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The Latest News
February 2018
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Senior Vice President's Message
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Dear Colleagues,
It seems like life has been a whirlwind of late, especially in the world of housing. From the angst around the reduction of Low Income Housing Tax Credits and the ability of housing authorities and redevelopment agencies to leverage crucial dollars and tax deductions to create housing solutions, to the natural disasters that have hit many of our communities creating additional housing emergencies, our industry has pushed our creativity, problems solving and coalition building to it's maximum. And, we have answered, creatively, effectively and quickly.
I have read of some of the work housing authorities and redevelopment agencies both large and small have done, and on a couple occasions I have used my NAHRO connections to either site visit, or have in depth conversations on truly impressive work to address some of the most urgent housing needs both locally and nationally with the dedicated staff associated with each. And as inspiring as learning of the work others are doing has been, more inspiring Is the shared premise which drives the work. This driving factor, simply put into a mantra, is that HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT. And each day we reassert our commitment, from front line staff to senior leadership, to actualizing this mantra.
Recently, NAHRO convened the Board of Governors meeting in Austin, Texas to welcome in 2018. We were able to reaffirm the mission of NAHRO, strategically plan the direction and the mission of National NAHRO under the leadership of CEO Adrienne Todman, President Carl Richie and Senior Vice President Sunny Shaw. We also shared some of the work that our respective regional housing authorities and redevelopment agencies are up to. As I heard the various stories from all over the United States, there was a theme that began to develop; we were doing good work, but the renewed focus on equity, justice, accessibility and succession planning was becoming more evident.
In such a divisive time, it's easy for the work we do to be tone deaf to the equity work that remains. Sometimes the elephant in the room remains overlapping historical policy actions that created divided communities, and the necessity for our work to include assessment of this previous work, and concerted efforts to create intentionally inclusive communities in high opportunity areas. I would encourage all of our respective agencies to move forward in breaking down barriers, and continue to advocate for communities in an effort to provide upward mobility, opportunity and inclusion. This in it's truest sense, is equity, and justice.
I am very aware, we can not do this alone. But I am encouraged by the membership of NAHRO, by the work of my colleagues and by the direction we are taking as an industry. We will continue to move forward hand in hand, arm & arm, and we will coalition build for vibrant, safe, healthy housing options and alternatives. I look forward to a successful 2018!
Sincerely,
Cupid Alexander
Senior VP PNRC-NAHRO
Senior Policy Advisor (housing)- Office of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler
Follow me:
Instagram: Gentiplication
Facebook: Cue Alexander
Linked in: Cupid Alexander
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2018 PNRC-NAHRO Annual Conference
May 6-8, 2018
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle's Southport
Early Bird Member Registration only $260
Includes breakfast, lunch and snack breaks both days and cocktail reception on Monday.
- Keynote Speaker each day as well as Adrianne Todman, NAHRO CEO; Carl Richie, NAHRO President; Sunny Shaw, NAHRO Senior Vice President; Tess Hembree, NAHRO Advocacy Field Coordinator/Legislative Liaison
- 29 Breakout sessions for those in Finance, Maintenance, Management & Leadership, Resident Services, Section 8 & Public Housing as well as a special track of Innovations
- 25 Exhibitors in a beautiful exhibit area overlooking Lake Washington
Are you from a small agency or an agency
with limited resources to attend conferences?
We can help!
Introducing the Career Enhancement Initiative
PNRC has created a new initiative that will allow two people to apply for a grant to allow them to attend the PNRC Annual Conference.
Applications must be emailed to Kristen Damazio, RSO, at kdamazio@nahro.org by April 1, 2018. Applications will then be scored by the Scholarship Committee and two winners will be selected. Winners will be notified by April 13, 2018.
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BECOMES
The Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County (HACSA) has helped connect people with "no and low" incomes to homes for nearly 70 years, providing Section 8 vouchers, building and managing affordable housing, and connecting people with housing services - yet many people couldn't remember our name. In 2017 we met with community members, surveyed residents, and worked together to develop a name which truly exemplifies who we are and what we do. We're excited to introduce our new name and logo to you. Effective today, the Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County is now Homes for Good.
You can still count on us for the same essential services, including Section 8 housing vouchers, and low-income and affordable housing and programs.
Homes for Good represents the agency's aspirations and values, as well as the outcomes of our efforts. The new name establishes expectations, and with every mention, reminds us why the work we do matters: Quite simply, we provide homes, and we do it because all the good that a person or family experiences come from the home, both literally in terms of shelter and security, and figuratively in terms of support.
Welcome to New Member Orca Information
Call for Nominations! 2018 ACHP/HUD Secretary's Award
for Excellence in Historic Preservation
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in partnership with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), is pleased to announce a call for nominations for the 2018 ACHP/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. This award will recognize a project that has advanced the goals of historic preservation while providing affordable housing and/or expanded economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income families and individuals.
