NHC Open House Blog

Register Today for NHC's Annual Budget Forum

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:38:00 +0000

This Friday, March 12, NHC will host its Annual Budget Forum at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC. The budget forum will provide both public and private-sector housing leaders with an extensive first look at housing concerns within the context of the federal budget proposal. In particular, this year’s event will focus on rental housing and homelessness assistance programs included in the President's FY 2011 Budget Proposal.

Raphael Bostic, assistant secretary, Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will be the keynote speaker for the event.

A panel discussion will be moderated by Conrad Egan, NHC immediate past president.

Panelists include:

Jonathan Harwitz, deputy chief of staff, Policy and Programs, HUD;
Nan Roman, president and CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness;
Sheila Crowley, executive vice president, National Low Income Housing Coalition; and
Sarah Wartell, president and CEO, Center for American Progress.

Register for this Complimentary Event!

A paper ticket will not be issued for this event. You will receive an email from Eventbrite on behalf of NHC to confirm your participation. Attendees who registered online may check in at the Congressional Auditorium in the Capitol Visitor Center beginning at 9 a.m. EST on March 12.

For more information, please contact NHC Policy Associate Clare Duncan at (202) 466-2121 Ext. 228 or at cduncan@nhc.org.

Guest Blogger Nancy Murray: Why Demolish?

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:56:00 +0000

In today’s disposable society, we don’t expect anything to last. From our daily paper coffee cup to the annual iPod upgrade, we do not seek goods with permanence. This outlook has permeated the market for housing, resulting in an epidemic of teardown in residential communities. Blighted homes in economically depressed neighborhoods; moderately sized 1950s ranches in a suddenly trendy area; communities that lie in the path of commercial or transportation development – in all of these situations it has become common practice to demolish what has become functionally obsolete and haul it to the landfill.

The greenest house is the one that is already built – this is the foundation of the Builders of Hope model. We have built our process around this existing framework, capturing the top quality materials and craftsmanship of yesterday’s single family home construction and retrofitting it with modern technology, open floor plans and energy efficiencies to create a home for today’s lifestyle. We have found that, contrary to popular opinion, rehabilitation – even Extreme Green Rehabilitation – can be done affordably, quickly and sustainably. Most importantly, the model is replicable throughout the country.

The national teardown epidemic has expanded in recent years to encompass the aging stock of 1970s-era public housing developments, high rises and large multifamily complexes. While they have failed as experiments in affordable housing, they provide a perfect opportunity for a creative, responsible solution to both the issues of affordable housing and sustainable rebuilding.

As the leading advocates, builders and administrators of affordable housing throughout the nation, it is the obligation of NHC members to accept the challenge of retaining and increasing the quantity of available stock, while we take a serious look at the quality. There is another way, a more responsible method for addressing aged housing on a larger scale to ensure we meet the changing needs of the U.S. population – without also taxing our environmental resources. It is our task to change the prevailing mindset in our disposable society into one that first asks “Why Demolish?”

Nancy Murray is the CEO of NHC Member Partner Builders of Hope, Inc.

It is important to note that Builders of Hope received the NHC 2009 "Pioneering Housing Strategies" Award for its work in helping to close the gap between the availability and the need for safe, affordable and environmentally-friendly urban housing solutions in the Raleigh, NC, area.

Benefits of "Greening" Subsidized Housing Strong Given Tight Budget Outlook

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:53:00 +0000

The release of the Administration’s FY 2011 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget request marked the start of what will be an unusually challenging budget season for affordable housing programs, given mounting concern about the deficit. In such a tight fiscal environment it’s important to use available funds as cost-effectively as possible and to look for resources outside the regular HUD budget to help meet housing needs. Efforts to improve energy-efficiency in subsidized housing offer opportunities on both fronts.

HUD spends about $6 billion a year on utility subsidies, close to a fifth of the amount it spends on rental assistance. Subsidized housing, like the majority of older housing, tends to use energy inefficiently. This is true not just for large developments with public housing and other project-based subsidies, but also for the single-family and small multi-family rentals where most families with Section 8 housing assistance vouchers live. Energy-efficiency improvements could generate very large savings, cutting energy costs by 20 percent or more in some buildings.

“Greening” initiatives could also direct new resources to subsidized housing. Last year’s economic recovery package made available $600 million for energy-efficiency improvements in public housing and $250 million for other subsidized housing. Congress has also considered adding more funds through jobs legislation this year. In addition, the House and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have passed climate change bills that would fund subsidized housing efficiency improvements by setting aside some proceeds from auctioning “cap and trade” allowances to help control greenhouse gas emissions.

In each case, the funds would not only generate important environmental benefits, but also help preserve needed subsidized housing at a time when resources are hard to come by.

