STATEWIDE NEWS
Oregon Jumps to #1 Homelessness Per Capita, Number of Families Increase
Website, Database Key Tool to Preserve At-Risk Housing
Oregon $27.3 Million Tax Credit Assistance Plan Approved
Neighborhood Stabilization Program Addresses Blight
Analyst Predicts Oregon Foreclosures May Cycle Down
New Davis Bacon Residential Wage Decision for Select Oregon Counties
Oregon Gets $955k for 175 Homeless Veteran Vouchers
FEDERAL NEWS
Treasury Announces $486 Million to Create Jobs, Affordable Housing
House Completes FY10 Appropriations, Most Programs See Increases
Bill Introduced to Preserve Affordable Rental Housing Via Exit Tax Relief
House Holds Hearing on Preservation Legislation
Section 8 Voucher Reform Act Mark Up Rescheduled
Rural Dev Office Explains Davis-Bacon for ARRA-Funded Mortgages
FHA Loans Set New Record in June
Guidance Issued on Using Section 538 for Section 515 Preservation
USDA Funding Bills Approved by Full House, Senate Committee
PORTLAND METRO NEWS
HDC to Conduct Affordable Housing Portfolio Review
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East Secures $60,000
Proud Ground Open House TONIGHT – Come See New Overlook Space
United Way Grants Oregon ON $34K for Res Services Cost Analysis Study
Bienestar Makes Use of Creative Connections
Catholic Charities Hires Development Officers
FUNDING AND AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
MetLife Awards for Senior Independent Living – Enter by Aug 14
Invitation for Rural Community Development Applications – Due Sept 24
Broadband Tech Funding Available for Public and Assisted Housing
EVENTS, TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES
NAYA Native American Housing to Homeownership Fair – July 25
Grand Opening of Miraflores, Hacienda’s Newest Housing Site –August 13
NEBC Brownfields Redevelopment Conference – October 18
Rural Rental Preservation Conference – September 24
REPORTS
Survey Finds Foreclosure and Economic Crises Increase Homelessness
Report Names “10 Meanest Cities” for People Experiencing Homelessness
RESOURCES
New Nonprofit Leader Bootcamp – August 31- Sept 4
One-stop Free Link for Housing Providers and Consumers
HUD GIS Tool Supports Orgs Helping Those Experiencing Homelessness
Oregon Jumps to #1 Homelessness Per Capita, Number of Families Increase -top
A recently released federal report shows that after climbing for the third year in a row, a greater percentage of Oregon’s population is experiencing homelessness than any other U.S. state. Also, Oregon was one of only 8 states that had more people unsheltered than sheltered. Nationally a full 42% of people experiencing homelessness were unsheltered.
Among those experiencing homelessness nationally, people in families grew almost 10%. As far as people in shelters, 32% were in families and 20% were children- half of which are 5 years old or younger.
Presented each year by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency to Congress, the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) shows that while states like New York had much higher overall numbers, their percentage was lower relative to their population: for example, .31% in New York, compared to .54% in Oregon.
To housing advocates, the numbers show that despite important new allocations in state funding and significant funding from Portland in the past three years, there is still significant work to be done to secure affordable housing for hardworking Oregon families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
“It is a tragedy that so many people in Oregon suffer from both homelessness and hunger, of which we are ranked #3 in the country,” said Patti Whitney-Wise, Executive Director of the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force. “They are both income issues, and numbers sometimes obscure the real families in crisis that need our help to get on their feet and succeed. Oregonians need to recognize that these families are our neighbors. We as a state need to wrestle with how we tax and fund services so that we can provide the opportunity for all families to succeed.”
Oregon jumped to #1 after being ranked fourth in the nation (.47%) in 2007 and fifth in the nation (.41%) in 2006. The rankings exclude traditionally high U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
2008’s report shows that 664,000 people nationwide were homeless—either sheltered or unsheltered—on a single night in January 2008, down about 7,500 people (or one percent) from the previous year.
However, the report noted some disturbing trends, including a 9% rise in families experiencing homelessness, and a 9% rise in people experiencing homelessness in suburban and rural areas. It also noted that a greater share of people accessing the homeless service system came from stays with family and friends and from places where they had lived for a year or more, suggesting that people who were previously stably housed had become homeless after exhausting their housing options.
“The HUD report paints the picture of the growing struggles of low-income families in Oregon,” says Elisa Aguilera, Co-director of the Community Alliance of Tenants. “Oregonians cannot keep waiting for real and meaningful investments in affordable housing. The recent win in additional revenue from the document recording fee is a real impact in Oregon, but it is just a start. In order to succeed, hardworking families need a place to call home.”
The report cautions that data collection ended in September 2008 just when the economic crisis was accelerating, and suggests that these early trends could be precursors to even bigger problems.
These numbers dovetail with recent numbers from the State of Oregon showing a 35%-37% increase in homelessness across the state, mostly represented by newly homeless families: a total of 17,000 Oregonians experiencing homelessness.
The report and more related information is available at the Oregon Housing Blog by clicking here.
Website, Database Key Tool to Preserve At-Risk Housing-top
6,300 units of affordable housing across Oregon are at serious risk of reverting to market rate housing over the next five years. The Oregon Housing Acquisition Project has launched a new website to help preserve those units. The site, www.preserveoregonhousing.com, includes a searchable database of all the Preservation properties in the state along with detailed property and contact information. The database was developed and is maintained by Neighborhood Partnerships. Oregon Housing and Community Services provided the initial funding for its creation.
Background of Problem
Oregon’s federally subsidized housing stock is at risk. Over the next five years, 6,300 affordable rental apartments will reach the end of their subsidy contracts. When the contracts expire, the property owners are allowed to opt out of the program and convert the housing to market rate. Many of these units have Section 8 subsidies which allow tenants to pay deeply reduced rents based on each household’s annual income. These kinds of subsidy are an invaluable resource for families with low incomes, adults with disabilities, and seniors.
Unless these units and their subsidies are preserved, Oregon could lose thousands of affordable homes at a time when demand for affordable housing already exceeds the supply in every part of the state. Almost three-quarters of Oregon’s very low-income households currently spend more than 30% of their income on rent or mortgage payments. Over one-third of Portland’s very low-income households spend more than half of their household income on rent. Rent-burdened households are often hard pressed to pay rent and still afford food, medicine, and other necessities. These households are just one layoff or illness away from eviction and homelessness.
The Solution
The Oregon Housing Acquisition Project (OHAP) came about through an unprecedented collaboration among committed housing professionals. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and the City of Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development joined with other leaders from around the state to find a way to prevent the loss of federal subsidies (referred to nationally as Preservation Properties). The group set a goal of preserving 6,000 units of housing for 25,000 Oregon families by 2013. Other program goals include:
1. Work with government agencies and private funders to streamline Preservation processes and secure gap financing;
2. Link interested sellers of Preservation projects with preservation-oriented buyers, provide technical assistance to buyer and sellers, and refer buyers to development consultants;
3. Establish a $44 million fund, the Housing Acquisition Fund, to finance interim acquisition of Preservation Projects and other projects and sites; and
4. Catalyze “green” building by providing gap financing for owners of permanently affordable Preservation projects who install upgrades to maximize energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
The group selected NOAH (the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing) to manage the program and the associated Housing Acquisition Fund. NOAH is a lending consortium with long term relationships within the banking community and has historically provided many of the permanent loans on affordable housing projects around the state. With strong underwriting capacity already in-house, NOAH hired a Preservation Director in March of 2008 to work specifically on Preservation issues.
