2000 Best Practice Awards

2000-347 Statewide Accessibility Standards Legislation
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Kelly Buckland (208) 334-3800

Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo are sponsoring the nomination of this Best Practice Award. An unprecedented grassroots coalition was organized to undertake the task of developing consistent statewide accessibility standards for buildings covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act. Coalition members included disability advocates, architects, developers, builders, business owners, building officials, realtors, and representatives from the Association of Idaho Cities, the Association of Idaho Counties, the state legislature and the governor's office. The work of the coalition and its final outcome – a statewide building code with comprehensive accessibility components – will ensure that architects, developers, builders and owners have an approval and permit process that would provide protection from accessibility-related fines and litigation. Moreover, the code will have a significant impact on Idahoans with disabilities and their access to commercial structures and residential opportunities. This change will promote equality at the most basic level – the ability to access businesses for the purposes of working, shopping, recreating and socializing, and to have accessible housing, regardless of disability.

2000-365 Contracting to Further Accessibility Design Compliance
Chicago, Illinois
Contact: William Worn (312) 642-5587

Through two innovative contracts with William Worn Architects, PC the Northwest/Alaska Area FHEO Hub has helped the State of Idaho housing industry better comply with Fair Housing Act Accessibility Design requirements. The Hub provided the assistance through two contracts for services of an expert on accessible design and adaptability. Under the first contract, the expert participated with HUD staff in conciliation negotiations which were early attempts at informal resolution of design and construction complaints. Under the second contract the expert provided advice on project design to owners and architects against whom a complaint had not been filed. As part of the process, the consultant provided guidance on whether and how any potential violations of the Act with respect to a property could be corrected and a calculation of the costs of retrofitting the properties to bring them into compliance with the Act. Both plan reviews and site visits were used to support the consultations with the owners and architects. The consultant under a separate contract provided technical assistance to builders and developers on designing and constructing new construction of covered multifamily housing to comply with the requirements of the Act, and to provide technical assistance to builders and developers on methods of retrofitting existing covered properties and the cost of that retrofitting. to support early attempts at informal resolution of design and construction complaints filed by the Idaho Fair Housing Council in the State of Idaho. A second contract provided providing technical assistance to builders and developers on designing and constructing new construction of covered multifamily housing to comply with the requirements of the Act, and to provide technical assistance to builders and developers on methods of retrofitting existing covered properties and the cost of that retrofitting.

2000-2092 Accessibility Improvements Program
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Gerald M. Hunter (208) 331-4889

The Accessibility Improvements Program provides grants to eligible disabled tenants and homeowners in the State of Idaho to make necessary physical modifications to a dwelling that improve the accessibility of that unit. The Program is funded from payments in the conciliation of Fair Housing Act accessibility complaints where a determination has been made that the property involved in the complaint cannot be retrofitted to comply with the requirements of the Act. Grants are available to households with low to moderate incomes who establish a need for the grant. Applications are reviewed by the fund administrator and disability organizations. Successful grantees are provided technical assistance in finding and making improvements, and the results are inspected and certified by disability organizations.

2000-968 Pocatello Fair Housing Planning Process
Pocatello, Idaho
Contact: Steve Ernst (208) 234-6184

Upon advice of the Community Development and Research Department, the City Council formed a Citizens' Fair Housing Committee in the Summer of 1997 to help implement the City's Fair Housing Plan which is required under the Consolidated Planning Program. Steve Ernst of the Community Development staff coordinated and facilitated the Committee's work. Over the course of several months, this group guided the research and development of both the Analysis of Impediments(AI) and the Fair Housing Plan. As new stakeholders (such as the apartment owner's association) were identified, they were invited to participate with the Committee. Rather than utilizing an outside consulting service to do the Analysis process, a working sub-committee was apointed to gather data and write the draft AI and Fair Housing Plan. That subcommittee used several methods of gathering data, including; surveys, interviews, census date, site visits and self-education. The strength of the City's AI process is that they formed a committee of stakeholders to identify and prioritize issues in the community. The same committee developed and continues to carry out fair housing actions to address the impediments.