Nominated projects and activities will be judged for the success they have achieved in preserving, rehabilitating, restoring, and interpreting our architectural and cultural heritage. Preference will be given to efforts that adaptively re-use historic buildings, include HUD funding or financing, and contribute to local community revitalization efforts. Projects or activities must have been completed or have made substantial achievements within the last three years to be eligible. Efforts are required to meet the preservation guidelines of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.
Nominations must be completed electronically as a Word document and submitted by 11:59 pm PST on March 1, 2018. Additional submission instructions can be found here. For more information about the 2018 ACHP/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation, please view the award announcement.
The recipient of the 2018 ACHP/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation will be notified in June 2018, and will be honored at a special ceremony held in conjunction with the summer 2018 ACHP business meeting.
Don't miss this opportunity to share your achievement in historic preservation!
HUD Awards 2017 Funding to Help Prevent & End Homelessness
In January HUD awarded $103,383,985 to support more than 350 projects serving the homeless in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington State. Regionally, total funding was up just over $3 million from the prior year's awards. The awards were made to 18 Continuums of Care, organizations comprised of local governments, homeless advocates and service providers who coordinate an area's efforts to prevent and end homelessness and to identify local projects and practices that should receive HUD Continuum of Care funding. "The awards we are announcing today come from the streets up," said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Jeff McMorris, "reflecting the priorities of local Continuums that are driven by the expertise of those at work in the shelters and on the streets helping the homeless find a place to call home. It's demanding, critical work in which HUD is proud to be a partner." In a December report to the Congress, HUD reported that point-in-time counts conducted by Continuums estimated 38,947 homeless people in the Region in January 2017.
CONTINUUM OF CARE
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2016 AWARD
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2017 AWARD
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CHANGE 16-17
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Anchorage
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$2,936,677
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$2,932,595
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($4,082)
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Alaska Balance of State
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$760,458
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$798,651
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$38,193
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ALASKA TOTAL
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$3,697,135
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$3,731,246
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$34,111
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Boise/Ada County
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$901,578
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$916,120
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$14,542
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Idaho Balance of State
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$2,767,872
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$2,801,256
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$33,384
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IDAHO TOTAL
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$3,669,450
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$3,717,376
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$47,926
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Eugene/Springfield/Lane County
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$3,377,840
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$3,461,909
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$84,069
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Portland, Gresham/Multnomah County
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$21,649,478
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$22,902,688
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$1,253,210
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Medford/Ashland/Jackson County
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$265,111
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$257,733
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($7,378)
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Central Oregon
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$597,510
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$601,951
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$4,441
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Oregon Balance of State
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$3,134,740
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$3,165,384
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$30,644
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Hillsboro, Beaverton/Washington County
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$3,367,261
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$3,467,881
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$100,620
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Clackamas County
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$2,294,569
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$2,420,021
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$125,452
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OREGON TOTAL
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$34,686,509
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$36,277,567
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$1,591,058
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Seattle/King County
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$34,457,083
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$35,146,190
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$689,107
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Washington Balance of State
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$6,373,115
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$6,478,975
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$105,860
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Spokane City & County
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$3,776,210
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$3,785,801
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$9,591
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Tacoma/ Lakewood/Pierce County
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$3,303,548
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$3,327,896
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$24,348
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Everett/Snohomish County
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$7,982,600
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$8,205,677
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$223,077
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Yakima City & County
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$503,296
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$630,395
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$127,099
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Vancouver/Clark County
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$1,738,388
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$1,981,862
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$243,474
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WASHINGTON TOTAL
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$58,134,240
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$59,556,796
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$1,422,056
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REGION X TOTAL
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$100,177,325
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103,383,985
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$3,210,660
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Register Now for the Washington Conference!
We are thrilled to invite you to the first of our year-long Innovate 2018 conference series! At our Washington Conference, you will hear from budget and political experts and receive the latest affordable housing and community development policy and budget updates from HUD and Capitol Hill. In addition, as part of NAHRO's Capitol Hill Day, you'll have the opportunity to refresh your advocacy skills before heading to the Capitol to educate your members of Congress about the critical role that housing and community development programs play in your neighborhoods and communities.
Don't miss your chance to make an IMPACT in Washington, D.C.
"What Home Means to Me" Poster Contest
As part of NAHRO's Housing America campaign, a poster contest is held each year for children residing in
a
ffordable housing and community developments owned or administered by NAHRO member agencies. Posters reflect the national theme of "What Home Means to Me." The contest is a collaborative effort of NAHRO's chapter/state, regional, and national organizations. National honorees are selected from chapter/state-level winning entries.
The 2019 contest launched on January 9th and that means it's time for you to invite the youth in your agencies to participate.
The 2018 Calendar features artwork from three youths in our region including the Grand Prize winner that is featured on the cover. We'd like to see that again! We know that there are many talented youths out there and we want to showcase that talent.
