From jdornfeld at mhponline.org Sun Apr 10 19:04:10 2005 From: jdornfeld at mhponline.org (Joanna Dornfeld) Date: Sun Apr 10 20:05:46 2005 Subject: HousingMinnesota Bulletin - Volume 4, Issue 7 4-10-05 Message-ID: <91CE81A8B5C57940AA99ECF1E2A16060778B85@mhpserver.mhponline.org> HousingMinnesota Homes for All by 2012! The Bulletin April 10, 2005 Volume 4, Issue 7 Distributed bi-weekly, with news, announcements, legislative updates, publications and upcoming events. Contact us with items to include in future issues. The Bulletin is also available on MHP's website at http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * News/Announcements >From the Capitol Bonding and Supportive Services Funding-The House and Senate passed a bonding bill Wednesday with $12 million included for supportive housing capital costs. The governor is expected to sign the bill. Advocates will now focus their efforts on securing the governor's proposed $10 million for Supportive Housing Service Grants in the Department of Human Services budget and $4 million for the Housing Trust Fund. It is crucial that these pieces of legislation pass to provide funding for existing and future supportive housing projects. Rent-Restricted Properties-Rep. Jim Davnie proposed two additional bills with new solutions to lower the rapidly increasing property taxes of rent-restricted apartment buildings. The bills are modeled after solutions that work in both Iowa and Illinois and will be introduced April 11th. A hearing is expected in late April on these proposals and others to solve this issue for possible inclusion in the House Omnibus Tax bill. The Senate has already adopted a proposal in their omnibus bill that passed on the Senate floor. HousingMinnesota released a report this week "Minnesota Property Taxes and Affordable Rental Housing: The Impact of the Elimination of 4d and Rising Property Values." The report demonstrates how rent-restricted properties statewide are facing exponential increases in property taxes due not only to the elimination of the 4d class rate in 2001, but also the rising property values. For a complete copy of the report go to http://www.housingminnesota.org/downloads/4d_Report.pdf. Challenge Funding-The Senate budget bill includes $18 million in funding over the biennium for the Challenge program. The House is in the process of setting a target for how much the House Jobs and Economic Policy and Finance Committee can spend in its funding bill. Thank you to those who have called and written your legislators urging them to restore the proposed cuts. Take Action-If you have not yet contacted your legislator about full funding of the Challenge program, please do this week. Find your legislator and his or her contact information at http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html. Charitable Housing Tax Credit-SF1671 passed out of the Jobs, Energy and Community Development Subcommittee on Housing Wednesday and will be heard in the full committee 3 p.m. Monday, April 11th in Room 15 at the Capitol. For more information go to http://www.housingminnesota.org/downloads/Support_a_Charitable_Housing_Tax_Credit.pdf. Homeless Outreach Pilot Project-The vagrancy repeal and homeless outreach pilot project passed the policy committees in both bodies. HF2032, authored by Rep. Keith Ellison, passed the House Public Safety Policy and Finance committee last week--it was laid over for possible inclusion in their omnibus bill. Senator Jane Ranum introduced SF1877 which passed unanimously out of the Senate Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee Wednesday. It now goes to the Senate Public Safety Budget Division for another hearing in the next couple weeks. Dedicated Tax for Housing Programs-The Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless is working with Sen. Dick Cohen to pass an increase in the Deed tax that will provide $20 million over the biennium for housing programs. In the proposal, $10 million would go into the Housing Trust Fund and the other $10 million would be used to restore cuts to the Challenge program. The bill (SF1953) passed out of the Senate Jobs, Energy and Community Development Subcommittee on Housing Thursday and was referred to the full committee. HousingMinnesota is supporting this effort. For more information go to http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/AboutTheCoalition/LegislativeAdvocacy/PolicyPositions/taxes.html. Take Action-Attend the Senate Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee 3 p.m. Monday, April 11th in Room 120 at the Capitol to demonstrate your support for raising revenue for housing program. Renters' Credit-Senate actions to date have not included a cut to the Renters' Credit. There has been no change in the House; cuts to the Renters' Credit are proposed in the governor's budget and in a separate bill, HF1679. There has been no legislative action on the House proposals. For more information about the Renters' Credit go to http://www.mncn.org/bp/renterscredit.htm. Take Action-One way to be involved in the legislative strategy to preserve the Renters' Credit is to add your organization's name to a sign-on letter that will be circulated among legislators. Find a copy of the letter at www.fcsmn.org/policy/action/renterscredit.htm. If