2000-1317 Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors Education Campaign
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Contact: Sue Shadley (208) 529-5600

The Fair Housing Committee of the Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors has undertaken an education and outreach campaign to further fair housing in Idaho Falls, a rural community in southern Idaho. Sue Shadley, the Fair Housing Committee Chair, has served on the Committee since 1986. The Committee has undertaken many activities including: an Ethnic Heritage Fair; a fair housing coloring contest for kids; signing up all members under a Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement for realtors; conducts training for all new realtors for the State Association of Realtors; composed a word checklist for advertising for local newspapers and the MLS service and periodically monitors ads; reeducation of realtors and the public at large; signed declaration of support of Fair Housing laws with the Mayor and published it in the paper; conducts Fair Housing seminars. Most recently, the Association held training for its community with a featured speaker from the Intermountain Fair Housing Council.

2000-450 Creative Billboard Advertising Promotes Fair Housing
Nampa, Idaho
Contact: Anita M. Flores (208) 466-8806

The City of Nampa, Idaho installed two huge billboards proclaiming Nampa to be a "Fair Housing Community". Atop the billboard read the slogan "Fair Housing Protects Us All." More than 25 Nampans representing a cross section of the community posed for the picture on the billboards. Since local residents appear in the picture, the billboard was particularly eye-catching and appealing to neighbors in this small community. Across the base of the billboard, a toll-free number was printed: 1-800-717-0695 so that the public could get more fair housing information. The billboards were produced by the Nampa Fair Housing Committee's Education and Outreach Campaign, in an effort designed to increase awareness in Nampa of Fair Housing laws. The City Council approved CDBG funds for the project.

2000-1343 Raise the Roof 2000
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Dawn M. Davis (208) 334-1990

Volunteer project to promote Affordable Housing. This year's project will help residents of the Atlasta Mobile Home Park, who have been displaced by commercial development. When they move to their new location in the MelloDee Thornton Mobile Home park, they will need to landscape their mobile home lots. Many of the residents are seniors, unable to do this themselves. The majority are low income homeowners with the financial resources to landscape their property. Raise the Roof teams will help them beautify their new neighborhood with trees, shrubs, colorful flowers, and green grass. These items have been donated to Raise the Roof 2000.

2000-1000 Downpayment Assistance/Low Interest Rate Financing/FHA Insured Loans to First time homebuyers
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Jim Lau (208) 331-4744

Downpayment Assistance/Low Interest Rate Financing/FHA Insured Loans to First time homebuyers

2000-1113 Finally Home!
Boise, Idaho
Contact: (208) 331-4847

The Finally Home! project is a program of the Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, Inc. (IPHBE, Inc.) offering free pre-purchase homebuyer education to all Idahoans. The IPHBE, Inc., its eight regional training partners, and several volunteer coordinators provide quality, consistent homebuyer education throughout the state. The six to eight hour classes taught by industry professionals use approved curriculum and textbooks and take the students through the home buying process from start to finish. Teaching in their area of expertise, the instructors provide up-to-date information and allow students the opportunity to interact with the people they will encounter during the homebuying process. Students learn about credit including the importance of good credit and how to repair bad credit, shopping for a home, financing the home, the closing process, how to maintain the home, etc. Not only is the education itself important, but many students will take advantage of the benefits offered to those who participate in homebuyer education, including loan programs with lowered mortgage insurance premiums, closing cost and down payment assistance, and more generous loan ratios. These benefits allow many low and moderate income purchasers to achieve homeownership when previously they were closed out of the housing market. Nearly 100 classes will be offered statewide during the year, educating over 1,500 potential homebuyers. Although the classes are open to everyone, the primary audience has been low to moderate income homebuyers including Idaho's growing Hispanic population and the Native American population. While the majority of classes are taught in English, Spanish language classes using Spanish materials and Spanish speaking instructors, are taught on a regular basis. Additionally, hearing impaired students are provided sign language interpreters at no cost to the student. The Finally Home! program is the result of the cooperative efforts of a diverse group of Idahoans. The IPHBE, Inc. Homebuyer Education Coordinator manages the statewide program, monitors classes, and provides support to the training partners. The training partners coordinate the classes, volunteers, and follow-up information. The IPHBE, Inc. Board of Directors is the governing body of the corporation and fifty-one organizations hold membership in the IPHBE, Inc.

