Northwest HUD Lines
January 2015

HUD e-Briefs from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington
Bill Block, Region X Regional Director (206) 220-5356
Leland Jones, Editor

www.hud.gov/alaska	www.hud.gov/idaho
www.hud.gov/oregon	www.hud.gov/washington
http://twitter.com/hudnorthwest

LOOKING AHEAD

"HUD is the Department of Opportunity. We support millions of Americans with the housing they need to succeed and we invest in making communities economically strong and inclusive. Our mission isn't a Republican or a Democratic issue-it's an American issue," HUD Secretary Julián Castro commented after Congressional approval of the fiscal year 2015 Federal budget. He expressed appreciation for its inclusion of $80 million for HUD's Choice Neighborhoods initiative and for permitting veterans living on tribal lands to be eligible to receive assistance under HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. On the other hand, he expressed disappointment that Congress did not fully fund HUD's request for an increase of $301 million to address the needs of homeless Americans and that it prohibited HUD from moving forward for at least a year with its HAWK - Homeowners Armed With Knowledge - pilot to incorporate the demonstrated value of housing counseling in the homebuying process using FHA financing. "As needs for our services have gone up in states, cities and counties across the country, HUD's resources have gone down. As we have time and time again, we'll continue to find creative ways to have the greatest impact with the resources we have available so that we can continue expanding opportunity for all."

GOING UP

One year's about to end and another's about to begin. Which means, of course, that there will be some changes in maximum mortgages FHA - the Federal Housing Administration - will insure. For markets at the FHA ceiling or FHA floor and, for that matter, for most markets in between the two, the FHA limits in effect for calendar 2014 will remain the same through December 31st of calendar 2015. But there are some notable exceptions. The FHA single-family mortgage limits - that is, on mortgages for one- to four-unit properties - will increase in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties of Washington state in 2015 - from, for example, a 2014 limit of $506,000 on a one-unit house in 2014 to $517,500 in 2015 for any mortgages receiving a case number on or after January 1st, 2015. There will also be increases from 2014 to 2015 in Anchorage, Mat-Su, Juneau, Sitka and Skagway. For the precise changes, visit the FHA mortgage limit tool at https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm. To see the FHA Mortgage Letter on the 2015 mortgage limits, see letter 14-45 at /program_offices/administration/hudclips/letters/mortgagee

GEARING UP

HUD has awarded even more HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers to help communities achieve President Obama's goal of ending veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. In a first round of fiscal year 2014 VASH vouchers in October, HUD Secretary Castro announced the award of 635 VASH vouchers to assist homeless or at-risk veterans in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington state find permanent, affordable housing. In early December, he announced a second, smaller VASH funding award of $299,033 for four additional vouchers to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, 15 more VASH vouchers to the Clackamas County Housing Authority, seven more vouchers to the Coos-Curry Housing Authority, 13 more VASH vouchers to the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority in St. Helens, six more vouchers to the Northeast Oregon Housing Authority in LaGrande and six more VASH vouchers to the Walla Walla Housing Authority. Thanks to the latest funding, there are now a total of 230 HUD VASH vouchers in Alaska, 240 HUD VASH vouchers in Idaho, 1,501 HUD VASH vouchers in Oregon and 2,206 HUD VASH vouchers in Washington State for a total of 4,177 HUD VASH vouchers now available across the Northwest and Alaska. "We've made significant progress reducing homelessness among veterans by a third in just four years," the Secretary said, pledging to "continue to help communities build on these gains, providing targeted assistance to those in need to ensure that every veteran has a home."

GROWING UP

Since its creation in the mid-1990's, HUD's Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Program has become an increasingly important tool in enabling Native American families to buy home on or off reservations. To date, for example, just under 5,000 Native American families have used Section 184 to obtain mortgages worth well over $1 billion in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Nationwide demand for Section 184 has more than doubled in the last five years alone. Demand, obviously, creates operational obligations costs and risks. To insure that HUD can continue to effectively manage the program and meet the demand, HUD has used recently-enacted statutory authority to establish an annual premium to the borrower in the amount of 0.15 percent of the remaining loan balance until the unpaid principal balance, excluding the upfront loan guarantee fee, reaches 78 percent of the lower of the initial sales price or appraised value based on the initial amortization. Beginning on November 15th, 2014, the new annual premium of 0.15 percent of the remaining loan balance took effect, applying to all new loan guarantees, including refinances, and cancellation of the annual premium when the loan reaches the 78 percent loan-to-value ratio. For more, visit The Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/10/07/2014-23969/section-184-indian-housing-loan-guarantee-program-new-annual-premium#h-7.

