2000 Best Practice Awards

2000-1755 Downeast Mortgage Company/HUD Best Practice Agreement

Downeast Mortgage Company and the New Hampshire State Office have executed a Best Practice Agreement to expand mortgage financing to households that have not previously become homeowners, partly due to economic and ethnic barriers. These include African-American and Hispanic minorities, immigrants families, unmarried individuals, single-parent households and low-to-moderate income families. The Agreement set forth a series of actions in which Downeast Mortgage Corporation, working with the NH State Office of HUD agree to work together in good faith during a three year period. Both parties agreed to support the principles of the Agreement and ideas with each other.

2000-1766 Housing Access and Advocacy Program

The Housing Access and Advocacy Program was established in 1990 to ensure increased housing access and choices for disabled and deaf individuals throughout New Hampshire, as written under the FHAA of 1988. It provides training and education for disabled and deaf consumers, as well as local and state government. The program is designed to explain the following: A) What the FHAA of 1988 says with regard to access and creative approach, to increase knowledge as to what access means at the least expense possible for existing facilities; B) The importance of proper design and planning for new construction to ensure access to housing; C) Ensure that disabled and deaf consumer's understand their responsibility as well as their rights to housing access and choices in the housing market; D) Empower disabled individuals with rights and responsibilities through advocacy and education.

2000-1711 202/811 Workshop / Outreach - Fair Housing Presentation

202/811 workshop was held to introduce the 202/811 grant application process to sponsors in New Hampshire. Fair Housing Specialist, Persis Brown, presented Fair Housing information and Fair Housing's role in the review and scoring of the 202/811 grant applications.

2000-124 Home Show Outreach

In the past, the New Hampshire State Office (NHSO) has participated in the large home shows in the conducted throughout the State. The NHSO has always relied on the advertisements of the promoters and sponsors of the home shows to promote their presence and attract participants to their booth. This year the NHSO decided to promote their presence at these shows by using computer graphics programs to prepare postcard and flyer mailings. These flyers and postcards were mailed to organizations that deal with homeownership, civil rights, teachers, officers, non- profit organizations and contractors. The NHSO was provided with free tickets for a particular homeshow and these tickets were included in the flyers. The NHSO believes this project increased the visits to their booth by interested parties representing the targeted groups or their clients.

2000-1265 John F. Kennedy Alternative Housing Program

The John F. Kennedy Alternative Housing Program is a collaboration between two housing authorities in New Hampshire

This 88-unit public housing building is owned and managed by the Concord Housing Authority (CHA). All employees are employed by the Laconia Housing & Redevelopment Authority (LHRA). This agreement between the two housing authorities was developed in 1997 when LHRA applied for and received funding from the Health Care Transition Fund to begin an Alternative Housing Program on behalf of the CHA within one of their public housing buildings. The two housing authorities continue to collaborate.

This agreement now covers the Health Care Transition Fund Grants, an agreement with the State of New Hampshire under the Home and Community Based Care Waiver, and a Congregate Housing Services Grant. These Programs operate simultaneously within the building, and residents are made to feel part of one Program.

The JFK Alternative Housing Program offers frail, elderly people with disabilities the opportunity to live in the dignity of their own apartment and receive supportive services that are easily accessed within the building. Participants receive two meals daily, housekeeping, personal assistance, transportation to medical appointments, continued program support, emergency lifelines, nursing clinics, and educational and social programs. These services are designed to give participants the support needed to remain independent.

Over the past 3 years the program has delayed nursing home placement and de-institutionalized seven of the participants.

The evaluation report prepared by the University of New Hampshire, Department of Health Care Management, evidenced the fact that Alternative Housing Programs cost approximately $14,000 per person, per year, while nursing home care costs were almost triple at $40,000 per person, per year. We believe our program has allowed our participants to remain more independent for a greater period of time, therefore saving the state money and allowing them the greatest quality of life possible.

2000-1373 A Home Of Your Own

The New Hampshire Community Loan Fund was awarded a grant by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, pursuant to their Affordable Housing Program, to provide closing costs and financing assistance to people with developmental disabilities become first time homebuyers. New Hampshire Community Loan Fund receives referrals from social service agencies in New Hampshire who are working with this client group in the provision of physical rehabilitation therapy. Sharon Drake of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund does a complete work write-up, provides homeownership counseling and refers the applicant to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority who underwrite the mortgage loan pursuant to their First Time Homebuyer Program guidelines. In the rural areas Sharon Drake works closely with James H. Clary, Homeownership Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Development. This federal agency has loan funds that can write the interest rate down to 1%.