Will Fischer is a policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Administration Pushing for a “Cash for Caulkers” Program

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:12:00 +0000

Yesterday President Obama spoke about the Administration’s push to implement a "Cash for Caulkers" program to give rebates to homeowners who make energy-efficiency upgrades to their homes. Officially known as Home Star, the plan is expected to appear in either another jobs bill or in separate energy legislation later this year.

The rebate amount will be determined by how much the upgrades reduce a home’s energy usage. If homeowners cut energy use by 20 percent, they could be reimbursed for half the cost of their energy saving purchases, for a maximum rebate of up to $3,000. Those who complete a more comprehensive home energy audit, reducing energy use by more than 20 percent, could receive up to $8,000, according to people familiar with the plan. A typical home energy audit and retrofit costs $5,000 to $8,000 and generally reduces monthly energy bills by 20-40 percent.

Watch the video below from CNN Money to learn more about the cost savings associated with a home energy audit.

Click here to see NHC’s related "Cash for Caulkers" policy statement.

Guest Blogger Caitlin Uzzel: Green Preservation – Take a Tour!

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:17:00 +0000

Preserving affordable housing is inherently resource efficient – the greenest building is the one that already exists. Retrofitting existing affordable housing to increase energy efficiency and conserve water creates green jobs and healthier homes, and also leads to lower utility bills and operating costs.

Galen Terrace Apartments in Washington, DC, is a prominent example of green preservation.

Once a deteriorating property, Galen Terrace was saved by a handful of courageous residents who were determined not to be forced from their homes. They organized the Galen Terrace Tenants Association to exercise their right of first purchase under D.C. law, and chose the National Housing Trust/Enterprise Preservation Corporation and Somerset Development Company to help them acquire the- Section 8 property and make substantial green improvements.

In 2007, Galen Terrace re-opened as the first rehabilitated property in DC to meet all of the green criteria under the Enterprise Green Communities Initiative and the city’s new green building requirements.

Learn more about the many green improvements made to Galen Terrace by taking an Online Interactive Tour today. For this tour, the National Housing Trust has created a 3D replica of the building, and has highlighted all of the energy and water conserving improvements.

Caitlin Uzzel serves as public policy associate at the National Housing Trust.

New Study Shows Green Building Gives Boost to U.S. Economy Through Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:52:00 +0000

According to a recent study from the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) and Booz Allen Hamilton, green building activities will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and push $554 billion into the American economy, including $396 billion in wages, into 2013.

Additionally, the study finds that green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages.

“Our goal is for the phrase ‘green building’ to become obsolete, by making all building and retrofits green – and transforming every job in our industry into a green job,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of the USGBC.

Read More

Guest Blogger Madeline Fraser-Cook: Building Sustainable Communities

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:33:00 +0000

As the nation's largest community development support organization, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) believes that greener communities are key to building sustainable communities of choice and opportunity, which provide good places to work, do business and raise children. This requires investments in sustainability at the neighborhood level that:

Preserve family income and wealth by lowering utility bills and increasing home values;
Connect neighborhoods to green job and business opportunities;
Provide schools with better learning environments, and stronger operating margins; and
Support healthier lifestyles by exposing residents to fewer toxic substances, lessening respiratory problems, improving recreational space, and increasing access to healthy foods.

Since 2004, LISC's Green Development Center has provided financial resources, technical information, partnership opportunities, education, and policy support to LISC programs and the community development field. In addition to investments in commercial and community facilities, LISC has invested more than $665 million, resulting in over 20,000 units of green affordable housing.

Our Green Development Center ensures that we are integrating green best practices into our comprehensive community development approach. We recognize that green cannot be an add-on to the projects we support. In order to green projects most cost-effectively, environmentally sensitive strategies must be a programmatic component of the project. We also are cognizant of the fact that, for many people, there is still a learning curve when it comes to green. That is why we offer a variety of services to help community developers choose the best greening approach for their projects. In addition to grants, equity and loans, we offer technical assistance through Web-based seminars, publications and direct assistance to our local partners. Green at LISC is also much broader than affordable housing. It includes green jobs programming, support for greening schools, technical assistance around improving the environmental performance of early childhood education centers, and an emerging effort to help small businesses to green their operations.

LISC believes that effective community development goes hand in hand with improving the environmental conditions in the neighborhoods in which we work. This approach not only saves dollars through energy and water efficiency, but it also provides less quantifiable benefits such as improved health outcomes and a more general sense of wellbeing that comes with living in vibrant, aesthetically pleasing, economically viable neighborhoods. For more information on LISC’s green work, please visit: www.lisc.org/gdc

Madeline Fraser-Cook is the director of LISC’s Green Development Center.