Since the program’s launch, OHAP has already made strides towards reaching the program’s goals. Early successes include:
• Establishment of the Housing Acquisition Fund which is currently capitalized with a combination of foundation and private funds at over $32 million. These funds are available to eligible borrowers who wish to purchase Preservation properties. They are designed as short term (3-4 year) low interest loans to facilitate quick purchase by buyers committed to maintaining rental subsidies long term. Obtaining permanent financing for affordable housing can take two or more years; the Fund allows buyers to act more quickly and compete in the open market to prevent affordable apartments from converting to market rate.
o As of the end of March, 2009, eight properties have utilized the fund. These projects represent a combined 287 affordable homes that are now permanently preserved for low income families and individuals.
• OHAP staff are finalizing an agreement with project partner, Enterprise Communities, which will establish the Green Pilot Program. This program provides funds for researching energy efficient construction options and money to help cover the cost of installing the recommended items.
• Creation of the Preserve Oregon Housing website (www.preserveoregonhousing.com) that includes a searchable database of all the Preservation properties in the state along with detailed property and contact information. The database is maintained by the Neighborhood Partnership Fund.
• By establishing two working groups, one consisting of agency managers and another of field level staff, the OHAP is encouraging innovation and cooperation among the agencies working on Preservation deals. These groups have proved an invaluable resource when trying to accommodate sometimes conflicting program rules and regulations.
• Support for OHAP: Just-passed SB 5535 provides $19.4 million in lottery-backed bonds to preserve affordable housing and manufactured home dwelling parks. $16.3 is for multi-family housing with federal rent assistance, and $3.1 million is for manufactured home parks. Funding was effective July 1, 2009. The third leg of the agenda, SB 199 would have increased the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit cap by $4 million in support of preserving existing federally subsidized affordable housing. SB 199 did not pass but currently there is not that much demand for OAHTC so it should not be a problem. There will be another opportunity in special session next February to try again.
The Oregon Acquisition Project is only one tool in the complex process of permanently preserving affordable housing. Developers, current owners, communities, and other funders all play a role in ensuring the long term viability of our state’s affordable housing portfolio. What OHAP creates is a way to quickly get the process started—to preserve the subsidy now while long term plans are set in motion. The success of the program’s fundraising campaign in the face of harsh economic times underlines the strength of team. OHAP is on track to meet their aggressive goals and secure an affordable future for all Oregonians.
Oregon $27.3 Million Tax Credit Assistance Plan Approved -top
On June 30 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved Oregon’s Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) application, awarding $27.3 million in federal funds to move stalled affordable housing projects throughout the state.
“Many affordable housing projects were severely impacted when the nation’s economy worsened,” Gov. Ted Kulongoski said. “These federal economic stimulus dollars will cover the remaining financing gaps that will move these projects forward, developing critical housing for low-income Oregonians and creating jobs in communities throughout the state.”
For Oregon, the issue at hand relates principally to a mixture of 2009 tax credit projects and bond projects that preserve federally subsidized rental housing in some of the neediest regions in the state. Both types have been stalled due to current economic conditions.
TCAP, a HUD program, was created by the federal American and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to combat the distressed economy and its drag on housing construction. It works by supporting capitalization of affordable housing tax credit projects experiencing diminished tax credit value.
Stalled multifamily housing projects that received federal low-income housing tax credits in federal fiscal years 2007, 2008 and 2009 are eligible to participate in this federal capital investments subsidy program.
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), the state agency that manages Oregon’s low-income housing tax credit program and finances low- and moderate-income housing, is now moving quickly to administer TCAP and its companion Section 1602 Exchange Program and fill gaps on stalled projects.
OHCS reports that based on the most recently available project data and preliminary estimates of need for gap funding, there appears to be adequate TCAP and Section 1602 resources to meet the demand and assist most stalled tax credit projects.
They are working under compressed timelines to meet the needs of project sponsors and complete their work in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Treasury deadlines:
• June 30 – Housing and Urban Development awarded $27.3 million in TCAP funds.
• July 13 – OHCS conducted application training for gap financing.
• August 10 – TCAP/Exchange applications are due to OHCS.
• August 28 – State Housing Council makes TCAP and Exchange awards.
• Sept. 1 – Projects may proceed toward start of construction this season.
Successful applicants are required to demonstrate financial need. They must also meet key criteria prescribed by the state, such as evidence of ability to expend resources effectively within federally mandated timelines. But most importantly, their projects must be ready to proceed and be complete in 2010-11.
The programs, as implemented by OHCS, cover preservation of federal subsidized rental housing in addition to new construction. The pipeline of potentially eligible projects includes about 30 developments across the state.
Vital to preparing a successful application, project sponsors must secure investment equity or demonstrate due diligence in striving to secure equity investments and leveraging those resources to complete their projects.
The OHCS Multifamily Housing Division has carefully analyzed the portfolio of potentially eligible projects in view of the ongoing volatility of the market. This analysis will continue during the TCAP and Exchange application process.
The diminished value of housing tax credits, which have historically been a stable source of private funding for our industry, exemplifies the dramatic downward spiral the recession has had on acquisition of capital investments. In addition, the tax credit value drop illustrates the fierce competition for the diminished capital available in the market.
Investment capital that historically has been readily available to develop a diverse portfolio of project types since 1986, when low-income housing tax credits were legislatively implemented, has dried up almost entirely in some markets around the country.
Projects have stalled without the anticipated equity infusions that were included in the financing structure completed prior to the competitive award of tax credits. Financing structures have had to adapt and carry the burden of a recessionary market.
The economic downturn has hurt investor earnings, diminishing their tax liabilities and need for long-term federal tax credits. Where investor interest still thrives, conservative real estate underwriting and healthy projects in markets with good demand will prevail.
Oregon has a portfolio of such projects, and with additional funds from TCAP and Exchange, OHCS anticipates completion of most developments to which the department has awarded tax credits.
Unlike many markets around the country where projects with 2008 credit awards have been unable to find investments, the bulk of Oregon’s 2008 tax credit projects are currently under construction. Remaining 2008 tax credit projects are eligible for federal stimulus gap-financing resources.
“We are pleased that HUD has approved our application and look forward to putting these funds to the best possible use in meeting critical affordable housing needs across the state,” Rick Crager, OHCS deputy director, said. “The sooner these projects can be built, the sooner communities will benefit from the resulting construction activity and the sooner families in need will have stable affordable housing.”
“The funding for these projects will come from a variety of public and private sources, Crager added, “and the TCAP stimulus funds will provide the last piece of the financial puzzle for many projects.”
OHCS is the direct grantee for TCAP and the associated ARRA Tax Credit Exchange Program. The state agency is responsible to implement and oversee deployment of these ARRA resources in Oregon. The implementation plan for TCAP and the exchange program are available on the OHCS Web site.
Next Steps:
An application for these funds is currently under development by OHCS and is expected to be issued on the agency’s Web site in the coming weeks. OHCS will hold a training session on completing the application and will provide additional assistance about eligible uses of these funds during the training.
Projects will be evaluated by OHCS based on their financial need, project readiness, investment availability, populations served, and other criteria as outlined in the state plan. The evaluation of projects will continue throughout the summer. TCAP will sunset February 16, 2012.
For more information, visit OHCS’ Web site at www.ohcs.oregon.gov or contact Mariana Negoita, 503-986-0968, email; or Floyd Smith, 503-986-6747, email.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program Addresses Blight, NSP Changes -top
Oregon Housing and Community Services reports that surging home foreclosures in Oregon, up substantially in the first quarter of 2009, are influencing policymakers to focus on the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
NSP is designed to stabilize communities facing blight caused by foreclosure, not to solve the foreclosure problem.
NSP experts Dona Lanterman and Becky Baxter of Oregon Housing and Community Services are currently working to assimilate federal rule changes in the first program (NSP1), and have just processed the application for the second program (NSP2).
