Technical Advisory from Oregon Housing and Community Services, 4/5/2012

Oregon Housing and Community Services seeks public comment on proposed
amendments to state plans Oregon Housing and Community Services seeks public comment on proposed amendments to its 2011 Action Plan, 2012 Action Plan, 2011-2015 Consolidated Plan and Oregon’s Citizen Participation Plan.

The bulk of the changes will bring Oregon into alignment with the requirements of the federal Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009, as it applies to the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program. The balance of the changes are housekeeping in nature.

In general, the HEARTH Act:

• expands the scope of homelessness data collected and analyzed,
•  expands the types of entities and processes to be involved in planning,
•  expands and alters eligible activities,
•  requires increased coordination with other programs and entities, and
•  requires more detailed performance reporting.

Interested parties can find an explanation of the changes and the amended document drafts at http://www.ohcs.oregon.gov/OHCS/HRS_Consolidated_Plan_5yearplan.shtml.

The public comment period for the program amendment began Wednesday, April 4, 2012, and ends at 5:00 PM on Friday, May 4, 2012.

Contact: Joann Zimmer, HEARTH Act contact, email, 503-986-6779
Loren Shultz, state consolidated plan coordinator, email, 503-986-2008

from the Oregon House Legislature – House Democrat Caucus, April 11, 2012

Reforms help underwater Oregon homeowners, hold banks accountable

SALEM- A hard-fought legislative victory for Oregon homeowners became law today as Governor John Kitzhaber signed SB 1552, a top priority of Democrats the Legislature this February session.

The foreclosure reform bill requires banks to meet with homeowners facing foreclosure or underwater on their mortgages in mandatory mediation. It allows homeowners to meet with housing counselors prior to mediation, but enables homeowners to bypass housing counselors if they aren’t able to meet within a thirty day period. It also outlaws the practice of dual-track foreclosures in which banks enter into conversations with homeowners to negotiate terms of a loan while simultaneously beginning the process of foreclosure.

Rep. Paul Holvey (D-Eugene), a champion of the protections, hailed the bill’s signing. “We overcame the opposition of big Wall Street banks, House Republicans and the mortgage industry to pass a bill that will not only help those facing foreclosure, but help underwater homeowners avoid foreclosure altogether. The Governor’s signature caps off a long fight to stand up for middle class homeowners.”

“Members of our caucus worked hard to help Oregonians by refusing to take no for an answer on meaningful reforms that hold big banks accountable. We had great advocacy on this bill from homeowners across Oregon who helped us deliver for middle class Oregonians,” said Rep. Tina Kotek (D-Portland), the House Democratic Leader.

SB 1552, which enacts a number of long-sought protections for homeowners and cracks down on the unethical practices of Wall Street banks, was one of the most high profile issues debated in the Legislature. House Democrats had previously pushed for tough foreclosure reforms and homeowner protections, ultimately succeeding in the February session. The bill had overwhelming support from Oregonians, and strong public pressure helped advocates overcome years of opposition in order to push the bill through.

“We’re continuing to work very aggressively so that we can begin helping people as soon as the law takes effect. This bill makes certain that all homeowners at risk of foreclosure have the opportunity to benefit from face to face mediation,” said Rep. Chris Garrett (D-Lake Oswego), “This is one of the proudest accomplishments of a very successful legislative session.”

“HUD and VA Award Rental Assistance to 610 More Homeless Veterans in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.” HUD Northwest News Update, Tuesday, March 27, 2012

With today’s awards, HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program will assist 2,893 Northwest vets

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that will provide HUD rental vouchers and VA case management to 610 more homeless veterans – 50 in Alaska, 50 in Idaho, 185 in Oregon and 325 in Washington state (see award chart below).

