CONNECT PARTNER COOPERATE
National Association of Housing Cooperatives 2015 Progress Report DEAR NAHC MEMBERS & PARTNERS:
Connect. Partner. Cooperate. It’s more than just the theme of this Progress Report; it’s what the National WELCOME Association of Housing Cooperatives does each and every day — on behalf of its members and partners. With an active membership, a dedicated leadership and staff team, we continued to connect, partner and cooperate to advance our mission: to support and educate existing and new cooperative housing communities as the best and most economical form of homeownership.
We’re pleased to present you with this 2015 Progress housing cooperatives. We continued to strengthen Report, highlighting our collective efforts to: relationships with other organizations such as the Canadian Federation of Co-operative Housing, North CONNECT American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) and the National Cooperative Bank (NCB). And we welcomed a In our ongoing effort to connect with members where new and ongoing partnership with Urban Homesteading and when they want to connect, NAHC raised its social Assistance Board (UHAB) which has been working media profile via Twitter and Facebook. We introduced a on share loans for limited equity cooperatives as well social media campaign to promote the 2015 Conference as research projects, conducted with NAHC, on an and combined with other efforts, nearly 400 members ongoing basis to provide meaningful data and insights Gregory J. Carlson Ralph J. Marcus attended. Watch for increased promotion and traffic President Chair, Board of Directors into the cooperative community and industry. on our Facebook page and Twitter feed. We’re also connecting members to education with our new online RCM re-certification course, which debuted this year. COOPERATE Now, members can take this course at their convenience. Combined with a strong membership and staff, these connections and partnerships help NAHC extend and We connected members to resources including the deepen its reach and help us strengthen our base. re-imagined Cooperative Housing Quarterly (formerly At the heart of our work is an understanding of and a the Cooperative Housing Bulletin). And again, because dedication to the power of cooperation. of member demand, we re-introduced the Cooperative Housing Journal, an annual publication of best practices As we reflect on 2015, we look ahead for new in cooperative housing. possibilities to connect, partner and cooperate in Contents 2016 and beyond. Welcome Letter 1 PARTNER With thanks for your support. Member Benefits 2 We established new relationships with organizations including the Community Associations Institute, where Cooperatively yours, Advocacy 3 we now have a reciprocal agreement. As with other Members & Partners 4 relationships, we worked on issues of mutual concern and three top priorities in particular: FEMA disaster Conference Highlights 5 relief for common areas within housing cooperatives; About NAHC 8 reverse mortgages for seniors living in cooperatives Gregory J. Carlson Ralph J. Marcus and VA Home Loan Guarantees to buy shares in
1 • NAHC 2015 Progress Report
Cooperative Healthy Savings Program
Valuable Pharmacy Discounts Now Available MEMBER BENEFITS Your Cooperative Healthy Savings Card is Here! The National Association of Housing Cooperatives is pleased to offer the Cooperative Healthy Savings (CHS) Program for families living in NAHC member cooperatives. The Cooperative Healthy Savings Program provides pharmacy Throughout the year, whether it’s educational, Savings for Home and Family discounts• Thethat make Cooperative getting prescriptions simple and more affordable. This valuable networking, advocacy or cost-savings tools, NAHC • Need a new appliance? benefit is Healthyfree to you though Savings your membership members benefit from: in the NationalProgram Association is ofavailable Housing Through a partnership Cooperatives. Every household in an NAHC with GE/Hotpoint, NAHC member cooperativeto families is eligible living for ain pharmacy Education, Training and Networking membershipNAHC card. This member valuable benefit is members are eligible for absolutely free to NAHC Members! • cooperatives. Partici- The NAHC Annual Conference, the educational and discounts on major Pharmacy Card Benefits pating families receive pharmacy discount cards networking event for cooperative housing. Whether appliances. To find out Your CHS Card Will: you’re new to NAHC or a longtime member, these how you can save on Savethat you 10% make to 85% gettingon many prescriptions prescriptions at participating simple pharmacies and Be accepted at more than 60,000 national, independent & regional pharmacy chain more affordable. three days of workshops, networking (and some fun) new appliances, contact stores including CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Target and many more