SPEAKING UP

In early October HUD published a notice in The Federal Register seeking public comment on a proposed rule entitled "Supportive Housing and Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities: Implementing Statutory

Reforms." The rule would make a number of significant changes in HUD capital advance programs to provide supportive housing to the low-income elderly (Section 202) and persons with disabilities (Section 811). HUD's 60-day public comment had originally been set to expire on December 8th but due to receiving fewer responses to the solicitation as "lower than what HUD expected," HUD extended the public comment date to January 15th. For more, visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-12-11/pdf/2014-29078.pdf

BRIEF BRIEFS

Federal Housing Finance Agency approves merger of Federal Home Loan Banks of Seattle & Des Moines. . .TNHA housing authority serving Alaska's North Slope says $$471,168 and $1,884,672 in HUD Indian Housing Block Grant funds for energy-efficiency conversions of 262 single- and multi-family units incandescent lighting to energy efficient LED lighting and to install solar panels on 78 large single-family homes will reduce energy costs an estimate $25.6 million over 10 years. . .Confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Nani Coloretti, most recently an Assistant Treasury Secretary, takes oath at HUD's new Deputy Secretary. . .Tacoma Housing Authority's Michael Mirra says Authority will spend next year developing "savings accounts for the children" attending Lister Elementary in the New Salishan area. The idea is driven by research which suggests kids with even "modest" savings think more positively about the future and are more likely to attend college. . .Community Frameworks of Bremerton & Spokane one of four national intermediaries to be awarded total of $10 million in HUD Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity "sweat equity" funds. . .Renton Housing Authority & City of Renton celebrate grand opening of Kirkland Avenue Townhomes, the latest project in 10-year revitalization of Sunset neighborhood including replac3ement of 100 units of dilapidated public housing. . .Thanks to homeownership education from Portland Homeownership Center and up to $15,000 in down payment assistance grants from Wells Fargo, reports Portland Business Journal, in 2014 "alone, 259 former renters will be celebrating the holidays in a home they now own in Portland," considerably than the 227 renting families originally expected to be helped this year. . .Juneau Assembly, reports KTOO Radio, "unofficially" commits $1.5 million to Housing First complex to provide a "stable place to live for about 30 chronically homeless," the third such facility in Alaska. . .Kennewick Housing Authority executive director Lora Hammer says Authority's 4-year-old no-smoking policy is success, telling KEPR-TV cost of transitioning smoking unit tor no-smoking is $1,000 but readying no-smoking unit for non-smokers costs just $400.

BOOST

The Washington Department of Commerce has awarded $28.9 million tin Housing Trust Funds o 15 projects across the state that will provide "479 units of affordable housing for low-income households, 200 beds for migrant seasonal farmworkers, 66 beds for homeless individuals, and 32 beds in group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities, chronic mental illness or traumatic brain injury." Winning projects include the Grant County Housing Authority's 128-unit Esperanza II in Mattawa, the Othello Housing Authority's 72-bed Lugar Seguro II in Othello, Catholic Housing Services of Eastern Washington's 86-unit Guadalupe Haven, also in Othello, the Community Action Center's 8-bed Whitman Houses in Pullman &Colfax, the Foundation for the Challenged's 8-bed FFC homes in Longview, Kelso & Everett, 3 Parkview Homes in Kirkland, Bothell & Federal Way, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington's 50-unit Devoe II in Olympia, Plymouth Housing Group's 78-unit 7th & Cherry complex in Seattle, LIHI's 41-unit Olympia Commons in Olympia, the Downtown Emergency Service Center's 68-unit Lyon Apartments in Seattle, Compass Housing Alliance's 59-unit Ronald Commons in Shoreline, Affordable Community Environment's 49-unit 62nd Avenue Senior Apartments in Vancouver, Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington 66-unit Aloha Inn in Seattle, the Snohomish County Housing Authority's 24-unit Woodlake Manor II and the Chelan County/Wenatchee Housing Authority's 28-unit Lake Chelan Community Apartments in Chelan. "Sufficient, safe, affordable housing in every community," said Commerce's director Brian Bonlender, "is critically important to our state's economic security and future prosperity."

