2008 Spring Htfund Newsletter.Indd

Center for Community Change Housing Trust Fund Project NEWS Colorado Housing Investment Fund Campaign Underway

he Colorado 200SPRING8 Housing Investment T Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania Kicks Off Coalition has filed for Housing Trust Fund Campaign...... 3 their statewide housing trust fund campaign. The Kansas Creates Block Grant Program as Part of proposed initiative would State Housing Trust Fund ...... 4 amend the constitution Connecticut’s Housing Trust Fund Gets of Colorado to create Another $10 Million ...... 5 a Housing Investment Fund and provide California Department of Housing and Community Develop- ment Launches Dedicated Revenue Campaign ...... 6 revenues from a state real estate transfer tax. In late Milwaukee Housing Advocates Don’t Plan to Give Up 2007, a statewide poll on Full Funding Campaign...... 8 was conducted to test the Housing LA Campaigns for Three-Point Housing Plan..... 10 viability of an investment fund on the statewide Housng Trust Funds Respond to the Housing ballot and responses Foreclosure Crisis ...... 11 indicated a strong level of support for the idea.

The Colorado Housing participated in regional hearings; income and workforce households Investment Fund Coalition was secured more than 1,000 endorsing throughout the state. founded in the summer of 2001 individuals and organizations and over the course of the past six supporting the proposal; and, The proposed Fund would provide years has tested the feasibility of through polling, determined the best grants and loans to support a statewide trust fund, as well as, time to place the question before the new construction, acquisition, assessing the structure, program, voters. predevelopment, rehabilitation, and funding for the idea. During downpayment and closing costs, that time, the Coalition conducted As proposed, the Fund would be energy efficiency improvements, research into revenue source administered by the Colorado accessibility modifications and options; quantified the economic Division of Housing to provide impact of a state housing trust fund; housing for very low income, low continued on page 2 COLORADO continued from page 1

construction, foreclosure and recipients of funds; reporting homelessness prevention, and costs obligations of the administrator of compliance with local ordinances. of the Fund; and other program Annual public hearings and needs requirements. News is published by the Housing Trust Fund Project of the Center for Communi- assessments will enable the fund ty Change. The Center for Community administrator to determine annual The Initiative would create a real Change is a national nonprofit which funding priorities. estate transfer tax on all real estate helps low-income people build pow- of four cents per $100 on the sales erful, effective organizations through Forty percent of the funds will be price on real property. Colorado which they can change their communi- available on a competitive basis would reportedly still have the ties and public policies for the better. to any local housing authority, lowest fee or tax of any state which nonprofit or for-profit corporation, assesses one on the value of real The Housing Trust Fund Project operates local government, or special district. estate transactions. as a clearinghouse of information on The remaining sixty percent of housing trust funds throughout the coun- the funds will be available to local A majority (63%) of likely voters try and provides technical assistance to governments to distribute to a local are positive toward the general idea organizations and agencies working to of a housing investment create and implement these funds. THISTLE COMMUNITY HOUSING fund, with more than one- For more information or to request tech- third saying they are very nical assistance, please contact: positive of the concept. Interestingly, those not Mary E. Brooks voting or rarely voting Housing Trust Fund Project in the last four years are Center for Community Change even more supportive 1113 Cougar Court (72% compared to 58% of Frazier Park, CA 93225 frequent voters). Tel: 661-245-0318 Fax: 661-245-2518 The polling also tested [email protected] Thistle Community Housing, a nonprofit committed to messages that supporters working with families, seniors, people with disabilities to Nina Dastur found convincing and the create quality permanently affordable housing, provides two most popular were: Center for Community Change these 32 affordable apartments in Longmont, Colorado. 330 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1802 • “Colorado is facing a severe New York, NY 10001 shortage of safe and decent 646-596-7873 housing authority, nonprofit or for- housing affordable to its most vulnerable [email protected] profit corporation, local government residents—the homeless, disabled, elderly or special district and are to be made and children living in poverty,” and Visit our website at: available in accordance with a local • “Since 38 other states have housing www.communitychange.org or regional housing plan based on investment funds, it is in Colorado’s local or regional needs assessments. interest to assist in providing its residents with the safe, decent and No less than half of the funds are to affordable housing that is fundamental benefit very low-income households to the health and well being of our Publications are each year. The proposal would nation’s residents.” require the legislature to establish funded by the Butler the percentage of revenues that When asked who voters tend to Family Fund, Wachovia, can be spent on administration of trust as an information source on and Oak Foundation. the fund; reporting requirements housing, Colorado voters expressed by local governments and other continued on page 12 2 Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania Kicks Off