2000-1881 Small Business Administration Lends Support to the Neighborhood Networks Initiative (Hubwide-ID)
Seattle, Washington
Contact: Tarrie Cooper (206) 220-5228

Neighborhood Networks is a community based initiative launched by HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing in September 1995. This initiative encourages the development of resource and computer learning centers in privately owned HUD assisted and/or insured housing. These centers work to build self-reliant neighborhoods that meet the needs of lower income families and seniors where they live. In the fall of 1997, the multifamily staff in the Northwest/Alaska Hub were assigned to lead a national working group to revise and update the Neighborhood Networks Business Plan format. In an effort to enhance and promote a fellow Federal Agency’s initiative, the Seattle District Office of the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA), provided the SBA/SCORE Business Plan Template to the working group to be used as a guide for this revision/update. HUD incorporated many items from the SBA Business Plan Template - including marketing, operations, and financial plan. This information was incorporated into the Neighborhood Networks (NN) Business Plan format made available February 1, 1998. Normally, available to the industry for a fee, SBA provided the SBA/SCORE Business Plan Template for use free of charge in HUD’s Neighborhood Networks Initiative. SBA/SCORE Business Plans are viewed in the community as useful tools for planning a new business and has been used successfully by thousands of small businesses. The SBA/SCORE Business Plan Template is recognized in the community by many partners. Incorporating information from the SBA/SCORE’s Business Plan Templates allows the Neighborhood Networks Centers to begin on a solid foundation and enables the centers to be successful in establishing objectives. SBA’s willingness to coordinate and collaborate with HUD and the Neighborhood Networks Initiative are to be commended. Such collaboration strengthens our agency’s programs and benefits the clients we serve.

2000-1506 IHFA Family Self-Sufficiency Program

Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) serves 34 of the 44 counties in Idaho with Section 8 Subsidized Housing and two Low-Rent Public Housing units, one in Kellogg (seniors) and one in Idaho Falls. All the counties have extensive rural areas and are served by four branch offices. Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) staff assist low-income families in their goal to achieve self-sufficiency through employment. The FSS Program has two key aspects to the success of the project. 1) Local case workers help families attain their objectives and 2) a video that encourages families to apply for the FSS program. Each family is assigned a local FSS case worker who meets with them regularly. A comprehensive plan is developed with each family that outlines employment and homeowner objectives. In many cases, the participants are referred to local service providers for additional services. Local service providers help families with needs that may include: child care subsidies, transportation, job training, job search, career assessments, GED, scholarships and grants, employment opportunities, small business development and health concerns. Nearly all participants have an ultimate goal to own their own home. Meetings are held approximately quarterly and training is provided related to: credit repair, budgeting, debt reduction, homeownership downpayment assistance programs, and financial planning for homeownership. In addition, all participants are referred to a local agency that provides homeownership education classes. The FSS video was developed to provide Section 8 and LRPH tenants who qualify for the FSS program with consistent information about the program. After viewing this 11 minute video, tenants are invited to complete a survey form requesting more information about the FSS program. As space in the program is available, these tenants are invited to an informational meeting where they have an opportunity to enroll in the FSS program. The video shows 3 separate families in various stages of the program. One single mom, a beginning FSS participant, is shown at the school where she is obtaining her GED. Another family , about half-way through their FSS contract, is unpacking at their subsidized rental home and talking about the quarterly Team meetings. Another single mom is talking about the new home she just purchased using FSS Escrow funds.

2000-878 Homeward Bound by Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Susan D. Rainey (208) 343-4065

Homeward Bound, originally funded by the City of Boise, the Northwest Area Foundation and other local corporations, is a model comprehensive two-year transitional housing program for homeless families with children. Homeward Bound client families are offered a full range of social services including career development, education, case management and counseling, budgeting and credit sessions, nutrition, home maintenance, and parenting workshops. The program uses scattered-site housing, which removes the stigma of living in a shelter and allows families to become part of a neighborhood and the community.

2000-2468 Interim Shelter & Transitional Housing Project
Nampa, Idaho
Contact: Captain James Sullivan (208) 467-6586

