From housingminnesota at mhponline.org Fri Jun 4 10:50:12 2004 From: housingminnesota at mhponline.org (HousingMN Communications ) Date: Fri Jun 4 11:47:09 2004 Subject: HousingMinnesota Bulletin Volume 3, Issue 11 - June 4, 2004 Message-ID: <91CE81A8B5C57940AA99ECF1E2A160600A63BA@mhpserver.mhponline.org> HousingMinnesota Homes for All by 2012! The Bulletin June 4, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 11 Distributed bi-weekly, this bulletin contains news, announcements, legislative updates, publications, and upcoming events. We hope you'll find it helpful in keeping you abreast of important developments. Please don't hesitate to contact us with items you'd like included in future issues. The Bulletin is also available online at http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * News/Announcements SPECIAL REPORT from the National Low Income Housing Coalition: FY04 VOUCHER FUNDING CRISIS - WEEK 6***HUD 'Fix' Less Than Half of What's Needed, Group Finds "A variety of stakeholders, including advocates, industry groups and Members of Congress, continue to demand a solution to the FY04 voucher funding crisis, in which housing authorities across the country suddenly found themselves short of funds due to a notice issued by HUD on April 22 that retroactively changed the way the voucher program is funded. Last week, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced that the funding crisis has been solved by HUD's plans to restore $150 million to 500 agencies and to give agencies a full FY04 inflation adjustment. However, advocates remain unconvinced that these steps are adequate to solve the problem. The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) this week released its study of the funding shortfall, and finds that HUD's recent commitment of $150 million is still at least $170 million short of the amount needed to rectify the problem. The study was done based on the FY04 Omnibus Appropriations Act, HUD's renewal funding methodology as defined in its notice, and subsequent reports to Congress, and can be accessed at www.nahro.org/documents/2004/0528HAPCosts2003to2004.pdf ." (Source: NLIHC Memo to Members) Minnesota Moves Forward with Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness Despite Stalled Bonding Bill "The Pawlenty administration is moving ahead with its plan to end long-term homelessness in Minnesota. Legislators this session didn't approve the $20 million for the proposal's first-phase. But the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency says 59 apartments are already being developed using money the agency has redirected from its own budget. Over the next seven years, the administration hopes to build or refurbish 4,000 apartments to house the state's most chronically homeless residents. Homeless advocates generally welcome the idea, but some wonder if it's targeting one group at the expense of another." Read the full story on the Minnesota Public Radio web site at http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/06/01_bensonl_homele ss/ (Source: MPR) HousingMinnesota Community Meetings in the News HousingMinnesota is hitting the road this summer and fall by co-sponsoring a series of community meetings and candidate forums. The first three meetings were held in Blue Earth and St. Cloud on May 25th, and in Moorhead on May 27th. Legislators were in attendance at the Blue Earth and Moorhead meetings to give their communities a briefing on how affordable housing fared during the 2004 legislative session and what to look for in the next year. Rep. Bob Gunther, chair of the House Jobs and Economic Development Finance committee, stated that affordable housing is one of the three necessary components in a community for economic development to occur. The other two are businesses willing to take a risk and a well trained workforce. For more, check out the links to local news coverage of the events. (These links may become inactive-we are seeking permission to post the articles on our web site for future reference.) Blue Earth meeting: http://fairmontsentinel.com/news/stories/052704b.html St. Cloud meeting: http://miva.sctimes.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?CMN/Local/read_archive.mv+7+6+ 17 (Watch our calendar for upcoming HousingMinnesota meetings across the state.) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reading/Resources Housing-Related Legislation that Passed During the 2004 Session While most of the significant initiatives around affordable housing were caught up in the stalemate at the legislature this year, there were several policy bills that did pass during the session and were signed into law. This table describes housing-related legislation that successfully passed. http://housingminnesota.org/downloads/2004legislation_passed.pdf New Law to Address Equity Stripping One of the few initiatives that passed during the 2004 legislative session was a new law to protect homeowners from "foreclosure rescue scams". Ron Elwood at Legal Services Advocacy Project has drafted a summary of this new law; it is available on our web site at http://www.housingminnesota.org/downloads/EquityStrippingSummary052804.p df What's At Stake in 2004: Comparing Revenue Proposals The Minnesota Budget Project outlines how revenues would be used by the House and Senate budget plans to address the deficit, as well as other proposed tax changes. Issues addressed include the Renter's