BOOST TOO

Noting that "It's nearly impossible to build a successful future without a stable place to call home," King County Executive Dow Constantine has announced the award of some $6.4 million in capital funds to help four organizations develop housing that, he says, "help transition seniors, veterans, young adults, and hard-working families out of homelessness and into" some 260 units of safe, affordable housing." As part of a plan to preserve nine HUD-assisted rental complexes, the King County Housing Authority will receive $665,251u 9- to acquire and rehab four of the properties "scattered" across the county. The Low Income Housing Institute will receive $693,032 to help build a four-story, 48-unit complex in the University District for homeless young adults and workforce households. The Compass Housing Alliance will receive $2,850,000 to build a 58-unit affordable housing complex in Shoreline with some unit's set-aside for homeless veterans and their families as well as persons with developmental disabilities. Providence Health & Services will receive $1.5 million for a 74-unit affordable housing complex for the elderly in Redmond. The Plymouth Housing Group will receive $537,000 to help build 77 supportive housing units for the chronically-homeless on a site near downtown Seattle. And Parkview Services will receive $164,405 to rehabilitate a single-family house that will provide three supportive housing units for the developmentally-disabled. "Having a home," added King County Council chair Larry Phillips, "can change a life."

BOOST THREE

Making "families' dreams of affordable housing come true," Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has announced the award of more than $22 million in City and other funds to create more than 360 new housing units across the city. Projects include contributions to the Low Income Housing Institute development in the University District and the Plymouth Housing Group's 77-unit development near downtown, both mentioned above in BOOST TOO. In addition, funds will be provided for Mercy Housing's 108-unit family housing development at Othello Crossing, to the Downtown Emergency Service Center's upgrades at the 64-unit Lyon Building and to Catholic Housing Services upgrades at the Aloha Inn. Steve Walker of the City's Office of Housing noted that "in the past 30 years since the passage of the first housing bond, the Office of Housing has invested more than $400 million in the creation and preservation of nearly 12,000 units of affordable housing."

BOOST FOUR

Hailing them as the kinds of partnerships that make communities "better places to live," Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle president Michael Wilson has announced the competitive award of more than $4 million Affordable Housing Program funds to the Community Development Inc. & Zion First National Bank Grove at Riverside development in in Rexburg, the Warm Springs Housing Authority & Columbia State Bank Greeley Heights development in Warm springs, the Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services & Citizens Bank Julian Hotel Apartments development in Corvallis, the Community Partners for Affordable Housing & Umpqua Bank Metzger Park development in Tigard, the Central City Concern, Miracle Club & Banner Bank Miracle Center Apartments development in Portland, the LIHI & Umpqua Bank Bellevue Apartments development in Bellevue, the Housing Resources Board & Home Street Bank Ferncliff Townhouses development on Bainbridge Island, the Affordable Housing Solutions & Banner Bank Freedom Path development in Vancouver, the Kalishan Community Land Trust & Peoples Bank McKenzie Greens Commons complex in Bellingham, the Housing Hope & Heritage Bank Monroe Family Village development in Monroe and the Provail & Banner Bank Provail Residential Facility in Shoreline. On of 12 Federal Home Loan Banks across the country, every year the Seattle bank provides 10 percent of its profits to fund affordable housing—both rental and homeownership. If amore subsidies become available, the Bank may award funds to the Carlow Senior Apartments in Rexburg, the Colville Indian Housing Authority/Glacier Bank Eagles Nest in Omak and the Valley Cities/Columbia State Bank Phoenix Rising Campus in Auburn.