New Policy Briefs Communicate the Need for Better Coordinated Housing, Transportation and Workforce Policies

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:58:00 +0000

The Center for Housing Policy and the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) convened listening sessions in Atlanta and the Twin Cities last spring to explore regional perspectives on the coordination of housing, transportation and workforce policies.

Released today, two new policy briefs from the Center and MPC seek to share and expand upon the information exchanged during these sessions. While the foreclosure crisis has dominated the attention of housing policy practitioners and policymakers during much of 2008 and 2009, these briefs look to the future to address other current and looming housing challenges that are critical to the long-term success and sustainability of many communities nationwide.

How Transportation Reform Could Increase the Availability of Housing Affordable to Families with a Mix of Incomes Near Public Transit, Job Centers, and Other Essential Destinations
This report explains how reauthorization of the federal transportation bill can incentivize the improved coordination of transportation, housing and land use policy to ensure that families across a range of incomes have access to affordable housing and efficient, accessible transportation options.

Regional Coordination in Atlanta Metro and in the Twin Cities: Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities of Coordinating Housing, Transportation and Workforce Policies
This report draws from the information shared during the listening sessions about the experience of coordinating land-use, transportation and workforce policy in the Atlanta and the Twin Cities regions.

MPC has also prepared a related Executive Summary, which captures key lessons from the policy briefs, as well as current efforts to support and implement the Obama Administration’s Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

The Center gratefully acknowledges the support of the Surdna Foundation and the Metropolitan Planning Council for the development of these policy briefs.

NHC’s Annual Budget Forum to Focus on Rental Housing, Homelessness Assistance Programs and More

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:41:00 +0000

On Friday, March 12, NHC will host its Annual Budget Forum from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC. The event will provide both public and private-sector housing leaders with an extensive first look at housing concerns within the context of the federal budget proposal. This year's budget forum will also include a close examination of the President's FY 2011 Budget Proposal, with a particular emphasis on rental housing and homelessness assistance programs.

Register for this Complimentary Event!

Panelists include:

Jonathan Harwitz, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development;
Nan Roman, National Alliance to End Homelessness;
Sheila Crowley, National Low Income Housing Coalition; and
Sarah Wartell, Center for American Progress.

A paper ticket will not be issued for this event. You will receive an email from Eventbrite on behalf of NHC to confirm your participation. Attendees who registered online may check in at the Congressional Auditorium in the Capitol Visitor Center beginning at 9 a.m. EST on March 12.

For more information, please contact NHC Policy Associate Clare Duncan at (202) 466-2121 Ext. 228 or at cduncan@nhc.org.

CPDC Seeks to Revitalize Communities by Connecting Housing to a Wider Range of Amenities and Services

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:59:00 +0000

"Open House" recently highlighted several of the green rehabilitation upgrades at Wheeler Terrace, a 116-unit residential development in Southeast Washington, DC. NHC Member Partner the Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) acquired the property in 2007 and since that time has been focused on providing safe and green affordable housing for residents through a series of improvements.

In addition to this, CPDC’s larger redevelopment goal centers on revitalizing the community as a whole by connecting housing to a wider range of amenities and services, such as job and literacy training. NHC’s Conrad Egan, who serves on CPDC’s Board of Directors, discusses these programs in the video below.

Wheeler Terrace: Conrad Egan on CPDC's Efforts to Provide Amenities and Services for Residents

NHC Welcomes Maureen Friar as President and CEO

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:09:00 +0000

Announced today, Maureen Friar has been named president and CEO of the nonprofit National Housing Conference, the United Voice for Housing. A recognized and respected industry expert, Friar has established a distinguished and successful career in the housing field, as well as in building a strong and engaged membership organization.

Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York for 14 years. In that position, her accomplishments included: coordinating advocacy campaigns that resulted in $1 billion in funding from both New York City and the state of New York to create more than 10,000 units of supportive housing; developing and sharing innovative, cost-effective strategies to end chronic homelessness; and more than tripling the organization’s membership base.

"Maureen brings the right mix of leadership, advocacy, management, and passion for housing to NHC," said NHC Chair Dan Nissenbaum. "Her experience also represents a clear understanding that decent, affordable housing is integral to ensuring thriving, successful families and communities."

Friar most recently served as a marketing consultant to the National Equity Fund, the largest nonprofit investor in federal low-income housing tax credits, and as a fundraising consultant to Community Access, a New York nonprofit agency that provides supportive housing, employment training and advocacy for persons with psychiatric disabilities.

