A Letter From Your President, Cupid Alexander |
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Greetings Housers-
I hope the holiday season is treating you well, and that you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe. As we wrap up 2020, and head into a new year I want to be sure we highlight some of the amazing work we’ve done together.
- As a NAHRO region, we have successfully undertaken our virtual conference platform, and had an engaging speaker series.
- Our regional membership have worked through the COVID crisis, and have created new strategies and protocols to insure worker safety.
- National NAHRO has continued to inform our membership of advocacy opportunities, financial conversations, and the future of housing.
- Our regional membership have outlined creative housing strategies, partnerships and ways to serve our communities in housing.
And that’s just a short list. I am continuously amazed and encouraged by the work of our region.
As we look forward, I will continue to wish everyone safe holidays, health and success.
Cupid S. Alexander
PNRC Regional
President
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APG announces Women of Influence winners 2020 |
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The winners of the second East Idaho Women of Influence Awards have been announced. The awards are meant to recognize the accomplishments of women across eastern Idaho. They were presented by the East Idaho Business Journal and APG Signature Events. Adams Publishing Group (APG) is the Standard Journal and Post Register’s parent company.
Sunny Shaw, Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships, Pocatello, ID was the honoree in the category of Government, Public Service and Military. After spending years working on housing in Pocatello, Shaw was recently elected to the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. Through it, she regularly meets with elected officials in Washington D.C. and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to advocate on behalf of national housing programs.
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Spokane nonprofit to build upscale, yet affordable low-income housing |
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Spokane nonprofit to build upscale, yet affordable...
Community Frameworks is starting construction on 46 rental apartments for low-income families. Rent starts at $250 a month. SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash - Spokane's housing shortage has only been exacerbated by the pandemic, but a nonprofit is starting...
Read more
www.krem.com
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Meet the Candidates for NAHRO President and SVP! |
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At #NAHRONavigates, the association’s online national conference, Patricia Wells, CEO of the Oakland Housing Authority and the current NAHRO Senior Vice President, officially announced her candidacy for the office of NAHRO President.
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Senior Vice President Candidate Messages |
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Hello NAHRO Family,
During these trying times I hope everyone is staying safe and working to keep our communities safe. With this new normal, it is great that we can use these types of platforms to stay connected.
Thank you for allowing me this time to present to you as a candidate for the Senior Vice President. The focus of my campaign is education and advocacy. Education is a key to success, especially in our current environment and provides great knowledge. If elected as NAHRO Senior Vice President, my mission will be to provide and build the necessary resources to strengthen the knowledge of all NAHRO members to enable them to grow as individuals, agencies, and organizations.
Education and advocacy provides public officials the knowledge and ability to make informed decisions. We owe it to ourselves as NAHRO members, our staff and the families that participate in our programs, to ensure that public officials are making informed decisions based upon a clear understanding of our programs before the decision is made. An informed decision hopefully will have an affirmative impact on our programs and assets, creating communities that are diverse and equitable and that allow disadvantaged families to succeed and prosper. But let’s be frank and let me be direct, it’s also time to speak loud and clear. We need to demand Congress to provide us adequate funding, we need to demand that our leaders appreciate and better showcase the hard and amazing work we do, and we must stand firm with a strong message that we will not be left behind the nations other priorities - because without a home, all else fails!
I have served as the Executive Director of the Baltimore County Office of Housing since June 2012. I also served as the Executive Director of the Human Relations Commission. This role and position has given me a unique and unusual perspective into the realm of discrimination, inequity and creating solutions to these disparities for all.
During the 2017-2019 NAHRO term, as VP of Professional Development, under my leadership the PD Committee was able to award it first recognition award. I proudly served on the NAHRO Board of Governors, the Strategic Planning Group, and the CEO Evaluation Committee, and participated in the International Forum. This term I will continue to be a member of the Board of Governors, Professional Development and a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.
I am NAHRO Certified. I am a Certified Management Executive (CME), Public Housing Management (PHM), HQS. I am a member of the NAHRO faculty.
It is an exciting experience when you get to interact and educate your colleagues on the work that we do and work to continue to enhance our education and development offerings.
I truly hope that you will get to know me better, converse with me, educate me on your needs and desires, and consider electing me to this exciting position.
Thank you and stay safe.
Marsha J. Parham-Green, CME, MA, MNPM
Candidate for Senior Vice President
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Happy Holidays NAHRO Family!
2020 has been a year unlike any other, as we faced a crisis that immobilized our world. As we responded to the challenges and adjusted to our new normal, we were tasked with creating solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of our communities. As the nation’s largest connector of housing and community professionals, NAHRO has played a key role in supporting its members as we navigate during this challenging time.
As members of NAHRO, we are part of a diverse group of individuals that are passionate about our agencies and the communities we serve. This passion and the belief in the NAHRO mission are the inspiration for me to seek the role of Senior Vice-President.
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with many of you, while serving as Executive Director of the Fort Wayne (IN) Housing Authority. As a member of NAHRO I served as President of the Indiana Chapter and current President of the North Central Region Council. I am Vice Chair of the Board of Ethics and Credentialing Trustees where I had the opportunity to lead the effort to create the current Code of Conduct. I’m also a Co-Founder of the Housing and Education Task Force.
This is an unprecedented time within our nation. We must mobilize and collaborate to identify innovative solutions that will prepare our agencies for the future. As senior vice-president, my goal will be to continue to advance our work in Housing, Equity, and Community.
HOUSING
Year after year, our programs are under siege from budget cuts, federal red tape, and officials who do not understand our programs and their impact. I will advocate for increased funding and local flexibilities for public housing authorities and community development agencies. Our goal is to protect small agencies and strengthen the finance tools and programs to expand housing programs, redevelop properties and better meet local needs.