BRIEF BRIEFS TOO

Next Step Housing's Pear Tree Place in Yakima wins 2014 National Affordable Housing Management Association Community of Quality Award. . .Governor Inslee names Lael Duncan , executive director of Okanogan County, Community Action Council as chair of Washington State Advisory Council on Homelessness. . .Telling Alaska Dispatch that the turnover in housing for the low-income elderly in Juneau occurs "when somebody goes to the nursing home or somebody passes away," Dan Austin of St. Vincent de Paul welcomes news that Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has awarded it $9 million to build a 41 units of housing for elderly in Juneau. . .Northwest Fair Housing Alliance in Spokane secures agreement with condominium association to end its 40-or-older age restriction on residents. . .TNHA president & chief executive officer Daryl Kooley sets April 30th retirement. . .Thanks to financing from Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Pierce County AIDS Foundation acquires and expects to complete renovation of Tacoma building that will provide 40 percent more space to serve people with HIV/AIDS it can serve. . .After equipping each of the units at its Ariel Glen and Healy Heights apartment complexes in Bend with washers & dryers, reports KEZI-TV, Housing Works decides it no longer needs a laundry room so converts it into a medical clinic for residents to be staffed by Mosaic Medical. . .Homestead Community Land Trust celebrates completion of first phase of Columbia 26, more than two-dozen abandoned, partially-built townhomes in Columbia City area of Seattle that the Trust acquired and is now offering as affordable homeownership opportunities. . .Seattle Mayor Murray endorses a number of recommendations from his Emergency Task Force on Unsheltered Homelessness including expansion of City-funded shelter system and more authorized homeless encampments. . .Operating in downtown Tacoma since Christmas Eve 2009, Catholic Social Services begins consolidating its series from three locations into new, 48,000 square-foot building that includes, says News Tribune, 50 affordable studio apartments to provide permanent, affordable housing for chronically homeless. . .EPA publishes final plan to clean-up Lower Duwamish River Superfund site. . .Co-developers Canddle Development Inc. & American Opportunity Foundation Inc., reports Everett Herald, complete Villas Lakewood in Marysville, a 240-unit rental complex for families between 50 and 60 percent of median. . .Seattle Housing Authority, reports KPLU Radio, "shelves" Stepping Forward rent reform proposal that would, said Authority director Andrew Lofton," increase resident opportunity and address future contraction of our federal revenue sources" until at least 2016.

CHANGE OF PLANS

After 35 years of owning and trying to maintain her modest single-family house, reports Jillian Hanes of Neighborhood Housing Services in Boise, "Rita" was ready to move onto to a senior living facility, her only condition being that she hoped it would serve as an afford able home for a low-income family or individual. She was so committed to the idea, in fact, that she and a friend contact Neighborhood Housing Services and offered to sell her home at a deep discount, an offer the organization simply couldn't refuse. And thanks to that discount, NHS was able to make some $57,000 in repairs and upgrades - new siding, flooring, plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient appliances and windows, an enlarged master bedroom, an upgraded heating system and new landscaping, including a sprinkler system in the back yard. A complete "re-do," in other words, so much so that Rita stayed away as the work progressed. Once done, real estate development director Michael Shepard drove her to the refurbished house. Which is when Rita almost changed her plans. "After walking through the entire home," reports Jillian, Rita "exclaimed" to Michael "let's get married and move back in!" Ultimately, though, heels cooled, Rita and Michael didn't tie the knot and, in October, the house sold to a young woman who'd put herself through law school and was looking for an affordable home where "she could eventually raise a family of her own one day.", For more, visit http://www.nhsid.org/blogs/news-and-events/2014/12/23/the-gift-of-home-part-2

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. And now Julie Knott, John Cantlon, Vince Verneuil, Kim Hammers and Chris Eagan - board members of the non-profit Bayside Housing & Services - are adding another one. For the last three years, reports Alison Arthur of The Port Townsend Leader, they've been negotiating with the for-profit owners who purchased the Port Hadlock Inn - also known as the Old Alcohol Plant - when it closed its doors in 2011. They've just signed a lease on 33 units in the "lower building" that they plan to use to expand the area's inventory of affordable housing units. It's not, they insist, a homeless shelter, but "a hotel for those in Jefferson County in need of decent housing." To get into the new Bayside Inn "you'll have had to demonstrate a need and a desire to get out of the situation you're in," Mr. Contilon says, adding that they're working with local organizations like Dove House Advocacy Services, St. Vincent de Paul, Jefferson Healthcare, the Peninsula Housing Authority and Olympic Community Action Programs to provide referrals and help with supportive services. The first residents - initially Bayside Inn won't have the capacity to serve families with children - could move in this spring. I'm worried about an application flood," ads Julie Knot. And, remarkably, Bayside Inn is not holding its breath for government money to open or to operate. "We don't have an aversion to government," Mr. Contilon explains. "It's just that all those funds are being used right now. None of the social service agencies have a whole bunch of money." It's quite a story, quite a challenge, quite a mountain to climb. For more, visit http://www.ptleader.com/news/inn-at-port-hadlock-to-be-reborn/article_4c6e22f2-8af1-11e4-a774-c303934362db.html?hootPostID=3fde37f06812272cd588e91d7a332215.

