Northwest HUD Lines
January 2016

HUD e-Briefs from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington

Leland Jones, Editor

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

! ! ! HAPPY 2016 ! ! !

MAY THE BEST BE YET TO BE

PROMISING
HUD & the U.S. Department of Agriculture have opened the third - and final - competition for communities to seek designation as Promise Zones. The Zones - 13 have been established in the prior two rounds - are high-poverty communities where the federal government partners with local leaders to increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, leverage private investment, reduce violent crime, enhance public health and address other priorities that have been identified by the community. Winners receive priority access to federal investments that further their strategic plans, federal staff on the ground to help them implement their goals and five full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members to recruit and manage volunteers and strengthen the capacity. Promise Zones, explained Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, bring in "much-needed, targeted investments" and create "ladders of economic opportunity." They've also proven effective, noted HUD Secretary Castro, in "breaking down of government siloes to make a real difference in people's lives." Zones must have a contiguous boundary, a high poverty rate and a population within of no more than 200,000 residents. Application requirements are detailed at The Federal Register (www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/12/18/2015-31884/promise-zones-initiative-third-round-selection-process). HUD will hold a series of Webinars on January 13th for potential urban, rural & Tribal applications. The application deadline is February 26th.

CASTRO & MAYORS MEET
On December 11th HUD Secretary Castro, a former mayor, met with mayors from major West Coast cities at a two-day summit hosted by Mayor Charlie Hales at City Hall in downtown Portland, Oregon. Also attending were Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as well as Matthew Doherty, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. During the meeting with the Secretary and the first day of their summit, the Mayors focused on their shared commitment to develop a Federal agenda on homelessness and, specifically, urged the Secretary to increase Federal funding of local efforts to prevent and end homelessness. The Summit's second day focused on climate change.

! ! ! NEWS FLASH ! ! !
2016 Fair Market Rents posted
HUD has published (www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/12/11/2015-31319/final-fair-market-rents-for-the-housing-choice-voucher-program-and-moderate-rehabilitation-single) & posted the final 2016 Fair Market Rents for its Housing Choice Voucher, Moderate Rehabilitation, Single-Room Occupancy & other assisted housing programs. They were effective December 11th, 2015. Search (www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2016_code/select_Geography.odn) for the new FMR's in your community.

JUST PUBLISHED
Defining homelessness
The Federal Register has published HUD's final rule (www.hudexchange.info/resource/4847/hearth-defining-chronically-homeless-final-rule/) defining "chronically homeless" to be used in HUD homeless programs, most notably its annual Continuum of Care grant program. Its development, HUD explains, has been the "subject of significant public comment." In addition to providing the definition, the final rule "establishes the necessary recordkeeping requirements that correspond to the definition." The rule is effective January 4th. The next day - January 5th - Continuums of Care in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington are invited to a special Webinar on the final rule, a great opportunity for Continuums to ask questions and seek clarifications. Please join us (www.hudexchange.info/training-events/courses/defining-chronically-homeless-final-rule-webinar/).

DATA DIVE
Ladies & gentlemen, start your calculators!
The U.S. Census Bureau has published a new American Community Survey, providing 10 years of data on everything from housing to education for, says the Bureau, "every community nationwide." It's got numbers by the truckload and will tell you, for example, that from the five-year period ending in 2009 to the five-year period ending in 2014, homeownership rates increased in 1115 counties, but fell in 931 while median gross rents rose in 719 counties but fell in 204 counties, with, in both cases, no statistically-significant changes in just over 2,000 counties each. So, what's it all mean? That's for you to decipher, debate and decide. And then go on to the next finding. Enjoy! (www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-206.html)