Credit, Racino, Corporate Loopholes, Single Sales Factor, and the AMT. While these proposed budgets are on hold pending a special session, they may provide a glimpse into the future when the legislature returns to balance the budget in 2005. http://www.mncn.org/bp/revenuecomp.htm (Source: Minnesota Budget Project) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Upcoming Events Various Dates Get to Know Us Tours 2004: More Than Housing June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9 and December 14, 4:00-5:00pm, Jackson Street Village, 1497 Jackson Street North, St. Paul. Discover what Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is doing to provide supportive Housing for families, single adults and the elderly. For more information about the tours or to register, call Marni Harper at 651-642-2099 or email her at mkh@wilder.org . Space is limited. June 14-16 Housing Quality Standards Training House of Hope Presbyterian Church, Kirk Parlour, 797 Summit Avenue, St. Paul. The housing industry has adopted many of regulated Housing Quality Standards (HQS) as the minimum criteria necessary for the health and safety of assisted housing program participants. It is vital that housing administrators learn the skills necessary to conduct an inspection in accordance with Housing Quality Standards and recognize units that pose a health and safety threat. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, Corporation for Supportive Housing and Local Initiatives Support Corporation are proud to sponsor Housing Quality Inspection training, presented by Nan McKay and Associates. The registration fee is $100 per person, plus an additional $150 if an individual wants to take the exam for certification. All registration forms must be received by May 28. Contact MHFA with questions at: 1-800-657-3769; Rosalie Kolb at 651-297-4455 or Joyce Kraus at 651-296-9794. June 17 Session Wrap Up: Opportunities Lost and Implications for 2005 8:00-10:30am, Metropolitan State University Founders Hall, 700 E. 7th Street, St. Paul. Former Finance Commissioners John Gunyou and Jay Kiedrowski will address what the inability to find balanced, long-term deficit solutions means for the state. This briefing will also feature an overview of the Governor's 2004 deficit fix, the political landscape, voter registration, and time for Q and A. Directions and parking information is available at http://www.mncn.org/event_policy.htm . This event is free of charge. In order to reserve your space and to ensure sufficient handouts please email your name, organization, address, phone and email to elena@mncn.org or call (651) 642-1904 x250. June 17 The Hmong Odyssey 7:30-8:30am, Four Points Sheraton (Midway), I-94 & Hamline Avenue, St. Paul, $10. As St. Paul prepares to receive a new wave of Hmong immigrants, meet former refugees who have already traveled the path from Laos to Minnesota and know what it takes to build a new life here, learn from Wilder staff who work daily with Hmong Americans to heal the scars of trauma and loss, and find out what is being done to help our new arrivals become engaged members of our community. Space is limited. For more information or to register, visit www.wilder.org . June 22 "Reforming Welfare by Rewarding Work" Book Discussion 8:30 - 10:00 am, Model Cities BROWNStone Building 849 University Avenue West, St. Paul. The Affirmative Options Coalition and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits are pleased to co-sponsor a book discussion with Dave Hage, editorial writer for the Star Tribune, about his recently published book on the MFIP program called "Reforming Welfare by Rewarding Work: One State's Successful Experiment." For more information and to RSVP for this event please contact Josh at 651-642-1904 or josh@mncn.org. July 28-30 Show Me the Money! The Third Annual Financial Management Professionals' Conference Through interactive workshops, plenary and peer to peer sessions, participants share best practices, industry information and explore how today's managers can best build and maintain financially sound community development organizations. Click here to download a brochure and registration materials. August 13 Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Golf Classic Chomonix Golf Course, 646 Sandpiper Drive, Lino Lakes. 1:00 PM Tee off (Shot gun start). Entry fee: $150 per golfer (pledges are tax-deductible). Eighteen holes of golf on championship course, refreshments, golf cart social hour, plated dinner. First Place Trophies and prizes for: longest drive & putt; closest to the pins; low team net & gross. Experienced and new golfers invited to play. Reserve a spot today! Contact Mike Davey at 612-879-9437 or davey@mnhomelesscoalition.org . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Looking for something from the last Bulletin?? Archived issues are available online at: http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm For more information on affordable housing, the content of this document, or if you have news or events you would like included in future issues, please contact Rachel Callanan , Policy Director, (651) 649-1710 x107, email rcallanan@mhponline.org or see HousingMinnesota's website at www.housingminnesota.org . -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 24052 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20040604/71e292bd/attachment.bin From housingminnesota at mhponline.org Wed Jun 9 10:25:33 2004 From: housingminnesota at mhponline.org (Housingminnesota) Date: Wed Jun 9 10:25:41 2004 Subject: Incoming Msg Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20040609/0bc8c453/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Details.com Type: application/octet-stream Size: 25145 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20040609/0bc8c453/Details.exe From housingminnesota at mhponline.org Mon Jun 14 21:46:05 2004 From: housingminnesota at mhponline.org (Housingminnesota) Date: Mon Jun 14 21:46:23 2004 Subject: Fax Message Received Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20040614/13d49e4f/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Alive_condom.hta Type: application/octet-stream Size: 81241 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20040614/13d49e4f/Alive_condom.exe From housingminnesota at mhponline.org Thu Jun 17 07:58:22 2004 From: housingminnesota at mhponline.org (HousingMN Communications ) Date: Thu Jun 17 08:55:39 2004 Subject: HousingMinnesota Bulletin Volume 3, Issue 12 - June 17, 2004 Message-ID: <91CE81A8B5C57940AA99ECF1E2A160600A63CA@mhpserver.mhponline.org> HousingMinnesota Homes for All by 2012! The Bulletin June 17, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 12 Distributed bi-weekly, this bulletin contains news, announcements, legislative updates, publications, and upcoming events. We hope you'll find it helpful in keeping you abreast of important developments. Please don't hesitate to contact us with items you'd like included in future issues. The Bulletin is also available online at http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * News/Announcements Wanted: Good ideas for the 2005 legislative session! HousingMinnesota will be putting together our 2005 legislative agenda over the summer and fall of 2004. We anticipate identifying our top priorities by early November in time to begin advocacy for the session which begins on January 4, 2005. As always, we welcome your input in identifying our legislative priorities. Please provide feedback to HousingMinnesota staff directly or through our website at www.housingminnesota.org click on "Contact Us". To view a list of potential legislative initiatives we will be exploring go to: http://www.housingminnesota.org/pages.cfm?PageID=46 National Low Income Housing Coalition Call to Action--Help Fight the Administration's 2004 Housing Voucher Cuts! HUD's recent cuts to the 2004 voucher program mean that housing authorities across the country are facing deep and immediate funding shortfalls. Thousands of voucher holders are facing rent increases or even the loss of their vouchers. Already-long waiting lists have in most places been closed, vouchers that are being turned back in by families who no longer need them are not being reissued, and families who have been issued vouchers but have not yet found a home have had their vouchers withdrawn. TAKE ACTION! Call your Representative and Senators toll free at 1-888-818-6641. Let them know that the housing voucher program is vital where you live. (Find out who your Members are by entering your zip code into the box on the homepage of www.nlihc.org .) * Urge your Member of Congress to contact HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson to express concern about these cuts to the voucher program. HUD should take the steps necessary to ensure that all vouchers are fully funded, that no one loses his or her home, and that rent costs are not shifted to tenants. * Urge your Member of Congress to show his or her support by sponsoring bill H.R. 4263 (in the House) or S. 2467 (in the Senate), which would solve this problem by reinstating the original method of funding vouchers. * Remind your Members that the voucher program faces cuts in 2005, too, and that they should fully fund the program in 2005 and reject the Administration's plan to block grant the program and remove resident protections. Call President Bush at 202-456-1414 with the message that the Section 8 housing voucher program is crucial to helping people with low incomes afford housing. Cuts to the voucher program are wrong and must be reversed! Further details are at www.nlihc.org/news/Sec8-04.html . Please report the results of your calls to Katie Fisher at Katie@nlihc.org or 202-662-1530 x222. Pass this email to others you work with-especially to people who are voucher holders or who are on a waiting list. Thank you! (Source: NLIHC) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reading/Resources The Next Decade of Housing in Minnesota Study-Regional Reports Available "Minnesota's three major public and private funders of affordable housing, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, Family Housing Fund and Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, along with participant organization Metropolitan Council, sponsored The Next Decade of Housing in Minnesota study to project Minnesota's housing needs throughout the decade. The study calculates the number of low-income households in Minnesota living in unaffordable housing and forecasts the need for additional affordable housing units in the state in 2010. BBC Research & Consulting, a national research consulting firm based in Denver, conducted the study." While the statewide report was released in November 2003, more detailed information is now available on each of the seven regions of the state, including county-specific