The 610 rental assistance vouchers awarded today are over and above the 2,283 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH),vouchers awarded since 2008 to housing authorities across the Northwest to provide affordable housing to homeless veterans..  The 2012 appropriations bill provides $3,770,409 in funds to support these additional vouchers. Awards today went to housing authorities serving Alaska, Anchorage, Bend, Boise, Clackamas County, Coeur d’Alene, Eugene,  Port Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima and Clackamas, Jackson, King, Pierce, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

“It’s a national disgrace that one out of every six men and women in our shelters once wore a uniform to serve our country,” said HUD Secretary Donovan. “But we know that by providing housing assistance and case management services, we can significantly reduce the number of veterans living on our streets.  Working together, HUD, VA and local housing agencies are making real progress toward ending veteran homelessness once and for all.”

“Under the leadership of President Obama, we have made significant progress in the fight to end homelessness among veterans, but more work remains,” said VA Secretary Shinseki. “The partnership between the federal government and community agencies across the country has strengthened all of our efforts to honor our veterans and keep us on track to prevent and eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015.”

“After serving our country, veterans should not end up on the streets, homeless,” said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride.  “They have given us a great deal.  Helping them obtain decent, affordable housing is the right thing to do in return for their service.”

Today’s awards went to:

Previously, Alaska has been awarded 145 VASJ vouchers, Idaho has been awarded 115 VASH vouchers, Oregon has been awarded743 VASH vouchers and Washington state has been awarded 1,280 VASH vouchers.

This funding to local housing agencies is part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to end Veteran and long-term chronic homelessness by 2015.  Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness serves as a roadmap for how the federal government will work with state and local agreements to confront the root causes of homelessness, especially among former servicemen and women.

The grants announced today are part of $75 million appropriated for Fiscal Year 2012 to support the housing needs of approximately 10,500 homeless veterans.  VA Medical Centers (VAMC) provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans. This is the first of two rounds of the 2012 HUD-VASH funding.  HUD expects to announce the remaining funding by the end of this summer.

VAMCs work closely with the homeless veterans then refer to the public housing agencies for these vouchers, based upon a variety of factors, most importantly the need for and willingness to participate in case management. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff provides.

Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.  VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico.

The Ford Family Foundation has funded a $366,000 grant to help bring 211 statewide!

That was the headline news CEO Liesl Wendt announced on Friday, Feb. 10, during  their annual event.

And although Norm Smith, president of The Ford Family Foundation, was unable to attend because of a board meeting, he had these words to pass along:

“During a time of limited resources and rising needs, The Ford Family Foundation is looking to support wide-reaching interventions, such as 211info. That’s why we have invested in a nonprofit that is a leverage point for helping people get help quicker and in a more dignified manner. We think 211info is a leader in improving the quality of life for families everywhere in the state.”

The grant will help 211info extend its service to counties in southern and eastern Oregon over the next two years by providing matching funds to assist counties wishing to launch the 211 service. Organization leaders also hope the grant will leverage future large-scale investments.

The Oregon 211 Network is funded by municipalities, local nonprofits such as United Ways, and contracts from specific programs. 211 service is not currently funded by state or federal sources. Each county’s cost for 211 service is tied to the area’s population. The model was conceived as a way to give local communities ownership over the service while leveraging existing infrastructure. Buying into the single 211 system costs a fraction of what it would cost to open local call centers.

More good news

After the biggest news, Liesl let the crowd in on something else. 211info has hired Denise Swanson as 211info’s new Deputy Director. Denise was the driving force in bringing 211 service to Marion and Polk counties. Now, she’s on board to implement the Ford grant mandate to bring 211 to every Oregonian.

Keith Thomajan, the new CEO of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, also addressed the crowd. He reinforced his support of 211info. The local United Way is one of 211info’s largest investors. Just a year ago Mr. Thomajan was the CEO of another organization and came to the 211info annual event with little knowledge of our organization. But since leaving that event, he has been a champion of 211 and is glad he can help us continue the good work.

The Video

The emotional apex of the event came with a special screening of a trailer for “Crisis Call 211” – the aforementioned documentary. Five minutes of touching stories featuring 211 callers brought most of the attendees to tears.

If you’re interested in seeing the film, you’ll have to wait until the summer to see the full-length version. Friday’s screening was a special affair.