provide members with new tools and knowledge GE’s Jason Lathery at • Energy Star, a U.S. Here’s What You Do For Prescription Discounts: Present your card with your prescription at a participating pharmacy to receive a discount about issues and trends in cooperative housing. 1-800-782-8031 or Environmental Protection
• Registered Cooperative Manager (RCM) certification [email protected] How Do I AgencyReceive My CHSvoluntary Membership program, Card? Pay your NAHC dues and indicate on your dues invoicehelps the businesses number of membership and cards needed for your cooperative and training program helps member managers increase • Wells Fargo is a current NAHC Members can click here to download your card now! their skill sets to work even more effectively with preferred insurance individuals save money Pharmacy discounts are NOT insurance, and are not intended as a substitute for insurance. broker that under- The discountand is only availableprotect at participating the climate pharmacies. Administrator: New Benefits, Dallas, TX. their board and take their management expertise to Additional terms and conditions: The Cooperative Healthy Savings card has no cash value and is not redeemable for cash. The Card is nontransferable and may be used only by the co-op member to whom it is issued. Youthrough must present your Card to receiveenergy discounts at participating efficiency. businesses. Any unauthorized reproduct ion or misrepresentation of the Card is strictly prohibited. Neither a new level. stands the special NAHC nor any member cooperative has any responsibility and shall not be liable for any problems with any products or services provided by participating businesses or for any inaccuracy in those businesses’ advertising or marketing. The Card is the property of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, and your right to use the Card may be terminated at any time by NAHC or your co-op without notice. DiscountsNAHC’s or offers under this program,partnership and some products or services may not be included. Please check with the participating business before making your purchase. Other insurance needs of terms and conditions of the Cooperative Healthy Savings program are subject to change and may be posted at any time on NAHC’s web site at www.nahc.coop without notice. Your use of the • Customized training workshops such as “Roles, Card means that you accept those terms and conditions. provides resources and information about Risks & Rewards,” available (on a fee basis) to cooperatives. Whether your concern is related to National Associationspecific of Housing Cooperatives cost-savings 1444 I Street NW, Suite 700 that Washington, efficientDC 20005 P: 202-737 light-0797 www.nahc.coop bulbs Boards of Directors of cooperatives. We customize property, environmental or Directors & Officers and appliances provide. these workshops to meet the specific needs of Liability coverage, a Wells Fargo risk management individual cooperatives. professional can help you understand your • Register your Cooperative with a unique domain needs and protect your cooperative. Contact name at www.nic.coop Advocacy and Technical Assistance J. Megan Davidson at 1-877-422-3732 or [email protected] • NAHC’s Government Relations Committee is a strong voice for housing cooperatives on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies. Staff monitor issues and advocate — often with members — to ensure that housing cooperatives have a “seat at the table” in PARTNERING statehouses and in Washington, DC. • Information on issues with Cooperative Housing “Housing is an important component of the American Lisa Blackwell Quarterly (CHQ; formerly the Cooperative Housing fabric — this is a group of housing experts who cover the Vice President, Housing Policy, Bulletin, or CHB) and Cooperative Housing Journal legislative gamut, providing technical information to National Multifamily Housing Council (CHJ), an annual publication of best practices in Congress and the Administration on all types of housing. cooperative housing. Housing is so important to people of our nation — the value of the group is that we have staff covering • Technical assistance on a range of issues, available every aspect of the housing spectrum, providing expertise on housing cooperatives, rental housing, by phone or email; in-depth consulting services are assisted housing, lending, development, homeownership, rural housing and senior housing.” available for a fee.