your organization is able and willing to support the preservation of the Renters' Credit, please contact Susie Brown susie.brown@fcsmn.org, fax 612-339-9150 or phone 612-341-1615 by April 20th. >From Congress Section 8-The Administration is expected to send its legislative proposal for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program to Congress shortly. Unlike attempts made during the last two years, when the Administration tried to change the voucher program through the appropriations process, this legislation will be submitted to the authorizing committees, the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. The second session of the National Housing Voucher Summit was held in Washington, DC on April 4th. The summit was convened by the National Low Income Housing Coalition to develop a consensus agenda for the voucher program. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioner Tim Marx participated in the summit. The session will aid in developing progressive legislation for the Section 8 voucher program. NLIHC will publish the results of the summit. To review initial materials, go to www.nlihc.org/news/summit/. (Source: NLIHC Memo to Members 4/4/05) Take Action-Be the first to urge your members to oppose the forthcoming HUD bill. Call all Senators and Representatives toll free via (888) 818-6641. Find your member of Congress at http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html. For more information about the proposal go to http://www.nlihc.org/news/040705.html. Public Housing Sign-On Letter in House-Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY), Barney Frank (D-MA) and Nydia Vel?zquez (D-NY) are circulating a letter in the House addressed to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and John Olver (D-MA), respectively. The letter requests restored funding for Public Housing Operating and Capital Funds, and for the HOPE VI program. (Source: NLIHC Memo to Members 4/4/05) Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act to be Reintroduced in the House-On April 5th representatives Deborah Pryce (R-OH) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced HR1471 that will establish a grant program to provide services in permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless persons. The Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act's (SELHA) programs would be administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS). SELHA authorizes the funding necessary for states, cities and towns to work toward their goals of ending chronic homelessness. Among other things, the bill will require the Secretary of HSS to design national strategies to provide services in supportive housing, collaborate with other federal programs and departments to implement programs addressing chronic homelessness, and develop improved methods for serving individuals with mental or physical illness, disabilities, substance abuse issues or co-occurring disorders. This legislation is similar to the SELHA Act introduced last session by Representative Richard Burr (R-NC). (Source: NLIHC Memo to Members 4/4/05) GSEs-When Congress returned the week of April 4th, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee began a series of hearings leading to legislation that will create a new regulator for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hopes to finish its proposed hearing agenda in April and then move toward legislative action by mid-May. In the final GSE legislative package, housing advocates continue to push for the inclusion of language providing a percentage of pre-tax Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac profits for low-income housing production. Such language, in the form of an amendment offered by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), passed in committee in 2004. Advocates are urging Members of Congress to use a similar mechanism in this year's GSE legislation to fund a national housing trust fund. (Source: NLIHC Memo to Members 4/4/05) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reading Redefining Urban and Suburban America The Brookings Institute released their second volume of 2000 U.S. Census analysis, "Redefining Urban and Suburban America." Results reveal striking changes in the nation's cities and suburbs during the 1990s. Thanks to a decade of strong economic growth, concentrated poverty in the inner cities declined dramatically, homeownership rose among young minority households, and workers from abroad settled in growing metropolitan areas that had experienced little immigration to date. This volume explores the implications of a diverse set of policy areas, including metropolitan development patterns, immigrant incorporation, and the promotion of affordable housing and homeownership. For more information go to http://www.brook.edu/press/books/redefiningurbanandsuburbanamericavolume2.htm. (Source: The Brookings Alert 4/4/05) One-third of the nation continued to face housing problems in 2003 A research note released this week by the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that 35 percent of the U.S. population lived in unaffordable or inadequate housing or, in the worst case, faced homelessness in 2003. This estimate is based on the 2003 American Housing