Lastly, 211info Board of Directors Vice-Chair and Treasurer J. Michael Schultz closed the evening with a thanks to event attendees, board members and special guests such as Multnomah County Commissioner Amanda Fritz.

On behalf of 211info’s board and staff I want to thank those who were able to make it to the event. And for those who weren’t able, we can’t wait to see you next year!

from Neighborhood Partnerships, 3/22/12

The Oregon State Legislature recently completed its short 2012 session.  Working together for just over a month, Legislators worked to rebalance the budget and tackle several pressing issues.  The Housing Alliance had a full agenda, and together with other advocates, had some significant accomplishments including significant and important foreclosure reform! We also worked to protect critical services for Oregonians who continue to struggle as a result of the economic downturn. Read more about the session here.  The Housing Alliance is busy starting our work now to prepare for the 2013 Legislative session.   Please join us as we begin to prioritize and explore important issues for 2013.  The Housing Alliance is open to all organizations, and any member can put forward issues for consideration of the membership. Questions? Email Alison.

from Neighborhood Partnerships, 3/22/12

After much negotiation and dialogue, Oregon homeowners are set to receive significant assistance in keeping their homes after the State Legislature passed SB1552.  This bill brings critical relief to homeowners across Oregon who are at risk of foreclosure. The bill passed by the Legislature provided positive and decisive action to stop the havoc created by foreclosure for homeowners, families and communities. SB1552 will provide homeowners with timely and accurate information about their choices which will help them to make informed decisions. It also guarantees fair dealing by the banks, and equips homeowners to make good decisions based on good information.

The bill approved by the Legislature includes mandatory mediation, changes to advanced notification rules, attorney general oversight and an end to the dual-track processes. It also includes sanctions for financial institutions that do not comply. Together with the national bank settlement resources, these policy changes have the potential to significantly benefit Oregonians at risk of foreclosure and our communities across the state. Right now, advocates together with State Agencies are hard at work to determine the details of the new legislation. In addition to finalizing implementation, we need to finalize proposals to deploy the national bank settlement funds to maximize benefit to Oregon communities. If you have input or would like to be more informed, please email us. We are in the process of scheduling informational and workgroup meetings for early April.

Funds are over-and-above $64.8 million in renewal funding awarded in December to more than 480 projects serving homeless across Northwest 

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride on March 13 awarded $3,682,366 in fiscal year 2011 funds to support 28 new projects serving the homeless in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

The 28 new projects funded today in the Northwest are located in Anchorage, Astoria, Bend, Boise, Eugene, Everett, Hillsboro, Hood River, Longview, Ontario, Oregon City, Pendleton, Port Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Wenatchee, Yakima and Vancouver.

HUD had already awarded almost $64.8 million in fiscal year 2011 funds to renew funding to existing homeless projects in the Northwest in late December 2011 – $3,503,437 to 25 projects in Alaska, $3,487,320 to 38 projects in Idaho, $19,210,480 to 112 projects in Oregon and $38,610,507 to 208 projects in Washington state.

“Today’s grantees will join the tens of thousands of local programs that are on the front lines of helping those who might otherwise be living on our streets,” said Donovan.  “It’s incredible that as we work to recover from the greatest economic decline since the Great Depression, the total number of homeless Americans is declining, in large part because of these funds.”

“The $68.4 million in renewal funding we awarded in December will help keep the doors open at more than 480 homeless projects across the Northwest and help the homeless rebuild their lives,” said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride.  “These additional funds allow Continuums of Care in 28 communities to launch new and innovative ways to improve and expand the critical services they provide.”

Today’s awards went to:

The funds announced today were competitively awarded and were part of a total of $201 million awarded today to 731 new local homeless programs across the country and provides critically needed emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support for individuals and families and is a significant part of the Obama Administration’s strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.  According to the latest data reported by more than 3,000 cities and counties throughout the U.S., homelessness declined 2.1 percent between 2010 and 2011and a remarkable 12 percent among homeless veterans.