2 • NAHC 2015 Progress Report ADVOCACY
Cooperating and working together, our • Working to allow veterans to use VA loan guarantees advocacy highlights and initiatives include: to buy shares in a housing cooperative • Promoting the implementation of U.S. Housing and • Advocating for the rights of cooperatives, and Urban Development guidelines to allow reverse specifically: amateur radio parity; funding to correct mortgages for housing cooperatives inequities in the low-income housing sector; protecting • Ensuring equity in providing flood insurance building cooperatives at the local level (as in Boston, where protection for housing cooperatives; (currently, NAHC works with housing cooperatives to help condominiums have greater flood insurance coverage) defeat legislation that would eliminate the right of a cooperative to screen new members) • Supporting legislation (particularly an amendment to the Stafford Act), which would allow housing cooperatives and condominiums to be eligible for FEMA Disaster Relief funds
COOPERATING “ “Students“ like cooperatives because of the sense Corrigan Nadon-Nichols of community. For a cooperative to thrive, mem- Director of Development, North bers need to work together on a variety of issues, American Students of Cooperation which creates opportunities for developing NAHC’s Government Relations team protects and community. Cooperatives are an affordable form promotes the interests of NAHC members on federal, of home ownership that represents a different economic model that people are excited about. They state and local levels. We participate in coalitions might see that the larger economic system doesn’t work for them and a cooperative offers a way to with organizations such as: Consumer Federation of organize life differently. America, Credit Unions, Leading Age, National Council Interest in starting new cooperatives has been increasing since about 15 years ago. A big factor leading on Aging, Manufactured Housing Association, National to the increase is that many recent college graduates who lived in cooperative housing during school Association of Home Builders, National Association of want to continue living in co-ops. More young people want to live in cities. and as gentrification forces Realtors, National Cooperative Bank, National prices up in some neighborhoods, and students graduate with more and more debt, cooperative housing Cooperative Business Association, National Leased can be a really good housing solution for them. Housing Association, National Low Income Housing Coalition, the National Multifamily Housing Council and New student and group-equity co-ops usually start out small, 5–15 bedrooms in a shared house or 3–6 the Community Associations Institute. apartment units. Member shares are set at very low levels so that membership is accessible to everyone, and so moving is easy.
We tap into NAHC’s experience through our partnership. And we’re figuring out how we can do more together. It was great to have NAHC at our conference and connect NASCO members to a larger cooper- ative movement. Together, we want to find more financing strategies to help more cooperatives develop.”
3 • NAHC 2015 Progress Report MEMBERS AND PARTNERS
NAHC was incorporated in 1960 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) New Jersey Federation of Housing Cooperatives (NJFHC) organization that represents housing cooperatives and PARTNERING Potomac Association of Housing Cooperatives (PAHC) housing associations across the United States. NAHC “Through our partnership with NAHC, both represents professionals, organizations and individuals Partners memberships learn from each other. It’s inter- interested in promoting the interests of cooperative esting for us to see how cooperative housing is housing communities. NAHC and its affiliates work on Consumer Federation of America (CFA) modeled and structured in the U.S. We want to behalf of the 1.5 million families living in cooperative Cooperative Development Foundation be connected to the global housing cooperative housing in the United States. movement and we’re working hard to help Community Associations Institute (CAI) NAHC become part of that international family. Members Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHFC) • Associations and federations of housing I am looking forward to meeting NAHC’s board cooperatives organized around a special-interest National Cooperative Bank (NCB) at the Las Vegas conference in October; I have and/or a geographic region great respect for NAHC’s leadership. National Cooperative Business Association • Individual housing cooperatives (NCBA CLUSA) It’s exciting to watch the cooperative housing • Organizations and professionals that provide services North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) movement’s growth. You’ll find large cooperative to housing cooperatives, such as attorneys, property housing sectors in surprising parts of the world management firms, nonprofit organizations, financial Resident Owned Communities, USA like in Egypt and Pakistan — and it’s growing organizations, accountants, government agencies, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) in Europe. and consultants Wells Fargo Insurance Services, USA, Inc. A sense of community forms naturally as a • Registered Cooperative Managers result of the co-ownership of housing. Some- • Groups and individuals that develop housing times, that can lead to a more cooperatives social side of community building • Other individuals and organizations interested in CONNECTING where you feel part of a distinct housing cooperatives ‘neighborhood’ regardless of the “NAHC motivates me to learn about new things to cooperative’s size.” Member Associations help my community. At the Conference, I learned more about my role as Secretary and how to CSI Support & Development (CSI) negotiate. My favorite session was Duties of the Nicholas Gazzard California Association of Housing Cooperatives (CAHC) Secretary because that’s the position Executive Director, Co-operative I hold and I love it. We’re focusing Housing Federation of Canada Cooperative Housing Association of New England on getting the word out about (CHANE) cooperatives in our community.” Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums (CYNC) Khaja Ahmed Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives & Board Secretary, Southgate Town Condominiums (FNYHC) Terrace, Sacramento, CA Midwest Association of Housing Cooperatives (MAHC)
4 • NAHC 2015 Progress Report ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
NAHC’s 55th Annual Conference in Hilton Head, Connecting with Emanuel Church SC, brought together nearly 400 participants for three In recognition of the tragedy at Charleston’s Emanuel days of educational and networking events — and Church, NAHC invited Rev. Clifford Brown and Rev. even some time for fun. Session topics ranged from Leroy Middleton (pictured at right) from Charleston’s Finance, Governing, Planning and Marketing to African Methodist Episcopal Church community to Improving Operations, Legal and Legislative issues. lead a memorial service at the start of the Conference to honor and remember the victims of the Church Partnering in Africa for Secure Shelter shooting. Rev. Middleton also discussed how AME Keynote speaker Scott Jackson, program manager, churches throughout South Carolina are “rebuilding” Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and from this tragedy. NAHC made a donation to the president, Rooftops Canada, took us on a virtual trip Mother Emanuel HOPE Fund to support the Church to Kenya and Tanzania in his presentation about and families who lost loved ones. Rooftops Canada, a non-profit organization which is an international development program of Canadian cooperative and social housing organizations. Its goal: help communities create sustainable and practical housing solutions and provide thousands of families with secure, affordable shelter.