BRIEF BRIEFS
HUD awards one public housing authority in Alaska, five in Idaho, 13 in Oregon & 15 in Washington a total of almost $4.9 million in Family Self Sufficiency funds to assist their residents develop, says HUD Secretary Castro, "a pathway towards self-sufficiency,". . .Department of Commerce (www.commerce.wa.gov/media/Pages/PressReleaseView.aspx?pressreleaseid=223) awards $50.1 million in Housing Trust Funds expected to leverage another "nearly quarter billion dollars" in other funding to provide 1,249 affordable housing & 120 farm worker housing units in 36 projects in 26 counties across Washington State. . .Portland Housing Bureau's (www.portlandoregon.gov/phb/article/556355) Multi-Unit Limited Tax Exemption program okays support for 81 new units of affordable housing in three projects, one in Goose Hollow and two in Boise neighborhoods with additional project under consideration for Buckman area. . .Idaho Association of REALTORS (http://myacar.com/realtor-foundation/wildfire-relief-fund/) creates $25,000 fund to help Idaho families "whose homes were damaged or destroyed by a wildfire in 2015, pay for temporary housing or offset mortgage or rent payments while living elsewhere". . .Seattle Housing Authority (http://seattlehousing.net/2015/12/sha-reaches-100-percent-on-composting-availability/) now offers food & yard waste collection to 100 percent of the 6,889 households living at 100 percent of the 325 communities it manages. . .Rasmuson Foundation (www.rasmuson.org/PressRelease/index.php?switch=view_pressrelease&iReleaseID=360) awards $1.4 million in loans & grants to RurALCAP to support construction of 23 units of workforce housing at Safe Harbor Village and to build "housing first" complex in downtown Anchorage, $125,000 to Retirement Community of Fairbanks to support building a new apartment building at Raven Landing, $221,000 to Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority to renovate & expand Kake senior center, $1.7 million in capital to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to support its construction programs & $1 million to Volunteers of America to support acquisition or construction of new housing in Alaska. . .Kitsap Community Resources celebrates completion, says The Sun (www.kitsapsun.com/news/local/new-housing-for-low-income-people-opens-in-port-orchard-ep-415824992-355871281.html), of Jackson Village, five-duplexes providing 10 more affordable units in Port Orchard, Washington. . .Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority (www.orinfrastructure.org/Infrastructure-Programs/CDBG/Awards/) awards almost $15.1 million in HUD Community Development Block Grant funds to cities of Amity, Boardman, Drain, Ontario, Vernonia and Columbia, Hood river, Jackson, Polk, Wallowa & Wasco counties for projects ranging from replacing flood-damaged senior center, water & sewer system upgrades, new Head Start & mental health centers, housing rehabilitation programs & a regional microenterprise partnership. . .Seattle Mayor Ed Murray (http://murray.seattle.gov/murray-announces-45-million-for-affordable-housing/#sthash.meHylZHu.sYEKDac9.dpbs) announces the award of $45 million - "the largest ever annual investment" in affordable housing in the city's history - Mercy Housing Northwest, Bellwether Housing, DESC, Inland Group, Southwest Effective Development, Friends of Youth & Youthcare to provide 809 units of affordable housing to "low-income families, youth, seniors, and single adults, some of whom would otherwise be homeless."

FACT-ASTIC
Has homeownership lost its appeal?
Is owning a home falling out of fashion? Not really. Some 83 percent of all renters and 94 percent of renters 34 or younger "say they want to own a home in the future," finds a survey commissioned by the National Association of REALTORS (http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2015/12/17/94-young-renters-want-buy?om_rid=AAEHpb&om_mid=_BWcxRGB9JEX8ZS&om_ntype=RMODaily). And 77 percent of all renters, it adds, "believe homeownership is part of their American Dream."

FHA SETS 2016 MORTGAGE LIMITS
Some Alaska, Oregon & Washington housing markets see hikes
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a part of HUD, has announced the FHA mortgage insurance limits for 1-to 4-unit - single-family properties across the country in calendar year 2016. They will take effect for transactions receiving case numbers on or after January 1, 2016. In the vast majority of markets, in 2016 there will be no change to the FHA national loan limit "ceiling" which remains at $625,500 and the "floor" which remains at $271,050 for a one-unit property FHA's minimum national loan limit "floor" is set at 65 percent of the national conforming loan limit of $417,000. The floor applies to those areas where 115 percent of the median home price is less than 65 percent of the national conforming loan limit. There are increases, however, in 188 markets, including those identified below in Alaska, Oregon & Washington State. Find 2016 FHA mortgage limits in your housing market (https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm).

WHAT THE HECM?
Reverse mortgages going forward
January 1st of a calendar year is also the date upon which any increases in the limit for HECM - home equity conversion or "reverse" mortgages - also is announced. However, in Mortgage Letter 2015-29 FHA announced that the HECM limit in 2016 will remain at $625,000, unchanged from 2015.