Her achievements were recognized by the New York State Association for Affordable Housing, which honored her with the Advocate of the Year Award for Excellence in 2006. In addition, she received the Nonprofit Sector Achievement Award from the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2003, as well as the Regional Best Practices Award in 2000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University, a Master’s degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, and was a Charles H. Revson Fellow on the Future of the City of New York at Columbia University.

Maureen succeeds Conrad Egan who has been with NHC for nearly 12 years, becoming head of the organization after serving for five years as director of policy.

New Enterprise Web Page Highlights Ways to Include Green Rehabilitation Standards as Part of a Neighborhood Stabilization Program

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:43:00 +0000

Efforts to revitalize communities using Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds are giving many areas across the country an opportunity to create greener homes as part of the rehabilitation process. Ultimately, these initiatives can reduce a property’s environmental impact, improve health in residents and contribute to lower utility bills.

NHC Housing Leadership Support Program Partner Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. has launched a new Green Communities NSP Web page, in partnership with Building Green, LLC, on GreenBuildingAdvisor.com to help neighborhoods across the nation implement these strategies.

The new Web page is intended to build off of the existing Web site’s resources with additional guidance on ways to incorporate green rehabilitation standards as part of an NSP plan. Specifically, the new information includes case studies focused on the use of green rehab standards in public programming throughout the U.S. It also features a blog discussing techniques, challenges and best practices.

Visit the Green Communities NSP Web page

Energy-Efficiency Upgrades Will Make Wheeler Terrace DC’s First LEED® Certified Affordable Housing Community

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:07:00 +0000

Last week, “Open House” shared information about NHC Member Partner the Community Preservation and Development Corporation’s (CPDC) efforts to make Wheeler Terrace, a 116-unit residential property in Southeast Washington, DC, both greener and safer.

Throughout the rehabilitation process CPDC has been committed to demonstrating that high-quality housing can be both green and affordable. With final approval from the U.S .Green Building Council pending, Wheeler Terrace is set to become DC’s first LEED® certified “green” affordable housing community.

In addition to achieving LEED® certification, the property will also meet Enterprise Community Partners’ “Green Communities” criteria. Upgrades to fulfill both of these certifications include: a geothermal heat pump, white reflective vinyl roofs and a green roof demonstration project, innovative clean-air systems, and energy-efficient insulation and appliances.

James Wilson, Wieneck and Associates, is working with CPDC to complete the project. Wilson speaks in detail about the property’s energy-efficient upgrades in the on-site videos below, including efforts to improve indoor air quality for residents. CPDC is also working with the National Center for Healthy Housing on a study to measure the impact of these green improvements on the health of Wheeler Terrace residents.

Wheeler Terrace: James Wilson Highlights the Property’s Energy-Efficient Upgrades

Wheeler Terrace: James Wilson Discusses Measures to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Later this week, “Open House” will post an additional video on CPDC’s work to revitalize communities by connecting housing to a wider range of amenities.

CPDC Focused on Making Wheeler Terrace Both Greener and Safer for Residents

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:53:00 +0000

In late 2007, NHC Member Partner the Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) worked with residents to purchase Wheeler Terrace, a development in Southeast Washington, DC, in order to upgrade the blighted property and help revitalize the neighborhood as a whole using a comprehensive community development approach.

Since that time CPDC has been focused on rehabilitating Wheeler Terrace to best serve residents' needs by making the property both safer and greener. In the on-site videos below CPDC's Mark James talks about the overall goals of the rehabilitation project, as well as specific measures taken to improve residents' quality of life.

Wheeler Terrace: CPDC's Mark James Discusses Property's Green and Crime Reducing Improvements

Wheeler Terrace: CPDC's Mark James on Instilling Green Values in Residents

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan cited several of Southeast DC's revitalized neighborhoods in 2009, including Wheeler Terrace, as models for the Administration's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, which seeks to improve communities by connecting housing to a wider range of amenities and services.

Please visit "Open House" next week to view additional video highlighting the specific green elements of Wheeler Terrace. The video will include information on how CPDC is measuring the long-term impact of these features on the health of residents.

Homeowners Looking to "Go Green" Could See Increased Incentives

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:22:00 +0000

According to a recent New York Times article, borrowers looking to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes may soon find increased incentives for making green improvements that reduce their environmental impact.

Fannie Mae, the government-backed company that sets lending standards for mortgages, said it would unveil new incentives by this summer for those using part of their mortgages for energy-related improvements. Energy Star, a joint effort of the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, is also expected to introduce borrower incentives in New York, after running pilot programs in Colorado, Maine and Pennsylvania.

These and other initiatives would expand upon and serve as alternatives to the energy-efficient mortgage option from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), under which borrowers who obtain an FHA-insured mortgage are able to qualify for larger loans if they earmark additional funds for energy-related improvements that yield long-term savings.