HUD’s Continuum of Care grants provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons as well as services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. These grants fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons and families. Continuum of Care programs include:

• Supportive Housing Program (SHP) offers housing and supportive services to allow homeless persons to live as independently as possible.
• Shelter Plus Care (S+C) provides housing and supportive services on a long-term basis for homeless persons with disabilities, (primarily those with serious mental illness, chronic problems with alcohol and/or drugs, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or related diseases) and their families who were living in places not intended for human habitation (e.g., streets) or in emergency shelters.
• Single-Room Occupancy Program (SRO) provides rental assistance for homeless persons in one-person housing units that contain small kitchens, bathrooms, or both.

In 2010, President Obama and 19 federal agencies and offices that form the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) launched the nation’s first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness. Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness puts the country on a path to end veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015 and to ending homelessness among children, family, and youth by 2020.

In addition to HUD’s annual grant awards, HUD continues to manage the $1.5 billion Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing (HPRP) Program.  Made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this three-year grant program is intended to prevent persons from falling into homelessness or to rapidly re-house them if they do.  To date, more than 1.2 million persons have been assisted through HPRP.

Scams against the elderly abound, but the focus here will be on the injustices done to elderly or disabled veterans or their elderly or disabled spouses who are low-income. Individuals, organizations and some retirement communities are contacting them about a veteran’s benefit called Aid and Attendance, which provides elderly or disabled veterans with help they need in accomplishing activities of daily living, like bathing, feeding or getting dressed. The Aid and Attendance benefit is offered to qualifying veterans through Veterans Affairs; the scam involves people who offer “help” with the application process.

Why this is a problem

The scam goes like this: Veterans and/or their spouses are encouraged to sign up to live in retirement homes at market-rate rents and told that they will be assisted in applying for the Aid and Attendance benefit, offsetting their overall expenses. They are led to believe that there is no doubt they will qualify. Not all will. If they receive a denial, they are often left owing market-rate rent they can’t afford, given their personal outlay for assistance with basic self-care. This could end up causing them to be evicted.

Five questionable practices to watch out for

Reports indicate that for-profit enterprises may use these tactics to entice veterans:

1. Giving false or misleading information about an applicant’s’ eligibility for the Aid and Attendance program;
2. Providing other incentives, including rent waivers and deferral programs, to induce the veteran to apply;
3. Assisting the applicant in “disposing” of assets so their income will be low enough to qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefit;
4. Assisting the applicant in transferring assets without considering the effects that will have on Medicaid eligibility;
5. Using other coercive measures that assert undue pressure on the veteran to apply for the benefit.

A few caveats from AARP

1. Don’t be fooled by official-sounding names. Some sales agents operate as, or with, “front” organizations, falsely claiming that they have a veteran affiliation and nonprofit status;
2. Don’t depend on nursing homes, community centers or assisted living facilities to protect you. Often they are paid a fee to let volunteers give presentations and don’t verify credentials;
3. Get credible information on how to qualify for veterans benefits by contacting  Veterans Affairs.

Contact Jon Strauhull, Staff Attorney at the Oregon Law Center, if you or someone you know has had suspicious encounters like the ones mentioned in this post. The toll-free number is 1-877-296-4076. The Oregon Law Center provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on 2/8/12 awarded $13,998,790 in Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) allocations to eight tribes in Oregon.  IHBG funds are distributed annually under a formula to eligible tribes or their tribally-designated housing entities for a range of affordable housing activities.

The awards are part of some $404 million distributed nationwide today.  An additional $250 million in IHBG funds are still to be allocated among Native American communities throughout the country this year. IHBG funds are intended to primarily benefit low-income families living on Indian reservations or in other communities. The amount of each grant is based on a formula that considers local needs and housing units under management by the tribe or designated entity.

“These funds are making a real difference in tribal communities each and every day,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “Projects include affordable housing, infrastructure upgrades, community centers and safety programs that every community needs to thrive. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to ensure Native American communities can build their economies in response to their needs and as they see fit.”

“Affordable housing is a critical need in Indian Country,” said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride. “These HUD funds will assist tribes in meeting their housing needs through sustainable and innovative practices that reflect their culture, heritage, and environmental stewardship.”