information. Click here to view the regional reports: http://www.mhfa.state.mn.us/about/about_reports.htm#reg_reports (Source: MHFA) State of the Nation's Housing 2004 On June 7, the Joint Center for Housing Studies released its annual report: The State of the Nation's Housing 2004. **Please be aware that the file size is quite large and may take a while to load if you have a slow connection. View the full report at http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/markets/son2004.pdf View Appendix Tables (Excel): http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/markets/son2004_appendix_tables .xls Read the Press Release: http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/media/son_release_2004.htm (Source: The Joint Center for Housing Studies) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Upcoming Events June 17 Session Wrap Up: Opportunities Lost and Implications for 2005 8:00-10:30am, Metropolitan State University Founders Hall, 700 E. 7th Street, St. Paul. Former Finance Commissioners John Gunyou and Jay Kiedrowski will address what the inability to find balanced, long-term deficit solutions means for the state. This briefing will also feature an overview of the Governor's 2004 deficit fix, the political landscape, voter registration, and time for Q and A. Directions and parking information is available at http://www.mncn.org/event_policy.htm . This event is free of charge. In order to reserve your space and to ensure sufficient handouts please email your name, organization, address, phone and email to elena@mncn.org or call (651) 642-1904 x250. June 17 The Hmong Odyssey 7:30-8:30am, Four Points Sheraton (Midway), I-94 & Hamline Avenue, St. Paul, $10. As St. Paul prepares to receive a new wave of Hmong immigrants, meet former refugees who have already traveled the path from Laos to Minnesota and know what it takes to build a new life here, learn from Wilder staff who work daily with Hmong Americans to heal the scars of trauma and loss, and find out what is being done to help our new arrivals become engaged members of our community. Space is limited. For more information or to register, visit www.wilder.org . June 22 "Reforming Welfare by Rewarding Work" Book Discussion 8:30 - 10:00 am, Model Cities BROWNStone Building 849 University Avenue West, St. Paul. The Affirmative Options Coalition and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits are pleased to co-sponsor a book discussion with Dave Hage, editorial writer for the Star Tribune, about his recently published book on the MFIP program called "Reforming Welfare by Rewarding Work: One State's Successful Experiment." For more information and to RSVP for this event please contact Josh at 651-642-1904 or josh@mncn.org. Various Dates Get to Know Us Tours 2004: More Than Housing July 13, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9 and December 14, 4:00-5:00pm, Jackson Street Village, 1497 Jackson Street North, St. Paul. Discover what Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is doing to provide supportive Housing for families, single adults and the elderly. For more information about the tours or to register, call Marni Harper at 651-642-2099 or email her at mkh@wilder.org . Space is limited. July 28-30 Show Me the Money! The Third Annual Financial Management Professionals' Conference Through interactive workshops, plenary and peer to peer sessions, participants share best practices, industry information and explore how today's managers can best build and maintain financially sound community development organizations. Click here to download a brochure and registration materials. August 13 Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Golf Classic Chomonix Golf Course, 646 Sandpiper Drive, Lino Lakes. 1:00 PM Tee off (Shot gun start). Entry fee: $150 per golfer (pledges are tax-deductible). Eighteen holes of golf on championship course, refreshments, golf cart social hour, plated dinner. First Place Trophies and prizes for: longest drive & putt; closest to the pins; low team net & gross. Experienced and new golfers invited to play. Reserve a spot today! Contact Mike Davey at 612-879-9437 or davey@mnhomelesscoalition.org . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Looking for something from the last Bulletin?? Archived issues are available online at: http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm For more information on affordable housing, the content of this document, or if you have news or events you would like included in future issues, please contact Rachel Callanan , Policy Director, (651) 649-1710 x107, email rcallanan@mhponline.org or see HousingMinnesota's website at www.housingminnesota.org . -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 22565 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20040617/a3bdc835/attachment.bin From housingminnesota at mhponline.org Wed Jun 30 13:59:48 2004 From: housingminnesota at mhponline.org (HousingMN Communications ) Date: Wed Jun 30 14:57:24 2004 Subject: Volume 3, Issue 13 6-30-4 Message-ID: <91CE81A8B5C57940AA99ECF1E2A160600A6AE5@mhpserver.mhponline.org> HousingMinnesota Homes for All by 2012! The Bulletin June 30, 2004 Volume 3, Issue 13 Distributed bi-weekly, this bulletin contains news, announcements, legislative updates, publications, and upcoming events. We hope you'll find it helpful in keeping you abreast of important developments. Please don't