2000 Best Practice Awards
Program and Geographical Winners: Ohio
Best Practice: Akron Lean Based Paint Hazard
Control Program
Public Outreach Campaign Educates Community
about Lead Hazards
Akron.
The Akron Lead Based Paint Hazard Control Program works to eradicate childhood
lead poisoning. A joint effort by the city of Akrons Health Department
and the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation, the program has
established a public outreach campaign that includes education, blood lead
screenings for children, and hazard reduction and prevention in high-risk
dwellings. Funded through one of HUDs Community Development Block
Grants, the program also works with the Akron Childhood Lead Prevention
Program to provide additional services such as data collection, training
on cleaning methods and evaluation. Through the Akron Lead Based Paint Hazard
Control Program, Akron has reduced lead hazards in the homes of more than
100 low-to-moderate income residents. Since 1998 the program has conducted
more than 63 presentations and media events focused on the prevention of
lead poisoning.
Contact: Karen OConnor, Phone: (330)
375-2077
Tracking Number: 1137
Winning Category: Program (Office of Lead Hazard Control)
Best Practice: Brightening Our Future
Stories and Role-Playing Teach Children
about Fair Housing
Akron.
In the area surrounding Akron, middle school students are learning about
fair housing through an interactive educational curriculum called Brightening
Our Future. After reading fair housing stories, which appear in a book geared
to middle school-age children, a storyteller encourages student involvement
by asking questions and having students participate in role-playing games
that incorporate fair housing terms. The stories also have word searches
for correct/incorrect spelling and correct/incorrect usage of words and
terms. Children have the opportunity to learn about fair housing and the
concept of equality before they might experience the negative aspects of
discrimination. Since its inception in 1998, Brightening Our Future has
been presented at four middle schools in Summit County, including Highland
Middle School and Arlington Christian Academy. The program is promoted through
local school boards, administrations and educators. Brightening Our Future
has been so successful that organizations in California, Virginia and Pennsylvania
have replicated and implemented parts of it within their communities.
Contact: Vince Curry, Phone: (330) 253-2450
Tracking Number: 273
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)
Best Practice: Charlotte Schmidlapp Women Build
2000
Renovation Training Program Empowers Women
and Creates Affordable Housing
Cincinnati.
The Charlotte Schmidlapp Women Build 2000 project involves the gutting and
rehabilitation of a historic abandoned property in Avondale, an empowerment
zone in Cincinnati. The building will be turned into two condominiums for
resale to low-income families. The project, which will serve as a prototype
for the redevelopment of large older homes throughout the urban core, also
includes a training program for women in property renovation and repair,
a mentoring program for girls and an extensive volunteer component. Without
the combination of volunteer labor and the training program, the cost to
renovate the property would be prohibitive. More than 20 corporations, nonprofit
organizations and government agencies are involved in the project, and plans
are already underway to begin another renovation upon completion of this
first building.
Contact: Lawra J. Baumann, Phone: (513) 744-7001
Tracking Number: 1557
Winning Category: Program (Community Builders)
Best Practice: Tenant Based Assistance Program
Program Assists the Disabled with Rent
and Security Deposits
Cincinnati.
The Hamilton County Community Developments Tenant Based Assistance
Program, which closely resembles HUDs Section 8 Voucher Program, provides
low-income disabled individuals and families with ongoing monthly rental
assistance as well as security deposit assistance. With support from a Tenant
Based Assistance Grant, a resident can secure housing at participating housing
developments at a higher rent limit than in Section 8 housing. A resident
can move in only after the apartment passes Housing Quality Standards inspection.
If needed, the resident can extend the location deadline to up to 120 days.
Once a lease is signed, the lease is supplemented with monthly Housing Assistance
Payments, the amount of which depends on a residents income. In order
to renew an expired lease with the program, the tenant must requalify and
units must once again pass inspection. The program was made possible with
funds from HUD and the Hamilton County Community Development Department.
Since its inception in 1996, the Tenant Based Assistance Program has helped
approximately 160 low-income disabled individuals and families per year.
