THE LATEST NEWS
January 2016
In this Issue:
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Stay Connected
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Hello House
rs and welcome to 2016. I love the start of each new year as I find myself reflecting on ways I can improve and set goals for each area of my life. It's an annual tradition.
This month I would like to ask you to think about
reaching those in need. Given our profession, this may seem like a ridiculous request, so allow me to explain. Another annual tradition that occurs in January is the Point in Time count (PIT). This count helps agencies to identify the progress or need within their community with regard to homelessness.
Here in Pocatello, the PIT has impacted our agency in two ways over the last few years. First, the PIT affirmed the need for our initial allocation of VASH vouchers as well as each additional increment our housing authority was awarded. Each year we have utilized this count to identify veterans who were in need of assistance.
The second way the PIT has had an impact on our agency was a two-part question that resonated with our staff and board of commissioners in 2013. That question was, "Are we doing enough to help those most vulnerable in our community and if not, what more can we do?" By looking at the PIT count we were able to agree that we were not serving those most in need. That year we we
nt through the process of implementing a homeless preference as the first preference on our waiting list. Those who have administered a homeless preference know that it can pose many challenges, most specifically, certification of homelessness. We removed ourselves from this process and require a third party certification through the two agencies within our community that serve the homeless. Since implementing this preference in October of 2013 we have housed 68 households who qualified as homeless. This number is remarkable for a small community of only 54,000.
So, whether you are doing surveys in the cold the end of this month or reading the compiled data at its completion, consider how you can use this count to
reach those in need. We are housers. We can, and should, look for ways to reduce these numbers each year.
Sunny
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What is a NAHRO Fellow?
The NAHRO Fellows Program honors individuals for their accumulated wisdom and mastery as seen by their achievements and their actions within their own communities. NAHRO Fellows have demonstrated, over a sustained period of time, their commitment to improve the housing conditions of their fellow citizens and/or the viability and sustainability of the community in which they live and work. Recipients may use "NAHRO Fellow" professionally as a designation and will be called on to mentor and serve NAHRO and its members.
NAHRO instituted an "Ask a Fellow" program to provide emerging leaders with access to the Fellows knowledge of the industry and their leadership skills to help guide them up the ranks in their own agency or the association. Fellows are also available as presenters to share their knowledge with your attendees, if their schedule permits.
We are fortunate to have three NAHRO Fellows in the Pacific Northwest.
- Julie H. Williams Mitchell, NAHRO Fellow, Class of 2008
Executive Vice President, Idaho Housing & Finance Association, Boise, ID
- Renee Rooker, CME, SPHM, NAHRO Fellow Class of 2009
Executive Director, Walla Walla Housing Authority, Walla Walla, WA
- Christina M. Pegg, NAHRO Fellow Class of 2012
Executive Director, Housing Authority City of Longview, Longview, WA
Leader Spotlight
Christina M. Pegg, CEO, PHM, NAHRO Fellow
Longview Housing Authority and
Joint Pacific County Housing Authority
We'd like you to meet another NAHRO fellow who really is an incredible houser. She has given endless hours of her personal time to both PNRC and NAHRO. Chris is so welcoming and gracious when approached. She offers advice without judgement. Chris has been a great mentor to many in our region. If you have a question, Chris will help you get to the answer!