AT THE DOOR

So what happens when, thanks to higher temperatures, the permafrost tain't so perma? And what can you do about it? Se http://www.alaskapublic.org/2014/12/17/melting-permafrost-threatens-infrastructure-homes/?hootPostID=d51a71a28890e73cba9c94f59e2b9968.

BR-UILD-LIANT!

As someone who's done public relations for more than 40 years, the editor of Northwest HUDLines would argue that there's neither shame nor chagrin in being a "flak." Especially since every so often, like a bolt of lightning, one of your colleagues in the trade lights up the sky with a knock-your-socks-off-and-your-teeth-out marketing gimmick. Like the wonderful gimmick hatched by the innovative folks at, fittingly, Innovative Housing Inc. For the last few months, reports the Democrat Herald reports, they've been hard at work building a 54-unit, $10.0 million affordable housing complex on the former site of a manufactured housing park in Albany. The first tenants should move-in by February. They'd tentatively picked a name for the complex, but didn't really like it. Hence the gimmick - a name that building contest with the winning entry receiving $100 for their creativity. "We're really interested in hearing from the Albany community," says Innovative Housing's Julie Garver. Nominations were due by Christmas Day and more than 50 entries were received which, just like the Academy Awards, entries re under lock-and-key until a panel of judges makes its final choice in January. STAY TUNED!

BRIEF BRIEFS THREE

Blaine County Housing Authority welcomes first resident to 14-unit Lift Tower Lodge in Ketchum, donated by its owner in October that allows Authority, says Idaho Mountain Express, "to offer temporary rental-housing options for those in need, for the first time". . .Kodiak Mayor Pat Branson, Juneau police officer Blain Hatch & former Member of the Assembly Mike Reif of Sitka win 2014 Alaska Municipal League Awards of Excellence. . .Washington Department of Commerce awards $8.6 million in energy efficiency & solar grants to five colleges, 21 local governments and two state agencies. . .Habitat for Humanity of Sisters celebrates move-in day for its 50th & 51st home. . .Jacqueline Dailey of Juneau re-elected as president of RurALCAP's board of directors. . .King County Council , says Seattle Times, unanimously okays legislation to allow tent encampments to operate in the county's unincorporated areas for another 10 years while Eugene City Council, reports Register Guard, unanimously approves two homeless encampments on parcels owned by Lane County. . .Forest City Enterprises tells Kitsap Sun that some of its housing for Naval Base Kitsap military personnel & their families associated in Jackson Park area of Bremerton is now available for rent by civilians. . .Renton launches CDBG-funded façade improvement loan program says Reporter. . .Deborah Bortner retires & Charles Clark named to succeed her as head of Consumer Services Division at Washington Department of Financial Institutions. . ."After many years of work," says Coeur d'Alene Press, Bonner County Housing Authority director Chris Bassett says it's helped two "very excited" families secure first mortgages by providing no-interest, "soft" second mortgages re-payable only at re-sale and is in process of helping two other families do the same. . .Downtown Emergency Service Center says Daniel Malone, a 25-year veteran of the organization, will succeed Bill Hobson as executive director upon his retirement on June 30th, 2015. . .Open House Ministries demolishes building, says The Columbian, to prepare site for construction of new family resource center next to family shelter in Vancouver.

FAC-TASTIC

In 2013, reports the Corporation for National & Community Service 3,388,892 residents of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington state worked as volunteers for one or another worthy cause or organization. All told, in that one year those almost 3.4 million provided 59,799 years of volunteer activity. Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Alaska and Oregon tied for 10th each with 34.1 percent of their residents volunteering, Washington state ranked 9th with 34.6 percent volunteering and Idaho ranked 2nd, behind only Utah, with 36.4 percent of Idahoans volunteering. Thanks to all of the many, many, many people who've opened their hearts, stepped forward lent a hand. For more, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/new-report-1-4-americans-volunteer-two-thirds-help-neighbors.