Guest Blogger Bill Kelly: Whither Weatherization?

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:22:00 +0000

The appropriation of $5 billion in the stimulus bill for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), about 20 times what had usually been appropriated, held promise that significant resources might finally be made available for energy conservation retrofitting of affordable multifamily housing. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Stephen Chu devoted considerable energy early in 2009 to make that happen, announcing memorandums of understanding last spring.

In May 2009, DOE issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking designed to avoid duplicative income verification for residents of HUD-assisted housing. Although the final rule was delayed until January 25, 2010, when finally issued it not only provided a useful solution for income verification but also endorsed or left standing innovative state policies on a set of regulatory issues. See www.sahfnet.org.

WAP money flows through the states to subgrantees, most of whom have no experience with retrofitting buildings larger than four units. In many states, subgrantees have locked up the funds but have not given serious thought to and often lack the technical skills and experience weatherize multifamily housing. Despite the fact that funds could be put to work on multifamily retrofits, the reality on the ground has been terribly disappointing.

States have received half of the $5 billion, with the other half due to be distributed in FY 2011. DOE will then make a decision about whether to distribute the rest of the funds under criteria that, among other things, call for the states to have weatherized at least 30 percent of the housing units promised to be served with the first round of funding. To track progress and make sure it has the data needed for its decisions, DOE is now proposing monthly reporting from the states. As time passes, funds are not expended, and there are few multifamily retrofits in most states, pressure is building for a more explicit and effective multifamily WAP program.

Fortunately, there are good models on which to build. Pennsylvania, for example, has allocated 10 percent of its funds to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) as subgrantee. PHFA is using its funding as part of an ambitious statewide retrofit effort, also funded from its own reserves and the proceeds of a MacArthur Foundation grant. It is time for HUD and DOE to renew their push.

Bill Kelly is President of Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future.

President's FY 2011 Budget Combines Economic Discipline With Support for Affordable Housing in Communities Nationwide

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Budget Focuses on HUD’s Key Strategic Goals, Including Strengthening the Nation’s Housing Market, and Meeting the Needs of Low- to Moderate-Income Families, Individuals, and the Homeless

This week, the Obama Administration released its FY 2011 budget proposal, which combines economic discipline with vital support for affordable housing in communities nationwide. Specifically, priorities outlined in the proposal support the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) key goals, including strengthening the housing market, meeting affordable rental housing needs, improving quality of life, building vibrant and stable communities through the Choice Neighborhood’s Initiative, and transforming the way HUD does business. The proposal provides HUD with a total budget of $48.5 billion for existing core programs and new initiatives – meeting the agency’s initial $41.6 billion request and including a projected $6.9 billion from Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Ginnie Mae related revenue.

"In response to the most severe recession in generations, the Administration’s budget proposal balances fiscal responsibility with the need to support many existing and new programs focused on providing decent, stable and affordable housing to families and individuals nationwide at a time when they need it most," said NHC President and CEO Conrad Egan.

Specifically, the FY 2011 budget proposal is designed to help achieve five key HUD goals:

1. Strengthening the Nation’s Housing Market
The Administration has made great strides in strengthening the housing market in order to bolster the economy and protect consumers, in particular when it comes to the FHA. According to HUD, the FHA represented 30 percent of the housing market in the last quarter of 2009 – up from 1.9 in 2006 – and served 2.1 million households in 2009. Recent policy changes were designed to grow capital reserves and manage FHA risk. These changes included increasing the mortgage insurance premium for borrowers, as well as updating the combination of minimum FICO scores and down payments required for new FHA borrowers.

As a result, the FY 2011 budget proposal reflects an increase in revenue of more than $3.5 billion when compared to FY 2010. The budget proposal also provides $88 million for the Housing Counseling Assistance program and $20 million for combating mortgage fraud in order to help continue to stabilize the housing market over the long-term.

2. Meeting the Need for Quality Affordable Rental Homes
The current housing and foreclosure crisis has resulted in rethinking the nation’s housing policy by better balancing homeownership with the need for quality rental homes. The proposed FY 2011 budget increases investments in HUD’s rental assistance programs, including proposing $350 million for the first phase of a multi-year initiative called Transforming Rental Assistance focused on regionalizing the Housing Choice Voucher program and converting public housing to project-based housing vouchers.

In addition, the budget proposal includes $2.1 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants – up from $1.9 million in FY 2010. This $200 million increase includes initial funding for the effective implementation of the HEARTH Act, which will help in maintaining the Administration’s progress in reducing chronic homelessness and meeting the growing needs among homeless families. The Act will provide important investments in homeless prevention and permanent supportive housing, shift local homeless assistance systems to a performance-based orientation, and help better meet the unique needs of rural communities.