The Oregon tribes receiving awards today are:

Eligible activities for the funds include housing development, assistance to housing developed under the Indian Housing Program, housing services to eligible families and individuals, crime prevention and safety, and model activities that provide creative approaches to solving affordable housing problems. The block grant approach to housing was enabled by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).

National Disaster Recovery Framework – Stakeholder Engagement Seminar

Register by February 13th

Please join FEMA Region X for our National Disaster Recovery Framework Stakeholder Engagement Forum.  This will be a full day of engaging dialogue and work sessions to help us both learn and work together to accomplish whole community recovery in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. PLEASE SHARE THIS INVITE WIDELY to help us outreach to our communities.

When:

Thursday, March 1, 2012
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.

Where:
Joe R. Hooper U.S. Army Reserve Center
130 A 228^th St SW
Bothell, WA 98021
Map it»

Fee:
There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required by February 13th 2012

Lunch is on your own and reimbursement for travel expenses will not be provided.

What is NDRF?

The National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) is a new guide that provides a more comprehensive and inclusive approach for disaster-impacted state, local and tribal jurisdictions as they recover from disasters utilizing a whole community doctrine.  The NDRF is designed to enable disaster recovery managers to operate in a unified and collaborative manner as they work together with all community interests to restore quality of life, rebuild infrastructure, and revitalize economic and environmental vitality in the aftermath of disasters.

Created in line with the vision set forward in the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 and Presidential Policy Directive 8, the NDRF is the result of extensive stakeholder input and outreach in all ten FEMA regions and communities across the country.

The goal of the NDRF is to help build a more resilient nation – one in which individuals, communities and our economy can better withstand and recover from disasters.

Who Should Attend?

• Federal, State, Tribal and Community Leadership
• Public and Private Disaster Recovery Partners
• Access and Functional Needs and Disability Integration Partners
  • Policy- and Decision-Makers
  • Non-Profit and Advocacy Organizations
  • Educational and Academic Partners
  • Community Planners

How to Register: Space is Limited!

Please provide Lois Lopez via email with your name and email address to be added to the invitation and registration email list.  After you get on the list, a detailed email will follow with instructions on how to register for this key day, and materials to review as you prepare for a full day of dialogue.  It is important that you electronically register due to both limited space, and to ensure that requested accommodations are provided.  Webinar will be available for some of the day’s activities.

Access and Functional Needs Accommodations:

If you or a representative of your agency or organization needs an accommodation or would like to obtain FEMA materials in an alternative format, please indicate your need on the registration form.  Instruction on your electronic registration will follow in a detailed email.

March 1 NDRF Seminar: Event Objectives

Participants attending the NDRF Stakeholder Seminar will:

• Learn more about the National Disaster Recovery Framework and give feedback in plenary sessions and live dialogue with FEMA leadership, and various state and local officials.

• Attend Morning and Afternoon Breakout Work Sessions designed to examine the NDRF’s six Recovery Support Functions or RSFs, their impact on future recovery operations, and how your organization, community, or agency can best interface and be supported by the RSFs following a large scale or catastrophic disaster. The six RSFs are:

• Engage in Active Dialogue to highlight the assumptions, best practices, challenges and resource needs identified during the breakout groups. Participants will also reflect on how the NDRF can be implemented in their local communities and jurisdictions.

We Need Your Support

This NDRF Stakeholder Seminar will present ideas for discussion, and will provide participants an opportunity to continue the conversation of how the principles of the NDRF and its inclusive concepts will work in your community. Your participation will also serve as a springboard to the guidance development for recovery plan templates in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

FEMA and our state partners need your help to pave the path forward.  We look to you for your experience, ideas, and active participation.

Prepare for the Event

It is highly recommended you review the NDRF prior to attending this event.  A limited number of printed copies of the NDRF will be available during the seminar for reference use.  We encourage you to download and review your copy from www.fema.gov/recoveryframework.   Please review the six Recovery Support Functions.  As part of the registration process, you will be asked to select the Breakout Session that corresponds with the RSF that you would like to participate in.