Some of Chris' accomplishments include:
- Serves a 5,000 square mile, 4 county area of SW Washington
- Collaborated to negotiate a MOU with the State DSHS to enable housing authorities and non-profit housing providers to more effectively provide housing and services to children in the foster care system
- Authored successful HOME grants to provide rental assistance to families with chronic mental illness, victims of domestic violence, participants of Drug Court, and homeless veterans
- Collaborated with staff on the development of the Veterans Integration Program. Winner of VA Secretary's Award for Outstanding Service to Homeless Veterans and NAHRO Award of Excellence
- Developed the first rural permanent supportive housing projects in Cowlitz, Pacific, and Lewis Counties and first solar supported project in Pacific County
- Acquired, preserved and rehabilitated four USDA Rural Development 515 elderly/disabled and low-income family projects in three different cities
- Created Longview Housing Authority's award-winning Self Help and Rehab Equity program (SHARE), a self-help homeownership model
- Developed and entered into a longstanding MOU with neighboring authorities to administer their FSS and Section 8 Homeownership programs
- Served on the NAHRO Board of Governors from 2001-2013
- NAHRO Legislative Network - Chair: 2011-2013. Member: 2007-2009, 2009-2011, 2013-2015, 2015-2017
- NAHRO Housing Committee Member: 2003-2005, 2007-2009, 2009-2011,2011-2013, 2013-2015
- PNRC Regional President 2005-2007
- PNRC Regional Past PResident 2007-2009
- Committee membership:
- Member Services Committee 1999-2001
- Housing: Vice President 2001-2003
- Member of Housing Committee 2003-2015
- Community Revitalization Awards Jury 2010
- Nominating and Election Committee Member 2003-2005
- Member of NAHRO 2004 Tri-Country Conference in Chicago, Il
- Past AWHA President, Past PNRC-NAHRO President
- Member of Governor Inslee's Affordable Housing Advisory Board
- Chair of the WA Dept. of Commerce Policy Advisory Team
- Board member of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
- Member of the Public Policy Committee of the SW WA Healthy Living Collaborative
- Board member of the Housing Authorities Risk Retention Pool
- Received PNRC-NAHRO President's Award 2003
- Received Friend of Housing Award - WA State Housing Finance Commission 2013
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Regional News
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Welcome to PNRC's Newest Member!
Tenmast serves Public Housing Authorities and
Affordable Housing Organizations with software for
Tenant Management, Finance/Accounting, Maintenance, Inspections, Document Management, Compliance, and Executive Decision Making.
To learn more about Tenmast Software and what they can do for you, visit their webiste at www.tenmast.com
Annual Conference Registration will open in February
PNRC is implementing a new membership management system that includes an event module. Therefore, we have decided to wait to open conference registration until the system is ready to go. Please keep your calendars open for May 22-24, 2016 so you can attend the conference.
The conference planning committee is working hard to bring you another great conference with timely and relevant workshops, roundtables, networking and post-conference seminars that you will find valuable for your professional development.
If you have any specific training needs or topics you are interested in, please contact Kristen Damazio at [email protected] or call 202-580-7203.
New affordable homes financed in Everett, Federal Way
SEATTLE, Wash.-New affordable apartments for families in Everett and seniors in Federal Way will be financed through $89 million approved yesterday by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
"We're glad that our last resolutions of 2015 could help create these brand-new homes for seniors and families," said Karen Miller, chair of the Housing Finance Commission. "Both projects will be an asset to their respective communities."
The Commission finances affordable housing and nonprofit housing by issuing tax-exempt bonds or notes and allocating Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.
Tax-exempt bonds allow developers to borrow at lower interest rates to create or renovate affordable housing, while the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allows them to raise capital by selling the credits to investors. (The dollar amount is the estimated tax-credit equity over ten years.)
Multifamily housing resolutions approved yesterday:
- Everett: Gateway Apartments, 13000 21st Drive SE (DevCo, Inc., $34 million tax-exempt bond, $18 million estimated tax-credit equity)
This complex of 177 apartments features amenities for families and large units of two to five bedrooms each, with the latter in townhome-style buildings. It is located in unincorporated Snohomish County just north of Mill Creek.
- Federal Way: Celebration Senior Living West, 1316 South 328th Street (Senior Housing Assistance Group, $21 million tax-exempt bond, $11.1 million estimated tax-credit equity)
The second phase of a planned two-building housing development for seniors near Celebration Park, this project will add 189 apartments and share many amenities with the existing building (Celebration Senior Living East), while saving low-income seniors several hundred dollars than they would pay in market rents.
In its meeting yesterday, the Housing Finance Commission also committed another $2 million in bond issuances for its Beginning Farmer-Rancher program, which provides lower-interest loans to people across Washington to start their own farms or ranches. Since 2008, this program has served 25 Washington families.
to Buy and Redevelop KeyBank Branch in Hilltop Neighborhood
TACOMA - December 21, 2015 - Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) has agreed to buy KeyBank's Hilltop branch building and property at 1120 S. 11th St. in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. It plans to redevelop the site as mixed-use and affordable housing.
THA has a longstanding commitment to Hilltop. This purchase is part of several new THA investments that will help ensure continued Hilltop development. THA has purchased The New Look Apartments at the corner of South 11th St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Way where it plans a substantial fix-up when it completes refinancing in two years. THA is also working with the City of Tacoma to develop Hilltop Lofts, a 52-unit mixed-use/mixed-income affordable housing development on the corner of South 12th St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Acquiring the KeyBank Hilltop location will allow THA to develop an integrated master plan for the area. The timeline for redeveloping the site has not yet been set.