2000-677 Teen Health Clinic (THC)

Many teens in the Greater Manchester area (over 75% of those surveyed) indicated that they do not have access to any other source of medical care. This program was created to provide the above services to the teens of Manchester that have an unmet need. The mission of the Teen Health Clinic is to provide comprehensive primary care and social support services to Manchester's population of medically under-served adolescents. The Teen Health Clinic provides services that are specially adapted to meet the needs of teens in a safe, teen-friendly environment. The Teen Health Clinic offers physicals, immunizations, acute care, care for chronic medical conditions, hearing and vision screening, reproductive health care, nutritional counseling and limited mental health services to boys and girls ages 11-21. The Teen Health Clinic is open each day, and direct medical services are offered every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3pm to 7pm. A multidisciplinary staff that includes pediatricians, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, a social worker and a health educator/director provides services.

The Teen Health Clinic has also implemented a number of ancillary health programs, many in collaboration with local agencies. These programs are designed to provide parents and teens with the knowledge and skills necessary to reduce risky behavior and make healthy lifestyle choices. Some of these programs include: Tobacco Free Teens smoking cessation program, Exercise at the YMCA; Teen Group, a nutrition peer group and a support group on street management and family communication; Monthly HIV testing for Teen Health Clinic clients in collaboration with the Manchester Health Department. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester is providing clinical social work supervision of the Clinic's social worker, making access to the Mental Health Center and follow-up at the Teen Health Clinic easier for our client families.

Since opening, the Teen Health Clinic has provided services to 500 Manchester area teens who have made over 1,300 visits to the Clinic.

2000-2266 Emergency/Transitional/Permanent Housing

Open Arms Outreach, Inc., a non-profit organization has entered into a partnership with the Laconia Housing and Redevelopment Authority (LHRA). The LHRA provides Open Arms with office space so that it can assist individuals and families who need crisis intervention and financial assistance until they can get back on their feet again. Open Arms also owns an apartment building to provide housing until families can move somewhere permanent. The LHRA transfers calls from individuals they cannot assist to Open Arms, which uses its network to refer people to services if at all possible. Open Arms also enrolls people in the Family Self Sufficiency Program and assists those who are already in the program.

2000-2920 The Way Home

The Way Home helps homeless and at-risk households obtain and succeed in permanent housing through households needs assessment and goal setting; budget counseling; tenant education; landlord negotiations; referral to services; AmeriCorps Housing Advocates; The Family Furnishings Center; security deposit loan program; homeless prevention grants; and healthy home services.

2000-630 Truant Alternative Program at the Maple St. Youth Center

Youth suspended from local schools attend the program twice a week, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for homework help, career testing, values clarification and substance abuse testing.

2000-2093 The Rural Prosperity Project

Since 1994, WREN (Women's Rural Entrepreneurial Network) has demonstrated leadership, innovation and effectiveness in improving the economic lives of hundreds of low-income women in New Hampshire's most rural northern region. WREN's approach not only provides women with the technical assistance and skills necessary for business ownership, enterprise development and success but also builds a strong sense of community in a rural area. During 1998-99, WREN experience tremendous growth in the numbers of participants and requests for assistance. The organization also received significant funding through a CDBG grant. Funding for the Rural Prosperity Project was sought to increase WREN's organizational capacity to manage their rapid growth and expansion and to increase their capacity to provide over 400 participants with critical economic development assistance. Activities included: 1. Strengthening the capacity of WREN staff through the creation of new positions, increased hours for existing positions and obtaining outside expertise where necessary as they faced tremendous growth in numbers of participants and expansion of their facility. 2. The development of the WREN MarketPlace retail store to create expanded markets for participants' products, to assist in the economic revitalization of the town of Bethlehem and to provide an income stream for WREN. 3. Initiation of a formal outreach program to respond to the increasing demands to assist women throughout northern New Hampshire and border towns in Vermont. 4. Strengthening and expanding entrepreneurial offerings through Long Distance Learning via telebridge and Internet technology and development of the organization's website (WRENcommunity.org). WREN also explored and developed collective and individually-tailored solutions in website development, Internet marketing and networking to increase the markets, prosperity and sustainabilityof WREN businesses. 5. Exploration of several products that could be offered in the retail store and result in job creation for poor women and teen girls while supporting the organization. 6. Investigating third party sources and other methods for funding