FHA-BULOUS
What kind of year is FHA having?
Now that FHA mortgages are on your mind, you may wonder what kind of year calendar 2015 has been for FHA in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington. Well, its numbers through the first 11 months of 2015 are pretty darn strong. So far, FHA has endorsed 53,159 Section 203b mortgages - its "bread & butter" acquisition mortgage - up more than 70 percent over the 12-month total for 2014 and its seventh highest endorsement total in the more than 80 years FHA has been in the business of safe, sound & smart homeownership. So far this year, its endorsements have helped pump almost $11.7 billion of homeownership capital into the regional economy - the fifth-highest regional total in FHA's history - and, as of December 3rd, there were 304,610 active FHA mortgages in the region. All in all, good numbers suggesting, so far, a very good 2015 for FHA in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington.

BY THE NUMBERS
And how's Washington Housing Finance doing?
Want to talk about another strong year? Then take a look at the Washington State Housing Finance Commission's 2015 annual report (www.wshfc.org/admin/2015annualreport.pdf). 3,996 homebuyer mortgages. 4,830 multifamily units created. 8,992 potential homebuyers attending seminars in-person or on-line. $1.5 billion invested in homeownership, multifamily housing & construction projects. Our financing tools and expertise," said Commission chair Karen Miller, "provide opportunities for Washington residents everywhere to live affordably and plan for the future."

BRIEF BRIEFS TOO
Federal Register (www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/12/31/2015-32680/affirmatively-furthering-fair-housing-assessment-tool-announcement-of-final-approved-document) publishes HUD's final Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool. . .Washington State Housing Finance Commission approves $89 million in financing to DevCo Inc. for 177 units of affordable housing for families in Everett and to Senior Housing Assistance Group for 180 apartments for the elderly in Federal Way. . .Street Roots (http://news.streetroots.org/2015/12/17/portland-landlords-open-doors-veterans) says Multnomah County will exceed goal of housing 690 homeless vets by year's end but "some will remain homeless". . .ARCH Community Development sells 4-unit apartment building in Hailey, Idaho to The Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence , says Idaho Mountain Express (www.mtexpress.com/news/blaine_county/the-advocates-buy-transitional-housing/article_cc82b642-a8fa-11e5-a94b-bfdebc256b79.html), as "stepping stone" for victims to "get out" of Advocates shelter faster and "be on their own". . .To help its partners file "perfect" annual reports on their properties, Washington Housing Finance Commission posts on-line "how to" Webcasts (www.wshfc.org/managers/wbars.htm) about its Web-Based Annual Reporting System. . .Oregon Health Authority, says Register Guard (http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/33863141-75/large-oregon-grant-to-provide-housing-for-people-with-mental-health-issues-in-eugene-springfield.html.csp), awards $556,000 grant to ShelterCare of Lane County to provide housing to homeless with mental health issues in Eugene & Springfield, Oregon. .Bellingham Herald (www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article44247066.html) tells story of homeless vet who'd been living in a shed but now has "a roof over my head" to illustrate the challenges homeless providers face, especially in a vacancy rate a third of the statewide average. . .HUD's RAD Blast e-letter reports that, since early 2014, 69 families have enrolled in King County Housing Authority's Community Choice pilot and 12 already have chosen to move to - and stay - in "high opportunity neighborhoods" that afford them more educational, economic, health & housing options. . .American Planning Association (www.plan4health.us/the-american-planning-association-provides-funding-to-17-additional-local-coalitions-to-combat-chronic-disease/) awards $130,000grants to Umatilla County, Oregon Plan4Health and the Puyallup Watershed Initiative's Active Transportation Community of Interest project in Pierce County, Washington to "combat two determinants of chronic disease—lack of physical activity and lack of access to nutritious foods. . .Beacon Senior Center opens 42-bed shelter for homeless young people 18 to 24 in Tacoma says News Tribune (www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article49797030.html). . .December, 2015 edition of Alaska Economic Trends (http://labor.alaska.gov/trends/home.htm) looks at the numbers for Alaska's housing market during the first half of 2015. . .With winter settling in, Tacoma, Washington Mayor Marilyn Strickland (www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/politics-government/article48893750.html) provides additional funds to add 230 beds to its network of 11 shelter as "a moral obligation". . .Parts finally arrived and the warmed enough, says The Times-News (http://magicvalley.com/news/local/mini-cassia/out-with-the-old-burley-heyburn-industrial-park-gets-a/article_4c1730da-6ee3-5161-b79b-e2bd4678e629.html), that Burley-Heyburn Industrial Park could finally replace a rusty, more than 40-year-old wastewater pipeline thanks to block grant from Idaho Department of Commerce. . .DESC-the Downtown Emergency Service Center - celebrates the grand opening of the 97-unit Interbay Place, its 11th supportive, "housing first" complex says Queen Anne News (www.queenannenews.com/Content/News/News/Article/New-supportive-housing-development-opens-in-Interbay/26/337/38171). . .Oregonian's Anna Griffin (www.oregonlive.com/homeless/2015/12/homelessness_utahs_model.html) asks what lessons Utah's success in ending homelessness has for Portland, Oregon - and the rest of us.

