Northwest HUD Lines
June 2020

HUD e-Briefs from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington
Jeff McMorris, Region X Regional Administrator

Leland Jones, Editor, (206) 220-5356 or Leland.jones@hud.gov
www.hud.gov/alaska www.hud.gov/idaho
www.hud.gov/oregon www.hud.gov/washington
http://twitter.com/hudnorthwest


WE WISH ALL THE BEST FOR YOU & YOURS

e-OPEN FOR BUSINESS (STILL)
HUD offices in Anchorage, Boise, Portland & Seattle are open for business. But as of May 1st due to limited on-site staffing during the coronavirus outbreak, and consistent with local public health social distancing guidelines, the best way to get in touch with us is via e-mail at AK_Webmanager@hud.gov in Alaska, ID_Webmanager@hud.gov in Idaho, OR_Webmanager@hud.gov in Oregon or WA_Webmanager@hud.gov in Washington, or call us at 206-220-5101. And, of course, you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook or at four state Web sites. You'll find their addresses in the masthead above. We look forward to hearing from you.

STAY CURRENT
Though the pace may have slowed, HUD program aeras continue to issue new & revised guidance on our response as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic.

EXTENDED
HUD has extended extension of the moratorium on foreclosure or eviction actions against homeowners with FHA-insured single-family mortgages until June 30, 2020 & continuation of policy flexibility for FHA lenders & appraisers. "We made it clear at the beginning of this pandemic," said Secretary Carson, "that no American should have to worry about losing their home amidst a crisis," Dr. Carson said, "Today's announcement ensures that commitment" at https://www.hud.gov/coronavirus

SPEAKING OF WHICH...
Having trouble staying current on your FHA-insured mortgage payments because of the pandemic? In a short 2-minute YouTube U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Brian Montgomery explains what relief is available for FHA-insured borrowers. It's worth a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi0BiOYmWZ4

MEETING THE CHALLENGE
CARES Act dollars to date
As you will see from the chart below, as of June 1stmore than $220 million has been awarded by HUD to state & local governments, Tribes, public housing authorities, Continuums of Cares & others in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington as a result of the CARES – Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act passed by the Congress & signed by President Trump in March. For details of the what's & why's of each of the HUD programs under which the awards have been made, following the chart you will find links to the press releases issued about each of the awards.

DATE
CARES ACT PROGRAM
ALASKA
IDAHO
OREGON
WASHINGTON
REG X TOTAL
1-Apr CDBG I
$2,925,254
$7,517,923
$21,154,872
$35,514,923
 
11-May CDBG 2
$1,794,197
$4,359,467
$10,722,989
$23,041,347
 
1-Apr ESG
$1,435,759
$3,828,517
$10,635,683
$17,116,532
 
1-Apr HOPWA
$0
$0
$335,233
$603,375
 
6-Apr IHBG Tribes & Villages
$28,498,149
$1,115,752
$5,122,415
$12,322,245
 
1-May PIH Resident Protection
$1,377,279
$204,342
$2,713,010
$8,822,966
 
6-May HCV Resident Protection
$864,930
$1,297,648
$5,751,380
$9,508,780
 
18-May Mainstream HCV
$123,254
$357,956
$2,083,284
$4,218,921
 
  REGION X - STATE TOTALS
$37,018,822
$18,681,605
$58,518,866
$111,149,089
$225,368,382


CDBG (Community Development Block Grants) 1 , ESG 1 (Emergency Solutions Grants) & HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS/HIV) -- https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_049

CDBG2 - https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_062

IHBG (Indian Housing Block Grants) - https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_050

PIH (Public & Indian Housing) Resident Protection- https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_058

HCV (Housing Choice Voucher) Resident Protection - https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_060

Mainstream Vouchers - https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_067