EQUITY
Public Housing Authorities can serve, empower people and communities that have been marginalized. This includes those impacted by systemic inequities, rural communities, the homeless, victims of the pandemic and others. Collectively we can advance conversations regarding equity, that will empower all NAHRO members.
COMMUNITY
We will work to grow our NAHRO community through expanded professional development, networking, and advocacy. Together we can elevate the conversations to reduce the disparities in housing, education and health to advance the communities we serve.
We have proven our ability to rise to the challenge of the moment and will continue to be resilient. I look forward to working with each of you as we work to strengthen the impact of NAHRO while empowering our team members, residents and stakeholders.
Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and to share your thoughts and ideas on how we can advance the NAHRO agenda.
I ask for your support and vote in advancing our shared goals of housing, equity and community.
I look forward to connecting with you.
Sincerely,
George Guy
CEO/Executive Director of Fort Wayne Housing Authority
Candidate for Senior Vice President
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Don't Delay: Register Now for our Washington Conference! |
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As our nation continues to grapple with COVID-19 and a historic rental housing crisis, we also need to prepare for a new administration and shifting Congressional priorities. Get ready to reconnect with your allies, forge new relationships, and make your voice heard on Capitol Hill!
This year, we’ll schedule virtual Hill visits for you and provide pre-visit advocacy training. Make sure you register early so you get access to the training and preparation meetings! Last year, we learned that the virtual meeting format allows members of Congress and their staff to attend more meetings and chat with their constituents longer than they might normally be able to, so don’t miss this opportunity!
More information on advocacy, speakers and sessions will be coming soon – check our website often for updates.
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Special Districts Program Award Winner |
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In December, Bremerton Housing Authority (BHA) was named a Special Districts Program Award Winner by AT&T and Government Technology Magazine for its success in rapidly transitioning to telework in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team was recognized both for its planning ahead of the crisis and for its resilience in scaling up its digital platforms quickly when it was most needed.
Ahead of the crisis, BHA took focused action on disaster preparedness, migrating software to the cloud, introducing Microsoft Teams, creating a telecommuting program and establishing an employee driven process improvement program. When the pandemic hit, BHA’s leadership and staff relied on that planning to help scale up its telework quickly. IT was also one of the earliest adopters of virtual inspections. This happened through the creativity and coordination across a host of dimensions including policy, equipment, staffing, process, and software.
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Member Benefit: COVID-19 Relief Bill Update |
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Nearly nine months after the passage of the CARES Act, significant progress is finally being made on an end of the year legislative package that includes COVID-19 rental assistance and full-year HUD funding. A bill could be signed as early as this week!
On December 29, join the NAHRO Legislative and Policy teams as we review the new COVID-19 Emergency Relief bill’s rental assistance and eviction moratorium extension provisions. Register now for this complimentary member benefit!
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PNRC NAHRO Members Save $$ and the Region Earns $$
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PNRC NAHRO has partnered with NAHRO Professional Development on their "Distance Learning" trainings that will directly benefit members and our Region!
Members will receive a discount of $10 on every NAHRO "Distance Learning" training and PNRC NAHRO will also receive a revenue share for each participant from our region.
How does it work?
When registering, please use code: PNRC2020 (All CAPS)
and your discount will automatically be applied, it’s that simple!
Please note: this code must be used when registering! It cannot be retroactively applied.
What is Distance learning?
Multi-day training delivered in a modular and a web-based format. Participants register individually and access the sessions with a direct email. Sessions are typically 3 hours (1:30-4:30pm ET) and spread out. This allows participants to balance learning with other work responsibilities. Attendance is recorded and upon successful completion, CEUs are applied towards certification requirements. Distance learnings are meant to be interactive. Participants will engage with the faculty member by discussions, polls and utilizing a chat feature.
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Housing Quality Standards Virtual Classroom – Early Bird Ends soon!
January 11-15, 1-5 p.m. Eastern
Learn how to improve the level of your HCV and PBV/Section 8 Housing Inspections and meet SEMAP requirements through these interactive modules. 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 online.
Objectives:
Through expert instruction, you will learn to conduct a thorough inspection to illustrate (or rediscover) details that must be observed in order to identify actions to be taken. Specific topics to be addressed are:
- Section 8 Pre-Inspection and Inspection Preparation and Procedures
- Negotiation and Arbitration—How to Successfully Come to Agreement with Landlords and Residents
- Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution
- Consistency—How to Pass Inspections, Even When HUD Arrives for a Surprise Review
- Reinspection—How to Avoid Pitfalls
Who should attend?
Section 8 Housing Inspectors, Preventative Maintenance Inspectors, and new and seasoned inspectors
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What Else is Happening in January?
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January 7: Excellence in Customer Service for Housers e-Learning
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January 11-15: Public Housing Manager Virtual Classroom Early Bird Ends 12/21/20
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January 13: HCV Homeownership Intensive Rent Calculation e-Learning Early Bird Ends 12/29/20
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January 14-15: Repositioning: Where Do I Start? E-Learning Early Bird Ends 12/24/20
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January 21: Leading Through Times of Change and Transition Early Bird Ends 12/31/20
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January 25-28: Procurement & Contract Management Virtual Classroom Early Bird Ends 1/4/21
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For more information, contact NAHRO Professional Development at
202 580 7211 or
OR;
PNRC NAHRO Regional Service Officer 202.580.7203
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YOU COULD HAVE FEATURED YOUR AGENCY HERE!!!
We want to fill this newsletter with articles and pictures about you, but we can't do that unless you send them in. Send your pictures and articles to pnrc@nahro.org by January 9th to be featured in next month's newsletter!!
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