Members explore services offered by exhibitors.
Members enjoy the Opening Reception, “Resort Style.”
5 • NAHC 2015 Progress Report ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
CONNECTING “I joined NAHC three years ago because I wanted to improve the life of my community. I think face- to-face interaction can’t be replaced. The Annual Conference is great because I can interact with the members, managers, staff and vendors in the NAHC community. And the educational tracks offer tons of real world information that we can take back home.”
Congratulations to the Fall 2015 Class of RCMs Jabar Hamad Board Treasurer, Forest Hills Cooperating: Recognizing New Registered Shannen Weeden, Benning Road Housing Cooperative Cooperative, Ann Arbor, MI Cooperative Managers (RCMs) (Washington, DC); and Euricka Young, Park Forest Nineteen cooperative managers completed the two-day Cooperative III, Area J (Park Forest, IL.). Registered Cooperative Manager (RCM) certification In addition, eight RCMs passed the recertification class program. Congratulations to the managers who (the ethics course). Congratulations to: Alison Bright, received their certificates and pins: Mardan Alkassab, Charlame Park Homes I, Warren Gardens Housing Ismail Musa Baloley and Mohamed Mohamed, Yorkville Cooperative (Roxbury, MA); Denise Crowder, London Cooperative Inc. (Fairfax, VA); Erica Baker, Benning Towne Houses, Inc., Housing Resource Center (Atlanta, Road Housing Cooperative (Washington, DC); Lillian GA); Dylan Day, Mayflower Townhouse Cooperative Barnes and Djenane Marquez, Warren Gardens (Plymouth, MI); Maxine Dennis, Yorkville Cooperative Housing Cooperative (Roxbury, MA); Linda Briscoe, Inc. (Vienna, VA); Francine Franklin and Sherry Hickman, Pickwick Square Cooperative (District Heights, MD.); Village Green Second Section (Dallas, TX); Jordan Houda Chawki, Seaman Owners Corp (Jersey City, Management Company (Rocklin, CA); Hester Marshal, NJ); Angela Coleman and Linda Smith, Village Green Wildwood Park Towne Houses (Atlanta, GA.); and Amy Second Section (Dallas, TX); Bob Cuttle, Trinity Sanford, Georgetown Place Cooperative (Taylor, MI). Management, LLC (Boston, MA); Denise Crowder, London Towne Houses, Inc., Housing Resource And congratulations to three RCMs in Chicago Center (Atlanta, GA); Deisha Jenkins, Oxford Village who recertified using NAHC’s new online program: Townhouses (Atlanta, GA); Peter Lillie, CSI Support and Robin Lay, Realty & Mortgage, Harper Square Development Services (Warren, MI), Pontiac Village Housing Cooperative, Lakeview East Cooperative; Estates Cooperative (Pontiac, MI); Judy Moraga, Angela Dixon and Serafim Kogan, Lakeview Towers Visit nahc.coop for details on the 2016 Jordan Management Company (Rocklin, CA), Florin Residents Association. Annual Conference. Gardens Cooperative East #1 (Sacramento, CA);
6 • NAHC 2015 Progress Report ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Each year, NAHC recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding work to advance cooperatives. Congratulations to the 2015 awardees:
Cooperative Distinguished Service Award President’s Award Ida Curtis Fisher RCM of the Year Award Member Services Committee Chair Linda Brockway (left) presents Greg Carlson presents the award to Scott Jackson (left) and Fred Gibbs, Ralph Marcus and Greg Carlson (left to right) the Award to Stephanie McGaha of Troy Manor Cooperative Anne Davidson, Co-operative Federation of Canada. with Awardee Kelly Barth, RCM, Rose Hill Townhouses (Indianapolis, IN). (Commerce City, CO).