BRIEF BRIEFS
Oregon Housing & Community Services & Community Action Agencies across state have $8.5 million in COVID-19 rental resources to help low-income families having difficulties because of COVID-19 pulling together their rent. . .Who to contact? See. . .Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy advises State Legislature on how he proposes to distribute federal CARES Act funds - including funds from HUD - "directly where it is needed most into the hands of local communities, small businesses, and non-profits" at https://gov.alaska.gov/home/covid-19-economic-plan. . .Mayor & City Council of Seattle, Washington allocate $4.1 million in CARES Act HUD Community Development Block Grant funding to assist renter households hard-hit by COVID-19 at https://durkan.seattle.gov/2020/05/city-allocates-nearly-4-million-in-cares-act-funds-to-rental-assistance-programs. . .Portland, Oregon City Council votes unanimously to allocate $8 million including CARES Act CDBG funds that's expected to provide 3 more months of rental assistance to up to 2,000 families says KPTV-TV at https://www.kptv.com/news/city-to-dedicate-8-35m-to-portland-households-impacted-by-covid-19-pandemic/article_e2c001a6-a10e-11ea-ac41-87dfb8e6c797.html. . .With more than 140 up-and-operational, Washington Department of Commerce says "rapid, collaborative response" will establish some 300 new Wi-Fi "hot zones" statewide to insure every Washingtonian has access to, says Governor Jay Inslee, "quality and affordable broadband" at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/…/bulletins/28a4f10. . .Voters in Clackamas County, Oregon, Multnomah County, Oregon & Washington County, Oregon -- i.e. Portland metro are- will pass Metro measure to increase income taxes to support expansion of services to homeless says Portland Tribune at https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/467385-378126-metro-homeless-measure-holds-big-lead-in-early-returns. . .Washington Department of Commerce announced initial allocations for cities & counties across state of some $300 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds from The U.S. Department of the Treasury to help cover their "measures to protect their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic" at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOC/bulletins/28aa1fc.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Stepping Up, Helping Out
TACOMA, WASHINGTON - Life goes on. Even in a pandemic. So, too, do dreams, a dream like owning a home. "This is the one thing I've always wanted," Angela Torres, a 55-year-old laid-off forklift operator told Matt Driscoll of The Tacoma, Washington News Tribune. Thanks to the Tacoma-Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, she's now living - with her mom and son who had been "couch-surfing" at the crowded, noisy home of a niece with four children of her own- that dream in a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in the Midland neighborhood. Like every Habitat homeowner, she'd put in a lot of her time in building the house, some 3000 hours of "sweat equity." But then COVID-19 came along and though Habitat construction projects were deemed "essential" by the Governor, but only Habitat's paid staff and no volunteers could work on its projects. "It definitely turned our cart upside down," said the Habitat chapter's director Maureen Fife. And the came the lay-off and the lender's decision to back-out. "Honestly, I was ready to just give up," Torres said, "I got a lot of support from." Habitat. "They would not let me give up." On a Friday night in May, she sat outside her new home, the first the Habitat chapter's complete since the outbreak. "It was just absolute quiet," she recalled. "I didn't hear any kids yelling or screaming. It was like, 'Oh my God, we're actually in here'". Read the full News-Tribune story at https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/matt-driscoll/article242856346.html.

COOS BAY, OREGON - Thanks to a unanimous vote by the Coos County Board of Commissioners to donate a parcel to Operation Rebuild Hope, a non-profit dedicated to serving veterans in southwest Oregon, has a site to locate 3 homes for homeless veterans donated to it by Relevant Buildings, an Oregon City firm that transforms former cargo containers into sustainable, energy-efficient homes of up to 900 square-feet. "We're in a housing crisis," said Carl Coffman, the firm's owner, told The Coos Bay World, "and this gives us the opportunity to show that there are ways to make housing affordable." Read the full World story at https://theworldlink.com/news/local/operation-rebuild-hope-to-develop-affordable-housing-for-veterans/article_ec1ffc60-8f20-11ea-86d4-dfb3717405bd.html

GUSTAVUS, ALASKA - Meet Toshua Parker, a native son of Gustavus a village of about 450 people in S.E. Alaska that's the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park but, just about the time COVID-19 broke out, found itself cut off from normal air & barge services that supplied it. That hasn't stopped Tosh, owner of Toshco - Icy Strait Wholesale, the town's sole grocery store, from keeping his shelves stocked. As recently as last Tuesday he & his 96-foot barge sailed the 14-hour round-trip voyage to Juneau to buy $20,000 worth of groceries at its Costco warehouse. Read the full story at https://thehustle.co/the-man-feeding-a-remote-alaska-town-with-a-costco-card-and-a-ship/

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - The Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Housing Authority, First & Goal Hospitality, Taylor Hoang Restaurants & MOD Pizza partner with FareStart, a non-profit launched by acclaimed chef Danny Allen w/ U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds from WorkSource Seattle-King County to provide culinary skills training & ultimately employment opportunities to homeless to provide additional 50,000+ meals to folks hard-hit by COVID-19. Great food, great partnership. Read the full story at https://www.seahawks.com/news/farestart-partners-with-seattle-seahawks-first-goal-hospitality-and-other-local-