Housing Trust Fund Campaign HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

he Housing Alliance of Rehabilitation Enhancement Pennsylvania launched its Act (PHARE), will designate Tstate housing trust fund the Pennsylvania Housing campaign last December at its Finance Agency as the annual conference—attended by administrator of the state more than 500 advocates, higher housing trust fund. PHARE than any previous conference. The funds would be assigned Alliance has established a $100 through a competitive million goal in annual dedicated process to housing revenue to support the development, developers, providers and Housing Development Corporation developed Deer rehabilitation, repair and other qualified entities. Lake Apartments creating 26 affordable apart- preservation of homes, both rental Funds would support ments in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. and owner occupied. housing affordable to households earning no more than housing affordable to extremely low The initiative has gained nearly median income. income households. 300 organizational and individual endorsers so far. Among the Geographic statewide distribution The legislation does not contain statewide organizations involved are and programmatic priorities will a dedicated revenue source. the Pennsylvania Coalition to End be determined through an annual The Housing Alliance and the Homelessness, the Pennsylvania planning process. Funds would Pennsylvania Housing Finance Statewide Independent Living not only support new programs, Agency have proposed the use of a Council, the Pennsylvania Council such as rental assistance and home 2% surcharge on property insurance of Churches, the AARP, the repair grants, but also the expansion policies. The campaign is hopeful Philadelphia Association of CDCs, of existing programs that are so that the introduction of the bill by a along with the Pennsylvania Builders successful they are oversubscribed, Republican Senator will enable the Association, the Pennsylvania such as gap funding for tax credit legislative process to build political Association of Housing & development, urban in-fill, will leading to its dedicated funding. Redevelopment Agencies, and homeownership and emergency The 2% surcharge on homeowner the Pennsylvania Association mortgage assistance. and commercial properties is of Realtors. The campaign has estimated to generate more than $80 formed a steering committee The legislation will call for the million a year. with representatives from the creation of a Community Advisory Pennsylvania Housing Finance Board which will have responsibility Pennsylvania has more than 15,000 Agency and the Housing Alliance of for advising the Pennsylvania homeless people with nearly Pennsylvania, among others. Housing Finance Agency on the half of renter households paying priorities for use of the funds and more than 30% of their income Legislation establishing the state directly determine the use of 30% for housing costs. The Housing trust fund will be introduced this of the funds. Appointments to this Alliance of Pennsylvania launched spring by Senator John Pippy, from board would be representatives of the “Homes Within Reach” campaign Western Pennsylvania. To date, the statewide advocacy organizations to create the framework needed for Housing Alliance has succeeded in who represent consumer, provider Pennsylvanians to live in a home securing thirty other state senators and industry interests not on they can afford. to sign on as co-sponsors, more the current Agency board. This than half of the Senate membership. provision was reached as a Contact: Liz Hersh, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, 2 South The legislation, the Pennsylvania compromise with the Agency, in lieu Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038 (215-576-7044). Housing Affordability and of setting aside 30% of the funds for 3 Kansas Creates Block Grant Program as Part of State Housing Trust Fund