The contest participation is open to all children residing in affordable housing assisted directly or supported under community development and affordable housing programs administered by a NAHRO member authority (i.e., public or Section 8-assisted housing CDBG, HOME, LIHTC).
Contest Entry Rules (poster sizes must be 22" x 28" to be considered) and information about prizes are now on the Housing America Campaign
website. Please note that each poster must be accompanied by both an application form and a narrative form.
Regional Competition and Prizes
Agencies in the Pacific Northwest Region are asked to send their submissions to:
PNRC
Attn: Kristen Damazio, RSO
718 Griffin Ave. #285
Enumclaw, WA 98022
Deadline for submissions is April 1st.
The posters will be taken to the PNRC Annual Conference (being held May 6-8, 2018) where a winner will be selected from each age category. The three winners will each receive a $50 gift card from PNRC and their poster will be submitted to NAHRO for the national competition.
National honorees will be selected by a Blue Ribbon panel of judges to be assembled by National NAHRO staff. National honorees will be officially announced during Housing America Month in October. All eight NAHRO regions will be represented in the calendar.
Commissioners Fundamentals Training
April 6-7, 2018
Hosted by Housing Authority of the City of Pocatello
This course explores the roles and responsibilities of commissioners, enhancing understanding of the commissioner's multi-faceted position as advocate, leader, team-builder, strategist-and more. Increase your effectiveness as a board member and leader, while exploring the intricacies of board-staff relationships and boundaries. Provides an excellent training foundation for the new commissioners.
Who Should Attend:
New & Veteran Commissioners and New Board Officers
Schedule:
Day 1: 8:00 am - 8:30 am - Check In
Day 1: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm - Training
Day 2: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm - Training
NAHRO Continuing Education Units (CEU's)Training Completion = 1.0
Cost: $350 for PNRC Member
Housing Quality Standards (HQS) w/ Certification Exam
June 4-6, 2018
Hosted by the Vancouver Housing Authority
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mprove the level of your HCV and PBV/Section 8 Housing Inspections and meet SEMAP requirements. Develop or fine-tune related work skills, review procedures and forms affecting standards, and learn how to evaluate your current operations to identify strengths and challenges. The NAHRO Certified Specialist of Inspection - Housing Quality Standards (CSI-HQS) Certification Exam is offered on the last day of the seminar. This training now incorporates NAHRO's Ethics for Specialist module, making it more convenient than ever to meet the requirements for the CSI-HQS Certification.
Who Should Attend:
Section 8 Housing Inspectors, Preventative Maintenance Inspectors, and new and seasoned Inspectors
Schedule:
Day 1: 8:00am - 8:30am - Check In
Day 1: 8:30am - 4:30pm - Training
Day 2: 8:30am - 4:30pm - Training
Day 3: 8:30am - 2:30pm - Training
Day 3: 2:30pm - 4:30pm - Certification Exam
NAHRO Continuing Education Units (CEU's) Training Completion = 1.75
Certification Exam = 0.20 Total = 1.95
Cost: $750 for PNRC Member
Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy, Eligibility, Income and Rent
Calculation (HCVOEIR) w/ Certification Exam
June 25-29, 2018
Hosted by the Vancouver Housing Authority
This NAHRO Professional Development offering combines two seminars - Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy and Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility, Income, and Rent Calculation - into one comprehensive program. This seminar now meets three of the professional development requirements for NAHRO's Housing Choice Voucher Occupancy Specialist Certification, including the Ethics for Specialist module.
This seminar will provide participants with an understanding of the vast regulatory guidance that has formed and shaped the Housing Choice Voucher program. It focuses on effective interviewing, waitlist management, screening, outreach and marketing, and accurate application of eligibility, income and rent calculation regulatory compliance. The nuts and bolts of dealing with eligibility, income, and rent calculations will be mastered through engaging participants in skill development and practice. Most importantly, this class will equip participants with the necessary skills to reduce errors and avoid HUD findings in compliance audits.
Who Should Attend:
Front line staff, case managers and supervisors responsible for managing wait lists, applications, and certification/recertification tasks.
Schedule:
Day 1: 8:00am - 8:30am - Check In
Day 1: 8:30am - 4:30pm - Training
Day 2: 8:30am - 4:30pm - Training
Day 3: 8:30am - 4:30pm - Training
Day 4: 8:30am - 4:30pm - Training
Day 5: 8:30am - 2:30pm - Training
Day 5: 2:30pm - 4:30 pm - Exam
NAHRO Continuing Education Units (CEU's)
Training Completion = 3.05
Certification Exam = 0.20
Total = 3.25
Cost: $995 for PNRC Member
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Looking for a new job or just want to see what's out there?
If you have position to be posted, please send it to Kristen Damazio, Regional Service Officer at kdamazio@nahro.org
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