BOISE, IDAHO – By the first week of May, the COVID-19 Fund established just 4 weeks earlier by Idaho Community Foundation, United Way of Treasure Valley & the Idaho Nonprofit Center has already approved grants totaling $1.05 million to Idaho non-profit "organizations helping those who are struggling" says CBS 2 Boise at https://idahonews.com/news/coronavirus/covid-19-fund-for-idaho-grants-over-1-million-to-organizations-helping-less-fortunate

NORTH BEND, OREGON - Three restaurants in Coos Bay & North Bend,- Buzz, Restaurant O, & Top Dog Coffee Company- have teamed-up to launch ARK - the At-Risk Kids Project - to provide free meals for young people fending for themselves since schools have gone remote. "The best thing that came out of this is we're getting updated information and finding out what's really going on with these kids," ARK's coordinator tells The World Newspaper. "We've put in extra effort to make sure everyone has the same opportunity." More at https://theworldlink.com/news/local/education/local-restaurants-help-feed-homeless-youth/article_f564a06c-8e91-11ea-99c0-f798f13c6cb6.html

YAKIMA, WASHINGTON – There's a very good chance that the apples and pears, sweet cherries & peaches, Concord grapes & that bottle of delicious Washington state on your dining-room table come from the Yakima Valley, one of the most productive & richest agricultural areas in the world. During the growing & harvest seasons, thousands of temporary workers tend the fields & pick the crops. Even in the middle of a pandemic that has hit the Valley very hard. Why? Because the dorms & bunkhouses that are the temporary homes of those workers weren't designed with social distancing in mind. Even worse, growers haven't had much luck acquiring the protective gear needed to keep workers safe. Fortunately, the seamstresses have united, mostly on a voluntary basis, to sew thousands upon thousands of masks. "Migrant families are struggling, so I figured I might as well do something," one volunteer told The Herald . "I feel like I'm doing a little to help this community, and I challenge myself to see how many I can make." Read the full story at https://www.yakimaherald.com/special_projects/coronavirus/good/community-members-sew-thousands-of-masks-for-farmworkers/article_fecbf28b-cb76-51b9-9fa3-2287137aacab.html

EUGENE, OREGON – The young musicians with the Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestra are most definitely in tune with the times. On May 21stit performed its 2019-20 season finale not in person, but for the first time ever virtually on Facebook in a 80-minute performance dedicated, says The Eugene Weekly, "to the tireless work and heroism of essential workers during this time of hardship & uncertainty." With performances of pieces by Bach, Bizet, Offenbach & others, you can enjoy the 90-minute show on Facebook. at 247709983128911

POST FALLS, IDAHO - "God just really blessed us with" a "very large building," said Beth Anne Moseanko, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Post Falls, Idaho, a blooming city of 30,000 some 30 miles east of Spokane. But with "stay safe, stay at home" orders in effect because of COVID-19, she noted, it's been shuttered. No meetings. No gatherings. No worship services. "A blessing" too, she explained to Megan Rowe of The Spokesman Review, "to have it used while we weren't meeting there." The non-profit Family Promise of North Idaho had put out a call for area congregations to help families hard-pressed to comply with the orders because they have no permanent place to call home. With HUD Community Development Block Grant funds the Home Partnership Foundation, a subsidiary of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, it's opened its doors and sheltered two homeless families for more than six weeks. At first, some members of the congregation were nervous, added Moseanko, but after they were there for a week and everything was working out so well, anybody that had any apprehensions there, it was put to rest." Thanks also to the dinners the families enjoy every evening with congregants. ""Often, sitting around a dinner table you find that the people you're talking to are very similar to yourself, it's really easy to find things that are similar," noted Family Promise's Cindy Wood. "What it offers to families who are homeless is unconditional acceptance. That's a really big deal for someone who's going through the trauma and crisis of homelessness." Read the full article at https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/may/16/idaho-church-provides-shelter-for-homeless-familie/

PORTLAND, OREGON - If you've ever visited downtown Portland, Oregon, chances are pretty good you're familiar with Street Roots. It's a now-weekly newspaper that's been published since 1999 and focuses on homelessness and poverty in the state's largest metropolitan area. It's prepared, published and sold on street corners by Street Roots staff and vendors, many of whom are homeless. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic , the streets of the city have emptied, sales have plummeted and the paper's gone on-line. But the non-profit is staying busy, still serving the homeless, in particular by establishing a portal the homeless can use to apply to the IRS for the $1,200 economic impact payments to which they're entitled under the CARES At passed by the Congress and signed by President Trump. "We didn't know what to do for a while when it looked like the stimulus checks would only be for people who filed for taxes or receive Social Security," said Kaia Sand, Street Roots' executive director Kaia Sand told KGW-TV. "I'm getting busier and busier," added Alex Rodriguez who signed on as a Street Roots vendor just days before it stopped punishing. "The word is spreading among" its 200 "vendors and throughout the community." Read the full KGW story at https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/if-you-did-not-file-taxes-these-folks-can-help-you-get-your-stimulus-payment/283-8635fa8a-b608-4536-9e79-7dccd685018f

