2000 Best Practice Awards

2000-505 City of Oklahoma City Emergency Home Repair Program
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Emergency Home Repair Program provides emergency repair of life threatening deficiencies for lower income households. The program is administered by Community Action Agency utilizing CDBG funds. Only lower income owner occupant households are eligible. Working on referrals and inquiries stimulated by public announcements, CAA interviews occupants during an application process, inspects the dwelling for life threatening code violations, estimates cost, and conducts and supervises repairs. The Community Action Agency maintains its own carpentry repair crews and contracts annually for the electrical and plumbing repairs based on an hourly rate. Program benefit is limited to $2,500 per household for material costs with no limit on the cost of labor. 147 units are repaired annually for an average program delivery cost of $4,720.

2000-2002 Lead based paint

The authority has taken the lead in the state as far as providing lead safe housing to our residents. We started by performing XRF testing for the presence of lead based paint. Once areas were identified we began searching for viable methods of abatement, encapsulation, or enclosure. two houses were used as a proto types to verify cost and effectiveness. We are now finishing our last family development. Sixteen separate contracts completed the work which started in January 1996. The authority also has certified personnel on staff to issue or work was performed according to criteria established by HUD and the department of environmental quality. We currently have an interim containment staff that is able to handle any lead based paint emergency in accordance with current requirements.

2000-1443 Fair Housing Training Workshop for Oklahoma HUD Grantees

In celebration of Fair Housing Month, a one-day training workshop was held on April 20, 2000 for grantees throughout the State of Oklahoma that receive HUD funds. Approximately 35 organizations were represented. The three basic outcome objectives were: (a) raise awareness of Fair Housing requirements, (b) provide practical guidance for compliance, ©decrease grantee risk of monitoring findings and valid complaints. HUD included all the principal organizations that have Fair Housing educational and compliance monitoring responsibilities in the planning and conducting of the event. A special effort was made to encourage attendance from small towns and rural areas.

2000-1273 City of Lawton Housing and Community Development Department

The City of Lawton Housing and Community Development Department sponsored a Fair Housing/Fair Lending Conference on April 6, 2000. The theme of the conference was "Housing For ALL Justice For All". The following topics were discussed at the conference: (1) What is Fair Housing?; (2) Fair Lending Requirements; (3) Legal Requirements Affecting Military Families; (4) Financial Budgeting; (5) Fair Housing and Rental Property; (6) Accommodations to Persons with Disabilities; (7) Real Estate and Fair Housing Laws; (8) Public Housing Home Ownership Opportunities; (9) Oklahoma Landlord Tenant Act; (10) Fair Housing Act and Residential Transactions; (10) Improving Your Credit; (11) Permitted Use Buildings; (12) Fair Housing Complaint Process; (13) Rights and Responsibilities; (14) Home Ownership Opportunities; (15) Revitalizing Lawton View; (16) Housing and Supportive Services; (17) City of Lawton Housing Needs. The City of Lawton also provided a guest speaker for the Fair Housing Training Workshop For Oklahoma HUD Grantees on April 20, 2000. This workshop was conducted at the Metro Tech Springlake Campus in Oklahoma City. The City of Lawton discussed how it accomplished its Analysis of Impediments.

2000-261 Hugo Housing Community Resource Center

The program is based on the creation and strengthening of various linkages
including; linking families closer together, linking the housing community closer
together with a new vision for the future and linking the local community with our housing communities into a partnership relationship. During 1998 the Authority converted a four-bedroom duplex into a community resource center at a low rent housing addition called "Rosewood Addition". This community is home to approximately 300 persons. The community resource center provides: parenting and family skills, tutoring, GED training, computer training, literacy training, life skills training, job skills training, sporting and cultural programs, a comprehensive summer program, holiday activities and referrals.

2000-1087 Acquisition of Former Phillips University Campus

The City of Enid applied for a Section 108-loan guarantee for $1,906,250 as part of a total financing package of $6,112,500 toward the acquisition of an existing college campus in Enid, Oklahoma, formerly known as Phillips University. Phillips University filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 1, 1998, and closed the doors of the university four months later. The ability to reopen this higher education facility was the single most important economic development activity that had occurred in recent history for the City of Enid. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education project that the Enid campus will have an enrollment of approximately 4,500 by the year 2005. The City of Enid wanted to develop a viable community, specifically benefiting low and moderate income persons, through the expansion of economic development opportunities. The purchase of the university and the retention of jobs would provide for growth in population, employment and otherwise ensure that Enid retain its status as a regional educational center, consistent with the goals and objectives set out in its five-year Consolidated Plan.