overnor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas signed into Glaw SB 417 which creates the Housing Development Grant Program and provides $4 million annually for housing grants. Initially cities and counties that suffered recent disasters qualify for funding and in 2010 eligibility expands to include rural cities and counties. The Housing Development Grant fund for the grant program. The funding. In the Corporation’s 2006 Program will be located within the Corporation is to adopt rules and Annual Report, some $660,000 was state’s Housing Trust Fund. The regulations regarding the application awarded during the year to nonprofit passage is due, in part, to natural procedures, grant periods, grant and for-profit developers throughout disasters such as the Greensburg evaluation and reporting criteria, the state for rental housing from tornado and massive flooding in the among other administrative the State Housing Trust Fund. southeast of Kansas during 2007. responsibilities. Draft program The fund is targeted to assist requirements have been developed homeowners earning no more than The Kansas Housing Corporation and public hearings are scheduled 80% of median income or renters at is authorized to develop a program for early May. or below 60% of median income. of grants to cities or counties to carry out housing development Cities and counties designated The Local Initiatives Support activities, defined as the construction as FEMA disaster areas or so Corporation of Greater Kansas or rehabilitation of infrastructure designated by the Governor of City and some 130 additional necessary to support construction Kansas as having resulted in the individuals, organizations, agencies of new residential dwellings and the destruction of a significant amount and others are part of the Kansas actual construction by a county or of residential housing are eligible to State Policy Network. In their city housing authority. The city or apply for funds under the program. “Bringing Kansas Home” campaign county is to provide matching funds After July 1, 2010, an eligible city they developed stories to highlight in an amount equal to at least 10% is defined as any city incorporated the statewide nature of the housing of the total amount of funds granted in Kansas and an eligible county crisis. Members of the Network have by the corporation if the grant funds is defined as any county with a noted the shortcomings of using are to be used for construction or population of less than 60,000. federal funds, the main source of rehabilitation of infrastructure. Applications will be evaluated based assistance in Kansas, to meet these Matching funds equal to at least on needs incurred as a result of a pressing housing needs. The stories 50% of the funds grants are required disaster, capacity of the applicant, demonstrate that there is no single if the funds are to be used for other use of the funds, community support answer to the variety of housing purposes. State or federal tax credit for the program, and ability to issues facing Kansas. And they make or HOME funds are not eligible leverage the match. it clear, that current programs have sources of the match. not meet the needs that exist. The Kansas Housing Trust Fund Every year on July 1, from was created in 1991 and receives Contacts: Fred Bentley, Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, 2008 to 2014, $4 million will be revenues primarily from housing 611 S. Kansas Avenue, Suite 3000, Topeka, KS 66603 (785- transferred from the state general bond fees, but these have not been 296-3724) or Ashley Jones, LISC of Greater Kansas City, 3535 fund to the state housing trust a significant nor sufficient source of Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64111 (816-753-0044).

4 Connecticut’s Housing Trust Fund Gets Another $10 Million

onnecticut established its and grants. The Fund may be used Housing Trust Fund for for acquisition, rehabilitation, new CEconomic Growth and construction, or down payment Opportunity in 2005, funded from assistance. Eligible recipients the proceeds of the sale of state include nonprofits and for-profit general obligation bonds. This is housing developers, municipalities, Pequonnock one of three housing trust funds the local housing authorities, the Replacement Housing state of Connecticut has established. Connecticut Housing Finance And now, in a fourth round of Authority, community development Scattered site public housing fulfills an funding, Governor M. Jodi Rell has finance institutions, and community important function in Bridgeport, Con- announced an additional $10 million development corporations. necticut, providing subsidized housing to support the fund this year. “One options in a negibhorhood setting. of the key issues affecting Connecticut’s The Housing Trust Fund for To help replace public housing units economy is the availability of quality, Economic Growth and Opportunity lost with the demolition of Pequonnock affordable housing,” Governor Rell is administered by the Department Apartments, the Bridgeport Neighbor- said. “We must have a steady and of Economic and Community hood Trust is currently developing sixty units for the Bridgeport attractive stock of housing to attract and Development. Awards are based on Housing Authority. keep jobs in our state. The Trust Fund priority guidelines established by As of January 2008, 49 of the 60 units helps develop and rehabilitate properties the Housing Trust Fund Advisory are in various stages of acquisition and where working people can live and raise Committee. Funding cannot development, including twelve units that their families.” exceed $75,000 per housing unit, $2 are complete and occupied. million per project, or $3 million per The City of Bridgeport selected the The Fund was established as a program. Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust to pro- $100 million Housing Trust Fund vide relocation services to the Pequon- over a five-year period, providing Contact: Edward LaChance, State of Connecticut, Department nock families. Bridgeport Neighbor- a maximum of $20 million a year of Economic and Community Development, 505 Hudson Street, hood Trust will coordinate moving of for affordable housing. Thus far, Hartford, CT 06106 (860-270-8099). these families from temporary houses to it has received $40 million since new units, rehabilitated units and other it was created. Over its first two qualified housing authority properties. The process is expected to take two years, it funded the construction years. and rehabilitation of 1,179 homes. Last June, nine affordable housing developments received a total of $8.7 million from the third round of funding. Funds supported rehabilitation in Norwalk, emergency repairs in New Haven, mutual housing in Stamford, a replacement program in Bridgeport, among others.