LANE COUNTY, OREGON - Ask a parent and they'll tell you. From toddlers to teens their kids are eating them out of house and home. Even in a pandemic. Which is why it's good news that Trillium Health Care in Central Oregon has stepped up and donated $360,,00 to tprovide some 16,000 "snack packs" to help kids "get through the day" in the summer ahead. The iconic impacts of COVID19, says the director of Food for Lane County, "the economic impacts that is very far-reaching and just a little bit of extra support can really go a long way for families." Hear, hear, but want to bet they won't be "starving' by 5 o'clock? Read the full story at https://ktvl.com/news/local/trillium-donates-36000-to-help-food-for-lane-county-with-snack-pack-program

ON THE FRONT-LINES
What's COVID-19 mean to those in the front-lines as a first responder helping the homeless. The problems are complex. Hours are long. Pay's not especially good. And it wears you out. So reports Sydney Brownstone of The Seattle Times on how, says one local provider, it adds "a whole other layer of trauma." Like doctors & nurses, firefighters & police officers, emergency medical technicians & members of the National Guard to combat this "invisible enemy," these folks too are bona fide heroes. Read her story at http://www.chronline.com/community/in-some-places-coronavirus-brings-a-whole-other-layer-of-trauma-for-workers-who-serve/article_dd465e90-9b8d-11ea-a0be-438abe255fc3.html

CONGRATS
The Association of Washington Cities has announced that the Lacey, Washington Veterans Services Hub, Anacortes' "pipe-in-pipe" installation of fiber optics into active water lines, Kenmore's The Hangar & Town Square project, Pasco's African-American history project & Pateros' downtown pump station are winners of its 2020 Municipal Excellence Awards at https://wacities.org/data-resources/city-awards/municipal-excellence-award

BRIEF BRIEFS TOO
Voters in Clackamas, Multnomah & Washington counties, Oregon -- i.e. Portland metro area- will pass Metro measure to increase income taxes to support the expansion of services to homeless says Portland Tribune at https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/467385-378126-metro-homeless-measure-holds-big-lead-in-early-returns. . .Demolition begins on the Pioneer Square site where Chief Seattle Club & Walsh Construction Company will build first-in-the-nation 80-unit supportive housing complex especially for Native American formerly homeless, with the rest intended for very-low-income renters, HUD Section 8 recipients and those earning up to 30 percent of area median income says Daily Journal of Commerce at https://www.djc.com/news/re/12131664.html. . .Peninsula Housing Authority in Pt. Angeles WA says Kay Messinger, a 14year veteran with the agency, has retired as executive director & Sarah Martinez has succeeded her at https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/peninsula-housing-authority-executive-director-kassinger-to-retire-april-30/. . .LEAP Housing Solutions opens 1-day application window for income-eligible to rent next 4 affordable homes – made from converted cargo containers – in its Windy Court community in Boise says Idaho Statesman a https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article243027201.html. . .Benton County, Washington Commission okays $740,000 plan to boost housing & veterans services to those hard-hit by COVID-19 over next 6 months says TriCityHerald at https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article242839446.html. . .Oregon Housing & Community Services' Housing Stability okays Pass-Through Revenue Bonds to support development of Central City Concerns' 60 "low-barrier" Division Street Apartments in southeast Portland, Oregon, Tillamook Bay Housing LLC's 60-unit Holden Creek Apartments in Tillamook & Clackamas County Housing Authority's acquisition & rehabilitation of Hillside Manor, a HUD Rental Assistance Demonstration property in Milwaukie at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/DO/messages/2020/05-01-2020-Directors-Message.pdf. . .Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority has awarded $375,000 to Fairbanks Rescue Mission , Love INC of the Tanana Valley & Interior Alaska Center For Non-Violent Living to increase services to Alaskans "with intellectual developmental disabilities who are really having trouble accessing and maintaining safe, affordable housing" reports KTVF Fairbanks. . .City of Tacoma, Washington establishes $1.2 million fund to help eligible households - city residents at or below 50 percent area median income -hard-hit by COVID-19 to "crack the nut" & not miss their rental payments at https://www.thenewstribune.com/…/local/article241803461.html. . .EPA awards $2.1 million in Brownfields Assessment Grants to Port Gamble S'klallam Tribe, Grays Harbor & Chelan counties & City of Vancouver, Washington &.$2.6 million in grants to to Baker City & assessment grants to Coquille Indian Tribe, Harney County, Oregon Metro serving the Clackamas, Multnomah & Washington counties & City of The Dalles in Oregon at https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-10-pacific-northwest#news. . .Washington Governor Jay Inslee & Washington Department of Commerce award of $20 million in grants from $566 to $10,000 from Washington State relief fund to the first 500 very small businesses - 10 or fewer employees - affected by COVID-19 in 20 counties to cover rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory & other operating expenses at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOC/bulletins/28c647d. . .NeighborWorks in Pocatello begins preparing site of former Bonneville Elementary School for development of new affordable housing says Idaho State. Journal at https://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/neighborworks-pocatello-starts-housing-development-project-at-bonneville-school-property/article_536bbe7f-8b1f-5573-a3be-b3cac7381a2e.html. . .Housing Authority of Skagit County, WA says it hopes to begin construction in early 2021 of 51-unit affordable housing complex in Mt. Vernon primarily for farmworkers & their families at https://www.goskagit.com/news/local_news/housing-authority-working-on-mount-vernon-project/article_b4ac8165-490d-5ece-a828-db3e89aa495d.html