2000-2225 New Hampshire Alliance of Regional Development Corporation

The New Hampshire Alliance of Regional Development Corporation (NHARDC) is a statewide 501(c)(3) organization which represents 14 regional development corporations (RDCs) covering most of the state. Its primary mission is to develop and maintain a collaborative working relationship among and support for its regional members in order that they can achieve their goals of promoting community and economic development by serving the financial and technical needs of their clients, most of whom are located in rural areas that are not actively served by technical and financial institutions.

2000-1161 Neighborfest

Manchester Neighborhood Housing Services has hosted "Neighborfest" for the past four years. The event has become a major city wide celebration that attracts the interest and participation of a broad spectrum of residents of the greater Manchester community, culminating a week-long national celebration of activities for NeighborWorks organizations across the country whose missions are to transform communities.

2000-309 Safe Kids Campaign / HUD Public Events

As part of a local Home Show, arrangements were made for the HUD New Hampshire State Office to partner with the SAFE KIDS Campaign Coalition to provide visitors with information about firearm safety and unintentional childhood injuries in the home. Information was available about keeping guns safely, teaching kids and teens about guns, and how to help keep our young people safe.

This project reinforces HUD's commitment to the community in implementing the "Community Gun Safety and Violence Reduction Initiative." It helps to protect children from the unintentional deaths and injuries associated with firearms that are accessible to children.

2000-266 Manchester Coalition for Youth

This Coalition was initially created by the Greater Manchester Chapter of the NAACP. The NAACP organized the preliminary meetings with local groups including representatives from the faith-based community, International Institute, Latin American Center, Manchester Housing Authority, State Representatives, Representatives from the Mayor's Office, the YWCA, Public Service of NH, the Manchester Superintendent of Schools, the Manchester Police Department, the Director of the City's Office of Youth Services, and the Senior Community Builder of the New Hampshire State Office. The meetings continued for over a year and half. During that period the coalition met on a monthly basis searching for ways to improve the life of the city's youth. The group became more formal creating its mission statement and changing into an independent coalition. As it became more established it sought funding from the City's Comprehensive Improvement Program. The funding request was for $2000 to be granted directly to the youth of the inner city of Manchester. The grants are limited to $500, the applications will be evaluated by a specific committee made up of individuals who are not involved with the funding or eligible for funding. The funds will be awarded by the Coalition to groups that responded to a simple application. The funds specifically cannot be granted to youth organization but rather to the youth themselves. The application forms have been made available to youth through children agencies, schools and the Office of Youth Services. The City's Office of Youth Services will act as the fiscal agent for these grants. In addition, the Coalition has adopted a new initiative that is working with the Manchester Police Department and youth by developing a local program modeled after the NAACP, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and Allstate Insurance Company program "The Law and You". This program establishes guidelines for youth related to interacting with law enforcement officials. These activities have made the Coalition a self-sustaining organization.

2000-2339 Lead Hazard Reduction Program Subgrantee Policies and Procedures - City of Nashua

The City of Nashua, is a subrecipient to NH Housing Finance Authority for Lead Hazard Reduction Program. The policies and procedures developed resulted in a toolbox for the effective and consistent administration of lead hazard reduction projects. This assures that the projects are in compliance with HUD requirements and grant rules of the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and the City of Nashua ordinances.

2000-2324 Public Outreach -FY2000 BOP Planning

As we entered our planning cycle for the FY2000 Business and Operating Plan, it was decided that public involvement in the planning of the BOP was desirable. To that end we prepared a letter addressed to various partners explaining the 2020 Management Reform Plan and the creation of Community Builders and Public Trust Officers. We stated that the BOP required us to identify the Department's goals, strategies for achieving these goals and actions needed to implement the strategies. These meetings were intended to include our many partners in the New Hampshire State Office BOP.

2000-616 Tri-State Public Housing Conference

This project involves the invitation of a REAC staff member to attend the annual three-day conference of the Public Housing Authorities of the States of New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont to address concerns about the REAC Inspection Process.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011