NOTEWORTHY

The December 19th edition of The Federal Register published an Interim Final Rule on Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles & Audit Requirements for the Executive Office of the President, the Office of Management & Budget and all Federal agencies, including HUD, that award some $600 billion in financial assistance annually. Implementation was effective December 26th, 2014. In addition to reducing administrative burdens and waste and abuse, the rule is expected to result in "more Federal dollars reprogrammed to support the mission, new entities able to compete and win awards, and ultimately a stronger framework to provide key services to American citizens and support the basic research that underpins the United States economy." For more, see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-12-19/pdf/2014-28697.pdf

WORTH A LOOK

Do you want to know more about Oregon's new law banning discrimination in housing on the basis of source of income, including Section 8? Meyer Memorial Trust has put together an informative Webcast you may want to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wufCDa70IEQ&feature=youtu.be

QUOTE TO NOTE

"We call HUD the Department of Opportunity because its mission to both provide housing assistance and revitalize communities by laying a strong foundation for millions of Americans to achieve their dreams. In the past year, the Department has made significant strides on critical Obama Administration priorities while bringing renewed focus on HUD as a smarter, more efficient agency that focuses on enhancing opportunity for hard-working Americans. As we enter the New Year, I'm happy to report that HUD achieved notable progress in 2014. -- A 33 percent reduction in veteran homelessness since 2010. . .The first 57 RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration) deals have raised $437 million in private financing—a ratio of $19 in private funding for every $1 in public funding—for the renovation of 7,500 public housing units. . .Progress in providing access to credit for responsible homebuyers who are underserved by the private market. In the first half of FY2014, 52.5 percent of FHA loans involved borrowers with a credit score under 680, up from 45.5 percent in 2013 and 40 percent in 2011. . .obtained relief for more than 19,700 persons alleging discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, a 120 percent increase from FY2013. . .A 10.6 percent reduction in obsolete and expired regulations. . .Ginnie Mae saw its mortgage-backed securities portfolio top $1.5 trillion for the first time in history. . .he turnaround of the Federal Housing Administration's Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, which grew by $6 billion in value in 2014 only a year after falling into the red. The fund now stands at $4.8 billion thanks to aggressive policy actions that led to a 14 percent drop in delinquency rates and a 16 percent improvement in recovery rates since 2013." - HUD Secretary Castro, excerpts from A Message to Interested Parties, December 23, 2014.

WORTH A READ

When it opened on Christmas Eve, 2013, Quixote Village in Olympia - one of the nation's first "tiny homes" complexes for the homeless - was front-page news, with coverage in The New York Times and on Al-Jazeera and ABC World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer that "turned the Village," Tim Ransom wrote in a blog, "into a fishbowl." A year later things have quieted down. The Olympian's Andy Hobbs paid a return visit just a couple of days before Christmas, 2014. Read his account at http://www.theolympian.com/2014/12/24/3494879_one-year-later-quixote-village.html?rh=1

QUOTE-WORTHY

"We have learned more than we ever wished to know about meth. We do not think we had a disproportionate problem. We do seem singular among public and private landlords in the vigor of our response and in the regard it shows for a landlord's obligation both to protect the health of our tenants and staff and to comply with Pierce County's rules governing testing and remediation, the nation's strictest. This last year we refined THA's "meth plan". We did this in close consultation with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, attorneys from Northwest Justice Project, and others. The plan is responsible, mindful of the due process rights of tenants, and effective. Our tenants are thanking us for it and the greater peace and safety in their communities that they attribute to it. The plan expresses THA's high standards of stewardship. The plan is also costly. We have struggled to afford it. We received critical financial help this year from the state legislature and the EPA. I am pleased to report that we are well through our meth problems. Yet no landlord, as selective as they may try to be, can ever feel free of meth or other similar contaminations. Americans just use too many drugs. Nevertheless, we have learned responsible ways to address the issue and reduce it to manageable and affordable levels.- Michael Mirra, executive director, Tacoma Housing Authority, excerpted from Thanksgiving Message, November 26, 2014.

