Northwest Notes

Office of Public Housing

Region X - Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
FY2007 Quarter IV, August 1, 2007

From the Director's Office
In this final quarter of the fiscal year, we bid a retirement farewell to Elizabeth Santone, Portland Program Center Coordinator. For all who have had the pleasure of working with Elizabeth during her tenure here at HUD, she will be greatly missed. We all wish her well in her retirement from HUD.

Deborah Mann is currently serving as Acting Program Center Coordinator, Portland Program Center. Please join me in continued support of Ms. Mann as Acting Program Center Coordinator.

On behalf of Office of Public Housing team members in the Seattle, Portland, & Anchorage offices, we hope this newsletter is helpful to you.

Harlan Stewart , Director, Office of Public Housing, Region X, Northwest/Alaska

Archived HUD Webcasts

• Grants.gov, July 19, 2007
• Upfront Income Verification, July 17, 2007
• Energy Training For Building Performance "Session 1", April 12, 2007
• REAC Inspection Day, March 29, 2007

Energy Star
Visit the Energy Star website (http://www.energystar.gov/) to find out how your agency can benefit from Energy Star services.

The Boise City/ Ada County Housing Authority (BCACHA) and Southwestern Idaho Cooperative Housing Authority (SICHA) celebrate Homeownership Month

Stacie Bateman accepts a certificate of "Success in Homeownership" from Boise City/Ada County Executive Director, Deanna Watson

On a quiet cul-de-sac in Boise, Idaho, family, friends, and staff from the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority and HUD Boise and Seattle offices gathered at the home of Stacie Bateman to celebrate homeownership month. Ms. Bateman happily provided the group with a tour of her immaculately maintained single-family 2 bd/2 bth home she purchased in 2005. Later, she was presented a certificate for "Success in Homeownership" from BCACHA Executive Director, Deanna Watson.

Ms. Bateman is one of 15 families from BCACHA to have successfully utilized the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher for Homeownership program. The BCACHA's dedicated and supportive staff works with clients to guide them through the homeownership process. BCACHA's Homeownership Coordinator, Tawna Gulbis, has worked with several of the families to secure additional down payment resources including American Dream Down payment Initiative (ADDI) and Home Start Plus funds.

Fifteen miles west in Nampa, Idaho, Shawna Lown, FSS and Homeownership Coordinator at SICHA provided HUD staff with a tour of several of the 25 homes their families have purchased through the voucher program. SICHA has partnered with several nonprofits in the area to provide additional resources to clients including, Open Doors, who provides no or low-cost home renovation services to persons requiring modifications due to a disability. SICHA later sponsored an informational homeownership event for prospective families. Representatives from Idaho Independent Bank as well as families who have successfully closed on homes discussed their path to homeownership, inspiring others along the way.

Elizabeth Santone Retires

Elizabeth Santone celebrates retirement, Friday, July 6th, 2007

Elizabeth Santone began her career in housing at the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority. Then moved to the Vancouver Housing Authority before joining HUD in 1987 as a Housing Management Specialist. In 1995, she became the Portland Field Office Program Center Coordinator. Along the way, Elizabeth was involved in a variety of special national projects including, the Public Housing Vacancy Reduction Project and Small PHA Troubled Housing Taskforce. She was later detailed for six months to HUD Headquarters in Washington DC where she worked on Quality Housing Work Responsibility Act regulations. Respected throughout HUD, and by her housing authority colleagues, and adored by her staff -- she will be missed greatly. We wish her a very happy retirement.

"How do you say good bye? I've never met a better group of people-- dedicated, hard working, smart and caring. Oh, sure, there have been frustrations. I can't say that I've agreed with everything, but some how we manage to persevere and focus on the important stuff; making life a little bit better for the people who live in HUD funded housing. Thanks for sharing the last 20 years with me." ~Elizabeth

PHA Plans Reminder & VAWA
Implementation of the "Violence Against Women Act and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005" (VAWA) was effective on January 5, 2006 when President Bush signed VAWA into law. This notice is a reminder for PHAs that five-year and annual PHA Plans are required to contain information regarding any goals, activities, objectives, policies, or programs of the PHA that are intended to support or assist victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. PHA Plans received without VAWA information must be disapproved. If you have any questions or concerns about this requirement, please contact the Public Housing Revitalization Specialist assigned to your PHA or, you may contact PHA Plan coordinator, Gordon Brandhagen by telephone at (206) 220-6229 or, email at Gordon.Brandhagen@hud.gov.

Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Training
HUD in partnership with D L Morgan & Associates, Nelrod Company, and PNRC- NAHRO are offering minimal cost, targeted, hands-on training for housing authorities and their homeownership partners. See HUD's website for more info.

Tacoma, Washington: August 13-14
Pacific Northwest Regional Council
Tacoma LaQuinta
1425 E 27th St.
Tacoma, WA 98421-2200
Phone (253) 383 0146

Registration: www.pnrcnahro.org

FHA Update: Predatory Lending
Predatory mortgage lending practices strip borrowers of home equity and threaten families with foreclosure, destabilizing the very communities that we are trying to serve. To be sure that new homeowners are able to stay in their homes, HUD works in the local communities to provide resources and guidance for potential new homeowners in seeking the best information and loan product to meet their families' needs.

For information on how to avoid predatory lending, visit www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/buying/loanfraud.cfm.

To contact a local counseling agency for more information, visit www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm.

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Homeownership
HCV Homeownership Closings as of 4/1/2007

Recently Published
See all Federal Register and Notices on HUD's website.

Important Upcoming Dates
Please Note: All dates subject to change. Refer to program area websites for most current information and complete list of forms due.

Every Month CFP obligated/expended data is submitted through eLOCCS. CFP work completion activities where pre-audit is required, are reminded to submit AMCC to Field Office

Every Month Send complete copy of renewal Moderate Rehabilitation program HAP contracts with owners to FMC representative. Please include Attachment A. Contracts needed to request renewal funds and to release payments

Quarterly VMS data collection (HUD 52681B submitted electronically). Ensure data is submitted timely and accurately. Failure to report timely could result in loss of Administrative fees. Check VMS website for exact submission dates

EIV Recertification by July 30th
PHA Users must be recertified by PHA User Administrator by midnight 7/30/07. HUD Field EIV Coordinator will recertify PHA User Administrators.

Energy Audit
An Energy Audit is required for each development of PHA owned Low-Income Public Housing and must be completed by SEPTEMBER 30th. Please refer to 24 CFR 965.302. Please notify your HUD Field Office of completion of your agency's Energy Audit.

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