HUDLines Region IX News
Serving (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and Pacific)

May 2014

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Note from the Regional Administrator
Ophelia B. Basgal

HUD Region IX is a national leader in promoting energy efficiency and green design of affordable housing in California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. The region has worked collaboratively with our partners to implement some of the most innovative approaches to lowering energy use and fostering creative architectural design.

I am pleased that four HUD Region IX housing developments were selected as winners of the HUD Secretary's Design Awards. In fact, the four recipients were the only winners for this year!

All four winners were housing developments in California with amazing architectural designs and all employ energy efficient systems. The winners are:

  • 28th Street Apartments in Los Angeles, owned by Clifford Beers Housing
  • Kelly Cullen Community in San Francisco, owned by the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp. (TNDC)
  • King's Beach Housing Now in Lake Tahoe, owned by Domus Development
  • Sierra Bonita Apartments in West Hollywood, owned by the West Hollywood Community Housing Corp.

Read more about these affordable housing developments and the design award that each won at HUD Secretary Design Awards

King's Beach affordable housing wins design award: Lake Tahoe News (www.laketahoenews.net/2014/05/kings-beach-affordable-housing-wins-design-award/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=
Feed%3A+LakeTahoeNews+%28Lake+Tahoe+News%29)

President Obama Selects GRID Alternatives as Champion of Change

The Obama Administration honored nine individuals at the April 2014 White House Solar Summit for their leadership and innovation in deploying solar power. Each recipient was acknowledged for their commitment and dedication in promoting solar power. GRID Alternatives was honored for its national work in solar energy. GRID Alternatives co-founder Tim Sears was present to receive the award and Erin Mackie, co-founder, was unable to attend.

Champions of Change—GRID Alternatives: White House website (www.whitehouse.gov/champions/solar-deployment/tim-sears)

President Obama's Climate Action Plan and HUD's Better Building Challenge

On May 9, President Obama, joined by HUD Secretary Donovan and Department of Energy Secretary Moniz were in Mountain View, California, to speak about solar deployment commitments from residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, as well as highlighting energy efficiency announcements related to the President's Climate Action Plan.

HUD received commitments from affordable housing owners and solar providers that will generate over 150 megawatts of on-site solar in affordable housing within the next three years. These commitments are part of over 200 commitments from residential, commercial, and industrial sectors that total over 500 megawatts of solar when deployed - enough to power nearly 80,000 homes - and energy efficiency investments that will lower bills for more than 1 billion square feet of buildings.

To keep a focus on energy efficiency, HUD Region IX joined with the agency's Office of Economic Resilience on April 17 to host the first Regional Convening of the federal Better Building Challenge for multifamily partners. The Challenge is a national leadership initiative to create an energy efficiency strategy for the federal portfolio that reduces energy use by 20 percent within 10 years. The expansion of the Better Buildings Challenge to multifamily housing is a key element of the President's Climate Plan, which also includes the goal of 100 megawatts of installed renewable capacity on site at federally subsidized housing by 2020.

HUD Regional Administrator Ophelia Basgal kicked off the event, followed by California Public Utilities Commission energy reports; Department of Energy's Data Accelerator initiative; and HUD updates on the national initiative and policy incentives. The event included discussions on financing strategies, energy data access and various issues on implementation challenges. The highlights and outcomes included a presentation on the "Big Reach" portfolio investment planning tool and template and an extensive discussion and collaboration with utility companies on data sharing and access.

If you're interested in joining the Better Buildings Challenge, please contact Wayne Waite at wayne.w.waite@hud.gov.

California Congresswoman Doris Matsui Thanks the HUD Sacramento Field Office

Congresswoman Doris Matsui, CA-6, joined with HUD staff on April 25 at the federal agency's Sacramento Field Office at the John E. Moss Federal Building to celebrate 50 years of commitment and outstanding work in the Sacramento area. The HUD Sacramento Field Office will close permanently on May 16. HUD Region IX Deputy Regional Administrator Wayne Sauseda said that HUD will remain committed to providing the Sacramento area the full range of HUD services and programs.

900 HUD employees affected in plan to close 16 field offices: Federal Times (www.federaltimes.com/article/20130425/FACILITIES02/304250002/900-HUD-employees-affected-plan-close-16-field-offices)

HUD reorganization will close dozens of field offices, affect 900 workers: Federal News Radio (www.federalnewsradio.com/485/3300041/HUD-reorganization-will-close-dozens-of-field-offices-affect-900-workers)

Transforming for the 21st Century: Small Office Closures

Meet the New HUD Phoenix Field Office Director, Stephanie Smelnick

HUD selected Stephanie Smelnick as the new HUD Phoenix Field Office Director effective April 6. She has been with HUD Region IX for 25 years working in a number of leadership positions in the Phoenix Field Office. Ms. Smelnick's past experience and management training have prepared her well for the position.

HUD is also reviewing applications at this time for a new HUD Las Vegas Field Office Director.

Welcome to New HUD Phoenix Field Office Director

City of Livermore Hosts First-Ever Mayor's Summit on Homelessness

On April 30, Mayor John Marchand of the City of Livermore, California, hosted his first Mayor's Summit on Homelessness and welcomed the 200-plus attendees before speaking of the city's policy and approach to ending homelessness. HUD was ably represented by Ed Cabrera, who spoke about the "Housing First" principles that have proven to be effective. Mayor Marchand also announced his commitment to the Mayors Challenge to End Veterans Homelessness (https://www.onecpd.info/homelessness-assistance/mayors-challenge/) and invited elected officials from nearby Pleasanton and Dublin to join him in making this commitment on behalf of their cities.

Summit to address Tri-Valley's homeless problem: Inside Bay Area News (www.insidebayarea.com/News/ci_25623643/Summit-to-address-TriValleys-homeless-problem)

Solutions to homelessness sought in Livermore summit: Contra Costa Times (www.contracostatimes.com/contra-costa-times/ci_25670499/solutions-homelessness-sought-livermore-summit)

Mayor's Summit on Homelessness: Official City Website (www.cityoflivermore.net/citygov/cd/hhs/mayors_summit_on_homelessness/default.asp)

HUD Awards Nearly $311 Million Continuim of Care Grants to Service Providers in California, Arizona, Nevada, Guam and Hawaii

HUD announced $1.56 billion for Fiscal Year 2013 Continuum of Care grant funding. These grants support a variety of programs including street outreach, client assessment, and direct housing assistance to individuals and families with children who are experiencing homelessness. HUD plans to award additional grant funding to support hundreds of other local programs in the coming weeks.

Local homeless programs receive $10.7 Million in federal funds: KHON 2 (http://khon2.com/2014/04/08/local-homeless-programs-receive-10-7m-in-federal-funds/)

GHURA Gets Over $1 Million in Federal Grant Funding: Pacific News Service (www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44021:ghura-gets-over-1-million-in-federal-grant-funding&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156)

Hawaii awarded $10.7 million to fight homelessness: KGMB-TV (www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/25198766/hawaii-awarded-107-million-to-fight-homelessness)

HUD Continuum of Care Grants: HUD Website

HUD Awards Grants for Homeless Services: KNCO.com (http://knco.com/hud-awards-grants-for-homeless-services/)

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www.hud.gov 

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Content Archived: March 1, 2016