June 13 & 14 – Portland, OR

The Oregon Brownfields Conference is designed to target the educational needs of brownfield practitioners – from long-time brownfield professionals to those just entering the process of transforming contaminated sites into productive reuse. Work sessions will dig deep into issues associated with building on brownfields, and provide a forum for discussion of “sustainability” in the current economic and real estate climate of record breaking property foreclosure and bankruptcy rates.

The 2012 Brownfields Conference features a Brownfields Walking Tour (details soon) and a Portland Harbor Boat Tour. Join this two-hour tour for a water-side perspective of this dynamic waterfront with its daunting environmental cleanup challenges – Thursday, June 14 at 3:00pm.

CONFERENCE WEBSITE

SPEAKERS & AGENDA

 Call for Nominations – Fourth Oregon Brownfields Award-The Oregon Brownfields Awards recognize individuals and groups who worked together to solve the critical environmental challenge of transforming brownfields sites into productive reuses. Oregon DEQ & Business Oregon invite community groups, organizations, city/county officials, and individuals working to revitalize contaminated properties to submit project nominations. Deadline May 11. [Download Nomination Form]

Register Now for Early Bird Rates!

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE -

Scholarships to cover registration and lodging are available for those travelling more than 50 miles to attend the conference, or with special circumstances. Contact Karen Homolac at 503-986-0191 or via email.

Register now for Housing Seniors in Rural America: Resources, Advocacy, and Practice,to be held in Burlington, Vermont on June 5-6, 2012. This symposium will provide intensive training and information on housing for an aging population in rural America. Visit http://www.ruralhome.org or contact Janice Clark, HAC, via email.

April 18, 2012 – HUD National Conference Call: Understanding the Mortgage Service Settlement & the New FHA Streamline Refinance Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP).

To join the conference call on 4/18/12 at 2:00pm Eastern Time dial: 1-800-230-1074.

Join the HUD Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for a conversation with HUD Secretary – Shaun Donovan and HUD Program Staff on the Mortgage Settlement and the FHA Streamline Refinancing program.

Call participants will hear from senior HUD officials and program staff about the types of assistance available to individuals and families who are underwater and seeking refinancing assistance, who were wrongfully foreclosed upon, or are currently facing foreclosure. This call is a chance for faith and community leaders to learn more about the national mortgage service settlement and the new FHA Streamline Refinance MIP, how they may be accessed, and eligibility requirements.

Additionally, listeners will be given accurate and up to date information which will allow them to report back to their church or community members on how to avoid the risk of being the victim of a scam.

RSVP to join the call and receive copies of the handouts by emailing: Partnerships@hud.gov or call us at: 202-708-2404

Save The Date!

• 2012 National Conference on Affordable Housing in High Cost Areas
• September 11-12, 2012
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Flier attached: Save the date 4-9-12

In spite of the decline in housing prices in many areas of the country, affordable housing options remain out of reach for many working families – especially in high cost areas. Whether you represent a bustling urban center, resort town, tropical paradise, or a small town experiencing growing pains, the obstacles to creating affordable housing are often very similar.

Come join us in Honolulu at the Ala Moana Hotel, as stakeholders and interested parties discuss and develop real strategies to overcome barriers to affordable housing in high-cost areas.

The conference features a wide variety of sessions, speakers and networking opportunities to help you come away with new tools, innovative solutions and resources to meet housing needs in your community.

This conference is presented by Rural Community Assistance Corporation.
With major funding by HUD Honolulu Field Office And support from:
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Housing Hawaii

Sign up to receive a copy of the registration brochure at
www.rcac.org, under Trainings & Events

Coalition for a Livable Future, 10th Annual Regional Livability Summit

• Friday, October 12, 2012
• Portland State University

The Regional Livability Summit is an annual gathering of regional leaders and community members, ranging from policy advocates and student activists to government staff and elected officials.  This diverse group comes together to discuss strategic linkages between the wide range of issues involved in creating a sustainable and just future for the Portland metropolitan region.

Announcing the 2012 Keynote Speaker:

Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, PolicyLink

Angela Glover Blackwell founded PolicyLink in 1999 and continues to drive its mission of advancing economic and social equity. Under Blackwell’s leadership, PolicyLink has become a leading voice in the movement to use public policy to improve access and opportunity for all low-income people and communities of color, particularly in the areas of health, housing, transportation, education, and infrastructure. Full Bio.

