Delaware Builds Housing Develop- Ment Fund to Expand Economic Trust Fund (VHCTF)

Center for Community Change Vermont Supports Housing and Conservation NEWS Trust Fund Despite State Budget Gap SUMMER2011 Vermont Supports Housing and n his budget address last January, Fund at almost its full statutory level, and Conserva� on Trust Fund Despite Inewly-elected Governor Peter very thankful to Governor Shumlin for State Budget Gap ...... 1 Shumlin called for full funding of the his leadership,” said Erhard Mahnke, Vermont Housing and Conservation Executive Director of the Vermont Delaware Builds Housing Develop- ment Fund to Expand Economic Trust Fund (VHCTF). This spring, he Affordable Housing Coalition. “This Opportuni� es ...... 3 and the Legislature fi nished the budget funding will enable housing providers to build season just shy of fulfi lling that goal, and rehabilitate more affordable housing across Florida Housing Advocates Victorious appropriating a total of $12,047,500 the state, which is especially important in this in Li� ing Cap on State Housing Trust Fund ...... 5 -- $8,047,500 in property transfer tax time of shrinking federal resources.” revenues and another $4 million from Louisville Takes Steps Forward with the state’s capital budget -- to the Under its authorizing statute, the Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund ...... 7

Vermont Housing and Conservation Vermont Housing and Conservation Juneau Begins Implementa� on of its Board (VHCB) which administers the Trust Fund is to receive one-half of Aﬀ ordable Housing Trust Fund ...... 9 fund. the revenues generated by the state’s property transfer tax. The total Puerto Rico’s Housing and Human Development Trust Fund Awards “We’re thrilled that the Legislature is able combined FY2012 appropriation $585,000 ...... 10 to fund the Housing and Conservation Trust approaches 95% of what the VHCB New Release! Report on Providing continued on page 2 Housing for Extremely Low Income Pesons ...... 11

Campaign for Community Change Launches Change Na� on ...... 12 CHAMPLAIN HOUSING TRUST Join Change Na� on A resident of the Champlain Housing Trust Be part of the Network to talks with Rep. Jason ﬁ x America’s Lorber (D) of Burlington. broken economy. See page 12 VERMONT, continued from page 1

would have received under the statute, support it provides for state and local reflecting a reduction of only $575,000 economies. Since its creation in 1987, from the FY2012 statutory level, and the VHCB has committed $247 million an increase of more than $945,000 over in loans and grants, leveraging an News is published by the Housing Trust Fund the appropriation made for FY2011. additional $950 million. Over the last Project of the Center for Community Change. The Center for Community Change is a na�onal 22 years, resources from the VHCTF nonprofit which helps low-income people build While revenues from the property have: powerful, effec�ve organiza�ons through which transfer tax are dedicated to the they can change their communi�es and public policies for the be�er. VHCTF, those funds must be • Created 10,400 units of affordable appropriated by the Legislature in housing, serving more than 26,000 The Housing Trust Fund Project operates as a the state budget. The VHCTF was residents; clearinghouse of informa�on on housing trust funds throughout the country and provides last funded according to the formula • Conserved 520 farms, including technical assistance to organiza�ons and agen- in FY2000; over the last ten years, more than 134,000 acres of land; cies working to create and implement these funds. more than $35 million that should • Preserved 252,000 acres of natural have been directed to the VHCTF and recreation spaces and historic For more informa�on or to request technical assistance, please contact: was diverted. The Vermont Housing properties; and Conservation Board estimates • Created approximately 22,100 jobs Mary E. Brooks that the state lost the opportunity to across the state from spending $630 Director, Housing Trust Fund Project Center for Community Change produce 1,050 homes, save 67 farms, million on construction of VHCB- 1113 Cougar Court and develop 70 community projects as assisted projects. Frazier Park, CA 93225 661-245-0318 a result of the reductions in funding (fax: 661-245-2518) made from FY2001 through FY2011. To make the impact of these [email protected] investments real for lawmakers, the Nina Dastur The victory came in a year when Vermont Housing and Conservation Senior Policy Analyst lawmakers had to address a $179.5 Coalition arranges tours of housing and Center for Community Change 116 East 16th Street, 8th Floor million gap in the state’s General farms, as well as meetings with residents New York, NY 10003 Fund budget. Advocates attribute the throughout the year. It also coordinates 646-596-7873 commitment to the VHCTF expressed [email protected] an annual lobby day at the state house. in this year’s appropriation to the Michael Anderson Governor’s long history of support for This year, representatives from Affordable Housing Organizer the fund, which has been cultivated by Center for Community Change member organizations and affected 3909 SE 51st Ave housing and conservation groups since residents testified before ten different Portland, OR 97206 he led the state senate as President committees, and met with Secretary of 503-308-0067 [email protected] pro tem. During that time, Governor Administration Jeb Spaulding, Speaker Shumlin became a champion of the of the House Shap Smith, and Senate Visit our website at: VHCTF, restoring funding amid budget President Pro Tem John Campbell, as www.communitychange.org/our-projects/h� battles with former Governor James well as the chairs of the House and Douglas, including an override of the Senate Appropriations Committees and budget vetoed by the former governor other legislative leaders. in 2009. “The housing and conservation work is carried Efforts to support Governor Shumlin’s out by community organizations with real FUNDING budget proposal were led by the roots in the state,” said Chris Donnelly, Vermont Housing and Conservation Director of Community Relations for Publica�ons are Coalition, which is active year round the Champlain Housing Trust and funded by the Butler Family Fund educating lawmakers and government Housing Co-Chair of the Vermont and Oak Founda�on officials of the impact of the VHCTF Housing and Conservation Coalition. at the community level and the “When lawmakers see the scale of what 2 CHAMPLAIN HOUSING TRUST funding for the VHCTF has accomplished, or when they talk to builders who would have had to layoff staff without funding for their projects, it inspires both a rational and an emotional investment in the Trust Fund. It’s about creating jobs and stability and opportunity for people.”