3. Improving Quality of Life Through Housing
As part of the FY 2011 budget proposal, HUD is designating a total of $85 million in new funding to the creation of 10,000 homeless and special needs housing vouchers as part of an innovative collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, the budget proposal is centered on modernizing important programs, including the Housing for the Elderly (Section 202) and Housing for Persons with Disabilities (Section 811) programs. HUD has requested a suspension of new related projects for these programs in its FY 2011 budget in order to redesign them in a way that better targets resources and streamlines program operations.

As a result, funding for the two programs has been significantly reduced in the Administration’s budget proposal – from $825 million to $274 million for the Section 202 program and from $213 million to $90 million for Section 811 in comparison to FY 2010 enacted levels.

The proposal also includes $340 million in funding for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program – representing a $5 million increase from FY 2010.

4. Building Inclusive, Vibrant and Stable Communities
The proposed FY 2011 budget includes funding to support activities to create more transit-dense and all inclusive neighborhoods – requesting $250 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, up from $65 million in 2010, as well $150 million for the Sustainable Communities Initiative. The Administration is also fully-funding Community Development Block Grants through this request.

5. Transforming the Way HUD Does Business
Additionally, in 2009 HUD acknowledged a pressing need to change. Through the FY 2011 budget proposal HUD is allocating $476 million – $217 million more than FY 2010 levels – for the related Transformation Initiative Fund. The budget proposal also provides $87 million for Policy Development and Research (PD&R) for research and technology – $39 million over FY 2010 enacted levels – to increase necessary resources and for the implementation of rigorous evaluations.

For more information, please view the HUD Budget Overview.

Live at the Forum: Communities at Risk and Living Cities' Foreclosure Mitigation Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:12:00 +0000

Next Tuesday, February 9, the Center for Housing Policy will host a Live at the Forum online event focused on Living Cities' Foreclosure Mitigation Initiative, as well as their new report, Communities at Risk: How the Foreclosure Crisis is Damaging Urban Areas and What is Being Done About It. The report's authors, George McCarthy, Matt Pacenza, and Kevin McQueen, will be the featured presenters.

Hear About the Initiative: The two-part event begins at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST) with a 30-minute conference call, where major findings from the report and initiative will be presented. The call-in number is (712) 432-1001 and the access code is 452746624#.

Interact With the Authors: Immediately following the call, from 2:30 - 4 p.m. EST (11:30 a.m. to 1 pm. PST), George McCarthy, Matt Pacenza, and Kevin McQueen will be online to answer your questions. All questions should be posted to this thread, and you are welcome to post at any time before or during the event. Questions will be answered on a first-come, first-served basis until time runs out, so post early to be sure yours is addressed. Anyone is welcome to participate.

Note: You will need to refresh your browser periodically during the live event to view new questions and responses.

About the Initiative
Launched in late 2007, Living Cities' Foreclosure Mitigation Initiative provided $5.25 million in foreclosure mitigation grants to organizations in 10 locations. The purpose of these grants was to support innovative local neighborhood stabilization pilot projects that could become models for the acquisition and resale of foreclosed properties. An interim evaluation of the initiative, conducted by the Urban Institute, is available on the Living Cities Web site.

About the Report
Communities at Risk: How the Foreclosure Crisis is Damaging Urban Areas and What is Being Done About It describes how foreclosures are damaging America's cities, triggering a spiral of abandonment, decay and municipal budget shortfalls. It also looks at ten pilot projects that community groups and partnerships have developed to fight for their communities.

GOOD Compares Transit Systems in Five Major U.S. Cities

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:04:00 +0000

Cities with access to good public transit have the added bonus of less congestion and a reduced impact on the environment, contributing to a greener way of life for residents. However, such places must continue to invest in transportation infrastructure to adequately address riders' needs. To emphasize this, GOOD collaborated with Oliver Munday to illustrate how transit systems in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco and Massachusetts are serving riders.

Click the image below to view the full-size graphic on GOOD's Web site.

Two Case Studies: Developing Green Housing and Infrastructure

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:05:00 +0000

The Home Depot Foundation is one of many organizations working to foster green design and innovation to make homes healthier and more affordable for families across the U.S. In 2007, the Foundation made a long-term commitment to building strong and healthy communities through its Affordable Housing Built Responsibly grant program – pledging to invest $400 million to build and rehabilitate100,000 affordable homes and to plant and restore three million trees in ten years. Thus far, the organization has contributed to the development of 27,000 homes nationwide and helped plant some 500,000 trees using $90 million.