Coming Soon…

Between now and October 12^th we will share more information on Summit registration, schedule, sessions and sponsorships. For early information contact CLF via email.

NACEDA Annual Summit
May 21-23, 2012
Capitol Hill Day May 23, 2012

Doubletree Hotel Washington
1515 Rhode Island Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20005

www.naceda.org • 202-518-2661 • info@naceda.org

New Enterprise Live Online Event: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 from 2 – 3:00 p.m. EST

Register

Enterprise Green Communities has upgraded our online process for certifying green affordable housing developments. Developed on the industry’s leading cloud computing software development platform, the new Enterprise Green Communities Certification system will provide affordable housing developers improved flexibility, efficiency and convenience in connecting with Enterprise to register and apply for Certification.

Please join this web session to learn more about this new tool and how it will enhance the review of affordable housing developments that come through the Enterprise Green Communities Certification Process.

The Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA) spring conference will be held May 16, 17, & 18 at Valley River Inn in Eugene.  We offer a diverse menu of continuing education classes for the owners, management agents, occupancy specialists, maintenance personnel, compliance officers, home office staff, and state and federal agency program managers of HUD, Rural Development, Tax Credit and HOME multifamily housing.

Oregon AHMA has been designated as a Certified Continuing Education Provider by the Oregon Real Estate Agency.  Many of the classes qualify for CEU fulfillment.  Credit hour information is listed next to the title of each session in the Schedule of Events.

Cash door prizes, free head/neck chair massages, a hosted Happy Hour, and a lively industry trade show are some of the extras that attendees can look forward to, along with the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of colleagues.

Please click on the PDF documents listed below for a complete rundown of the classes, trainers, registration fees, and other pertinent information. Guest rooms go fast, so register soon!

• Conference Highlights
• Conference Schedule of Events
• Meet Our Presenters!
• Conference Registration Form
• VRI Travel Directions
• VRI Amenities
• Conference Volunteer Questionnaire

2012 Showcase for Affordable Homeownership, Lincoln Community Land Trust

Homeownership is not for everyone but for many it can mean increased savings potential, greater stability, and a return on their investment if they move. For those who feel homeownership is for them and seek its benefits and find that decent homes for sale in Lincoln County are priced too high and are out of reach, then a visit to this year’s Lincoln Community Land Trust showcase for affordable homeownership might be worthwhile.

Thursday, April 19th, at Congregational Church of Lincoln City, Church of Christ, 1760 NW 25th Street, Lincoln City from 4-6 PM, LCLT will present their plans for new affordable homes in 2012, including a new construction using green building principles and the rehabilitation of a foreclosed home. Featured guest speaker, Mr. Marty Cahill will present on the impacts of affordable housing among employees of North Lincoln Hospital, one of Lincoln County’s largest employers. Gift items to be raffled include a quilt donated by Community Quilts and more, snacks are provided. Invitation is open to the public.

Click here to print the invite: Invite_LCLT_2012Apr19

The Lincoln Community Land Trust (LCLT) has been working on the problem of affordable homeownership on the coast since 2008. Last year, it sold its first home, purchased in foreclosure and fully rehabbed with help from Community Services Consortium, the local community action agency, to a deserving young couple who work in Lincoln City. Purchased for $135,000 this home, which once sold for $400,000, is now affordable. LCLT understands just how hard it is for deserving working families in Lincoln County to find a decent home. LCLT tracks housing trends in the county and knows that the gap between wages and home prices has gone off the tracks. Since 1990, home prices have tripled against the average wage growth both making it hard for those who purchase homes to get ahead and for those who wish to own to have the opportunity to purchase.

By using a unique model of affordability, the Lincoln Community Land Trust joins over 250 other organizations nationwide to promote affordable homes for working families. But it doesn’t stop after the first sell of the home, it continues to the next buyer. The Community Land Trust model reduces the home price to the homebuyer by placing the land in trust and leasing it to the homeowner so the cost of land (which is high in many areas along the coast) can be excluded. In exchange for this low cost the homeowner agrees that if they sell the home, it will be sold for an affordable price to the next buyer. This ensures that these affordable homes don’t disappear after the first sale but remain in the community from one generation to the next, making affordable homeownership permanent.