NOFA-TUNITY
HUD's Office of Native Americans Programs issued Notice announcing it will begin accepting applications on June 1st from Tribes, Alaska Native Villages & Tribally-designated organizations for up to $100 million in Indian Community Development Block Grant Imminent Threat Grants authorized by CARES Act to address COVID-19 at https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/2020-11pihn.pdf

NOFA-TWO-NITY
HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes has set a June 15th deadline to apply for a total of $2 million in Lead Technical Studies & $5 million in Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grants. More at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/fundingopps/FY20_LHHTS_NOFO_FR-6400-N-15.pdf

NOFA-THREE-NITY
HUD sets July 8thdeadline for HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to apply for up to 30 fiscal year 2020 Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program grants totaling $3.5 million. Visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=327347 Register for the June 16thWebinar on this funding opportunity at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1782087753848664592

NO-FOUR-TUNITY
HUD's Office of Policy Development & Research sets July 1st deadline to apply for total of $2 million in funding for research Estimating the Prevalence & Probability of Homeless Youth at https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/SPM/documents/Foa_Content_of_FR-6400-N-59.pdf

NO-FIVE-TUNITY
On May 26th Business Oregon began accepting applications from non-entitlement communities for a total $3.75 million in CARES Act @HUD Community Development Block Grant funds to provide assistance to small businesses or to support other activities to prevent & protect against COVID-19 in their communities. Applications will stop being taken when all the funds have been committed. More at https://www.oregon4biz.com/Coronavirus-Information/index.php#cdbg

NOFA-SIX-NITY
The Washington Department of Commerce sets July 16th to apply for Building for the Arts grants which cover up to a third of the capital costs of arts & cultural projects. It's said that art transcends lives. So why not "transcendentalize" the community you call home? Here is your chance at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/capital-facilities/building-for-the-arts/

ONE-MORE-TUNITY
Washington State Department of Commerce sets June 19th deadline for cities & counties to apply for up to five $20,000 Growth Management Grants to assist them in climate change planning at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOC/bulletins/28b73b4