Portland Housing Bureau Yields Changes to City's Funding Mechanism for Affordable Housing
The City of Portland has recently completed a scheduled review of its Tax Increment Financing Set Aside for Affordable Housing Policy, yielding substantial changes to the city's primary funding mechanism for affordable housing. When it was adopted by Portland City Council in 2006, the policy established that a minimum proportion of urban renewal funding be spent on affordable housing in each urban renewal area. For the past 10 years, that proportion has been 30% of all urban renewal funds in the city. As of the 2015 review, the proportion was increased to 45%. Each urban renewal area has a different proportional target. While dollar estimates can change based on the economic forecast, the increase is currently projected to dedicate an additional $66.5 million to affordable housing programming over the next 10 years.
In December of 2015, the Portland City Council adopted a policy that will dedicate short term rental tax revenue to programming for affordable housing. As of the most recent fiscal year, the city collected roughly $1.2 million in short term rental revenue. The revenue is likely to increase significantly, as many short term rental units are still in the process of licensing and taxing.
2016 Industry Conferences
- NAHRO Washington Conference - April 10-12, 2016 - Arlington, VA
- Inland Northwest Fair Housing Conference - April 14, 2016 - Spokane, WA
- MARC NAHRO Annual Conference - April 24-27, 2016 - Atlantic City, NJ
- WA Affordable Housing Mgmnt Convention - April 26-27, 2016 - Kennewick, WA
- MCRC NAHRO Annual Conference - April 27-29, 2016 - Columbus, OH
- Ending Homelessness Conference - May 11-12, 2016 - Spokane, WA
- PSWRC NAHRO Annual Conference - May 16-17, 2016 - Sacramento, CA
- PNRC NAHRO Annual Conference - May 22-24, 2016 - Seattle, WA
- MPRC NAHRO Annual Conference - June 15-17, 2016 - Park City, UT
- NERC NAHRO Annual Conference - June 19-22, 2016 - N. Falmouth, MA
- SERC NAHRO Annual Conference - June 19-22, 2016 - Biloxi, MS
- Affordable Housing Conference - June 22-24, 2016 - Salem, OR
- SWRC NAHRO Annual Conference - June 27-30, 2016 - Kansas City, MO
- NAHRO Summer Conference - July 15-17, 2016 - Portland, OR
- NAHRO National Conference - October 14-16, 2016 - New Orleans, LA
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Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (Anchorage, AK)
Housing Authority of Jackson County (Medford, OR)
Housing Kitsap (Bremerton, WA)
Seattle Housing Authority (Seattle, WA)
Tacoma Housing Authority (Tacoma, WA)
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LIVE AND ONLINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Happy New Year from NAHRO Professional Development! We are looking forward to helping you and your agency meet your professional education needs in 2016. To that end, we continue to add live and online training products to
our calendar. Please continue reading to review early highlights of our 2016 schedule.
Over the past year, a number of agencies have encouraged NAHRO Professional Development to provide an online ethics training opportunity for housing and community development commissioners. In response, we will debut our new Ethics for Commisssioners e-Learning on January 13.
This brand-new e-Learning features special introductory pricing for NAHRO members. Register today!
On January 14, NAHRO's Congressional Relations staff will conduct a special e-Briefing intended to provide NAHRO members with the latest information related to the final FY 2016 omnibus appropriations package and the President's 2016 State of the Union, as well as a preview of the FY 2017 budget process. Webinar participants will have the opportunity to interact with the panelists through a lively Q&A session to deepen their understanding of what the election year dynamics in Washington might mean for communities across the country in 2016. Don't miss this opportunity to stay up-to-date on critically important developments within the affordable housing and community development industry. This special e-Briefing features a discounted price of just $49 for NAHRO members, and only one registration is required per viewing site. For more information and to register, visit www.nahro.org/e-briefings.
On January 21-22, we will offer our two-day HQS Refresher e-Learning featuring Dennis Morgan. And for those who have already achieved NAHRO's Certified Specialist of Inspection - Housing Quality Standards (CSI-HQS) designation, this e-Learning is the perfect opportunity to earn the 0.5 CEUs needed to satisfy recertification requirements. Register here.
Improve 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 Choice Vouchers (CSI-HCV) 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-HCV
Certificatio
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Register here.
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