WORTH A LISTEN

Boise's Vista neighborhood on the road between the airport and downtown is one of the city's poorest with a median family income $14,000 a year below the citywide median. No surprise, then, that it was selected as launching pad for the city's new approach to community revitalization - Energize Our Neighborhoods - which, says Adam Cotterell of Boise State Public Radio picks "one neighborhood then focuses intense time and energy and several million dollars over a few years in hopes of making big improvements to the area." Some say it will work. Others aren't so sure. Want to know why? Find Cotterell's report at http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/why-boises-new-approach-neighborhood-revitalization-could-hurt-people-its-designed-help It's worth a listen.

NOTES TO NOTE

Meyer Memorial Trust sets January 6th deadline to respond to a $2.2 million request-for-proposals for Affordable Housing Initiative grants of up to $75,000 to develop portfolio preservation programs. . .HUD extends public comment period on proposed supportive housing rule until January 15th. . .EPA sets January 15th deadline to apply for Indian Environmental General Assistance Program funds. . .HUD sets February 9th deadline to apply for grants of up to $30 million under Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Program. . .USDA sets February 20th deadline to apply for Tribal Colleges Research Program grants. . .HUD sets March 16th deadline for eligible jurisdictions to submit applications under the National Disaster Resilience Competition. . .Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration sets April 30th deadline to apply for total of $100 million under American Apprenticeship Initiative.

COMING UP

Homestead Community Land Trust hosts annual celebration to provide community briefing on its strategic planning process, January 7th, Seattle.

King County Office of Civil Rights hosts Basics of Fair Housing workshop at 9 a.m. & Advanced Fair Housing at 1 p.m., January 14th, Seattle.

Northwest Indian Housing Association hosts quarterly meeting, January 14th to 16th, Anacortes.

HUD Alaska hosts Federal Labor Standards Workshop for Tribally-Designated Housing Enterprises, Public Housing Authorities & CDBG grantees, January 15th, Anchorage.

Neighborhood Housing Services hosts Home Matters Tour, January 15th, Boise.

HUD Alaska hosts Federal Labor Standards Workshop for Contractors, January 16th, Anchorage.

Rockefeller Foundation hosts disaster Resilience Academies for local governments in the Northwest & Southwest, January 20th to 22nd, Seattle.

HUD's Alaska Office of Native American Programs & Association of Alaska Housing Authorities host Environmental Review Training for HUD-assisted Projects, January 20th through January 22nd, Anchorage.

HUD Oregon hosts Building HOME workshop on the ins-and-outs of HUD's HOME Investment Partnership, January 27th to 29th, Portland.

Washington State Housing Finance Commission hosts workshop on Tax Credit Compliance Fundamentals, January 27th, Seattle.

Oregon AHMA hosts workshop on Basic Occupancy for HUD Housing Managers, January 27th & 28th, Salem.

HUD Oregon hosts Basics of Fair Housing Workshop, January 28th, Portland.

Washington Housing Finance Commission hosts workshop on Advanced Tax Credit Compliance, January 28th, Seattle.

Oregon chapter of American Planning Association hosts workshop on Engaging the WHOLE Community; Breaking Down Barriers to Involvement of Diverse Populations in our Public Process, January 29th, Portland.

Oregon AHMA hosts workshop on HUD Section 8 Contract Renewals & Rent Increases & Reserve for Replacements, January 30th, Salem.

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians host winter conference, February 2nd to 5th, Lincoln City.

HUD's Alaska Office of Native American Programs & Association of Alaska Housing Authorities host Developing Alaskan Sustainable Housing workshop, February 3rd through 5th, Anchorage.

Alaska Forum on the Environment, February 9th to 15th, Anchorage.

King County Office of Civil Rights hosts workshop on Fair Housing Basics for Maintenance Personnel, February 17th, Seattle.

Oregon AHMA hosts two workshops - one on developing maintenance plans, the other on OSHA hazards - February 18th, Salem.

4th annual Great Basin Consortium Conference, February 17th to 19th, Boise.

HUD Northwest hosts on-line Fair Housing Basics Webinar, February 18th, on-line.

Oregon AHMA hosts Tax Credit Workshops, February 24th & 25th, Salem.

Oregon AHMA hosts Resident Services Seminar, February 26th, Salem.

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