BRIEF BRIEFS THREE
Idaho Governor Brad Little says beginning May 27th self-employed individuals adversely affected by COVID-19 can apply for up to $7,500 cash grants from $300 million Idaho Rebound small business relief program at https://www.kmvt.com/content/news/Self-employed-Idahoans-can-apply-for-virus-related-cash-grants--570575801.html. . .Washington State Department of Commerce awards $25,000 each to City of Othello, Washington & City of Stevenson, Washington & Cowlitz County to develop housing action plans & adopt municipal code changes to make it easier for rural residents to find housing they can afford. . .Plans unveiled for 229-unit affordable housing development in Lynnwood, Washington Opportunity Zone near to planned city entry light-rail station with construction beginning June says Connect Seattle at https://www.connect.media/canyon-american-capital-jv-plan-lynnwood-mf-development/. . .Clackamas County, Oregon Housing Authority awarded additional Foster Youth to Independence funds to help more of its young people aging-out of foster care to avoid homelessness at https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_059. . .Washington Governor Jay Inslee announces the award of $23.8 million in construction & equipment funds to 14 behavioral health projects across the state to provide enhanced services to serve children & minor youth at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOC/bulletins/28baa72. . . Mary's Place & Amazon.com announce the opening of 8-story Belgrade at Amazon's campus in South Lake Union area of Seattle to serve some 200 families a night. The opening, Mayor Jenny Durkan said, came "at a crucial moment, helping to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 & saving lives" at https://komonews.com/news/local/amazon-marys-place-open-new-shelter-for-families. . .Beaverton, Oregon City Council recommends proposed 184-unit affordable housing complex for elderly & families as its first project built with Metro Affordable Housing Bond fund approved by voters in Portland area at https://www.beavertonoregon.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7628. . .While promising to retire on the Kitsap Peninsula, Kurt Wiest, executive director of the Bremerton, Washington Housing Authority, says he will step down to become executive director of Alameda County, California Housing Authority for three or so years says Kitsap Sun at https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/05/07/bremerton-housing-authority-director-set-depart/5178600002/. . .City of Corvallis, Oregon City Council OR Council awards $360,000 in funds generated by property tax levy renewed by voters in 2019 to more than a dozen food banks, programs for young people & seniors & organizations serving homeless says Gazette at https://www.gazettetimes.com/corvallis-gives-out-360k-to-nonprofits/article_713c46d8-d9cc-50bc-81b0-e6f7e804b32b.html

FACT-SINATING
How many & how hard are American households being hit by COVID-19? How many have lost jobs or income, are facing housing or food instability, are delaying medical care or seeing their kids' educations being disrupted. Thanks to the U.S. Census Bureau's newly-inaugurated Household Pulse Survey, we now will have up-to-date from all the states& some metro areas on a weekly basis. Check it out at https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2020/household-pulse-results.html

NOT-SO-FAC-TASTIC
An analysis by Kaiser Health News concludes some 470,000 homes in U.S. have inadequate plumbing. "In many of those homes," it notes, "people can't even turn on a faucet. There's no running water," making it harder for residents to combat COVID-19at . https://khn.org/news/millions-stuck-at-home-with-no-plumbing-kitchen-or-space-to-stay-safe/

BY THE NUMBERS
Idaho Commerce & Idaho Department of Agriculture release results of the April 2020 survey asking mostly small businesses what effects they've felt from COVID-19. No surprise, unfortunately, most of the 1,305 businesses reported losses in revenues, reductions in workforce & interruptions in the supply chain but 90 percent shifts to making or selling new products because of COVID-19. Just over 40 percent said reported Grants were the leading area of assistance needed at https://commerce.idaho.gov/covid-19-impact-survey.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"A lot of the people that are coming have just never asked for help before. They're saying, 'We were giving to Food for Lane County just a month ago, & now we're here asking for help'", says Dawn Marie Woodard from FOOD For Lane County, Oregon's 2nd largest regional food bank & one of some 20 organizations in Oregon & Washington to receive support from Nourishing Neighbors partnership newly-formed by KGW-TV, Safeway & Albertsons, May 28, 2020, https://www.kgw.com/article/features/kgw-partners-with-safeway-and-albertsons-in-food-drive/283-a3f39efa-7174-48ed-b002-d5ce1a563e98

WORTH A READ
Every year some 20,000 young people "age-out" of foster care. Raised from birth as a foster child, our colleague Chris Patterson, the HUD regional administrator in San Francisco, knows a thing or two about the ups & downs of foster care, especially about how easy it is for those aging-out to fall into homelessness. Which is why, since 2018, he has so strongly supports HUD's Foster Youth to Independence to smooth that sudden, often risky transition to adulthood. "For too long, foster youths have been cast off into the shadows of our nation's homelessness epidemic," he wrote recently in The Boston Herald. "HUD is determined that they be cast off no longer, and especially as we continue to grapple with this pandemic." It's Well worth a read.