The Fund is designed to help create housing for low and moderate income households by providing BRIDGEPORT NEIGHBORHOOD TRUST gap financing in the form of loans 5 California Department of Housing and Community Development Launches Dedicated Revenue Source Campaign

alifornia created one of CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT the earliest state housing Ctrust funds in 1985, but in name only, for it lacks a dedicated revenue source. Today, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, at the direction of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is sponsoring a program to develop recommendations to secure a permanent funding source for affordable housing.

The Department of Housing and Community Development is in The first California Department of Housing and Community Development affordable housing development in Morgan Hill, California provides 62 the process of holding regional family townhouses on more than seven acres. First Community Housing built meetings throughout the State the townhomes with energy efficient aspects and near public transit, a day care with key stakeholders in the center, shopping centers, and a new community center. business, education, environmental, local government, and housing communities during the first six are then divided into groups to the regional meeting underscores months of 2008. In addition, record and rank recommendations the importance of affordable smaller focus groups will be for both funding sources and uses housing to the state. The housing sponsored by the Department of the funds, along with any other industry contributes $218 billion to hear from constituents and concerns. Each group reports each year to the state’s economy, locations not covered by the regional back to the whole, with additional generates 935,000 jobs, accounts for meetings. The Department intends discussion to develop consensus approximately 10% of all economic to compile recommendations during on the top five potential revenue activity in the state, and is the July and August for feedback from sources and uses. Each meeting second largest industry group in the participants, with a final draft for concludes with a summary of next state, when all economic multipliers review by the Governor’s office at steps. are considered. the end of September 2008. The regional meetings are in: Irvine, “We cannot rely on the housing The Department of Housing and Sacramento, Riverside, Los Angeles, propositions alone,” said HCD Community Development operates Fresno, South San Francisco, Director Lynn Jacobs. “California a wide range of affordable housing Salinas, Oakland, and San Diego. needs a long-term public revenue source programs including: that is dedicated to financing affordable • the Affordable Housing Each regional meeting is provided housing. It’s up to us to find a way to Innovation Fund to demonstrate with an overview and background assure affordable housing is a part of innovative, cost-saving approaches on housing within the state, every Californian’s future.” to creating or preserving affordable including alternative permanent housing; funding sources. The participants Information presented during • the Building Equity 6 SCANPH and Growth in Neighborhoods a set-aside from Program which makes grants to the Affordable cities and counties that reduce Housing Innovation regulatory barriers to affordable Fund and is under housing; development. • the CalHome Program It extends the enables low and very low income program funded households to become or remain from the earlier homeowners; Proposition 46. • the CalHome Self-Help Technical Assistance Allocation is In 2002, 57.5% a sweat-equity program; of the voters in • the Multifamily California passed Housing Program assists with Proposition 46, Participants in the California Department of new construction, rehabilitation the Housing Housing and Community Development dedicated and preservation of permanent and and Emergency revenue source regional meeting. transitional rental housing for lower Shelter Trust Fund income households; and Act of 2002, which permitted the • many others, including: state to sell $2.1 billion in general low income household can only emergency housing and assistance obligation bonds to support twenty- afford monthly rent up to $496, programs; the Joe Serna, Jr. one affordable housing programs while the fair market rent for a two Farmworkers Housing Grant administered by the state. In 2006, bedroom apartment is $1,189. Program; the Mobilehome/ 57.4% of the voters in California Manufactured Home Park passed Proposition 1C, enabling the For more information, go to: http://www.hcd.ca.gov/ Resident Ownership Program; state to sell $2.9 billion in general permsource/. the Office of Migrant Services obligation bonds to fund housing Program; the Predevelopment for lower-income residents and Loan Program; and the Transit development in urban areas near Oriented Development Program. public transportation. Jurisdictions Receiving Matching Local Housing Trust The Local Housing Trust Fund The Department points out in the Funds from Proposition 46 Matching Grant Program helps hearings that the “housing wage” finance local housing trust funds in California is $22.86--more than Alameda County dedicated to the creation or three times the minimum wage, City of Berkeley preservation of affordable housing. according to the “Out of Reach” City of Citrus Heights This program has $35 million in report by the National Low Income City of Livermore funding from Proposition 1C, as Housing Coalition. An extremely City of Los Angeles Town of Mammoth Lakes City of Oxnard City of Palo Alto City of Pasadena Camellia Place contains 112 apartments City of Sacramento in a garden coutyard setting available City of San Diego to households earning between 20-60% City of San Jose of the area median income. Located San Mateo County in Dublin, California, apartments are close to the BART station, schools, the Santa Clara County public library, and many other com- City of Santa Cruz munity facilitities. Camellia Place was City of Santa Rosa developed by the Ecumenical Association Sonoma County for Housing, now in its 40th year as a City of West Hollywood nonprofit housing organization. EAH CORPORATION 7 Milwaukee Housing Advocates Don’t Plan to Give Up on Full Funding Campaign