Additionally, to support and share efforts related to the organization’s Sustainable Cities Institute, the Foundation has created a Web site featuring best practice information on a number of issues related to sustainability – including green building, land use and transportation, economic development, water use, and more. This Web site also includes several places to interact with others to brainstorm new ideas for making communities more sustainable and energy-efficient.

Green, Affordable Housing
One of the many case studies featured on the site examines the economic benefits of green, affordable housing from the perspectives of both the developer and the occupant. Located in Poway, CA, Solara is a multi-family, affordable housing development designed and constructed with substantial sustainability components. The energy self-sufficient housing provides healthy, indoor living environments within walking distance of employment and community services opportunities. The managers of the rental housing complex also provide residents with life assistance classes, such as financial health. To learn more about this project, please View Complete Case Study.

Green Infrastructure and Urban Forestry
The site also includes information about green infrastructure as a whole, highlighting the concept of urban forestry in particular. For example, one of the case studies focuses on the preservation of trees in Atlanta, GA. The “State of Our Urban Forests” report by American Forests recommends 40 percent tree cover for a healthy city, yet Atlanta has a tree canopy of only 27 percent. Trees Atlanta, a private, non-profit, seeks to restore Atlanta’s urban forest by planting and maintaining thousands of trees. Through partnerships with city agencies, local conservation groups, small business owners, neighborhood organizations, large corporations, and utilities, Trees Atlanta’s outreach efforts reach a large segment of the community. To learn more about the impact of this initiative, please View the Complete Case Study.

President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Proposal Released

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:44:00 +0000

Today, the Administration released its Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Proposal. According to the proposed budget, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would receive $48.5 billion in funding for core HUD programs, as well as new initiatives. As part of developing the President’s Budget, HUD, along with all other departments, identified high-priority performance goals. These priority areas include providing assistance to homeowners at-risk of losing their homes due to foreclosure, reducing homelessness among veterans, further meeting the growing need for affordable rental homes, and enabling more cost-effective energy upgrades.

Key FY 2011 Budget Proposals:

Provides $150 million for Sustainable Communities Grants;
Requests $250 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative;
Requests $350 million to fund the first phase of a multi-year initiative to regionalize the Housing Choice Voucher program and convert public housing to project-based vouchers;
Requests $19.6 billion for the Housing Choice Voucher program;
Provides $9.4 billion for the Project-Based Rental Assistance program;
Continues funding for all existing mainstream vouchers and provides flexibility to support new vouchers including $85 million in special purpose vouchers for the homeless and those at-risk of becoming homeless, and persons with disabilities;
Requests $2.1 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Programs to effectively implement the HEARTH Act. Also supports the key priorities reflected in HEARTH, including $200 million for Emergency Solutions Grant funding.
Requests $88 million to support homeownership and foreclosure prevention through Housing Counseling and $20 million to combat mortgage fraud;
Programs that receive increases: the budget has $19.6 billion for tenant-based Section 8 assistance and $9.4 billion for project-based Section 8, up from $18.2 billion and $8.6 billion in fiscal 2010; $2.1 billion for homeless assistance, up from $1.9 billion; and $4.82 billion for the public housing operating fund, up from $4.78 billion. Community development block grant funding would remain flat, at $3.990 million; and
Programs facing cuts include the public housing capital fund, with $2 billion, down from $2.5 billion; Indian housing block grants, $580 million, down from $700 million; HOME, $1.65 billion, down from $1.8 billion; Section 202, $274 million, down from $825 million; and Section 811, $90 million, down from $300 million.

For more information, please read the HUD Budget Fact Sheet.

NHC 2009 "Pioneering Housing Strategies" Award Finalist: Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:43:00 +0000

While the construction of new, green homes will help provide long-term environmental and economic benefits to communities nationwide, the industry must also remember the importance of upgrading the existing housing stock to be more energy efficient.

For its role in addressing this need, NHC Member Partner Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future’s (SAHF) was named as a NHC 2009 “Pioneering Housing Strategies” Award finalist. Specifically, the organization’s Energy Conservation Initiative is focused on helping upgrade and retrofit existing buildings. This multi-pronged initiative was created to address the full range of challenges associated with carrying out this agenda – from planning and implementation, to lack of data and financing.

To start, SAHF evaluated utility costs experienced by properties in its portfolio from around the nation. To complement the data gathering effort and build support for funding, SAHF designed a series of programs to provide highly subsidized retrofits at the outset. And because of the effort's scale, to migrate over time to financing with shallow or no grants and affordable debt to be serviced in large part by savings over time in lower utility bills.

While the initiative began by focusing on properties in SAHF’s portfolio, the organization’s work fueled its efforts at the national level. Specifically, SAHF collaborated with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Congress to promote and create wider funding opportunities for retrofits, including policies to retrofit HUD multifamily properties.

