Surprise! There are still open waiting lists at many Public Housing Authorities in Region IX.

Yes, even in tight markets like San Francisco and in Bay Area communities. We have the current status of waiting lists for Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada for every Public Housing Authority, with contact names and numbers for both Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly called Section 8) and Low Rent units (the ones owned and operated by local Housing Authorities). You’ll also see whether the Housing Authority has established preferences for some applicants, and the average annual turnover of units and vouchers. It’s part of our effort to be more transparent and accessible with information, and we expect to shortly provide information on the Multifamily properties in our Region.

Build it, and they’ll like it…

That’s the reaction of Affordable Housing Finance’s readers, who turned in their finalist choices in nine categories of affordable housing. We’re bursting with pride, after HUD funding played a role in six of the 29 finalists from across the nation. They include Sherwood Village Senior Apartments in Salinas, Parkview Terraces in San Francisco, Buena Vista Terrace in San Francisco, Parkhurst Terrace in Aptos, Corde Terra Village in San Jose (with funding from an affiliate of the Housing Authority of Santa Clara County), and Railton Place in San Francisco. (Yes, that’s three of the six in San Francisco, a city where affordable housing is in very short supply and financing is a tough job). Most of the HUD funding came through the HOME program.

Subscribers will vote on the winner in each category by August 26. To read about them, go to http://www.housingfinance.com/ahf/index.html.

California sees up tick in homeownership rates…

The Golden State was one of a very few in the West that showed an increase in homeownership in the second quarter of 2008 over first quarter tallies. No state, however, has reached the highest rate of homeownership reported in past periods.

Phoenix Field Office Director Rebecca Flanagan gave Opening Remarks at the Arizona National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Conference.

The Mayor of Phoenix and current National NAHRO Director Saul Ramirez, former HUD Deputy Secretary, also spoke. Ms. Flanagan organized a Making Sustainable Communities Happen presentation. More than 200 participants attended the July 15-16 conference.

Las Vegas Field Office Director Speaks at Grand Opening for Trinity Impact Center (Nevada)

Field Office Director Ken LoBene spoke at the July 20th Grand Opening of Trinity City Impact Center. The Center is a community development center with numerous programs to assist low-income persons. Services offered include free summer camps for children, children’s health clinic, education and recreational programs. There were approximately 400 people were in attendance.

One-Day Workshop for Homeless Continuum Providers (San Bernardino, California)

CPD utilized its Technical Assistance funds to engage Enterprise Community Partners and HomeBase to provide a one day “Homeless 101: Managing HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grants” training session to the San Bernardino County Continuum. The Los Angeles CPD office provided this technical assistance delivery at the request of San Bernardino County in support of the County’s new leadership role as the Lead Agency for the Continuum.

Three Las Vegas Jurisdictions Mark Precedent in Cooperation on Housing

On July 14, 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada CPD staff met with the City of North Las Vegas, Clark County, and the City of Las Vegas to discuss moving forward on a senior housing project which will provide over 100 units of affordable housing for seniors. This is the first time that the three entities have collaborated on a project. They plan to assist a single nonprofit in construction of a $14 million assisted living facility. Phase I will consist of 90 one and two bedroom units of rental housing and will include a group dining room, commercial kitchen, recreation room lounges, exam and wellness space, beauty shop, and other amenities. Phase two will consist of 75 two-bedroom units. Financing will be provided through Community development Block grant (CDBG) funds, tax credits and other public and private funds.

HUD Exhibit at Black Expo Draws 800 (Oakland, California)

On July 19-20, HUD staff Daisy Davis, Donna Martin and Lillie Zinnerman participated in Black Expo Ltd 2008 at the Oakland Marriott Convention Center. During the two-day period, approximately 7,000 people participated. HUD staff distributed information and provided technical assistance and counseling to approximately 800 participants.

HUD-ONAP Sponsors Training for Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program Participants (Hawaii)

The Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) sponsored a Labor Standards and Compliance training session for Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) Program participants. The training was provided through a contract with Native American Management Services, Inc. to enhance capacity for NHHBG program administration. Training participants represented the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and nonprofit organizations that are sub recipients of the NHHBG.

Congresspersons Co-sponsor Well-Attended Foreclosure Prevention Workshop

On Saturday, July 19, a Foreclosure Prevention Workshop attended by approximately 600 individuals was held in the City of Downey. The workshop, co-sponsored by Congresswomen Lucille Roybal-Allard (34th District) and Linda Sanchez (39th District, was held in conjunction with HUD, the Los Angeles County NeighborWorks Center for Foreclosure Solutions, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services, and cities in the congresswomen’s districts. Credit counselors and lenders were available for on-site, one-on-one counseling assistance to assist individuals and families in understanding their mortgage options, improving and restoring their credit, and fraud prevention and awareness. Los Angeles Field Office (LAFO) Field Policy and Management (FPM) and Santa Ana Homeownership center (SAHOC) staff were in attendance.