Contact: Susan Walsh, Phone: (513) 946-4882
Tracking Number: 874
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)
Best Practice: Volunteers of America Crossroads
Programs at Emergency Shelter Break Cycle
of Homelessness
Sandusky.
The Volunteers of America Crossroads assists homeless individuals and families
in obtaining and maintaining appropriate permanent housing. The organization
operates a 1,500 sq. ft. emergency shelter for homeless individuals and
a transitional housing program for homeless veterans, individuals and families.
Onsite services, such as case management, health care, drug and alcohol
counseling, HIV/AIDS educational training, money management training and
mental health case management, assist individuals in developing a self-sufficiency
plan that meets their goals. Participants move through a series of tiers
designed to break the cycle of homelessness and help them develop skills
necessary to secure permanent housing. Since the program became fully operational
in January 2000, 95 percent of participants have become employed; 33 percent
are participating in substance abuse and/or mental health counseling and
50 percent have moved to permanent housing. The program is funded with $540,100
from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; $1,203,884 from
United Way; $105,000 from the U.S. Department Veterans Affairs; $82,401
from such foundations as The Frost Parker Foundation and The Dorn Foundation;
and $586,000 from the local WalMart.
Contact: Sue Reamsnyder, Phone: (416) 621-9060
Tracking Number: 314
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)
Best Practice: Better Housing League, Emergency
Mortgage Assistance Program
Emergency Mortgage Assistance Helps Low-Income
Homeowners Pay the Bills
Cincinnati.
The Better Housing League has established a pilot programthe Emergency
Mortgage Assistance Programto provide grants and homeownership counseling
to very low-income households in the Greater Cincinnati area. Low-income
homeowners who are facing foreclosure due to job loss, illness, death of
the primary wage earner, or other circumstances beyond their control can
receive special assistance to bring their loan current if they have reestablished
an income stream that will enable them to continue future mortgage payments.
Housing counselors work with lenders to negotiate realistic repayment or
forbearance agreements. Since the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program
began in April 1997, a total of 144 low-income households, earning less
than 35 percent of the area median income have avoided foreclosure. Of those
families tracked 12 months after receiving a grant, 82 percent have been
successful in maintaining regular mortgage payments.
Contact: Dot Christenson, Phone: (513) 721-6855
Tracking Number: 1968
Winning Category: Program (Single Family Housing)
Best Practice: Ohio Section 8 Tenant Based Program
Survey
Survey of Public Housing Authorities Establishes
Industry Norms
Cleveland.
HUDs Cleveland Public Housing HUB and Ohio Housing Authority Conference
co-sponsored a survey of public housing authorities in Ohio administering
the Section 8 program. Despite 25 years of program experience, little in
the way of operating norms and workload measures are available for the Section
8 program. The project was designed to fill this need by benchmarking administrative
practices, staffing, processing timeframes and workload measures, and identify
good ideas. Extensive input was obtained from public housing authorities
in developing the survey, and approximately 75 percent of all public housing
authorities in the state responded. The HUD office analyzed and compiled
a report, provided it to the public housing authorities and presented it
at the conference. As a result of the project, public housing authorities
for the first time could benchmark themselves against industry norms for
the Section 8 program. In addition, HUD was able to better diagnose and
solve problems because it could identify performance and operating and staffing
norms, and departures from the norm.
Contact: Michael LaRiccia, Phone: (216) 522-4058
Ext. 7135
Tracking Number: 371
Winning Category: Geographic
Best Practice: Capital Advance Section 202/811
Closing Guide
Guide Clarifies Regulations and Expedites
Closings on New Homes
Columbus.
The Capital Advance Section 202/811Closing Guide is designed to help the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) clients in Ohio prepare
documents required to close a Capital Advance multifamily mortgage loan
for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly or Section 811 Supportive
Housing for Persons with Disabilities. The guide serves as a virtual one-stop
resource that cross-references controlling regulations, policies and directives.