NSP1 is worth $19.6 million to Oregon under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) to provide qualified government entities, developers and individuals to acquire, rehabilitate, demolish and redevelop foreclosed properties.
That money is just now getting into the Oregon pipeline to help revitalize the moribund housing market by facilitating purchase of foreclosed properties.
Key among the changes is a requirement that the sale price of a property be discounted 1 percent from the appraised value. The required discount had been 15 percent, a likely deal-killer in many instances. Holders of foreclosed properties might be reluctant to sell, even in this market, at such a deep mark-down. Thankfully, this rule was relaxed.
Dona and Becky returned to Oregon July 14 from a major instructional workshop to sort out the new rules and get NSP1 money working for Oregonians. They also packaged Oregon’s NSP2 application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by the July 17 deadline.
OHCS is applying for the NSP2 grant as a consortium with other key entities where the foreclosure challenges are great. Federal guidance on NSP allows use of funds only in the select areas of the state designated by HUD as hit hardest by foreclosure. These include parts of Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, Clackamas, Jackson, Washington, and Marion counties.
NSP2 is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, unlike NSP1, funded by HERA of 2008 (see above).
The foreclosure situation in Oregon has continued to worsen. Oregon homes in foreclosure jumped 31 percent during the first quarter of 2009 over the preceding quarter (14,064, up from 10,775), reports the Mortgage Bankers Association. This compares to a 16 percent quarter-to-quarter jump nationwide.
The greatest problem is in Central Oregon, where a significant number of targeted NSP2 census tracts are located. “Unemployment and loss of housing value” are major contributors to the “staggering” effects on Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties, according to Dona and Becky.
Analyst Predicts Oregon Foreclosures May Cycle Down -top
Tom Cusack at the Oregon Housing Blog analyzed the details of RealtyTrac foreclosure data and found that recent news stories may have misinterpreted the data. He was surprised to find that the reported count of trustee notices is trending down for the year, while REO has clearly gone up. To him, this means that although the trustee notice count is still quite high, if the economy begins to turn around and unemployment drops, a continuing decline in trustee notices would eventually translate into fewer REO actions. Read the full post by clicking here.
New Davis Bacon Residential Wage Decision for Select Oregon Counties -top
For new Davis Bacon wage decisions specific to Oregon, click here. There was a New Residential decision (OR20080007) issued July 17th for Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Jackson, Lane, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill Counties in Oregon. Click here to read it.
Tom Cusack at the Oregon Housing Blog reports that there may not be any significant changes: read more by clicking here.
Oregon Gets $955K for 175 Homeless Veteran Vouchers -top
A month after the first announcements from select members of the HUD Senate Appropriations Committee were released, July 15th saw the national release of grant announcements for the rest of the country for the HUD/VA homeless voucher program.
Read HUD’s press release by clicking here.
Oregon received $955,000 for 175 vouchers, to 4 different housing authorities, at three different VA medical facilities:
Lane Roseburg 35 $178,318
Portland Portland 35 $240,639
Jackson White City 70 $354,333
Linn-Benton Roseburg 35 $181,818
State Total: 175 $955,108
Washington received funding for 420 vouchers and Idaho, 20 vouchers.
Treasury Announces $486 Million to Create Jobs, Affordable Housing -top
As part of the Obama Administration’s effort to create jobs and ease pressures on the housing market, the U.S. Department of the Treasury on July 10 announced $486 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding to spur the development of affordable housing units in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, the Virgin Islands, and Vermont.
“Today’s announcement of housing funds demonstrates how the Recovery Act is putting our nation on the path to economic stability, one community at a time,” said Treasury Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin. “This initiative will help spur construction and development, create much needed jobs, and increase the availability of affordable housing for families around the country.”
The labor and housing crises in this country are deeply inter-connected. Since their peak level at the beginning of 2006, housing starts have fallen almost 80 percent. Houses currently under construction are at a 13-year low, down more than 60 percent from the peak in the first quarter of 2006. This collapse has led to severe job losses in the residential building and specialty trades sector related to housing, with employment down by nearly one-third — a loss of over one million jobs. Such losses not only indicate significant problems in the residential construction sector, but also suggest that the need for affordable housing has risen markedly during the recession.
In response, the Treasury Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have been implementing new efforts designed to help families while providing important assistance to homebuilders. Specifically, Treasury has launched an innovative program that will provide more than $3 billion from the Recovery Act to put people to work building quality, affordable housing for individuals and families affected by the current crisis.
The Treasury Department will work with state housing agencies to jump start the development or renovation of qualified affordable housing for families across the country. Under this program, after meeting certain eligibility requirements, state housing agencies will receive funding to construct affordable housing developments.
On June 10, the Treasury Department announced the fourth round of recipients: $36 million in Alabama; $29 million in Arkansas; $34 million in Connecticut; $76 million in Georgia; $114 million in Louisiana; $44 million in Maryland; $51 million in Massachusetts; $16 in Montana; a second round for $17 million in New Hampshire bringing the total to nearly $28 million; $38 million in New Mexico; $20 million to the Virgin Islands; and $10 million to Vermont.
The funds announced today are the fourth round in a series of awards based on a rolling application process. The Treasury Department anticipates making similar announcements in the coming weeks. To view the terms and conditions for the Treasury application, please click here.
House Completes FY10 Appropriations, Most Programs See Increases -top
The House Committee on Appropriations completed its work on the FY10 Transportation, HUD and Related Agencies (T-HUD) bill on July 17. The T-HUD subcommittee had considered and passed the bill on July 13.
The Committee-passed bill would provide $47 billion for HUD operations and programs, a slight increase over the President’s request. Complete details of the allocations for each HUD program were not available at press time; however, the summary information provided by the Committee shows increases over the FY09 appropriation for the Section 8 accounts, the public housing accounts, CDBG, HOME, homeless assistance grants, and the Section 202 (elderly housing) and Section 811 (housing for the disabled) programs.
Both the tenant-based and project-based Section 8 accounts would receive increases over the FY09 appropriation and over the President’s request. As adopted by the Subcommittee, the tenant-based Section 8 account would have been funded at $18.044 billion (an increase of $1.069 billion over FY09 and $208 million over the President’s request) and the project-based Section 8 account at the level requested by the Administration, $8.1 billion (an increase of $1 billion over at FY09).
The full Committee, however, adopted an amendment that would reduce the cost of the FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program (HUD’s reverse mortgage program) and transfer those savings to the Section 8 accounts. The amendment increased the project-based Section 8 account by $600 million for a total of $8.7 billion, and the tenant-based account by $198 million for a total of $18.242 million. Subcommittee Chair John Olver (D-MA) said the additional funds will be needed for Section 8, because rising unemployment means tenants’ rent contributions will be lower.
Funding for the tenant-based Section 8 program includes money for 10,000 new vouchers for homeless veterans (the VASH program).
Advocates are seeking $1.6 billion for 200,000 new vouchers in FY10 and will work to have these vouchers included in the final FY10 appropriations legislation. NLIHC sent letters to the House and Senate appropriation committees requesting the inclusion of these additional vouchers and outlining other funding priorities July 13. Funding for 2 million new vouchers over 10 years is one of NLIHC’s top priorities. Copies of the letters can be found by clicking here.
The Committee bill would provide $2.5 billion for the public housing capital fund (an increase of $50 million over FY09 and $256 million over the President’s request) and $4.8 billion for the public housing operating fund (an increase of $345 million over FY09 and $200 million over the President’s request).
The HOPE VI program would receive $250 million, $130 million above FY09. The President’s request did not include any funds for HOPE VI, instead proposing to replace the program with a “Choice Neighborhoods” initiative. The Administration has yet to propose details about this new program, which will require legislation to implement.
