2000 Best Practice Awards

Best Practice: Certified Loan Officer Designation

Certification for Loan Officers Improves Consistency

Henderson. The need for standardization and consistency in lending practices resulted in this new certification offered to Nevada's mortgage loan officers for the first time through a partnership headed by the Nevada Mortgage Bankers Association and the Nevada Association of Mortgage Brokers. The mortgage group is developing the Certified Nevada Mortgage Professional designation to advance technical expertise and curb lending abuses in the mortgage lending industry. The credential allows industry leaders to develop academic criteria with governmental organizations that address community needs and ensure equality.

Contact: Debbie Hedderly, Phone: (702) 524-8991
Tracking Number: 269
Winning Category: Geographical

Best Practice: Aid for AIDS of Nevada

AIDS Assistance Organization Provides Comprehensive Services To Las Vegas Community

Las Vegas. Aid for AIDS of Nevada coordinates a one-stop location to address both social service and emotional needs of individuals and families living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. The organization works to mitigate the fear, stigma and ignorance associated with the disease. Twelve staff and 120 volunteers provide comprehensive services, including housing assistance, education, meal distribution, buddy/companion programs, transportation, financial assistance, medical services, and legal and counseling referrals. Private foundations and public-sector partners provide funds and resources.

Contact: Randy Reinoso, Phone: (702) 382-2326
Tracking Number: 767
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)

Best Practice: Caminar Group Home

Change in Service Population Orientation Saves Group Home

Las Vegas. A working partnership between the HUD Las Vegas Field Office and the owner and management agent of the Caminar Group Home in Las Vegas saved the former mental health facility from a $114,000 delinquency and opened the door for persons with AIDS to obtain housing. When Nevada stopped funding mental health facilities in 1995, the 12-unit Caminar Group Home lost its revenue source and occupancy declined. Facing foreclosure on a HUD-held mortgage and lacking operating funds, the owner applied to HUD to change the occupancy status to meet another severe community need—housing for physically handicapped persons with AIDS. No debt service claims or special claims had been prepared or submitted since 1997, resulting in the property delinquency. The field office encouraged the owner to hire a consultant to computerize the historical records in order to process the delinquent claims. HUD’s Funding Center then processed all claims and offset more than $112,000 to debt service. State agencies were contacted to provide operating funds.

Contact: Sharon Bardill, Phone: (605) 578-8691
Tracking Number: 510
Winning Category: Program (Housing - Multifamily)

Best Practice: Truckee Meadows Fair Housing - Building Permit Tracking Process

Outreach Letter Ensures New Construction Complies with Fair Housing Act

Reno. Truckee Meadows Fair Housing, a nonprofit, uses an easily replicable cost-efficient process to notify builders and owners of their responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. By sending a certified letter to builders and owners who are planning to build multifamily dwellings, Truckee Meadows ensures that owners and builders learn about the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act before construction begins. The letter includes a brief summary of the seven design elements included in the Accessibility Guidelines, a list of available resources (including HUD's Fair Housing Act Design Manual), and an offer to assist with any fair housing issues. This simple outreach activity educates owners and builders and reminds them that violations of the law could result in enforcement actions.

Contact: Katherine Copland, Phone: (775) 324-0990
Tracking Number: 1202
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)

Best Practice: Lockwood Resident Empowerment and Housing Preservation Project

Residents Organize to Purchase Ownership of Property, Maintain Affordable Housing

Lockwood. Residents of the Lockwood Mobile Home Park formed a nonprofit organization to purchase their park from the Internal Revenue Service. HUD and numerous nonprofits, including the Rural Community Assistance Corporation, Washoe Senior Law Project and the Affordable Housing Resource Council, helped park residents complete the complicated transaction by providing training, technical assistance, pro bono legal assistance, financing and support. Individual households will continue to own their mobile homes, while a cooperative will own the land, infrastructure, apartments and manager’s unit. To preserve affordability, the park will reserve a percentage of housing for low- and moderate-income households. The majority of residents are senior citizens, disabled, or female heads of households. Low- and moderate-income residents occupy more than 60 percent of the park, which has 94 spaces for manufactured housing and 12 manufactured housing apartments.

Contact: Eileen Piekarz, Phone: (775) 324-1870
Tracking Number: 524
Winning Category: Geographical

Content Archived: April 20, 2011