Survey and an estimate of homelessness. The problem remains concentrated among the lowest income households, which make up just 11 percent of the population but nearly 25 percent of those facing housing problems. Comparing these data to the results of government surveys on food security and health insurance coverage, it continues to be the case that more Americans live in unaffordable or inadequate housing or with no housing at all than lack health insurance or face food insecurity. The research note can be found at www.nlihc.org/research/05-01.pdf. (Source: NLIHC Memo to Members 4/4/05) "Promoting Work in Public Housing" MDRC, a social-policy research organization, has published the results of a HUD-sponsored five-year study on the impacts to public housing residents of a public housing work demonstration program, the Jobs-Plus Community Revitalization Initiative for Public Housing Families (Jobs-Plus). The Rockefeller Foundation and other private and public funders also sponsored this study. The goal of the study was to examine if a multi-service employment initiative could improve the quality of life for public housing residents. Six cities were selected to participate in this project, including St. Paul. For a complete copy of the report go to www.mdrc.org/publications/405/overview.html. The Urban Institute will host an audio conference to discuss the results the study on April 15th, from 12:30-1:30 EST. Panelists include NLIHC Board Member Barbara Sard, Director of Housing Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Mark Calabria, Majority Staff Member for the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. For more information, please contact Soleste Lupu at (202) 906-8031. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Upcoming Events April 11 Acting Regionally: Building Communities of Opportunity, 6:00 p.m., Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 South Snelling Avenue St. Paul. The Metropolitan Council's 2025 Transit plan has identified seven dedicated transit corridors that include rail and bus ways. These corridors will receive significant public investments that will shape the future residential and economic development patterns of the region. Each corridor and transit stop is full of potential for additional affordable housing development as well as a mix of retail, offices and open space in a pedestrian friendly environment. MICAH is leading the effort to ensure that the development along these stops represents the interests of the entire community and that affordable housing is a key component of any residential development. April 13 History of Immigration in Minnesota 7:45 a.m.-2 p.m., Anoka Hennepin Technical College. This event sponsored by the Hennepin Technical College Diversity Committee will include an art exhibit, educational workshops and inspirational speakers who will demystify myths about immigration and inform participants about their ancestors journey to America. Please RSVP by April 5th to Sheila Matthew at (763) 488-2486 or shelia.matthew@hennepintech.edu. April 18-22 Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation's NeighborWorks Training Institute. Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis. The institute presents intensive core and specialized education in the following subjects: affordable housing, asset management, community building and organizing, community economic development, construction and production management, homeownership and community lending, management and leadership, and neighborhood revitalization. For registration information, please phone 1-800-438-5547 or 202-220-2454, or visit nti@nw.org/training. April 26 Achieving Long Term Affordability Seminar. 8 a.m.-noon. Four Points Sheraton, 400 Hamline Ave N. St. Paul. Please join Twin Cities LISC, MCCD and the St. Paul Coalition of CDCs as we look at the challenges and opportunities of five different models for achieving long-term/perpetually affordable ownership, including: Community Land Trusts, Deed Restrictions, Soft Second Mortgages, Limited Equity Co-ops, and the Habitat for Humanity model. This seminar assumes a base level of knowledge. It is targeted to community development practitioners interested in doing long-term/perpetually affordable development, though anyone is welcome. There is no cost to attend. To pre-register, contact Susie Bern at 612-789-7337 x15, or email sbern@mccdmn.org. April 30 Home Ownership Fair 2005. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Metropolitan State University, 700 East 7th Street, St. Paul. Co-sponsored by HousingMinnesota and the Minneapolis, North Metro, St. Paul Area and Southern Twin Cities Area Associations of REALTORS, the Home Ownership Fair is an opportunity to talk to real estate professionals, lenders and nonprofit agencies involved in housing. Orientation programs and seminars include: what to expect when buying a home, programs to help finance a home, the importance of your realtor, and more. The event is free and open to the public. Programming will be offered in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali. For more information go to www.homeownershipfair.org . May 17 The Difference between Authentic Representation and Tokenism: Diversifying Non-profit Boards. 