Under the bill, CDBG would receive $4.601 for FY10 (an increase of $701 million over FY09 and $151 million over the President’s request) and the HOME program would be funded at $2 billion in FY10 (an increase of $ 175 million over both the FY09 appropriation and the President’s request).
The bill would also provide:
- $1.85 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants (an increase of $173 million over FY09 and $56 million over the President’s request) to provide permanent and transitional housing for homeless families and individuals.
- $1 billion for the Section 202 program (an increase of $235 million over FY09 and the President’s request).
- $350 million for the Section 811 program (an increase of $100 million over FY09 and the President’s request).
- $750 million for Native American Housing Block grants (an increase of $105 million over FY09 and the President’s request).
- $350 million for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA; an increase of $40 million over FY09 and the President’s request).
- $63.8 million for foreclosure counseling.
- $50 million for the Energy Innovation Fund in order to increase the utilization of FHA’s energy efficient mortgages and to develop a strategy for incorporating green building standards into public and assisted housing.
- $150 million for the President’s Sustainable Communities Initiative, a partnership with DOT to encourage coordination in housing and transportation planning.
- $25 million for Brownfields redevelopment.
The full House is expected to take up the bill before the August recess. The Senate T-HUD subcommittee is expected to consider the bill on July 29, with the full Senate Appropriations committee taking the bill up on July 30.
The NLIHC budget chart has been updated and can be found by clicking here. The chart will be updated as more information becomes available.
Bill Introduced to Preserve Affordable Rental Housing Via Exit Tax Relief -top
Representatives Artur Davis (D-AL) and Geoff Davis (R-KY) have introduced legislation to assist in the preservation of affordable rental housing by providing tax relief to owners when they transfer such property to purchasers who agree to keep the property affordable. H.R. 2887, the Affordable Housing Preservation Relief Act of 2009, is identical to H.R. 1491, which was introduced in the 110th Congress. The bill is broadly supported by advocates and others seeking to preserve the assisted housing stock, including NLIHC.
The bill was introduced June 16 and was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
House Holds Hearing on Preservation Legislation -top
On July 15, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Services held a second hearing on draft legislation that would help preserve the assisted housing stock. The legislation, the “Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act of 2009” was circulated publically the week of June 22. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan was the sole witness at the first hearing on the bill on June 25.
Subcommittee Chair Maxine Waters (D-CA) opened the hearing by stressing the importance of preserving existing affordable housing. Chair Waters noted that nearly 1 million assisted, affordable units could be lost due to the expiration of project-based Section 8 contracts or other subsidies over the next few years. She said that preserving these units is cost-effective, environmentally responsible, and is necessary to protect the most vulnerable members of our society, the seniors and people with disabilities who occupy almost 50% of this housing.
Rural Housing Service (RHS) Administrator Tammy Trevino testified first. Ms. Trevino said that while RHS is still reviewing the bill, “the proposed legislation appears to provide the Agency with a number of revitalization tools that would provide cost-effective preservation options for the existing multifamily housing rental housing portfolio.” She was particularly supportive of the provision of the bill giving authority to RHS to provide enhanced vouchers to tenants of Section 515 properties that opt out of program, noting that this authority would allow affected tenants to stay in their homes. Ms. Trevino did ask that the bill be expanded to provide for the preservation of Section 514 /Section 516 farm worker housing.
Toby Halliday of the National Housing Trust (NHT) led the second panel with testimony on behalf of the National Preservation Working Group, which NLIHC co-chairs with NHT. Mr. Halliday stressed the importance of preserving the existing housing stock and the need to increase resources and tools to preserve assisted housing and protect tenants. Mr. Halliday also testified in support of the provisions in the bill that would create a national Preservation Catalog, a database of government subsidized rental properties.
Mr. Halliday took the opportunity of presenting his testimony to express concern with provisions adopted during the recent markup of H.R. 3045, the Section 8 voucher reform bill (SEVRA), that would require adult members of households receiving Section 8 assistance to provide a specific form of identification to be eligible for assistance (see Memo, 7/10). He noted that this type of requirement is unnecessary to ensure that housing assistance is provided only to citizens and those in the country legally and such a requirement would most negatively impact the elderly who often do not have the required documentation.
Ricky Leung, a tenant and treasurer of the National Alliance of HUD Tenants, focused in his testimony on the importance of giving tenants and communities the ability to purchase assisted housing that might be sold and taken out of the assisted stock. The draft legislation requires an owner, under certain conditions, to sell an assisted property to a purchaser who is committed to maintaining the property as affordable.
Vincent O’Donnell, president of the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association in Massachusetts (an NLIHC state partner), stressed the importance of preservation and the need for different tools to address different types of preservation issues. Mr. O’Donnell noted that there are a variety of reasons that assisted housing stock can be lost, ranging from physical deterioration, to the conversion of properties to market rate housing after the maturity or prepayment of a subsidized mortgage, to the failure of an owner to renew a Section 8 contract. He said that the draft legislation provides the tools needed to deal with these various causes.
Mr. O’Donnell expressed support for language in the bill encouraging the transfer of properties to preservation-minded purchasers as a way to help maintain the stock. He did, however, express concerns about the specific right-to-purchase provisions in the draft bill, noting that the provisions may not be sufficiently flexible to result in a successful transfer to a new preservation owner while being fair to the existing owner.
Katie Alitz testified on behalf of the Council of Affordable and Rural Housing and took the opportunity of testifying before the Subcommittee to express support for making tax credits in the Gulf Coast Opportunity Zone eligible for the tax credit exchange program created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
In her testimony on the preservation bill, Ms. Alitz discussed the need for exit tax relief to allow owners of Section 515 multifamily rental properties to sell those properties while protecting the affordability of the units. In expressing limited support for the bill, Ms. Alitz suggested three changes: reducing the capital needs assessment period of buildings from 30 years to something more in line with the industry standard of 10 to 20 years, providing additional rental subsidies, and eliminating the requirement that an owner who received a damage award (a settlement from the federal government for the government’s contract violations) repay part of the award before being allowed to receive preservation incentives.
In contrast to Ms. Alitz, Joe Myer, testifying on behalf of the National Rural Housing Coalition, supported the repayment requirement for owners and other rural preservation sections of the bill. “Given the limitation of funds available, and the huge dimension of need, Congress should require that project owners contribute to the cost of revitalization and restructuring,” Mr. Myer said.
Allan Isbitz, testifying on behalf of the National Leased Housing Association, expressed general support for the draft legislation. He testified that one of the bill’s most important provisions is the expansion of enhanced vouchers to allow tenants in projects with expiring mortgages to qualify for these protections.
NLIHC submitted testimony for the record in support of the national preservation catalog. Citing its experience in developing databases of assisted properties in several communities to help identify housing in need of preservation, the testimony focused on the need for a national database of units receiving federal assistance. “Ensuring that regularly updated, consistent data about assisted projects is readily available is important to ensure that the federal government can effectively manage its portfolio, Congress can oversee the use of federal resources, and communities and advocates can monitor and preserve important housing resources,” NLIHC wrote.
Formal introduction of the bill is expected after August recess and Committee consideration as early as September.
A copy of NLIHC’s testimony can be found by clicking here.
Link to testimony from the hearing by clicking here.
Section 8 Voucher Reform Act Mark Up Rescheduled -top
The House Committee on Financial Services had scheduled a continuation of its Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA) mark up for June 17, but Committee Chair Barney Frank (D-MA) postponed that mark up as deliberations on the bill continued. The mark up could now occur on Thursday, July 23. The Committee began consideration of the bill, H.R. 3045, on July 8 when it took up uncontroversial amendments. On July 9, the Committee considered amendments to the bill that required roll call votes (see Memo, 7/10).