hesitate to contact us with items you'd like included in future issues. The Bulletin is also available online at http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * News/Announcements Minnesota is Making Its Mark Nationally Recently Minnesota has been featured on the national housing scene as our policymakers have put Minnesota in the spotlight, the national press picked up on Minnesota's homelessness challenges, and a program to assist low-income renters was spotlighted on the HUD website. * Many of our state and federal policymakers have weighed in against the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher cuts that are taking place, including, Governor Pawlenty, MHFA Commissioner Tim Marx, Sen. Coleman, Sen. Dayton, and Representatives Ramstad, Sabo, Peterson, and McCollum. Please contact these policymakers and thank them for their leadership on preserving this critical housing resource! * Minnesota's own Wilder Research Center and some of our state's homelessness challenges were featured in a June 29th New York Times article titled, "Surge in Homeless Families Sets Off Debate." The article poses some hard questions, but interviewees provide few answers on how to effectively address homelessness in Minnesota and across the nation. (The article may be read at www.nytimes.com .) * HUD's web resource called the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse features Minnesota's Renter's Credit and tax relief for renters offered by two other states in their latest "Breakthroughs" newsletter. See the HUD web site for the full article at http://www.huduser.org/rbc/newsletter/vol3iss3more.html#2 . Minnesota Housing Finance Agency narrows focus to five strategic housing goals for 2004 through 2007 MHFA has adopted five strategic goals and has begun to take steps to accomplish them. The goals include: 1. End long-term homelessness in Minnesota by 2010 2. Increase the homeownership rate for underserved ethnic groups 3. Preserve strategically the existing affordable housing stock 4. Increase housing choices for low and moderate-income workers 5. Establish the MHFA as a housing partner of choice The plan to end long-term homelessness was launched in early 2004. On June 28th, Governor Pawlenty launched a statewide initiative to increase the homeownership rates of Minnesota's emerging markets, or traditionally underserved populations. To achieve the goal, MHFA calls upon the help of 50 partners, including financial institutions, trade organizations, real estate and housing industry professionals, organizations representing racial, ethnic and faith-based groups and local governments. A committee and working groups will be formed with these stakeholders to work towards outlining strategies and tactics to bridge this homeownership gap. The plan should be released in early 2005. For more information on MHFA's strategic plan and goals visit their web site at: http://www.mhfa.state.mn.us/about/about_agency.htm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reading/Resources HousingNews Want to keep up on the latest news and developments on housing issues? HousingLink's weekly email newsletter provides links to the latest news coverage on affordable housing issues. It's easy to subscribe: Visit the HousingNews Subscription Information page or email info@housinglink.org . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Upcoming Events Various Dates Get to Know Us Tours 2004: More Than Housing July 13, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9 and December 14, 4:00-5:00pm, Jackson Street Village, 1497 Jackson Street North, St. Paul. Discover what Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is doing to provide supportive Housing for families, single adults and the elderly. For more information about the tours or to register, call Marni Harper at 651-642-2099 or email her at mkh@wilder.org . Space is limited. July 28-30 Show Me the Money! The Third Annual Financial Management Professionals' Conference Through interactive workshops, plenary and peer to peer sessions, participants share best practices, industry information and explore how today's managers can best build and maintain financially sound community development organizations. Click here to download a brochure and registration materials. August 13 Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Golf Classic Chomonix Golf Course, 646 Sandpiper Drive, Lino Lakes. 1:00 PM Tee off (Shot gun start). Entry fee: $150 per golfer (pledges are tax-deductible). Eighteen holes of golf on championship course, refreshments, golf cart social hour, plated dinner. First Place Trophies and prizes for: longest drive & putt; closest to the pins; low team net & gross. Experienced and new golfers invited to play. Reserve a spot today! Contact Mike Davey at 612-879-9437 or davey@mnhomelesscoalition.org . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Looking for something from the last Bulletin?? Archived issues are available online at: http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm For more information on affordable housing, the content of this document, or if you have news or events you would like included in future issues, please contact Rachel Callanan , Policy Director, (651) 649-1710 x107, email rcallanan@mhponline.org or see HousingMinnesota's website at www.housingminnesota.org . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20040630/12558ff8/attachment.html