JUST PUBLISHED
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Housing Finance Agency & HUD launch new Website to help homebuyers, renters & homeowners learn about resources & protections available to address challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/mortgage-and-housing-assistance. . .Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issues final rule "to strengthen & modernize the Community Reinvestment Act" at https://occ.gov/news-issuances/federal-register/2020/nr-occ-2020-63a.pdf. . .Study of housing affordability issues & recommended responses has been posted on-line by Kitsap County & City of Bremerton, Washington at https://www.kitsapgov.com/hs/Pages/HH-Housing-and-Homelessness-Landing.aspx. . .The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard issues research brief ask "Are Americans Stuck in Place?: Declining Residential Mobility in U.S." at https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/research-areas/research-briefs/are-americans-stuck-place-declining-residential-mobility-us. . .Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University publishes Empowering Resident Leaders: Lessons from NeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute at https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/research-areas/working-papers/empowering-resident-leaders-lessons-neighborworks'-community. . .HUD's Office of Native American Programs releases estimated Federal fiscal year 2021 Indian Housing Block Grant formula allocations at https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FY%202021%20Estimate%20Cover%20Letter%20%28002%29.pdf

NOTES TO NOTE
Starting June 1st, HUD's Office of Native American Programs to begin accepting applications from Tribes, Native Village & Tribally designated entities for $100 million in Indian Community Development Blok Grant imminent threat grants provided by CARES Act at https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/2020-11pihn.pdf. . .Washington Department of Commerce extends deadline to apply for Youth Recreation Facilities grants until July 23rd & for Building for the Arts grants until August 6th at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOC/bulletins/28cd380. . .On May 26th Business Oregon began accepting applications from non-entitlement communities for a total $3.75 million in CARES Act U.S. Department of HUD Community Development Block Grant funds to provide assistance to small businesses or to support other actives to prevent & protect against COVID-19 in their communities at HYPERLINK "https://www.oregon4biz.com/Coronavirus-Information/index.php#cdbg". . .HUD's Office of Native Americans Programs issued Notice announcing it will begin accepting applications on June 1st from Tribes, Alaska Native Villages & Tribally-designated organizations for up to $100 million in Indian Community Development Block Grant Imminent Threat Grants authorized by CARES Act to address COVID-19 at https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/2020-11pihn.pdf. . .Washington Department of Commerce sets June 3rddeadline cities with less than 50,000 residents & counties with 200,000 residents to apply for Community Development Block Grant General Purpose grants. . .The Federal Reserve Bank's Board of Governors sets June 5th to submit nominations for Community Advisory Council which meets twice a year with Board on "concerns of low- & moderate-income population"( currently no one from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon or Washington serves on Council) at https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/cac.html. . .HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes has set a June 15th deadline to apply for a total of $2 million in Lead Technical Studies & $5 million in Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grants at https://www.hud.gov/…/fund. . .Washington Department of Commerce sets June 16th deadline to apply applications for total of $28.5 million to support four specified behavioral health capital projects at https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/v/bhfnofar2compappWashington Department of Commerce sets June 16th deadline for eligible public entities, tribes, non- & for-profits to apply for a total of $6 million in the third round of Behavioral Health Facilities competitive grants. Learn more at https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/v/2019-21NOFARoundThree. . .HUD's Office of Policy Development & Research sets July 1st deadline to apply for total of $2 million to research Estimating the Prevalence & Probability of Homeless Youth at https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/SPM/documents/Foa_Content_of_FR-6400-N-59.pdf. . .Washington Department Commerce sets July 2nd deadline to apply for grants of up to $1. million but no more than 25 percent of the cost of developing Youth Recreational Facilities that enable young people from Kindergarten through 12th grade with recreation opportunities integrated with social and/or educational services at https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/v/2123yrfguidelines. . .Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families sets July 6th for local governments, Tribes, Alaskan Native Villages & non-profits to apply for up to 5 demonstration grants to "build, expand, and sustain organizational and community capacity to deliver services to Native American victims of human trafficking at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=321683. . .HUD sets July 8th deadline for HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to apply for up to 30 fiscal yar 2020 Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program grants totaling $3.5 million at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=327347. . .Washington Department of Commerce sets July 16th to apply for Building for the Arts grants which cover up to a third of the capital costs of arts & cultural projects. It's said that art transcends lives. So why not "transcendentalize" the community you call home? Here is your chance at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/capital-facilities/building-for-the-arts/. . .U.S. Department of Labor VETS program sets December 31st, 2020 deadline for state & local workforce development groups, veterans service organizations, public agencies, Tribal governments & non-profits to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to conduct veterans Stand Down events.