Remaining issues for what will likely be the last Committee-level consideration of the bill mostly center on the bill’s Housing Innovation Program (HIP), which would be the next iteration of HUD’s Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration program. Approximately 30 public housing agencies currently participate in MTW, which provides significant relaxation of HUD’s rules for the housing agencies.
At the next Committee mark up of the bill, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Chair Maxine Waters (D-CA) is expected to offer an amendment to the bill that would make a number of changes to the HIP section of the bill.
As introduced, H.R. 3045 would allow the HUD Secretary to determine how many housing agencies can participate in HIP. In the amendment expected from Chair Waters, the Secretary would have to select up to 60 housing agencies to participate in HIP and would have to maintain the number of agencies participating in HIP that it chooses initially.
Under its two priority strategies, the bill would allow HIP agencies to implement policies that either increase housing opportunities for residents or allow residents to increase their earned income and achieve self-sufficiency. The expected amendment would replace the bill’s requirement that activities and waivers sought under a HIP agreement be limited to one of these priority strategies. Instead, HIP would have a more general requirement that activities contemplated in, and waivers from HUD rules sought by, the application be only generally included in the application and not necessarily related to these two priority areas.
As currently written, the bill would allow the HUD Secretary to discontinue or modify HIP policies if there is evidence that a policy has harmed a resident or residents. The amendment would remove the Secretary’s ability to discontinue a HIP policy found to be harmful to residents and would allow the Secretary only to modify such a policy.
Housing agencies currently participating in MTW would have two years to adapt their programs to conform to the new HIP structure in H.R. 3045. Only agencies that were not in default of their agreement could transfer to HIP. Moreover, in the bill as introduced, if an agency had been audited by the HUD Inspector General, it must demonstrate compliance with any program rules with which the IG had determined they were not in compliance. In the expected amendment, the burden of proving compliance does not seem to rest on the housing agency, but is back on the IG.
HIP would, like its predecessors, allow flexibility in how rents are set, but this must be done, according to H.R. 3045, in such a way that rents are affordable to residents. And, while housing agencies can continue to impose work requirements and time limits on residents, the bill as introduced imposes restrictions on when these requirements can be imposed. The expected amendment would delete the bill’s reference to “rents that are not affordable to assisted families” and replace it with a policy that rents cannot be “substantially higher” than rent payments of other families in the program, with “substantially” left undefined.
The bill, as introduced, would maintain many protections in HIP that are absent from the current MTW program, such as requiring participating housing agencies to comply with HUD’s Part 964 resident participation requirements.
The expected amendment would no longer require the participating HIP agency to comply with Part 964, but would require: the establishment of resident councils and jurisdiction-wide resident organizations; public housing agency “support” for such councils and organizations (where “support” is undefined as to whether it is the financial support required by Part 964 or some other kind); and “involvement of such councils and organizations in public housing agency operations.”
The deletion of the Part 964 requirement by the anticipated amendment would mean that HIP agencies would not have to comply with HUD’s specific rules requiring at least one resident on housing agency boards, would delete HUD’s current language on its policy on partnerships between housing agencies and residents, and would delete resident management corporation requirements, as well as other changes to the ability of public housing and voucher holders to participate in decisions impacting their housing.
The introduced H.R. 3045 would also allow housing agencies to co-mingle their public housing and voucher funds if they could show they were serving “not less than 98% of the number” assisted in the year before the agency’s first year of HIP participation. The expected amendment would remove the “98%” requirement with a requirement that agencies serve “substantially the same” number of families.
NLIHC issued a call to action in anticipation of Committee action calling on advocates to ask their Members of Congress to oppose any amendment that would weaken the current MTW provisions in H.R. 3045.
Rural Dev Office Explains Davis-Bacon for ARRA-Funded Mortgages -top
Administrative Notice 4449 guides RD staff in following Davis-Bacon wage requirements for properties receiving Section 502 direct or guaranteed loans under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. AN 4449 is available by clicking here or from RD offices. Contact Bill Downs, RD, 202-720-1499, or via email.
FHA Loans Set New Record in June -top
From the Wall Street Journal Blogs.
Uncle Sam is setting new records as a mortgage lender.
The Federal Housing Administration guaranteed nearly 186,000 mortgages in June, the most mortgages endorsed by the agency in its 75 year history. The June total bypasses the previous high of nearly 157,000 loans last October, which edged out a level last reached in March of 1994.
That’s helping, in part, to fuel a boom in mortgage-bond issuance for Ginnie Mae, which generates mortgage-backed securities for loans backed by the FHA or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The FHA, a New Deal-era agency, doesn’t make loans but instead insures lenders against losses.
To read the full story, click here.
Guidance Issued on Using Section 538 for Section 515 Preservation -top
An RD Unnumbered Letter (June 18, 2009) explains how to reconcile program differences when using a Section 538 guaranteed loan for an existing Section 515 property. Obtain the UL by clicking here or from an RD office. Contact James Carey, RD, 202-401-2307 or via email.
USDA Funding Bills Approved by Full House, Senate Committee -top
The House passed H.R. 2997 on July 9, making no changes in the Appropriations Committee’s funding for rural housing programs (see Oregon ON Newsletter 7/9). S. 1406, passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 7, would almost double the Section 502 guaranteed loan program to $12 billion and does not include most of the House’s increases. Like the FY 2009 appropriations act, both the House and Senate would eliminate interest subsidies for Section 538 guaranteed loans. Click here.
HDC to Conduct Affordable Housing Portfolio Review -top
The newly established Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) has contracted with Housing Development Center (HDC) to review the current performance of the City’s affordable housing portfolio. Over the past four decades, the City has worked with housing providers to create over 10,000 units of rental housing serving a diverse population of low income residents in need of safe and affordable housing not provided by the private market. This assessment will help ensure that this valuable community resource is preserved and meeting the City’s policy goals.
In the upcoming months, HDC will be collecting and analyzing property data that will be used to inform:
1. Which projects are meeting PHB housing goals and which ones may need reinvestment or financial restructuring through the creation and application of a risk rating system;
2. Data driven housing policies, funding guidelines and the need for resource development; and
3. Future underwriting guidelines that lead to greater sustainability of the affordable housing portfolio.
HDC has embarked on the first phase of the review, focusing on property level and portfolio-wide financial viability and a depiction of the types of populations served through the City’s housing investment. The second phase of the review will include a risk analysis of the portfolio’s physical condition and a more in-depth look at how the tenant populations are being served with a special focus on permanent supportive housing.
Habitat for Humanity Portland-Metro East Secures $60,000 -top
From The Gresham Outlook, July 18, by Mara Stine.
A 23-home Habitat for Humanity project in Rockwood just got a huge financial boost.
Wells Fargo is donating $60,000 to the Portland/Metro East affiliate, which is building Jubilee Commons on Southeast 197th Avenue between East Burnside and Stark streets.
To read the whole story, click here.
Proud Ground Open House TONIGHT – Come See New Overlook Space -top
Proud Ground is honored to be in their new home in the Overlook neighborhood. Come celebrate with refreshments provided by Hot Lips Pizza, Eddies Pizza and Full Sail!
When: Thursday, July 23rd from 4:30 to 6:30 pm
Where: Proud Ground (Formerly Portland Community Land Trust) 5288 N Interstate Ave (Corner of N Interstate & Emerson) Portland, OR 97217 www.proudground.org
Your RSVP via email is appreciated but not required.
Click here to forward this message to a friend.
United Way Grants Oregon ON $34K for Res Services Cost Analysis Study -top
The United Way of the Columbia-Willamette awarded Oregon ON a $34,000 Project Innovation grant for the period July 2009 to 2010. The funds will allow Oregon ON to conduct a cost analysis study around the services and programs that we provide to our residents. The industry is pushing for some quantitative data around resident services and this opportunity provides us a solid option for obtaining this information. Drafting a compelling need for resident services and providing clarity around its costs per service and program type will assist Oregon ON members in the search for resident services funding and support.