The "Interim Shelter & Transitional Housing Project" serves a nine county rural area in southwest Idaho by providing the only available shelter and services for families and single women experiencing homelessness. A nom-profit organization had operated a shelter serving 60 to 70 persons a night from 1994 through the fall of 1998. However, they ran into funding and operational difficulties that forced them to close. Shortly after closure, the building was condemned by the City of Nampa. In December 1998, a group of community and government leaders and agency directors came together to address this gap in services to the homeless. The agreed upon short term goal was to set up an "Interim Shelter Project"; the long term goal was to construct a new facility. The "Interim Shelter & Transitional Housing Project" was designed for an 18 month time frame. The Salvation Army in Nampa, Idaho, agreed to oversee this project which commenced operating July 1999. It is expected to be in existence at least through the end of the year 2000 (an 18 month period). Four motel rooms in close proximity to the organization's community center and a rental house located behind the community center have been leased by the Army. The goal of the "Interim Project" is to offer an opportunity to homeless families and single women to make changes in their lives that will lead to self-sufficiency and permanent housing. Project participants are required to avail themselves of case management services and can participate in all services of The Salvation Army available through their Emergency Day Shelter and Family Services Program. Such services include laundry, soup kitchen (breakfast & lunch), phone messaging center, phone service, employment information, computer training, counseling, youth center activities for kids in kindergarten through grades 12, summer day camp, clothing vouchers, etc. Hot evening meals are prepared and delivered to the participants' place of residence. The stay at the motel and rental house is limited to three months although extensions are available. Two agencies operating transitional housing have made their units available to the "Interim Shelter" folks. Some funds were available for rental assistance and security deposits but none have been available in year 2000 thus far. Serving the same area is a shelter for battered/abused women and children and just recently a shelter for men only has opened. Currently 58% of the funds needed to construct a new shelter have been committed, including the donation of land where that "old" shelter once stood.

2000-3074 Idaho Homeless Partnerships
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Melanie Curtis (208) 331-4724

Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) has provided leadership and support to nonprofit organizations serving rural Idaho to develop transitional housing units for the homeless. IHFA coordinates a statewide Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance program, which has enabled five nonprofit organizations to receive Supportive Housing Program funds for transitional housing projects. Along with the SHP program, IHFA administers the HOME program, and provides HOME grants to nonprofits to purchase and rehab transitional housing. Another partner with SHP and HOME, is the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle. Its Affordable Housing Program is a critical piece in the financing package for homeless providers.

2000-2623 The Advantage Group
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Jan P. Blickenstaff (208) 334-2470

The Advantage Group meets to coordinate local government infrastructure grant and loan programs managed by state and federal agencies. The group meets quarterly to discuss potential and /or mutual projects, program changes and for joint action. The Community Development Administrator of the Idaho Department of Commerce chairs the Group.

2000-2935 Housing Coordination & Policy Council(s)
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Connie G. Hogland (208) 334-1990

Several years ago, Idaho's Dept. of Commerce saw the need to bring housing agencies/industry officials together with non-profit providers, related governmental organizations and funding sources to discuss housing issues of mutual concern, possible new partnerships and resources. Meeting quarterly, it was a loose-knit group, but the information shared was invaluable. Later, it was turned over to the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. Under their direction, it solidified and was renamed the Housing Coordination & Policy Council. It is a gathering that all looks forward to attending on a quarterly basis. The agenda always includes a Housing Legislative Update, both local, state and federal; a discussion of Special Housing problems, Issues or Concerns; Reports on Available Affordable Housing Resources; Updates on New Housing Initiatives; and Other Business as needed. At least 40 housing representatives sit around a large table and exchange information, resources to leverage and possible solutions to housing challenges of their area. This past two years, the Community Builder Fellow, that had participated as an agency executive director in previous years, took the idea and Councils statewide. They now are organized and meet quarterly in Boise, Pocatello and Coeur d 'Alene, Idaho.

2000-2373 Idaho Rural Partnership
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Richard L. Gardner (208) 334-6113

The Idaho Rural Partnership joins diverse public and private resources in innovative collaborations to strengthen communities and improve life in rural Idaho. It is an unusual organization that attempts to integrate across programs, agencies, and subjects to better serve rural Idaho. We provide a neutral forum for rural stakeholders to identify pressing rural needs, formulate alternative responses, and collaboratively implement these actions. IRP tries to catalyze public and private partners to work together in ways that would not otherwise happen and to fill gaps in rural service.

2000-2703 Idaho Community Development Block Grant Administration Fair Housing Workshop
Boise, Idaho
Contact: Gloria Mabbutt (208) 334-2470

The purpose of this workshop was to provide training to grant administrators and local officials to assist them in meeting their fair housing certifications. The training focused on the requirement of grantees to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing. In that regard, trainees were provided with an overview of the purpose and scope of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. The training provided by HUD also discussed some of the resources and strategies to be used in identifying and eliminating impediments to fair housing choice. Finally, the training described the requirement to maintain records of the grantee’s actions to identify and remove fair housing impediments.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011