In an era of regulatory streamlining, the guide sets forth reliable standards
promoting a common understanding of the expectations of program participants
and the obligation of HUD to assure that conditions of the HUD Capital Advance
Commitment are met. The guide is primarily for closing attorneys and sponsors,
although it also contains materials that may be of interest to others in
the housing industry. Intended to assist both new and experienced participants
in HUD's Capital Advance Program, the guide arranges topics in a narrative
form and contains checklists, references, resources, and illustrative sample
formats. Because it clearly explains HUDs role, the guide helps manage
a clients expectations in advance of the closing, expediting legal
closing requirements. Delay is minimized and closings generally run smoothly.
Contact: William Cusack, Phone: (614) 469-5737
Ext. 8140
Tracking Number: 416
Winning Category: Program (Office of General Counsel)
Best Practice: Cleaning and HEPA Vacuum Videotapes
Instructional Videotapes Assist Parents
of Lead Poisoned Children
Columbus.
In Ohio, a set of videotapes provides instructions to parents of lead-poisoned
children on how to prevent further poisoning. One tape illustrates how to
use a cleaning kit to reduce lead dust in the home. Another set includes
step-by-step instructions on how to use HEPA vacuums, which are provided
to the public via local health districts across the state of Ohio. The videotapes
also include specific instructions on how to change the vacuum bag and decontaminate
the machine. Bowling Green State University and the Wood County Health District
partnered with the Ohio Department of Health on the project, and in-house
direction, production and filming greatly reduced costs. Thanks to the tapes,
HEPA vacuums have been loaned to renters, homeowners and landlords across
the state, and more than 500 cleaning kits have been dispersed to families
with lead-poisoned children.
Contact: Daniel Chatfield, Phone: (614) 466-1450
Tracking Number: 3084
Winning Category: Program (Office of Lead Hazard Control)
Best Practice: Office of Housing and Community
Partnerships Fair Housing Program
Funding Enables Small Communities to Focus
on Fair Housing
Columbus.
The Ohio Office of Housing and Community Partnerships is responsible for
administering more than $87 million in HUD funds every year in nonentitlement
cities and counties, and the office takes very seriously the fact that those
funds, as well as the many additional dollars of state and local funds,
are to be expended in a way that affirmatively furthers fair housing. Because
of this strong commitment to fair housing, the office has developed an ambitious
fair housing program that both enables and requires small communities around
the state to promote fair housing rights proactively and enforce fair housing
laws aggressively. The program has four components: (1) Standard Fair Housing
Program; (2) New Horizons Fair Housing Program; (3) Fair Housing Training
Opportunities; and (4) Ongoing Technical Assistance. Thanks to this initiative,
small communities around the state have a increased their capacity to address
fair housing issues significantly.
Contact: Joyce A. Hill, Phone: (614) 466-2285
Tracking Number: 1225
Winning Category: Geographic
Best Practice: The Ohio Fair Housing Congress
Fair Housing Organization Pools Resources
to Provide Services
Columbus.
The Ohio Fair Housing Congress, which was established in 1974, is the only
statewide fair housing organization in Ohio. Members include Community Development
Block Grant recipients, fair housing advocates, the Urban League and nonprofit
organizations. Members provide housing, counseling, advice and representation
for individuals, especially those who are victims of fair housing violations.
As a result of this work, the organization has developed closer ties with
government agencies at the national, state and local levels. Three annual
educational forums are held each year, and an organizational newsletter
regularly informs members of current issues.
Contact: Carl White, Phone: (614) 224-5409
Tracking Number: 970
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)
Best Practice: Somerset Homeownership Plan
Foreclosure Becomes Homeownership Opportunity
Columbus.
In conjunction with a foreclosure sale on a housing development in Columbus,
OH, the Somerset, a multifamily property formerly owned by HUD, the Columbus
HUD staff formulated a plan under the auspices of the U. S. Bankruptcy Court
that provided the Somersets residents the opportunity to become homeowners.
With the assistance of the local Legal Aid Society, the city of Columbus
Development Staff and the Somerset Resident Association, HUD developed a
five-year program. In addition to providing residents the opportunity to
purchase available units, HUDs strategy included counseling and job
training. The plan allowed the rest of the Somerset development to benefit
from improved property values and the stability of homeowner occupancy in
the rehabilitated units. It also provided an impetus for development in
the areas surrounding Somerset.