HOME FRONT
Smoothing veterans' transition back to civilian life
In 2009, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington was selected by HUD, after consultation with Veterans Affairs and Labor Department, as one of five military bases to participate in a Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Project. Its purpose was to "explore ways to prevent or end homelessness among veterans," especially those, Congress emphasized, returning from recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was the first homelessness prevention effort to address housing, health care, and employment issues of veterans who were or were at risk of homelessness by providing short- to medium-term housing assistance such as security deposits, rent, rental arrearages, moving costs and utilities; case management; and referrals to other services and supports. Participating veterans, says a recent study (www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/homeless/veterans-homelessness-prevention-report.html) by the Urban Institute and Silbey and Associates, "experienced substantial improvements in housing stability, employment and income that persisted after exiting the demonstration" and demonstrates, said HUD Secretary Julián Castro, that "a place to call home" creates "the stability needed to find employment and transition back into civilian life."

ED-CITED
How housing makes for smarter, safer & healthier Alaska communities
Over the last 10 years, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has invested some $100 million in over 70 small, isolated Alaska towns and villages to, in a sense, make them healthier, smarter , safer and, thus, more sustainable. It's been accomplished through its once innovative and now just plain effective Teacher, Health Professional & Public Safety Rental Development (www.ahfc.us/pros/grants/development-grants/thhp/) program which provides loans and grants so that communities can develop affordable, high-quality housing that will provide a tool to recruit teachers and policies officers and doctors and nurses to take a chance and become a part of their community. From 2004 through 2014 it's resulted in the building of some 400 homes. And, even communities have contributed a not insignificant local match, there's still a lot of demand for the program. Like there is in Bethel, Alaska, a city of just over 5,700 on the Kuskokwim River some 400 miles due west of Anchorage. Though it's the fifth-largest city in Alaska, it has trouble recruiting and retaining teachers. Thanks to the Bethel Community Services Foundation, it's just completed the transformation of a once-vacant day care center into, says KYUK Radio's Anna Rose MacArthur, six "extremely nice" apartments. She tells why folks in Bethel are so excited (www.alaskapublic.org/2015/12/04/bethel-hopes-housing-holds-key-to-retaining-city-workers/).

BETTER HOUSING, BETTER PEOPLE
Do tiny houses hold big promise for the homeless in Spokane metro?
Ian Robertson, a retired pastor and past Spokane Valley, Washington citizen of the year, has "a thing" for tiny houses. So much so, in fact, that come January he says he plans to start producing 144 of them a year. He calls them "passport to success and significance," reports Spokane Spokesman Review columnist Doug Clark (www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/dec/06/doug-clark-tiny-houses-hold-big-promise-for-homele/), and says he hopes to place them in "tiny villages" on donated land where "people will be able to lease the homes while being taught the basics like managing finances, getting a job and even how to obtain a Social Security card." And the lease funds will be applied towards purchase, over five to seven years. It's not just about better housing, says Robertson, "building better people." Columnist Clark seems to agree. He likes, for example, the prototypes that Robertson's built - "all the basic accouterments you'd expect to find in much bigger quarters," he writes, "are contained within the scant 326 square feet of living space." Even more surprising, "it doesn't feel cramped." And Clark likes Robertson's plan - "an ingenious way to supply housing and basic skills to people who are serious about wanting to change their lives." Tiny spaces, he says, show "big promise."

KINDRED SPIRIT?
Pastor Robertson & columnist Clark might get a hearty "hear, hear" from Governor Jerry Brown of California. Below is a photo by Jim Wilson of The New York Times of a cabin near Williams, some 60 miles northwest of Sacramento. It's where the Governor and his wife bunk down when they visit a ranch that's been in his family for 150 years. It's tiny as tiny can be, "just big enough," says The Times (www.nytimes.com/2015/12/29/us/jerry-brown-california-ranch.html?_r=0) Adam Nagourney, "to hold an air mattress."