2000-904 May 3rd Tornado Recovery

On May 3, 1999, a series of tornadoes swept through central Oklahoma, destroying or seriously damaging 8,000 buildings and killing 46 people. In response, the Oklahoma City HUD Office initiated a recovery effort that included an Advance Team (A Team) and a Recovery Team (R Team) that:

• Attended all FEMA briefings, and kept HUD and FEMA apprised of housing related issues;
• Obtained HUD policy waivers to allow Public Housing Authorities and cities latitude to assist in the rebuilding effort;
• Assisted FEMA in locating temporary housing resources and developed a database of over 1200 available units (HUD and private market properties);
• Worked with the victims and the HUD listing broker to lease HUD real-estate-owned (REO) properties;
• Helped open and staff 5 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), including working directly with victims to provide information/referrals to other housing resources and status of FHA loans; and
• Sponsored a comprehensive Housing Fair for tornado victims (approximately 2 months later).

2000-639 Fair Housing Council of Greater Oklahoma

The Fair Housing Council works diligently to counsel the public on fair housing concerns and/or complaints. The Council works closely with local agencies to increase affordable housing and home ownership.

2000-902 Housing Opportunities through OKC Partners in Homeownership

In late 1995 the Oklahoma City HUD office undertook to establish a partnership which included not only HUD but all parties interested in home ownership. During the past 4-5 years, the Partnership has grown throughout the community with the aid and persistence of many volunteers and with a coordinator that was furnished by the City of Oklahoma City. The partnership has now grown to a self-sufficient organization that is in the process of obtaining permanent staff and office space. The City of Oklahoma City has seven Community Development Housing Organizations (CHDOs) that have been an important part of the partnership along with the City of Oklahoma City and various lenders and other organizations. During the past year the benefits of the Partnership have really began to blossom. Freddie Mac furnished some of the seed money funding and has also become involved with the Partnership and HOME dollars from the City of Oklahoma City have been used to provide the rehabilitation and new construction of infill housing. Each of the 7 CHDOs have begun rehabilitation work on homes with the NRSA and some of them are in the construction phase of new in-fill homes. In most instances, these are the first new homes in the neighborhoods in the over 20 years. Each CHDO, along with the Partnership has sponsored a HomeBuyer Fair in their respective neighborhoods during the past year. The Partnership, in conjunction with the City of OKC, has developed an over-income down-payment assistant program to be use in the NRSA. In addition, there have been over 2,300 potential homeowners that have graduated from one of the homebuyer education classes administered by the Partnership.

2000-504 Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area Economic Development Program

The City of Oklahoma City has established a very strong economic development program through both entitlement and competitive grant programs. Recent public economic development investment has conservatively stimulated over $55,822,000 in private investment and created 662 jobs. Oklahoma City’s successful economic development efforts have focused on using federal money to maximize private investment in the community. The programs used by Oklahoma City include the following CDBG Economic Development Funding HUD CDBG Small Business Assistance HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program HUD Economic Development Initiative HUD Brownfields Economic Development Initiative HUD Enterprise Community Small Business Assistance Programs Revolving Loan Fund EDA Murrah District Recovery Program HUD Recognizing the total resources available through these programs, the City of Oklahoma City has structured a program that addresses Economic Development on all levels within the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area.. A small business assistance loan program is administered through the Community Action Agency making loans for 10,000 to 200,000. Larger gap financing loans for the expansion and start up of major employers are referred to the Community Development Division of the City’s Planning Department.

2000-2123 Rural Rental Homeownership Program

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation’s (HACN) Rural Rental Program is a homeownership program that targets families with very low income, generally less then 30% of median income. A family is selected to participate from our homeownership waiting list. The family’s monthly payment is based on the Section 8 payment formula. The family will pay a portion of the monthly rent and the HACN subsidizes the remaining portion of the monthly payment with rental assistance funds from NAHASDA. A portion of the monthly payment is put into an escrow account. At the end of a 3-year period, the family can use their escrow money to buy down the cost of the home. During this 3-year period, educational opportunities are made available through grants such as Drug Elimination and EDSS. This enables the homebuyer to upgrade their income by getting the training they need to better themselves.

2000-3012 Chitimacha Tribe Hurricane Evacuation Route

In cooperation with local city, parish, and state government a hurricane evacuation route was built across lands owned by the tribe. A bond issue was authorized by the parish, approved by the local city councils and the State of Louisiana. Tribal Payments In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) funds to the State were pledged to support the bonded indebtedness and the Tribe invested over $1,000,000 dollars in tribal funds to complete the $5 million plus deal.