Two Nevada Communities Hold Foreclosure Prevention Events (Reno area)

Reno FPM staff members, Thomas Vetica, Janet LeVesque, and Raymond Ward participated in two Foreclosure Prevention Resource Center events in both Reno and Fernley, NV. The workshops hosted by the Office of US Senator Harry Reid, theHOPE NOW Alliance, NeighborWorks America, the Office of the Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto, Office of the Nevada Treasurer Kate Marshall, and the Reno Area HUD Field Office.

The free foreclosure workshops were directed at homeowners in danger of losing their homes. The workshops offered assistance with mortgage issues, meetings with lenders and counselors, one-on-one counseling, and information sharing.

SAHOC Hosts FHA Procedures Workshop (Santa Ana, California)

On July 15-17, 2008, Santa Ana Homeownership Center (SAHOC) staff provided a 3-day training seminar on FHA loan products, underwriting and appraisal training. It included recent procedural changes to energy efficient mortgages, home equity conversion mortgages, and FHA secure to underwriters, loan processors, lenders, brokers, and real estate professionals.

Regional Director, Phil Mangano and Veterans Administration present vouchers for San Francisco veterans.

Regional Director Richard Rainey joined Philip Mangano, a VA representative, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and local San Francisco officials for the announcement of HUD-VASH vouchers worth $1.5 million. The news conference was broadcast on the local government channel and covered by local media.

New Director for State Housing Agency (Honolulu, Hawaii)

The board of directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp (HHFDC) announced that Karen Seddon has been named executive director. Seddon will oversee the HHFDC's plan to deliver over 5,000 affordable and work-force housing units over the next five years throughout the State. Ms. Seddon has been with the HHFDC since 2006 as a development branch chief.

California

July 28-29: City of Palmdale to Host Grant Writing Training Workshop

On July 28-29, the City of Palmdale will host the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiative’s Grant Writing Training in the City’s Larry Chimbole Cultural Center. The two-day technical assistance workshop will train faith and community non-profit organizations from the entire Antelope Valley on how to become more competitive in securing federal grant funds (HUD’s SuperNOFA, etc.). The Los Angeles Field Office’s Faith-based Trainer will facilitate the workshop and the local Faith-based Liaison will assist. Approximately sixty representatives from local organizations are expected to be in attendance.

Contact: Theresa Camiling, Field Office Director, at (213) 534-2508

July 29: Fresno HUD Field Office Director to speak at Groundbreaking (Mendota, CA)

The Fresno HUD Field Office Director will speak at the July 29th groundbreaking of the Western Technology Institute, a new workforce development project. HUD staff assisted the project team of the Workforce Development Board. This facility will train workers in energy related fields. This is a project that relates to the Workforce Development initiative of the Federal Interagency Task Force that was coordinated by HUD. The Institute received local county CDBG, HUD Economic development Initiative (EDI) and Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds.

Contact: Rollie Smith, Field Office Director (559) 487-5033 ext. 240.

July 29: No Homeowner Left Behind Foreclosure Task Force Meeting (Fresno, California)

On July 29, in Fresno, CA, HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) Intake Branch Chief Paul Smith will participate in a Partnership Meeting of a foreclosure taskforce named No Homeowner Left Behind (NHLB). NHLB is a group of HUD staff from Regional or field offices dealing with foreclosure issues, HUD counseling agencies, legal aid staff, lenders and realtors, and NeighborWorks representatives, and which through a local office created a local hotline, a website, trained professionals, and a whole manual of tools for assisting homeowners. The meeting is to assess the status of progress and determine what future actions should be taken. Approximately 30 participants are expected.

Contact: Chuck Hauptman, FHEO Director, (415) 489-6536

Hawaii

July 31-August 1 Grant Workshop (Honolulu, Hawaii)
2-day workshop to provide information for novice and intermediate grants writers on Government Grant Funding resources and key tools and practices for Grant Administration

July 31, 2008 - August 1, 2008
8:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Kapiolani Community College

Nevada

August 7-8: White House Faith and Community Based Grant Writing Workshop (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Contact: Phyllis Hargrove FPM Las Vegas Office (702) 366-2137

August 20: Homeless Veterans Coalition of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Contact: Patrick Russell, FPM, Las Vegas Office. (702) 366-2140