HAZ MAP
Mapping the risks just below where you live, work or go to school
Well, if that last cup of Seattle coffee doesn't keep you up at night, maybe the City of Seattle's new on-line Natural Hazard Explorer mapping tool will. Type -in your address and, in a matter of seconds, you'll know whether the place you call home or where you work or go to school face risks from earthquakes, landslides, flooding, tsunamis or liquefaction. And, if you want to dive even deeper, you may want to thumb through the almost 300-page SHIVA - The Seattle Hazard Identification & Vulnerability Analysis that's linked to the Explorer. Both are impressive, albeit nerve-wracking pieces of work led by the City of Seattle's Office of Emergency Management

BRIEF BRIEFS THREE
USDA urging rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents to start apply NOW (www.rd.usda.gov/files/RDWEPStakeholderRDApply.pdf) for water & wastewater improvement loans and grants. . .HUD issues memorandum (www.hudexchange.info/resource/4861/memo-12-15-applicability-of-section-8-requirements-to-rental-assistance-funded-through-the-hopwa-program) explaining when & which Section 8 provisions are applicable to its Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS/HIV rental assistance programs. . .Folks from all walks of life in Island, San Juan & Whatcom counties in Washington tell you why they're celebrating The Opportunity Council's (www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z9QYeMXx4Ig) 50th anniversary. . .Planned HGTV seminars Portland, Salem, Eugene, Oregon & Longview &Vancouver, Washington "to teach people how to flip houses for a big profit" postponed, says KGW (www.pdx.edu/realestate/news/kgw-hgtv-house-flipping-seminar-postponed-or-wa-after-backlash), after public outcry. . .Given successful conferences in 2012 & 2014, DESC & Pathways Housing say they'll host 2016 Housing First Partners Conference (www.hfpartnersconference.com/) in Los Angeles on March 22nd to 25th. . .Corvallis, Oregon Housing First (www.corvallisadvocate.com/2015/corvallis-housing-first-acquires-neighboring-car-wash/) acquires car wash as possible site to expand housing. . .North Idaho Habitat for Humanity breaks ground for home in Post Falls that, says Coeur d'Alene Press (www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_46d274ba-1c00-5a89-8438-af0dd1f7da4e.html), will house 40th Habitat household in Kootenai County. . .Portland, Oregon is a great place to visit and now, when you do, you'll support affordable housing thanks to City Council decision, reports The Tribune (http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/285630-162528-tourists-will-help-pay-for-affordable-housing), to devote $1.2 million in short-term lodging taxes to housing. . .Tacoma Housing Authority, reports News Tribune (www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article50728160.html), purchases old KeyBank branch in Hilltop at discount with plans to develop housing and commercial project. . .HUD publishes FAQs on when's, where's & how's of using HOME Investment Partnership (www.hudexchange.info/onecpd/assets/File/HOME-FAQs-Broadband.pdf) funds & Housing Trust Fund (www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/HTF-FAQs.pdf) to help communities close digital divide. . .Thanks to flexibility" of HUD's Moving-to-Work program, King County Housing Authority & LifeWire (www.seattletimes.com/opinion/helping-families-escape-violence-and-find-a-new-home/) partner in 5s-year, $1 million demonstration project to offer up to six months of rental assistance and other supports, such as rent-application fees and moving costs, to hundreds of families "escape violence" and find safe, stable homes. . .Oregonian (www.oregonlive.com/front-porch/index.ssf/2015/12/housing_on_the_oregon_coast_in.html) real estate reporter Luke Hammill says affordable housing "doesn't pencil out" on the Oregon coast. . .Calling it "a countywide problem," "Snohomish County Commission, says The Everett Herald (www.heraldnet.com/article/20151215/NEWS01/151219420/Another-boost-for-Everett%27s-homeless-housing-program), okays $1 million to support City of Everett's plan to build 20 units of "low barrier" supportive housing project. . .The housing counseling services offered by NeighborWorks Anchorage, Access Inc. in Medford, Oregon & NAYA Family Center are highlighted in The Bridge, an e-letter from HUD's Office of Housing Counseling. . .USDA publishes 2015 edition of Rural America at a Glance (www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib-economic-information-bulletin/eib-145.aspx).