he Milwaukee Housing to the City. Not only would these But this group isn’t stopping there. Trust Fund Coalition is applicants have been able to create Here’s just a sampling of what Tcommitted to advocating 615 units of affordable housing, they’ve undertaken to keep this issue for ongoing revenue for the City’s but the City gave up additional job in front of elected officials. housing trust fund. The Coalition’s opportunities and local revenues, goal is to convince the City of according to the Campaign. Death Bed: Last fall, to dispute Milwaukee to provide a minimum the mayor’s interpretation of the of $1 million annually to the The Housing Trust Fund. The Coalition Milwaukee members have committed to on- Housing going planning activities and actions Trust Fund engaging advocates throughout the Campaign has year as a way to keep the issue alive. more than 130 endorsers The Milwaukee Housing Trust and plenty Fund was created by the Common of creative Council in November of 2006. energy around Initial financing of $2.5 million events to keep for the Fund was included in this issue in the Council’s budget from bond the public eye. revenues. Debt service was covered In February by on-going revenues from the 2008, they Potawatomi gaming proceeds, tax released increment financing, and designated “Status of Marquette University students build a snow fort in front payments in lieu of taxes. Affordable of the Mayor’s house demonstrating the need for full Housing in funding to provide safe, decent affordable housing. But a commitment of on-going Milwaukee,” revenue has eluded the campaign. prepared by Michael Soika. amount of money he needed to put For the 2008 budget, the Mayor put into the Housing Trust Fund for only $400,000 in for the Milwaukee The report concludes that by 2008, housing advocates held a press HousingTrust Fund. virtually any measure, the availability conference in the rotunda at City of affordable housing in Milwaukee Hall, putting a life-sized copy of the The first round of awards from the has eroded since 2000 and housing Housing Trust Fund ordinance on a Housing Trust Fund committed $1.4 insecurity has increased dramatically. cot, with many campaign members million to assist in the development Since 2000, Milwaukee has seen dressed up in lab coats as medical of 142 new units of affordable a 48% increase in the number of staff, making the point that the housing. The Fund received 21 renters spending more than half Housing Trust Fund was on its death applications requesting more than of their income on housing. The bed. $5.5 million. And the Campaign report also presents information points out that applicants pledged from the Nonprofit Center of What About Our Houses: Earlier, $15 for every $1 of Housing Trust Milwaukee illustrating that the advocates compared $70 million Fund revenue—identifying more lack of affordable housing affects spent to renovate City Hall to the than $85 million in additional primarily minority communities. smaller commitment to provide private sector financing, now lost housing for those most in need.

8 Snow Fort as Housing: Marquette Sleep Out in Solidarity: Clearly there is no stopping this University students built a snow fort Marquette University Ministry and campaign, until the Mayor commits in the median strip of Washington Midnight Run hosted an all night significant funding to the City’s Boulevard in front of Mayor Sleep Out in Solidarity event, part of Housing Trust Fund. Barrett’s house. The site donned which was in support of the Housing a sign saying “Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Contact: Heather Dummer Combs, Interfaith Conference Plan B.” of Greater Milwaukee, 1442 N. Farwell Ave., Suite 200, Dollars Not Pennies: The Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414-276-9050). Valentine’s Day: At least 35 campaign is asking the Mayor coalition members gathered outside to invest dollars, not pennies, by Mayor Barrett’s office for a press showering the Mayor with pennies conference and action. More than and postcards. 1000 valentines showed Mayor Barrett their love by stuffing his mail box with love notes attached to a broken-heart valentine.