Oregon ON is currently working with Portland State University Regional Research Institute to implement this resident services cost analysis study around the core services (service coordination, conflict resolution/eviction prevention, and community building) and programs (based on target population, i.e. after-school or other youth programs, health and wellness, financial literacy, adult education/ESL, among others) that organizations provide for their residents.
The results of the cost analysis study will be shared with Oregon ON members and highlighted at the State of the Industry Forum on resident services in 2010.
We thank United Way of the Columbia-Willamette for its support of Oregon ON’s project. Oregon ON was one of twelve programs in receipt of funding that focused on innovative approaches to systems change. Click here to see the full list of United Way grant winners.
For more information about the Resident Services Opportunities Project, please contact Kate Fulton via email or 503-223-4041.
About the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette: They are working to advance the common good in the four-county Portland/Vancouver area by focusing on the basics we all need for success: education, income, and health. We all win when children succeed in school, families are financially stable and independent, and people have good health. Their goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. By working together they can create opportunities for a better life and create a stronger community.
Bienestar Makes Use of Creative Connections -top
From Oregonian Article, July 9, by by Jill Rehkopf Smith
When Housing Development Corporation of Northwest Oregon gave itself an extreme makeover, it made creative connections that improved its efforts to offer affordable housing to farmworkers. In 2007, after the longtime directors of the 27-year-old Hillsboro-based nonprofit moved away, board members hired a new director, Karen Shawcross, and started strategic planning.
One of their first decisions was to change the name. Any nonprofit with the words “Development” and “Corporation” in its name “didn’t sound like anything that needed money,” Shawcross said. They chose “Bienestar,” Spanish for “well-being.”
Click here to read the full story.
Catholic Charities Hires New Development Officers -top
Catholic Charities in Oregon has hired Kim Randles as chief development officer and Anne Holloway as development director, according to Dennis Keenan, executive director of Catholic Charities. Both individuals were hired after leading the agency’s first-ever capital campaign, which raised $12.5 million in just 18 months for Clark Family Center, a new Catholic Charities administration and service center scheduled to open next spring.
In their new positions, Randles oversees the strategic direction of Catholic Charities’ development efforts, with a focus on major gifts activities, and Holloway directs the day-to-day operations of the department, and oversees all marketing communications outreach for the organization.
“Kim and Anne are a proven development team with a combined 45 years of experience whom we are blessed to have among us at Catholic Charities,” said Keenan. “Their leadership abilities are invaluable to our mission of serving our community’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens.”
Since starting with Catholic Charities this February, Randles and Holloway have already helped inspire an increase in donations. This year’s Catholic Charities Annual Celebration was the most successful in the event’s nine-year history, raising nearly $600,000. In addition, the 2008/09 annual appeal to parishes of the Archdiocese of Portland generated more than $555,000, making it the second highest annual appeal amount raised in the organization’s history.
“It is very humbling to be so supported by our community, particularly during what has shaped up to be the worst recession in our country’s recent history,” said Randles. “Given that 89 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to programs and services, donors can be assured that their contributions are being used to the fullest.”
“The fact that donations are up this year truly is a testament to donors understanding that, while they may be feeling a financial pinch, there are people out there who are in dire straits,” added Holloway. “The sad reality is that Catholic Charities is approaching a 200 percent increase in requests for emergency assistance over last year alone. The generosity of our donors is making it possible for us to keep up with the need.”
Randles and Holloway previously served together in development positions at Jesuit High School, where Randles was vice president of development, and Holloway was director of development. While at Jesuit, they were responsible for raising more than $2.5 million annually.
While vice president of development at Jesuit, Randles initiated and directed the school’s first financial aid luncheon, which is now in its sixth year and nets approximately $230,000 annually for students needing financial assistance. Prior to being an employee at Jesuit, Randles served as a volunteer for the high school for more than 20 years. As a volunteer, she led several notable efforts, including raising the necessary funds and lobbying the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to install traffic lights at Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy and White Pine Lane. Randles also successfully raised $7 million for construction of Canisius Hall, a priest residence building, and DeSmet Business Center. A native Oregonian and a resident of Raleigh Hills, Randles holds Bachelor and Master degrees in Political Science from Portland State University.
Before working with Randles at Jesuit, Holloway was a religion teacher at Our Lady of Lake School in Lake Oswego, and also assisted the church’s Endowment Board. Prior to moving to the Greater Portland area, Holloway began her fundraising experience while serving as family ministry director at St. William’s Parish in Atascadero, Calif. A native of Arkansas, Holloway started her career in Memphis, Tenn., where she was a systems engineer for IBM. Holloway holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Mississippi, and is a resident of Lake Oswego.
FUNDING AND AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
MetLife Awards for Senior Independent Living – Enter by Aug 14 -top
MetLife Foundation is offering an Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing. This year’s awards will focus on Senior Independent Living projects utilizing green, energy efficient methods.
The application period is July 20th – August 14th, 2009. The deadline is Friday, August 14th, Midnight Pacific Time.
Four equal $50,000 awards will be given for affordable housing projects serving low-income seniors. Priority will be given to projects located in Enterprise Impact Markets : CA, CO, CT, DC, IL, LA, MD, MS, NJ, NY, OH, OR, VA, WA.
Click here http://metlifeawards.enterprisecommunity.org for the application and complete information. Prospective applicants should send any questions via email.
Invitation for Rural Community Development Applications – Due Sept 24 -top
The Agriculture Department’s Rural Housing Service (RHS) is offering $6.25 million in Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) technical assistance grants and is accepting applications for the money through 4:00 p.m. local time Sept. 24.
Approximately $6.2 million of grant funds will be awarded to projects that involve a nonprofit, public, or tribal group receiving (and matching) the RCDI grant, and using these funds to provide capacity-building technical assistance to other rural nonprofits or communities for housing, community, or economic development projects. Individual awards are expected to range between $50,000 and $300,000 and will be made via a national competition among applicants.
Those with RCDI grants of longer than three years are ineligible. Matching funds are required. These matching funds cannot be spent before a grant agreement with Agriculture is made regarding the technical assistance funds, or unless the awardees are non-profit or educational entities that have agency approval to do so.
The DEADLINE for applications is 4:00 P.M. on September 24, 2009. Oregon applications should be submitted to the Oregon State Office (contact info below).
Further details about the RCDI program along with application rules can be found in the official Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA).
Application materials can be downloaded by clicking here.
Any potential applicant interested in submitting an application is encouraged to review the material and contact John J. Brugger, USDA Rural Development Community Program Director to discuss the structure of the proposed project and its objectives. His info: (503) 414-3362; fax (503) 414-3397; email; website.
Broadband Tech Funding Available for Public and Assisted Housing -top
HUD would like to make owners and managers of public and assisted housing aware of a new grant opportunity being offered through the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). As more and more types of transactions related to government, employment, health, job training, and education deliver services online, access to broadband is becoming increasingly necessary. In response, the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) is making funding available to connect unserved and underserved populations to this important infrastructure.
BTOP’s funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to help achieve the Administration’s goal of providing broadband access to
all Americans. Owners and managers of low-income and affordable housing serve the very populations that BTOP is attempting to reach, possess existing infrastructure (including Neighborhood Networks centers), and other resources that can be leveraged to create a more competitive grant application, and ultimately, a more viable and effective project.
There are two grant categories within the BTOP that will be applicable to housing organizations: the Public Computer Center Grant and the Sustainable Broadband Adoption Grant. Owners of multifamily housing properties, Public Housing Authorities, and other housing groups may wish to submit applications in partnership with organizations possessing expertise in information technology delivery and training.