QUOTE TO NOTE
Who's on first in Pt. Townsend -tourists or residents?
"After two decades of drug use and instability, Leonard took charge of his life and entered Central City Concern (CCC) Hooper Detox program in 2009. Upon completion, he wanted to employ every available tool to sustain his recovery and he entered Central City Concern's transitional Recovery Housing. He says, "Central City Concern gave me a reason to stay when I was looking for a reason to run." - Ed Blackburn, executive director of Portland's Central City Concern, in a December 14, 2015 blog (www.hudexchange.info/onecpd/assets/File/SNAPS-In-Focus-Guest-Blog-by-CCC-Executive-Director-Ed-Blackburn.pdf) marking issuance of HUD Recovery Housing Policy Brief (www.hudexchange.info/resource/4852/recovery-housing-policy-brief/) which, says Black burn, is "a major step in helping" Continuums of Care "adopt this model of housing for those who want and need it."

QUOTE WORTHY
Why ending homelessness matters
"When we act and implement a strategy that makes shelter and services available, we also reduce costs to the wider community. It is my conviction that each of us benefit when we make decisions that are compassionate, fiscally responsible and make Anchorage a better place to live for all of us. Experts have articulated a straightforward formula linking outreach, services and housing to reduce homelessness, which forms the blueprint Anchorage is using: Access to affordable housing + Appropriate Social Services + Work, Business and Economic Options = Housing Stability = Reducing and Ending Homelessness." - Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, "When we help the homeless, we make Anchorage better and more prosperous city, The Alaska Dispatch (www.adn.com/article/20151212/when-we-help-homeless-we-make-anchorage-better-and-more-prosperous-city), December 12, 2015.

WORTH A LISTEN
How different the day & night
You've probably seen Mark Reay's photograph in a high-fashion magazine or top-line catalogue. Strikingly handsome, he's a favorite of photographers, in much demand in New York's fashion scene. But, for six years, he never invited friends or associates over for dinner and drinks. The box in which he slept every night on a roof atop a six-story walk-up in the Village wouldn't have accommodated them. It's a heck of a story from Shad, the host of CBC Radio's Q (www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-monday-december-7-2015-1.3353576/former-homeless-model-mark-reay-on-keeping-up-appearances-1.3353582). And it's worth a listen.

WORTH A READ
Opening doors to Boise's homeless
"Interfaith Sanctuary was created out of nothing a decade ago, a rapid response by local faith leaders to a need for more winter shelter for the homeless. They announced plans to create a tent city on the grounds of Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, but city officials did not receive that idea well. So the group welcomed the homeless into one local church — Boise First Congregational United Church of Christ. With no experience in running a shelter, they let goodwill be their guide." -- Katy Moeller, The Idaho Statesman (www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article50214515.html), December 16, 2015, reporting on her recent visit to Interfaith Sanctuary, now in its 10th year of operation, its $800,000 annual operating budget providing 145 beds and, almost every night, 20 mats on the floor on a first-come, first-serve basis to single men, single women families who are homeless in Boise.

WORTH A LOOK
Ms. Moeller's beautifully-written story in The Idaho Statesman (www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article50214515.html) is certainly worth reading. Just as important, the videos that accompany her article - i.e., of a tour of Interfaith Sanctuary & of a conversation about what it's like to be its overnight shift manager - are well worth watching.

WORTH QUOTING
Giving a voice - and a name - to the homeless
"When they leave in the morning, they're just walking around the city all day with no one to talk to. I can tell they haven't talked to anyone all day." - Interfaith Sanctuary overnight shift manager Jeff Bernsen on why he tries to make sure he knows the first & last name of every person who enters the shelter, The Idaho Statesman (www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article50214515.html) Jeff Bernsen, December 16, 2015.