Cooperative Star Award Jerry Voorhis Award and Author of the Year Development and Preservation Award Awardee Rose Christy, Second Stone Ridge Cooperative Linda Brockway with Awardee Douglas Kleine, CAE, Professional Development and Preservation Committee Chair Stephen Sarine (Bridgeport, CT) with Linda Brockway (right). Association Services. Kleine also accepted Author of the Year with Awardees Billie J. Walker (left) and Charlotte Lann, CSI Support Award on behalf of David J. Thompson. and Development Services.
7 • NAHC 2015 Progress Report ABOUT NAHC
Organizational Goals Board of Directors • Promote the development of housing cooperatives Tony Beck Randall Pentiuk COOPERATING through research, education, forums, and other means (Taylor, MI) (Wyandotte, MI) “I like the theme of connecting, partnering, • Encourage best practices in the operation of Richard Berendson Alfred Reynolds cooperating — it sums up the 6th principle housing cooperatives that will assume maximum (St. Charles, IL) (Oakland, CA) that cooperatives follow: cooperation among long-term benefits to their owner-occupants and cooperatives. If we all work together, collectively sustain their cooperatives Jackie Brown Mary Ann Rothman we all will have greater impact in our communities. • Develop programs and services to benefit, strengthen (Rockville, MD) (New York, NY) and improve its member organizations Norma Coignet-Brown Stephen Sarine NCB has been a strong NAHC partner for many, many years and we want to see it — and its • Promote the development of other self-help activities (San Francisco, CA) (Sacramento, FL) members — succeed. Many members know among members of housing cooperatives Donna Marie Curvin Mark Shernicoff what NCB provides, but getting to the why we (Newark, NJ) (Delray Beach, FL) do it is much more important. Serving the needs Officers Leon Geoxavier Stephen Somuah of housing cooperatives and making sure they Ralph J. Marcus (Farmington Hills, MI) (New York, NY) (Chicago, IL) have access to capital and competitive banking Chairman products was one of the main reasons we were Roger Hall Hope Turner formed in 1978 and we have stayed focused on Gregory J. Carlson (Forest Hills, NY) (Mt. Clemans, MI) (Trenton, MI) our mission since our inception. We value the President Karen Harvey Billie J. Walker partnership with NAHC and its members and Fred Gibbs (Kansas City, MO) (Brownstown, MI) (Roslindale, MA) will continue to work hard ensuring housing Executive Vice President communities remain a reliable and stable form Blaine Honeycutt Ruthie Wilder of ownership in America. Anne Hill (Washington, DC) (Taylor, MI) (Baltimore, MD) Secretary One of our biggest accomplishments this Hugh Jeffers Roger Willcox Linda Brockway (Lansing, MI) year — which closed in early 2016 — was our (Oakmont, PA) (Norwalk, CT) Treasurer ongoing work to provide nearly Charlotte Lann Kimalee Williams $18M in financing to Chicago’s Gill Staff (Randallstown, MD) (East Hartford, CT) Park Cooperative, which will help this NAHC member secure a Mitchell Dvorak, MS, CAE Barbara Loatman competitive mortgage for capital Executive Director (Hyde Park, MA) improvements without increasing Whitney Barton maintenance fees.” Communications Manager Contact NAHC Mik Bauer 1441 I Street, NW, Suite 700 Mary Alex Blanton Membership Director and National Washington, DC 20005-6542 Senior Vice President, Director of Conference Manager Tel: 202-737-0797 Strategic Marketing, NCB Julie Elfand Fax: 202-216-9646 Director, Meetings Email: [email protected] www.nahc.coop
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