The GREEN Act, passed in September 2008, included a title developed by SAHF to temporarily increase section 8 rental subsidies to amortize part of the cost of loans taken out to finance energy retrofits. And, ultimately, due in part to SAHF’s work, the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act included a designated $250 million for the Office of Affordable Housing Preservation to provide program grants and loans to green HUD housing.

NHC 2009 "Pioneering Housing Strategies" Award Finalist: San Diego Housing Commission

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:56:00 +0000

NHC Member Partner the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) was named as a 2009 NHC "Pioneering Housing Strategies" Award finalist for its innovative plan to parlay the equity of its existing properties into additional affordable multi-family housing units for low- and moderate-income families, including seniors, within the city boundaries of San Diego.

SDHC is taking advantage of unique opportunities during a down economy to acquire properties in areas previously out of the agency’s economic reach. The commission’s Real Estate Department plans to acquire more than 40 properties – some distressed but others that are not– suitable to be converted to affordable housing. They include existing rentals, partially finished multi-family developments or other real estate with funding needs.

The plan envisions boosting SDHC’s portfolio of multi-family rental housing by more than 1,000 units over the next three to five years. When completed, the number of affordable housing units owned by the agency will increase from 1,371 to approximately 2,400.

To learn more about this initiative, please read this article from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

NHC 2009 "Pioneering Housing Strategies" Award Finalist: Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc.

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:27:00 +0000

NHC Member Partner Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. (POAH) was named as a 2009 NHC “Pioneering Housing Strategies” Award finalist for its business model focused on the non-profit ownership and operation of affordable housing properties.

This model was developed to comprehensively and simultaneously help ensure the health of the deal, the health of the portfolio and the health of the sponsor organization. At the deal level, by underwriting for cash flow, this model ensures the long-term preservation of the housing by providing a cushion for the property in the event of hard times, and insulating it from risks posed by external factors. At the portfolio and sponsor level, this approach puts the sponsor organization in a better position to support and stabilize properties throughout its portfolio and to weather the ups and downs of the economic climate.

This approach has successfully contributed POAH’s ability to provide quality affordable housing to an increasing number of families. For example, the organization’s recent acquisition of a portfolio of 846 affordable rental units from a failing non-profit in Florida demonstrates both how the original sponsor’s financial weakness placed units throughout its portfolio at risk and how working with the properties on a portfolio basis created opportunities for preservation of the housing deals. Also, by focusing on the portfolio’s energy consumption, POAH is identifying ways to improve the financial stability of many of its properties. And, the organization’s corporate budget has been sustained in large part from site cash flow this past year, demonstrating how the health of non-profit sponsor organizations should be of real concern, as healthy organizations are in a better position to continue the work of building and preserving affordable housing opportunities.

NHC 2009 "Pioneering Housing Strategies" Award Finalist: Ohio Housing Finance Agency

noreply@blogger.com (National Housing Conference) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:37:00 +0000

Novel investment approaches play an integral part in funding the development of affordable housing projects and programs. NHC Member Partner the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) was noted as a 2009 NHC “Pioneering Housing Strategies” Award finalist for its Housing Investment Fund (HIF), which provides funding for projects or initiatives that do not fit the parameters of existing programs, such as the tax credit and HOME Program, OHFA’s Housing Development Loan program, Housing Development Assistance Program or the Mortgage Revenue Bond program.

By targeting initiatives outside traditional program parameters, OHFA encourages proposals that serve Ohio residents and remove barriers to non-traditional applications, while advancing Agency policies. Approved by the OHFA Board with an initial balance of $8 million in September 2008, for-profit and non-profit organizations, public housing authorities and local governments were encouraged to apply to receive financial assistance for activities such as:

Acquisition, holding and disposition of residential real estate;
Pre-development, construction, and/or permanent financing for rental or for-sale development;
Capital improvements for existing OHFA-financed properties;
Capitalized operating subsidy;
Funds for Individual Development Accounts linked to homeownership projects in which OHFA is a partner;
Homeowner loans for refinance, new purchase, or renovation offered through participating lenders or nonprofit partners;
Planning grants for comprehensive community redevelopment;
Homebuyer education and counseling to achieve or maintain homeownership;
Matching funds for federal or private foundation housing grants or loans; and
Other activities or projects that address an urgent affordable housing need.

These investments are directly aligned with the OHFA Annual Plan, allowing the Agency to establish and maintain a strategic focus. The OHFA HIF is funded entirely with Agency funds. Based on a formula, the Agency has committed a portion of net income to the fund. Up to 75% of net income can be dedicated to the HIF. The Agency allocated $4 million in the first round. The second round of the fund will occur in early 2010.