NOTES TO NOTE
HUD sets January 4th deadline for eligible public housing authorities to apply for up to 18 grants of up to $100,000 each under Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program (www.grants.gov/search-grants.html?agencies%3DHUD%7CDepartment%20of%20Housing%20and%20Urban%20Development). . .Citizens Institute for Rural Design (www.rural-design.org/) sets January 12th deadline for rural communities to apply for funds to host rural design workshops in 2016-2017. . .Department of Justice sets January 20th deadline to apply for $11 million under Justice for Families (www.grants.gov/search-grants.html?agencies%3DUSDOJ%7CDepartment%20of%20Justice) program. . .Oregon Housing & Community Services sets January 21st public comment deadline on adopting final rules (www.oregon.gov/ohcs/DO/technical-advisories/2015/12-16-15-Public-Notice-Technical-Advisory.pdf) on Individual Development Accounts and on Wildfire Damage Housing Relief Account. . .HUD sets January 19th deadline for public comments on its proposed Equal Access in Accordance With an Individual's Gender Identity in Community Planning & Development Programs (www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=HUD-2015-0104-0001) rule. . .Washington State Housing Finance Commission sets January 26th public comment deadline & January 28th public hearing on 2016-17 Housing Finance Plan. . .HUD sets February 9th deadline to apply for $10 million Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants program. . .HUD & Department of Justice set February 12th deadline to apply for nearly $8.7 million under Pay for Success Supportive Housing Demonstration program. . .HUD & USDA set February 26th deadline to apply under Round III for Promise Zone (www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/12/18/2015-31884/promise-zones-initiative-third-round-selection-process) designation.

COMING UP
HUD hosts on-line webinar for Continuum of Care leadership in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington on HUD's new Defining Chronically Homeless Rule, January 5th, on-line. Visit

Governor Bill Walker h& Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott host Alaska Governor's Housing Summit, January 6th, Anchorage, Alaska. Visit

HUD hosts on-line webinar on its Round III Promise Zone Competition, January 13th, on-line. The Promise Zone Webinar for urban applicants will take place at 8:00 a.m., Pacific; for rural applicants at 10:30 a.m., Pacific; and for Tribal applicants at 12:30 p.m., Pacific. Visit

King County Office of Civil Rights hosts workshop on Fair Housing Basics for Maintenance Personnel, January 19th, Seattle, Washington. Visit

Washington Housing Finance Commission hosts Fundamentals of Tax Credit Compliance workshop, January 25th, Seattle, Washington. Visit

Oregon AHMA hosts Managing HUD Compliance workshop, January 26th to 27th, Salem, Oregon. Visit

Washington Housing Finance Commission hosts Advanced Tax Credit Compliance workshop, January 26th, Seattle, Washington. Visit

Association of Alaskan Housing Authorities hosts Environmental Reviews for HUD Assisted Projects workshop, January 26th to 28th, Anchorage, Alaska. Visit

Washington AHMA hosts Certified Professional of Occupancy training, January 26th to 28th, SeaTac, Washington. Visit

HUD Portland hosts in-person Basics of Fair Housing workshop, January 27th, Portland, Oregon. Visit

Tribal Healthy Homes Network hosts Winter Connections conference call about its AirMatters program in which Tribes, like the Tulalip, educate their members about the links between bad indoor air & bad health, January 28th.

Oregon AHMA hosts HUD's Revised World of Contract Renewals, Rent Adjustments & U.A. Analyses workshop, January 28th, Salem, Oregon. Visit

Washington AHMA hosts Certified Professional of Occupancy Training, January 28th, Seattle, Washington. Visit

HUD hosts on-line webinar on its Round III Urban Promise Zone Competition, February 1st, on-line. Visit

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians hosts winter conference, February 1st to 4th, Suquamish, Washington. Visit

USDA Rural Development in Oregon hosts Rural Broadband Workshop, February 2nd & 3rd, Bend, Oregon. Visit

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, FDIC & Comptroller of the Currency hosts 2016 National Agency Community Reinvestment Conference, February 7th to 10th, Los Angeles, California. Visit

HUD Seattle hosts on-line Basics of Fair Housing Workshop, February 10th, on-line. Visit

Association of Alaskan Housing Authorities hosts Basic Financial Management Training workshop, February 10th & 11th, Anchorage, Alaska. Visit

Oregon AHMA hosts Managing Low Income Housing Tax Credit Compliance workshop, February 10th to 12th, Salem, Oregon. Visit

15th annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, February 11th to 13th, Portland, Oregon. Visit

King County Office of Civil Rights hosts workshop on First Steps - Best Practices in Promote Fair Housing, February 17th, Seattle, Washington. Visit

King Count y Office of Civil Rights hosts workshop on Advanced Fair Housing, February 17th, Seattle, Washington. Visit

Oregon AHMA hosts two seminars - on elevator diagnostics & exterior design - for maintenance staff, February 18th, Salem, Oregon. Visit

Association of Alaskan Housing Authorities hosts Admissions & Occupancy Training workshop, February 23rd to 26th, Anchorage, Alaska. Visit

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