ACORN disbanding; some services to continue
Scandal-tainted ACORN is disbanding, a spokesman for the national community activist group says, although its housing division will continue, according to two news reports.
Citing national ACORN spokesman Kevin Whelan, the Associated Press said the political arm of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now will shut down April 1 because of "falling revenues." AP writes, "Some other national operations will continue operating for at least several weeks before shutting for good."
The Wall Street Journal says ACORN Housing, which has a separate budget and board, would remain open.
The group, which generally aids low-income minorities, came under fire for allegations of voter fraud during the 2008 election, and then again six months ago when a video sting by conservative activists showed ACORN workers advising a man and a woman dressed as a prostitute and a pimp how to avoid certain taxes. (This month, the workers were cleared of criminal wrongdoing. ) Congress cut off the group's funding as a result of the scandal, as did many private donors.
Affiliates in New York and California broke from the national group this year and changed their names, hoping to distance themselves from their parent organization and regain funding.
(Posted by Michael Winter)
The US community organizing group  (ACORN) will end its operations due to dwindling funds. The group said in a statement that it would close most of its field offices by April 1.

The heads of the organization said in a joint statement that "ACORN's members have a great deal to be proud of—from promoting homeownership to helping rebuild New Orleans, from raising wages to winning safer streets, from training community leaders to promoting voter participation—ACORN members have worked hard to create stronger communities, a more inclusive democracy, and a more just nation."

The group, founded in 1970, played a prominent role in the 2008 US presidential elections, as it conducted many voter registration drives and fundraising for then-Senator Barack Obama, among other  candidates. The organization first became scrutinized during the , when some of its employees were accused of . Matters got worse in 2009 after an undercover video revealed two of its employees giving advice on how to set up a prostitution ring and commit tax fraud.