Cardboard Condos: Advocates Housing Trust Fund RFP Demonstrates the Economic also built a display of condominiums Development Power of Investing in Affordable Housing out of cardboard boxes in the park across from City Hall. If all Proposals were Funded – The Housing Trust Fund Would Generate Over $91 Million Stock Certificates: Stock in Total Housing Development Projects certificates were presented to the $5.65 Million of Requested This is Equal to the Cost of… Housing Trust Fund Dollars Mayor and to Council Members Building a New $90 Million Bradley Center documenting the “dividends” of a housing trust fund.

Balloon Release: 200 housing advocates released balloons in the Or…Restoring City Hall atrium of City Hall to demonstrate loss of 100 units of affordable housing.

Stories of Sorrow: The Campaign collected 500 stories from homeless shelter and meal program Or…Building TWO new Milwaukee Theatres participants, written by hand in their own words. Each week one was released to the Mayor and Aldermen.

Pastoral Assembly Candidates’ Forum: The candidates were Unleashes $85.5 Million in Additional Money asked what specific plans they have (Private Sector Funding, Grants, Tax Credits, etc.) regarding priority issues, one of For more information contact the Housing Trust Fund Coalition c/o The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee (414) 276-9050 which is affordable housing.

9 Housing LA Campaigns for Three-Point Housing Plan SCANPH

ousing advocates in Los that year. In the Angeles, California have following fiscal Hdeveloped a three-point year, $10.5 million plan to secure a dedicated source was budgeted for of public funds for the Los Angeles the Affordable Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Housing Trust along with establishing inclusionary Fund (Fiscal Year housing policies and preserving 2001-2002). affordable housing. Housing LA, the coalition that fought for and won In July 2001 a the Los Angeles Affordable Housing City Council Trust Fund, is now working to motion directed Pastor Ryan Bell moderated the press conference at the increase the supply of safe, decent the Housing launch of the Housing LA campaign. homes that people can afford Department to through this plan. report on permanent sources for the mixed-income (inclusionary zoning) Trust Fund. A number of groups met ordinance through council this year. Hundreds of city residents rallied on this issue over the course of three and a broad-based coalition of months. In January 2002, the Mayor Paul Zimmerman, Executive businesses, housing advocates, labor announced a $100 million proposal Director of the Southern California and religious leaders, nonprofits and for the Housing Trust Fund. Association of Non-Profit Housing, developers hosted a press conference A multi-year funding plan based a member organization of Housing to present Mayor Villaraigosa and on the Mayor’s proposed plan, was LA, says, “We’re looking at a crisis the City Council with the three- approved. which is going to take years to solve, but point plan. Labor leader Maria unless we take the first definitive steps Elena Durazo, LA City Controller In 2003 City Council approved now, we will never begin to attack the Laura Chick, and Director of the the Housing and Community problem.” Valley Economic Development Development Committee report Center, Roberto Barragan all spoke recommendations to approve Many workers who provide critical on behalf of the plan. A twenty-six general guideposts for expenditures, services to Los Angeles cannot Honorary Committee is leading including that 60% of multifamily afford to live near their jobs. the effort that has already collected rental projects would serve Other hard working families have endorsements from more than households earning no more than doubled-up as the only way to ninety organizations. 60% of the area median income and avoid homelessness. While nearly 5% for emergency rental assistance. 1.8 million households earn Los The Affordable Housing Trust Fund Angeles’ median income of $45,000 was established by the Mayor and Some 1,700 people have attended or less, only 1,200 homes were City Council through the City’s three town hall meetings in several built for this population in 2006. budget process in June 2000, after neighborhoods, co-sponsored In just the last five years, more recommendations of the Housing by Housing LA and member than 15,000 rent stabilized homes Crisis Task Force. The Trust Fund organization LA Voice, resulting were demolished or converted to was provided “seed funding” of $5 in several city council members condominiums. million, which was immediately endorsing the three-point plan. committed by the Los Angeles City council members have also Contact: Francesca de la Rosa, Southern California Association Housing Department to funding promised to work with Housing of NonProfit Housing, 3345 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1005, Los for proposed housing developments LA to produce legislation and the Angeles, CA 90010 (213-480-1249). that were on the waiting list for Mayor has agreed to shepherd a 10 State Housing Trust Funds Respond to the Foreclosure Crisis