Contact: Alan Coupland, Phone: (614) 469-5737
Ext. 8204
Tracking Number: 3071
Winning Category: Program (Multifamily Housing)
Best Practice: Visual Aid Kit for Lead Prevention
Visuals Educating Decision Makers about
Lead Poisoning
Columbus.
A simple kit from the Ohio Department of Health is serving as a visual tool
to educate legislators and others in Ohio about how a small amount of lead
dust can make a typical home unhealthy for children. The kit includes a
Pelican case that contains vials of lead dust. Each vial contains 12 percent
lead paint dust that shows how much dust it would take to contaminate a
typical 1,500 square foot home. The amount matches a HUD action level for
lead dust. The kit serves as an alternative to more traditional tools, such
as brochures.
Contact: Daniel Chatfield, Phone: (614) 466-1450
Tracking Number 3085
Winning Category: Program (Office of Lead Hazard Control)
Best Practice: Dayton Rehabarama
Rehabilitation and Exhibition of Homes
Boosts Sales and Property Values
Dayton.
Dayton Rehabarama rehabilitates decaying neighborhoods by renovating abandoned
and dilapidated homes in Dayton, Ohio. After the homes have been restored,
Rehabarama showcases them in a festival with homes which were recently built.
Rehabarama was held in 1993, 1995 and 1999. In each event, Rehabarama purchased
the homes for as little as $10,000 and resold them at four times their value.
The restoration of these homes has a positive effect on surrounding neighborhoods
where property values have appreciated by at least 50 percent.
Contact: Michael Turner, Phone: (937) 333-3652
Tracking Number: 2551
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Montgomery County Lead Hazard Reduction
Program
Montgomery County Lead Hazard Reduction
Program Has Educated the Community and Made 178 Homes Lead-Safe
Montgomery County. The Lead Hazard Reduction Program is a multi-jurisdictional
effort to train workers and contractors in lead abatement techniques as
well as to provide educational and outreach services to affected families.
In 1999, 6.1 percent of the 3600 children screened for lead poisoning in
Montgomery County had elevated blood lead levels, surpassing the national
average of 4.4 percent. The program makes a special effort to focus its
training on low- and moderate-income workers as well as Section 3 individuals
in order to increase the number of qualified lead abatement workers while
helping to decrease unemployment. Since the programs inception in
1995, 446 homes have been assessed for lead hazards, and 178 units have
been made lead-safe. Over 1500 cleaning kits have been distributed to reduce
the amount of paint chips and contaminated dust found in aging homes. The
program has presented over 1000 educational presentations and enabled 150
individuals to become certified to work in the lead industry. Referrals
are also provided to social services such as food pantries and counseling
centers for families with needs beyond lead hazard control.
Contact: Judy Mott, Phone: (937) 225-6318
Tracking Number: 2026
Winning Category: Program (Office of Lead Hazard Control)
Best Practice: Greene and Clark County Fair Housing
Consortium
Consortium Offers Variety of Services to
All Sectors of Community
Xenia. The
Greene and Clark County Fair Housing Consortium was established after the
report "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice" highlighted
the need to increase the communitys awareness about fair housing laws
and practices. By pooling resources from the surrounding communities of
Greene and Clark County, as well as the cities of Xenia and Beavercreek,
the consortium has been able to offer a multitude of services. The consortium
has conducted educational seminars on fair housing laws, tenant-landlord
rights and responsibilities, and recorded fair housing law compliance. Traditional
services, such as educational material, radio and video public service announcements
developed in conjunction with the Springfield Fair Housing Office and the
Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, are offered as well. The consortium has
expanded its endeavors to include mobile home parks and the Hispanic migrant-farmer
community. Members have researched mobile home park laws and provided training
to park owners, operators and residents. In addition, fair housing materials
have been translated into Spanish to help educate Ohios migrant-worker
community. The consortiums biggest success is its newsletter circulation
with more than 10,000 subscribers from the housing industry.
Contact: Debra Mayes, Phone: (937) 562-5350
Tracking Number: 936
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)
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