Grant applications are being accepted from July 14 through August 14, 2009. Electronic applications will be available on or about July 31st. Paper applications for grant requests of less then $1 million will be accepted. To obtain the Notice of Funding Availability and application materials, please click here.
Informational workshops are being offered by NTIA through July only. To register, please click here.
For additional information, please contact The Broadband Technology Opportunities Program; 1401 Constitution Ave, NW; Washington, DC 20230; tel. 202-482-2048; email.
EVENTS, TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES
NAYA Native American Housing to Homeownership Fair – July 25 -top
NAYA Family Center’s 4th Annual Native American Housing to Homeownership Fair provides a wide range of housing and homeownership resources tailored to the Portland Metropolitan area’s Native American community. The Fair is an equal housing opportunity event with a culturally specific focus – free and open to everyone.
If you’re interested in learning about housing opportunities and how to achieve your housing dreams, NAYA welcomes you and all of Portland to join us on Saturday July 25th from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the NAYA Family center at 5135 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland OR, 97218.
The Native American Housing to Homeownership Fair is a key part of NAYA Family Center’s initiative to close the Native American homeownership gap. Although homeownership rates in Portland are over 65%, only 25% of American Indian and Alaska Native community members own their own home. Since NAYA’s inaugural Fair in 2006, our homeownership programming has resulted in over 40 new homeowners or refinances. It’s important for members of Portland’s Native community to know that buying a home is a goal that can be achieved by finding the right path and using the right resources.
This event is specifically designed to provide housing information for anyone – renters, prospective buyers, or current owners. The workshops and information available will help each person identify their individual path to housing stability. The Fair provides information about what it takes to buy and keep a home and features organizations and programs that support homeowners to achieve their goals.
Highlights include:
- $2,500 Down Payment Assistance Raffle
- $400 Rent Assistance Raffle
- Workshops on renting, first time home buying, foreclosure prevention and financial programs
- Staff from banks, Real Estate Agents, homeownership non-profits, affordable housing providers, and Tribal Housing Authorities, including the HUD Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program
- Community resources and programs
- Free lunch, a kid’s corner, a performance by the NAYA Family Center Dancers, and raffle for prizes
This event is sponsored by the Portland Development Commission, Sterling Savings Bank, Bank of America, Guild Mortgage, Cascade Residential Mortgage and over 20 community organizations.
For additional information click here or contact Sara Libby at the NAYA Family Center: 503-288-8177 ext. 232, or via email.
Grand Opening of Miraflores, Hacienda’s Newest Housing Site –August 13 -top
Come join Hacienda CDC from 4-6pm on Thursday, August 13th to celebrate the grand opening of Miraflores, Hacienda’s vibrant newest affordable housing site.
The celebration will feature a tour of the complex, homemade tamales from Micro Mercantes vendors, Q & A with residents calling Miraflores home, and a recognition of all the partners making Miraflores possible – providing safe, dignified and affordable housing where low-income families can live, thrive and build community.
The party location is Miraflores Community Room, 8901 N. Newell, Portland, OR 97203.
NEBC Brownfields Redevelopment Conference – October 18 -top
Save the date for Northwest Environmental Business Council’s Brownfield Redevelopment Conference, being held October 14, 2009 at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center at 1500 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402. The conference runs 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (reception following).
There is also a Pre-Conference Funding Workshop October 13 open to attendees; please see more info, below.
• See Agenda & Speakers
• Register Now
• Sponsorship Info
• Exhibitor Info
This conference brings together the diverse parties that need to work in concert to transform contaminated properties into economic success stories – with an agenda that emphasizes the manner in which multiple disciplines need to be integrated into a project from start to finish.
The theme of “Building Sustainable Communities” responds to the growing interest by communities to rethink development models in ways that reflect sustainability principles and reduce their carbon footprints. This creates a new context for developers and increases the importance of public/private partnerships. At the same time, the conference explores how these goals must align with the economic realities of the property development marketplace.
Session offerings are provided for both experienced professionals and newcomers to the concept. Topics include:
• The financial side of sustainable development
• Identifying redevelopment opportunities
• Assessing a project’s potential
• Basics of the redevelopment transaction
• Negotiating the deal
• Managing the project
• Aggregating small sites
• Contamination-based site planning
• Update on regulatory issues
• Green remediation & development
Why Attend
• Gain an up-to-date perspective on brownfields redevelopment opportunities.
• Learn what it takes to effectively manage transactions and projects.
• Meet and network with leading experts, colleagues, potential partners, and customers.
• Participate at the forefront of the sustainable communities movement.
Who Should Attend
• Local government & economic development staff
• Land developers and real estate agents
• Environmental engineers, consultants, and remediation experts
• Financers, lawyers, and insurance providers
• Environmental regulators
• Property owners
Special Pre-Conference “Funding” Workshop [for conference attendees only, please]
October 13, 1:00-5:00 pm at the Hotel Murano, 1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma (across from the Convention Center). NEBC is partnering with the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) to hold a 1/2 day pre-conference workshop on project funding. Check their website for more details soon.
Presented By: Northwest Environmental Business Council; U.S. EPA Region 10 Brownfields Team; and the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Rural Rental Preservation Conference – September 24 -top
HAC will convene “Preserving Rural Rental Housing: A Conference on Policy and Practice” in Washington, D.C. with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Hear from leaders in Section 515 preservation legislation, expert congressional staff, USDA staff, and local practitioners. Watch for details at http://www.ruralhome.org and in the HAC News.
Survey Finds Foreclosure and Economic Crises Increase Homelessness -top
When seven national homeless and housing organizations surveyed homeless service and advocacy agencies in both urban and rural places, 79% stated that at least some of their clients were homeless as a result of foreclosure. Foreclosure to Homelessness 2009 is available at http://www.nationalhomeless.org.
Report Names “10 Meanest Cities” for People Experiencing Homelessness -top
A new report by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP) and the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) ranks the nation’s “Top 10 Meanest Cities” based on city records and practices in criminalizing homelessness. Los Angeles topped the list, with Orlando, Atlanta, and San Francisco also ranking in the top 10.
The national ranking is based on factors that include the number of laws targeting people experiencing homelessness, such as those that make it illegal to sleep, eat, or sit in public spaces; the enforcement of those laws; the general political climate toward homeless people in the city; and the city’s history of criminalization measures. The report includes information from 273 cities nationwide over 2007-2008 period.
Since NLCHP and NCH’s last joint report on the topic in 2006, the groups found an increase in laws enacted to target the homeless, including an 11% increase in laws prohibiting loitering and a 7% increase in laws prohibiting camping in various public places. Among all the cities surveyed for the most recent report, 47% had laws prohibiting loitering and 33% had laws prohibiting camping.
The report also includes information about studies examining the costs of criminalization measures, on how criminalization measures violate human rights law, and on constitutional challenges to measures that criminalize homelessness, as well as constructive alternatives to criminalization.
The other meanest cities, according to the report, were: St. Petersburg, FL (2); Gainesville, FL (5); Kalamazoo, MI (6); Honolulu (8); Bradenton, FL (9); and Berkeley, CA (10).
The report, titled Homes Not Handcuffs, is the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty’s ninth report on the criminalization of homelessness and the National Coalition for the Homeless’ fifth. The full report is available by clicking here.
HUD Report Shows Low Foreclosure Rates for HOME/ADDI Homeowners -top
According to a HUD report released June 25, homeowners who received downpayment assistance through the HOME and American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) programs are less likely to be foreclosed upon than buyers using the standard FHA program.
HUD conducted the study to address concerns that homeowners who receive direct assistance may be more prone to delinquency and foreclosures. Instead, the study found a lower foreclosure rate among those who purchased with HOME/ADDI funds than among FHA-insured borrowers overall. As of early 2008, the foreclosure rate for HOME/ADDI homebuyers who purchased in 2001 was 5.3%, compared to a 6.5% foreclosure rate for FHA-insured mortgages. The study also noted that both HOME/ADDI and FHA-insured homebuyers had significantly lower rates of foreclosures than those who purchased using a subprime mortgage.