1:30-4:30 p.m., Minneapolis YWCA, 2121 East Lake Street, in Minneapolis. This event is sponsored by the Greater Twin Cities United Way and costs $35. RSVP by May 10th at 651-291-8359 or ASrsvp@unitedwaytwincities.org . June 21-22 Minnesota Supportive Housing Conference. The Minnesota Supportive Housing Consortium and the Corporation for Supportive Housing are co-sponsoring their 7th Annual Supportive Housing conference. For more information go to www.mshc.org . July 27-29 2005 Financial Management Professionals' Conference. The Westin Michigan Avenue, 909 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. This year's theme is "FM Survivor: In the Black and Alive in 2005!" The conference will demonstrate the goal of CDC financial management, how to make CDCs thrive in a difficult operating environment, produce the revenue to carry out our mission and make a real neighborhood impact. For more information, contact Wayne Vaughan, Program Officer, at 212-455-9594, or by email, wvaughan@lisc.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 to include in future issues, contact Joanna Dornfeld at (651) 649-1710 ext. 108, email jdornfeld@mhponline.org or see HousingMinnesota's website at www.housingminnesota.org . Joanna Dornfeld Communications and Media Specialist HousingMinnesota (651) 649-1710 ext. 108 www.housingminnesota.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20050410/cc18c3dd/attachment.html From jdornfeld at mhponline.org Thu Apr 28 13:34:20 2005 From: jdornfeld at mhponline.org (Joanna Dornfeld) Date: Thu Apr 28 14:36:12 2005 Subject: HousingMinnesota Bulletin - Volume 4, Issue 8 4-28-05 Message-ID: <91CE81A8B5C57940AA99ECF1E2A16060817588@mhpserver.mhponline.org> HousingMinnesota Homes for All by 2012! The Bulletin April 28, 2005 Volume 4, Issue 8 Distributed bi-weekly, with news, announcements, legislative updates, publications and upcoming events. Contact us with items to include in future issues. The Bulletin is also available on MHP's website at http://www.mhponline.org/Bulletin/Bulletin.htm. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * News/Announcements >From the Capitol House Jobs and Economic Opportunity Committee Omnibus Bill Rep. Bob Gunther's committee passed its omnibus bill (HF1976) last week with funding for many housing programs included. * The Challenge program received $6.5 million more than the governor's proposal, but is still funded at $6.5 million less than its base level. (In the Senate budget balancing bill (SF1879) the Challenge program received $19 million for the biennium.) * Family Homeless Prevention received funding at its base level, but did not receive the $4 million increase requested. * Supportive services grants received the governor's proposed $10 million. (Sen. Linda Berglin did not include funds for supportive services grants in her omnibus Health and Human Services bill.) * Emergency Shelter received its base funding, but not $6 million increase requested. Transitional Housing received a one-time increase of $500,000 in TANF money and almost half of its base was refinanced with TANF money for 2006-07 only. * The MFIP penalty for households receiving a housing subsidy and MFIP was increased from $50 to $200. For more information go to http://www.fcsmn.org/policy/action/04.19.05.htm . (The MFIP and SSI penalty repeal bill was sent to the Senate Tax Committee.) Dedicated Fee for Housing Programs The deed fee would provide $20 million over the biennium for housing programs. In the proposal, $10 million would restore cuts to the Challenge program, $8 million would go into the Housing Trust Fund and the remaining $2 million would be used for homeless youth programs. SF1953 is waiting to be heard in the Senate Tax Committee and HF2427 is waiting to be heard in the Jobs and Economic Opportunity Policy and Finance Committee. For more information go to http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/AboutTheCoalition/LegislativeAdvocacy /PolicyPositions/taxes.html. Renters' Credit More than 150 organizations have signed on to a letter opposing cuts to the Renters' Credit. To view the letter, go to www.fcsmn.org/policy/action/renterscredit.htm. If your organization is interested in signing on, contact Susie Brown at susie.brown@fcsmn.org, fax 612-339-9150 or phone 612-341-1615. For more information about the Renters' Credit go to http://www.mncn.org/bp/renterscredit.htm. Rent-Restricted Properties On Tuesday, the House Property and Local Tax Subcommittee heard testimony on two bills that will alleviate some of the tax burden on rent-restricted properties (HF1908 and HF2395). HF 1908 will institute a new class rate for affordable rental property. HF2395 is identical to the language passed in the Senate and provides both a class rate change and a valuation approach. Both bills were laid on the table for consideration in the House Omnibus Tax bill. See coverage of the hearing in the St. Paul Pioneer Press at http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/politics/11496108.htm or the Fargo Forum at http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=90036§ion=Sports . Homeless Outreach Pilot Project The House Public Safety Policy and Finance Committee included $300,000 in their omnibus bill contingent on passage of gambling