2000-2986 Independent Living Services for Youth

The purpose of the organization is to (1) provide assistance to youth who are living independently of their families, currently enrolled and regularly attending school, and independently supporting themselves and (2) make distributions to organizations . . . providing support services and materials to these youth. The objective was to keep every independent living student in school as long as possible, with graduation the ultimate goal. The strategy was straightforward - provide access to community resources already available, financially support access to goods and services needed by students to remain in school, and develop support systems for these students. First to be put in place were processes for identifying and verifying independent living students. At the same time, the organization began an inventory of the resources available in the community. An ILSY resource directory was made available to every ILSY student in Norman High School. Many of those solicited during the directory process became supporters and advocates of the program. The initial outpouring of support encouraged the ILSY Board to support expansion of services to the students each year. Encouraged by Norman Public School administrators, weekly student assistance program (SAP) meetings were begun. Local church support groups host weekly SAP luncheons, and several provide funds to pay bills and meet other needs each month as ILSY sponsors. The cost for all this effort has been surprisingly small. The budget of the ILSY Board has been lean, with less that one percent being used for administrative costs. This has been accomplished by many of the programs (i.e., Boot Strap and Student Sponsorship) being self-funding services.

2000-2141 Providence apartments sober living community

In August, 1995 the Oklahoma City housing security corporation, a subsidiary of the Oklahoma City housing authority, realized a long-standing dream with the opening of Providence apartments. The concept of a sober living community medium with the rehabilitation of an abandoned apartment complex. a 1.5 million dollar renovation was accomplished and 47 units fully occupied by January 1996. The apartments now proudly boasts of a secure, a drug free and alcohol free community that is valued by the surrounding community. The security corporation coordinated efforts with the department of housing and urban development, the neighborhood association, the city of Oklahoma City, and a local bank for finance. A local drug and now call hold treatment center operates the sober living community. Occupancy is restricted to those who have successfully completed a dread and now call treatment program prior to entering the apartments. On-site case management including treatment plans for each resident support groups, and therapeutic activities are available.

2000-2884 Drug Elimination Mini-Grant Program

Incorporated Resident Organizations are eligible to apply to become sub-grantees under the Drug Elimination Program Grant. Applicants identify local needs, partners and solutions/strategies to reduce substance abuse and crime within their own communities.

2000-2673 Choctaw Homebuyers Advantage Program (CHAP)

The Choctaw Homebuyers Advantage Program was established by the Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation in order to address the needs for homeownership of the Choctaw people. The Choctaw Nation along with its partnerships with Freddie Mac, PMI, Washington Mutual and First Americans Mortgage Corp. formed a loan program for Choctaw Tribal members to purchase homes with as little as 1% down payment with assistance from the Choctaw Nation. This little down payment requirement can mean the difference when an individual is seeking to become a homeowner. The Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation has made this program available in eight states including Oklahoma, Texas, California, Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. The Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation also offers other loan products to assist Native Americans located in our servicing area. For example, the individuals can obtain financing through other organizations such as Rural Development and local banking institutions. This helps us establish good working relationships with businesses, organizations, and government agencies. The Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation also offers a HOME program which is a leverage loan program to assist low income families. We want to greatly reduce the barriers Native Americans face in their quest for home ownership.

2000-2345 Tulsa District Corps of Engineers and Southern Plains ONAP Partnership

The Southern Plains Office of Native American Programs (SPONAP) and the Tulsa District Army Corps of Engineers have developed a partnership. Through this partnership the Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHE’s) in Oklahoma have been able to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Corps to provide assistance in procuring the best possible engineering, architectural and construction contracts. The Corps provides their staff expertise on a cost reimbursable basis to the Tribes and TDHEs. Construction oversight can also be provided on this basis. The Corps does not compete with the private sector, they act as the advocate for the Tribes for oversight and management. Twenty-six Tribes in Oklahoma have signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Corps. In FY-98, three projects were completed using this oversight and in FY-99, eighteen projects were completed and for FY-00, currently they are working on twenty-one projects.

2000-2156 Bicycle patrol

The Oklahoma City housing authority security department bicycle patrol consists of housing security officers who received special training in performing duties while riding a bike. They are able to interact directly with the residents. The bicycle increases their opportunity to extend their patrol coverage and shorten response time on developments.

Content Archived: April 20, 2011