The analysis also highlighted some of the key factors affecting foreclosure rates among HOME/ADDI homebuyers. For instance, the type of mortgage product used by the homebuyer affected foreclosure rates. Those homeowners who used an adjustable rate mortgage were 2.6 times more likely to experience a foreclosure. Jurisdictions that used credit scores in determining HOME/ADDI eligibility had 55% lower foreclosure rates than those that did not.
The study also found that homebuyers who had greater equity in their homes through downpayment assistance experienced lower foreclosure rates, showing that programs that are able to provide deeper levels of subsidy for homeowners may also reduce risks of foreclosure. For example, first-time homebuyers who received HOME/ADDI assistance equal to between 5% and 10% of the purchase price had foreclosure rates of 4.4%, higher than the foreclosure rate of 3.1% among homebuyers who received HOME/ADDI assistance equal to 20% of their purchase price.
To increase the number of observations, this research pooled HOME and ADDI data from jurisdictions eligible for both programs. The American Dream Downpayment Act established ADDI as an addition to the HOME program in 2003. While homeowner assistance is one potential use of HOME funds, ADDI is specifically intended to assist with downpayments, closing costs, and, if necessary, rehabilitation work done in conjunction with a home purchase. Each state receives an allocation of ADDI funding proportionate to its percentage of the national total of low income households residing in rental housing in the state, as determined by the most recently available U.S. census data. The funds are then dispersed to participating jurisdictions with a population of at least 150,000.
For each household assisted, HOME/ADDI funds are not to exceed $10,000 or six percent of the purchase price of the home, whichever is greater, and individuals qualifying for HOME/ADDI assistance may not have incomes exceeding 80% of the area median income (AMI). The HOME program does not have a first-time homebuyer requirement, while ADDI recipients must not have owned a home three years prior to their purchase in order to be considered a first-time homebuyer.
The full report, Rates of Foreclosure in HOME and ADDI programs can be found by clicking here.
New Nonprofit Leader Bootcamp – August 31- Sept 4 -top
BootCamp is designed for individuals who have stepped into leadership positions of nonprofit organizations and volunteer based groups. BootCamp is intended to give new leaders a firm grounding in what it takes to run a nonprofit organization as well as give tools and skills for work/life balance. BootCamp is a retreat experience, August 31 - Sept 4 at the Alton Collins Retreat and Conference Center nestled in the trees in Eagle Creek Oregon about 40 minutes from downtown Portland.
Who can benefit? While nonprofit organizations run a gamut in size and shape, New Nonprofit Leaders often face similar experiences and challenges. New leaders often learn in the school of experience. And, while you care deeply about the mission of your organization, you may have “come up through the ranks” and need new skills to meet the challenges of the new position.
Is this you? Bootcamp can help you if:
• You are faced with supervising people, maybe for the first time. Paid staff, volunteers, interns. Staffing for your organization may be varied. You need creative ways to manage.
• You have been handed administrative duties your background didn’t prepare you for. The job description is long and multifaceted. You need support and encouragement as you learn to juggle.
• You need to work with, and manage, a board of directors. Your volunteer board has a strong investment in the mission of the organization. You want an engaged and motivated board that will work in partnership with you to build your organization.
• You are faced with constant changes in funding and want to build a sustainable organization. You wonder how to build systems that are flexible and how to expand your unrestricted funding.
New Nonprofit Leader BootCamp is being sponsored by the Institute for Nonprofit Management at Portland State University. The Institute is a leader in providing training and education to those engaged in nonprofit organizations – staff, board, and volunteers. Their goal is to build the nonprofit sector by offering practical skills and lifelong learning to professionals and volunteers. Their faculty include experienced professional practitioners from the nonprofit community.
Visit their website or contact Linda via email or by calling 503-725-2955 for more information.
One-stop Free Link for Housing Providers and Consumers -top
Several years ago, Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development (BHCD) received a grant from the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop a cutting-edge service and make it available to anyone interested in housing or related services in the Portland Metro area. Stakeholder groups of housing providers, consumers, and housing-related agencies worked together with City staff and created a technological tool that fulfilled the collective “wish list” of the stakeholders. The Fair Housing Council (FHCO) has worked under contract with the City of Portland to help expand awareness and use of the resulting web-based housing locator service www.housingconnections.org.
How You Can Help:
Many of you already know about HousingConnections.org (if you don’t, please read on for an explanation); many may routinely face low vacancy rates and lengthy waitlists. Even if you’re not currently using the free site to promote your own property, please consider doing the following:
1. Provide a link to HousingConnections.org on your own website. This will help the public service site tremendously as those websites that are most often linked to tend to fall higher in search engine results. Both higher search engine placement and the actual link on your site will help spread the word about this great resource! If you would like to link with a HousingConnections.org graphic contact JBecker@FHCO.org and they’ll send you one!
2. Tell others about HousingConnections.org. Several of you were involved in the stakeholder meetings during the site’s creation and have been tremendous supporters of the site. Besides telling housing consumers about the site, it would also be greatly appreciated if you’d share your positive experiences with it with other housing providers and encourage them to post on the site.
3. If you have suggestions of how to promote the site to housing providers or housing consumers, please don’t hesitate to contact JBecker@FHCO.org with your recommendations. They’d love to hear your thoughts! Likewise, if you have ideas for improving the site’s functionality, pass it along.
How the Site Works:
The site is designed to link housing providers, housing consumers, and housing related services and agencies in a one-stop virtual information fair. Whether you are seeking housing or listing / marketing available housing, access and use is free. Currently, the site sees thousands of housing searches a week and with on-going marketing to consumers, this number is only expected to increase. While designed for the Portland-Vancouver market, it turns out folks from all across Oregon are using HousingConnections.org.
When a virtual visitor selects “search for housing” they are presented with the opportunity to look for rental housing, homes for sale, and/or shared housing options. A housing consumer can search for a dwelling by location, size, price, accessibility, special needs/features/amenities, and/or availability date and can then refine the database to identify housing that most closely matches their needs. They can also obtain information on how to become involved in homeownership programs, calculate the most appropriate monthly housing payment for their household income, find bus routes and other local services/schools in the area of a particular residence, and/or learn about a host of other consumer-related issues of interest.
Housing providers are able to find information about how to most successfully market their housing, use special system tools to manage property wait lists, learn about community-based programs to pay for capital improvements and property maintenance, locate housing provider trade associations, hear about the latest local news in the industry and/or upcoming training and events related to housing, and accept on-line applications from consumers. Additionally, the City has technical staff to assist those who are technology-challenged in uploading and managing your data in your own free HousingConnections account.
All of this is FREE. This is probably the only situation you will ever find that even if it sounds too good to be true, it really IS true! Think of it as evidence of your tax dollars and your progressive BHCD staff at work for you.
In this day and age of scarce resources, where people and dollars are required to be stretched beyond all previous boundaries to achieve even better results than ever before expected, housingconnections.org is a method for everyone interested in housing in the Portland-Metro area to pool energies, resources, and opportunities for a mutually beneficial outcome. Give it a try! If you have questions about HousingConnections, if you need help to get started, and/or if you would like someone to come and talk to you or your staff about the site, please contact Laura Shepherd at 503/223-8197 Ext. 107 or via email.
HUD GIS Tool Supports Orgs Helping Those Experiencing Homelessness-top
The HUD GIS Tool for Communities is a free downloadable software tool on the Homelessness Resource Exchange site that allows users to explore HUD project data as well as design and print custom maps. Click here for more info.