revenue, but did not include any language to repeal the vagrancy statutes. The bill is waiting for possible inclusion in the Senate Public Safety Budget Division omnibus bill. For more information about the project go to http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/Downloads/Download_Vagrancyandoutreac h.pdf . Take Action Minnesota is Watching, a coalition of faith, labor, nonprofit and community organizations, expects major budget bills to be heard on the floors of the House and Senate, and possibly in conference committees, May 3, 4 and 5. These bills will include budgets for Health and Human Services, Education, Jobs, Transportation, Housing and more. Join with the Minnesota is Watching Coalition and its members and allies to be a visible presence at the Capitol on May 3, 4 and 5. Show legislators and the Governor that you oppose more service cuts and that you support raising adequate revenue to protect our state's economic future and quality of life. For more information about specific times to be at the Capitol, contact Elena Doucet-Beer at 651-642-1904 x250 or email elena@mncn.org . Many Voices, One Minnesota Minnesota Council of Churches and Churches United in Ministry present a worshipful rally for a moral Minnesota state budget to prevent cuts to childcare, healthcare and affordable housing and to promote fiscal responsibility and a just means for raising revenue at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7 at the Minnesota State Capitol. For more information go to http://www.mnchurches.org/commongood/massedchoir.html . >From Congress Local Action A group of advocates, including HousingMinnesota, have formed the Minnesota Federal Housing Action Coalition (MnFHAC). We will be operating as a coalition of advocates working to fully fund the federal housing budget. The group is currently working to secure a meeting with Senator Coleman. For more information about the coalition or to join in the effort contact Beth Kodluboy at (612) 728-5770 ext. 107 or bethk@homelinemn.org. Members of Minnesota's Delegation Oppose Cuts to Section 8 Representatives Shays (R-CT), Nadler (D-NY), Tiberi (R-OH) and Velazquez (D-NY) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter last week asking members of the House of Representatives to sign a letter urging the HUD appropriation subcommittee to fully fund the Section 8 program at the president's requested level, and to defer program reforms to the authorizing committee. Representatives McCollum, Oberstar, Peterson, Ramstad and Sabo signed on. President Bush's Local Housing Flexibility Act of 2005 Released in Senate Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation in the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, introduced President Bush's proposed rule changes to the Section 8 program. Changes in the program include: * Income targets are greatly loosened. While currently 75 percent of Section 8 families must have extremely low incomes (under 30 percent of median), the administration proposes that 90 percent of families need to have incomes under 60 percent of median. In the Twin Cities, an annual income at 30 percent of median is $23,000, while it is $46,000 at 60 percent of median. * Drawing from TANF legislation, local housing authorities would be able to impose time limits on families receiving rent assistance (but no less than five years, and elderly and disabled households are protected from this provision). * Consistent with value the administration places on home ownership -- seemingly to the exclusion of all other housing objectives -- instead of being restricted to providing only rent assistance, housing authorities could commit any portion of their funds for home ownership down payment assistance. * Backing away from its commitment to enabling mobility (and potential deconcentration of poverty), voucher holders could only move between jurisdictions where there is a program agreement between those jurisdictions. * Backing away from the long standing principle that rent should be established as a percentage of income (roughly 30 percent of gross income for rent), housing authorities could set their own standard, subsidies could be a fixed amount (e.g., $200 per month) regardless of the income of the tenant. (This provision also pertains to public housing.) * Putting tenants in preservation properties at risk, the proposal limits to one year (currently there are no time limits) the use of higher-rent vouchers provided to enable tenants continued occupancy in properties whose owners have opted out of federal project-based assistance programs. The Senate authorizing committee held a hearing on HUD's budget request April 21 and included discussion about Allard's bill. Bipartisan Push to Save CDBG A letter to the Chair and Ranking Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting $4.7 billion for community development programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is being circulated among Senators for signatures. Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Rick Santorum (R-PA) sponsored the letter. Rep. Colin Peterson to Hold Listening Sessions on Strengthening America's Communities Initiative The Strengthening America's Communities Initiative rolled dozens of economic development programs into the Commerce Department including CDBG. The overall initiative has funding at 70 percent that of all of the programs combined. Minnesota could lose $26 million in CDBG funding alone. Please attend one of the sessions, if you are able, and tell Rep. Peterson it is vital to fully fund CDBG and keep it in HUD. For more information about the proposal go to www.nado.org/saci.crs.pdf . * Monday, May 2, 1-2:30 p.m., Mahnomen Service Center, 115 Madison, Mahnomen. * Friday, May 6, 1-2:30 p.m., Alexandria City Hall Council Chambers, 704 Broadway, Alexandria. * Saturday, May 7, 1-2:30 p.m., Chippewa County Court House, 629 North 11th Street (on Highway 7), Montevideo. Government Sponsored Enterprises Subject of Three Senate Hearings in One Week Three hearings on GSE reform were held the week of April 18 by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL) announced at the conclusion of these hearings that the Committee will begin to consider legislation to develop a first class regulator for the GSEs and he hopes to pass a meaningful bill. It is expected that the Committee will take action on legislation in mid-May. For more information about the hearings go to http://www.nlihc.org/mtm/mtm10-16.html#10. Civil rights, consumer and community development organizations signed a letter to Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chair Shelby and Ranking Member Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) arguing for strengthening the new regulator for the GSEs in a manner consistent with their Congressionally-charted statutes, missions and public purposes. The letter further lends support to using a percentage of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac profits for the production of extremely low-income rental housing. For a copy of the letter go to http://www.nlihc.org/news/042205letter.pdf. HUD Releases Public Housing Operating Subsidy Analysis On April 20, HUD released a regulatory impact analysis of "Revisions to the Public Housing Operating Fund Program." The impact analysis provides details on the "added benefits or losses" resulting from proposed changes to the operating formula. The report acknowledges that the proposed operating subsidy formula will have a direct financial impact on PHAs and residents. In the analysis, HUD asserts that under the proposed rule, using FY03 dollars, operating subsidies would increase by $83 million over the five-year implementation period. This estimate is based on the assumption that PHAs will receive 100 percent of eligibility funding, even though PHAs currently receive only 89 percent of eligibility funding and there is little likelihood that HUD will fully fund PHAs in the future. In general, the analysis summarizes that PHAs with less than 500 units will see a funding increase of approximately 37 percent, while PHAs with more than 6,500 units will see a reduction, with the exception of Puerto Rico. HUD argues that the recommendations of the Public Housing Operating Cost Study and the proposed rule will increase efficiency and benefits, but HUD acknowledges that it is "unclear" whether PHAs will have an increase or decrease in funds for tenant services, such as job training and childcare support. Take Action HUD is receiving comments on the proposed operating subsidy rule change until June 13. This HUD analysis, as well as other information on the operating subsidy rule, can be found at www.nlihc.org . To access the rule directly, go to www.hud.gov/offices/pih/. New HUD Assistant Secretary Confirmed On April 15, the Senate confirmed Pamela Patenaude as the new Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development (CPD). The Community Planning and Development division is responsible for administering the HOME and CDBG programs. Ms. Patenaude will replace Roy Bernardi, who became Deputy Secretary in May 2004. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reading/Resources 2004 Fair Lending Disparities: Stubborn and Persistent The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) released a report looking at newly released 2004 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data. The report, using newly available information on pricing for high cost loans, analyzes lending patterns for 15 large lending institutions and their subsidiaries, which account for 4.6 million prime and 650,000 subprime conventional loans. The study finds that a disproportionate share of high-cost loans go to minorities, women, and low- and moderate-income borrowers. For example, African-Americans received 18 percent of conventional subprime loans but only 6 percent of conventional prime loans in 2004. For a copy of the report go to www.ncrc.org/pressandpubs/press_releases/documents/HMDA_Pricing_Report.h tm. Preservation of Affordable Rural Housing: A Practitioners' Guide to the Section 515 Program LISC released a guide for preserving rural rental housing built with Department of Agriculture (USDA) Section 515 funding. These loans, in addition to other USDA grants, and loans for farm labor workforce housing, were used to build 269,000 affordable rural rental housing units. The Section 515 loans restrict the rents on the housing created, but many of the developments are opting to prepay the remainder of the mortgage and