance agency) and the Housing Network, the umbrella organization for Rhode Island's nonprofit housing development community.

CARE partners, and graduates of the first CARE class: Richard Mendenhall, President of the National Association of Realtors; Nancy Smith Greer, State Coordinator, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development; Brenda Clement, Executive Director of The Housing Network, Linda Plouffe of Aquarius Real Estate in Warwick; Richard Godfrey, Rhode Island Housing's executive director; Linda Gilo of Coldwell Banker Gold in Warwick; Stephen Antoni of RE/MAX Central in Coventry; Barbara Meierowitz of Prudential Prime Properties in Middletown; Cheryl Seifert of CENTURY 21 Boulevard in Newport.

CARE focuses on expanding Realtors' ability to serve non-traditional homebuyers with the ultimate goal of providing increased homeownership to all individuals who see this opportunity. It combines non-traditional outreach techniques with existing homebuyer education programs to increase homeownership in communities of color and other underserved markets. The CARE curriculum includes courses on diversity; fair housing; finance; using Spanish in real estate; creating a credit-worthy customer, and preventing foreclosure.

The first CARE graduating class consisted of just eight Realtors, but they represented all corners of the state. Each successfully completed 27 hours of classroom training and will be placed on a referral list provided to community organizations, posted on community websites, and promoted at homebuyer fairs throughout the state. The next CARE class is scheduled to get underway shortly, and enrollment has grown to 35 Realtors.