The Housing Trust Fund Project sent out an email survey ILLINOIS HOUSING TRUST FUND to all administrators of state housing trust funds, ask- ing if they would like to share any trust fund initiatives Technical Assistance Funds: $100,000 in technical assistance funds was allocated from the Trust Fund to to address the range of issues present in the current compensate counseling agencies for their assistance foreclosure crisis. with Illinois’ Homeowner Outreach Days. Since November 2007, 21 state-sponsored Outreach Days have been held across the state to bring free, one- Here are two responses from Arizona and Illinois. on-one loan counseling and educational workshops about refinancing, foreclosure prevention, legal rights, If you would like to share your program experience, loss mitigation and credit counseling to struggling please send your information to: homeowners trying to avoid losing their homes. [email protected]. Foreclosure Prevention Network: $370,000 from the Trust Fund was allocated to create a coalition of fifteen non-profit counseling agencies across Illinois trained ARIZONA HOUSING TRUST FUND to provide direct counseling and mitigation assistance. Efforts that started with the Outreach Days were Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention: $4.2 continued with the creation of the Illinois Foreclosure million has been set aside for eviction and foreclosure Prevention Network in February 2008. NeighborWorks prevention activities across the state. Funds are American and HP Foundation collectively agreed to distributed to twenty-two nonprofits and local contribute $150,000 to set up and train the Network. governments statewide to meet the short-term Illinois homeowners who call the national toll-free emergency needs of renters and homeowners. Since hotline are referred to the Network counseling agency 30% of the foreclosures in the state are homes owned by closest to them for free, face-to-face counseling. The investors, many unsuspecting renters are being put on Trust Fund grant compensated the Network’s agencies the street with almost no notice and few options. for their counseling and paid for a coordinator to organize and manage the Network. During the Counseling Support: $500,000 was set aside in Trust Network’s first month of operation, approximately Fund resources for the following activities: 5,600 homeowners called the toll-free hotline to receive • training homeownership counselors across the counseling over the phone. Of these, 640 homeowners state in foreclosure counseling; were referred to one of the Network’s fifteen certified • match for the $1.33 million NeighborWorks counseling agencies in their area for additional face-to- mortgage foreclosure mitigation grant which will face assistance. be funneled through thirteen housing counseling nonprofits; NeighborWorks America: Illinois also received $1.5 • research to determine high mortgage million from NeighborWorks America. Funds will be foreclosure impact areas of the state; and dispersed to eighteen nonprofit counseling agencies to • building counseling capacity in high impact assist approximately 4,000 homeowners living in some of areas where limited housing counseling agency the state’s most hard hit neighborhoods with counseling. resources exist. Thirty-two state housing finance agencies were funded through this program. Contact: Fred Karnas, Arizona Department of Housing, 1110 West Washington Street, Suite 310, Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602-771-1000). Contact: Man Yee Lee, Illinois Housing Development Authority, 401 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60611 (312-836-5234).

11 COLORADO continued from page 2 very strong support in local, working and is helping members host class individuals—in particular, House Parties in May and their own public safety, education June to broaden educational and health care providers. The efforts across the state. The results of the polling are available Campaign has also reached on the Campaign’s website (www. out to a broad base of groups coloradohousingfund.org). with presentations about the Colorado Housing Investment The Campaign commissioned a Fund. Signature gathering study on the economic benefits that events and trainings will take could be anticipated by investing in place during the summer. an affordable housing fund. The study concluded that a $26.5 million The Colorado Housing housing fund would produce more Investment Fund Coalition is than 3,000 affordable housing guided by forty-six voting member League of Women Voters, Lutheran opportunities; create 3,200 jobs; organizations, including the Advocacy Ministry, Mercy Housing generate $334 million in economic Archdiocesan Housing, Colorado Colorado, Sierra Club, SOS 8, activity statewide; and realize $26 Coalition for the Homeless, among others. million in tax revenue annually, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, Contact: Alison O’Kelly, Colorado Housing Investment Fund including $13 million to local Colorado Housing and Finance Coalition, P.O. Box 9610, Denver, CO 80209 (720-371-0201). governments. Authority, Colorado NAHRO, Colorado Progressive Coalition, The Coalition continues to gather Housing Colorado, Housing Justice, endorsements for the proposal Interfaith Community Services,

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