raising rents to market rates. As a result, the loss of affordable Section 515 units due to mortgage prepayment is keeping pace with production of new units. The guide presents information about USDA rural housing initiatives, along with strategies to preserve Section 515 units as affordable rental homes, including a detailed legal breakdown of the prepayment process. Preservation strategies and public and private funding streams that can be used for rehabilitation and preservation are listed. The report also outlines how the process for transferring Section 515 developments can be used as a preservation tool, particularly with the involvement of a nonprofit organization. For a complete copy of the report go to www.lisc.org/resources/2005/03/practitioners_7817.shtml?Affordable+Housi ng. Report Urges Preservation of Affordable Rural Housing A report by the Task Force on Rural Rental Housing Preservation recommends many new strategies, including new owners and new financing, to save affordable apartments in rural areas. The report addresses the preservation of rental properties funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Section 515 program, which helps property owners develop rental units for low-income rural residents. Task force members include the Housing Assistance Council, the National Housing Law Project and other organizations. For a copy of the report go to http://www.ruralhome.org/manager/uploads/PreservationTaskForceReport.pdf . Family Homelessness in Our Nation and Community: A Problem with a Solution The National Alliance to End Homelessness recently released a report that examines the nature of family homelessness, families' experience of homelessness and successful interventions in Washington, DC and across the nation. You can download it at http://www.hoopsforthehomeless.org/pressroom/PDF/HoopsPaperFinal.pdf Minnesota Green Communities RFP Minnesota Green Communities is an initiative designed to foster the creation of affordable housing, energy-efficient and sustainable housing in Minnesota. Applications are due May 20, 2005. For more information go to www.greencommunitiesonline.org/minnesota. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Upcoming Events April 29 Toward a Better Urbanism: Transit, Where Will it Take Us? 6:00-9:00 p.m., in the CALA Auditorium of Ralph Rapson Hall (U of M campus, East Bank). CNU Minnesota and the Students for New Urbanism at the University of Minnesota are hosting the panel discussion April 29-May 22 Portraits of Home: Families in Search of Shelter in Greater Minnesota. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and Noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Landmark Center, 75 West Fifth Street, Second Floor Galleries, St. Paul. The exhibit is sponsored by the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund. For more information go to www.gmhf.com/portraits/invite.htm. April 30 Home Ownership Fair 2005. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Metropolitan State University, 700 East 7th Street, St. Paul. Co-sponsored by HousingMinnesota and the Minneapolis, North Metro, St. Paul Area and Southern Twin Cities Area Associations of REALTORS, the Home Ownership Fair is an opportunity to talk to real estate professionals, lenders and nonprofit agencies involved in housing. Orientation programs and seminars include: what to expect when buying a home, programs to help finance a home, the importance of your realtor, and more. The event is free and open to the public. Programming will be offered in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali. For more information go to www.homeownershipfair.org. May 17 The Difference between Authentic Representation and Tokenism: Diversifying Non-profit Boards. 1:30-4:30 p.m., Minneapolis YWCA, 2121 East Lake Street, in Minneapolis. This event is sponsored by the Greater Twin Cities United Way and costs $35. RSVP by May 10 at 651-291-8359 or ASrsvp@unitedwaytwincities.org. June 21-22 Minnesota Supportive Housing Conference. The Minnesota Supportive Housing Consortium and the Corporation for Supportive Housing are co-sponsoring their 7th Annual Supportive Housing conference. For more information go to www.mshc.org. July 27-29 2005 Financial Management Professionals' Conference. The Westin Michigan Avenue, 909 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. This year's theme is "FM Survivor: In the Black and Alive in 2005!" The conference will demonstrate the goal of CDC financial management, how to make CDCs thrive in a difficult operating environment, produce the revenue to carry out our mission and make a real neighborhood impact. For more information, contact Wayne Vaughan, Program Officer, at 212-455-9594, or by email, wvaughan@lisc.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 to include in future issues, contact Joanna Dornfeld at (651) 649-1710 ext. 108, email jdornfeld@mhponline.org or see HousingMinnesota's website at www.housingminnesota.org . Joanna Dornfeld Communications and Media Specialist HousingMinnesota (651) 649-1710 ext. 108 www.housingminnesota.org HousingMinnesota is a program of the Minnesota Housing Partnership. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mhp-bulletin/attachments/20050428/db26da3b/attachment.html