COMING UP
HUD hosts Webinar on Lead Safe Housing in CDBG-DR Disaster Recovery Housing Programs, on-line, June 1st. More at https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/lead-safe-housing-in-disaster-recovery-housing-programs/3462/

HUD hosts Webinar on Public Housing Re-Positioning – Options for Scattered-Site Housing, June 3rd, on-line. More at https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/2020-public-housing-repositioning-wednesday-webinar-series-options-for-scattered-site-units/3316/

HUD hosts Webinar on Coordination Between HUD CDBG-MIT/CDBG-DR and FEMA Mitigation Programs, June 4th, on-line. More at https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/coordination-between-hud-cdbg-mit-cdbg-dr-and-fema-mitigation-programs/

In observance of National Healthy Homes Month, HUD & Healthy Homes Partnership hosts virtual celebration of their 15-year partnership & strengthening the healthy homs agenda, on-line, June 8th. More at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5312174288424339470

In observance of National Healthy Homes Month, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes hosts Housekeeping 101 Webinar, June 9th, on-line. More at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1776149291543300110

Idaho Association of Cities hosts virtual 73rd annual conference, June 10thto 12th, on line. More at https://idahocities.org/page/2020AICConference

Washington Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Being a More Successful Community Manager Webinar, June 10th, on-line. More at https://www.ahma-wa.org/trainings

Pacific Northwest Council of NAHRO hosts Webinar on Fair Housing & Assisted Housing, June 11th, on-line. Visit http://www.pnrcnahro.org/events/event-calendar/#id=126&wid=301&cid=1198

In observance of National Healthy Homes Month, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes hosts Webinar on Amulets to Zaprana: Non-Paint Sources of Lead, June 11th, on-line. More at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1821648182212380430

Washington Affordable Housing Management Association hosts USDA-RD Update Webinar, June 16th, on-line. More at https://www.ahma-wa.org/trainings

In observance of National Healthy Homes Month, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes hosts Webinar on Healthy Homes Outreach: The Field Perspective, June 16th, on-lin. More at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4734418311423635214

HUD Office of Housing Counseling hosts Webinar on fiscal year 2020 Comprehensive Housing Counseling notice-of-funding-availability, June 16th, on-line. More at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1782087753848664592

Idaho Affordable Housing Management Association hosts two-session REAC Webinar, June 16th & 18th, on-line. Visit https://reac.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=2138768044

Washington State Public Works Board hosts Broadband Infrastructure Roundtable Webinar, June 17th, on-line. More at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/news-releases/state-public-works-board-announces-june-broadband-infrastructure-webinars/

Washington Affordable Housing Management Association hosts It's About Ethics Webinar, June 18th, on-line. More at https://www.ahma-wa.org/trainings

Washington State Public Works Board hosts How to Apply for Broadband Construction Funds Webinar, June 18th, on-line. More at https://www.commerce.wa.gov/news-releases/state-public-works-board-announces-june-broadband-infrastructure-webinars/

In observance of National Healthy Homes Month, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes hosts Webinar on Healthy Homes Outreach Products for Native Americans, on-line, June 18th. More at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9074651401627630862

Association of Washington Cities hosts virtual annual conference, June 23rdto 26th, on-line. More at https://wacities.org/events-education/conferences/awc-annual-conference

In observance of National Healthy Homes Month, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes hosts Webinar on The Longer Term Effectiveness of Home Asthma Interventions, June 23rd, on-line. More at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/266550612932733966

HUD hosts Webinar on Public Housing Repositioning: Options for 50-unit-&-Under public housing authorities, June 24th, on-line. More at https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/2020-public-housing-repositioning-wednesday-webinar-series-options-for-50-and-under-phas/3317/

In observance of National Healthy Homes Month, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes hosts Webinar on Interventions to Help Seniors Safely Age in Place, June 25th, on-line. More at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1795966889122726158

In observance of National Healthy Homes Month, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes hosts Webinar on the Grand Finale of National Healthy Homes Month with the announcement of the winners of HUD's 2020 HUD Secretary's Healthy Homes Awards, June 30th, on-line. More at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3611377134835848975

Washington Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Being a Reasonable Accommodation & Pet Policy Webinar, July 9th, on-line. More at https://www.ahma-wa.org/trainings

Oregon Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Conquering HOME Multifamily Compliance, July 15th to 17th, Salem, Oregon at https://www.oregonaffordablehousingmanagement.com/Site/2020-Classes/July-15-16-17-2020Conquering-HOME-Multi-FamilyHousingCompliance-SCC-FILLABLE.pdf

HUD hosts Webinar on Public Housing Repositioning: Rental Assistance Demonstration Projects & Section 18 Unit Blends, July 22nd, on-line. More at https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/2020-public-housing-repositioning-wednesday-webinar-series-rad-and-section-18-blends/3318/

Washington Affordable Housing Management Association hosts Violence Against Women Update, July 22nd on-line. More at https://www.ahma-wa.org/trainings

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Content Archived: March 6, 2024