“Funding for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board is critical to our hundred year vision for the state,” continued Donnelly. “It marries housing and conservation to create thriving communities and to preserve the special place that Vermont is for the long term.” Ci�zen par�cipants at Vermont Legisla�ve Day. Contacts: Erhard Mahnke, Execu�ve Director, Vermont Aﬀordable Housing Coali�on, 275 and Chris Donnelly, Housing Co-Chair, Vermont Housing Trust, 88 King Street, Burlington, VT Northgate Road, Burlington, VT 05408 (802- Housing and Conserva�on Coali�on and 05401 (802-861-7305) chris.donnelly@ 660-9484) erhardm@vtaﬀordablehousing.org Director of Community Rela�ons, Champlain champlainhousingtrust.org.

Delaware Builds Housing Development Fund to Expand Economic Opportunities

elaware’s Housing Development new revenues to create and retain jobs been a key argument in gaining support DFund received a big boost in the and expand economic opportunities. for committing resources to the Hous- state’s capital budget passed this month “We know from our economic impact analysis ing Development Fund. based on enhanced revenue projections. that every dollar invested in housing generates On July 1st, Delaware Governor Jack $7 in additional economic activity, so the state’s The first part of the Governor’s 3-part Markell signed the state’s budget, which investment in preserving multifamily housing plan, “Building Delaware’s Future Now,” allocates an additional $10 million in will not only address the state’s affordable hous- proposed to direct $135 million to the capital budget to a Housing Pres- ing needs, but will have a significant impact on create the Building Delaware’s Future ervation Fund embedded within the jobs,” said Ken Smith, Executive Direc- Fund to make strategic investments to Housing Development Fund, the state’s tor of the Delaware Housing Coalition. promote economic growth. Unveiling housing trust fund. The new resources “We’re very happy that Governor Markell is the plan, the Governor said, “We can put are a share of more than $320 million in so attentive to housing needs in the state and people to work now in ways that will improve unanticipated excess revenues projected the role that affordable housing investments can our quality of life, help attract new businesses by the Delaware Economic and Finan- play in stimulating the state’s economy.” and preserve some of our state’s great assets for cial Advisory Council to accrue next years.” Along with the Housing Preser- year. The Coalition published its first eco- vation Fund, the Governor’s proposal nomic benefit study, “Meeting Delaware’s would invest: The additional housing funds were Housing Needs: The Economic Impact of the included in a package of initiatives Proposed Five-Year Strategic Housing Plan” proposed by the Governor to invest the in 2004, and the economic analysis has continued on page 4

3 DELAWARE, continued from page 3

• $40 million for a “New Jobs budget as one time expenditures, rather received appropriations from the state’s Infrastructure Fund” designed to attract than added to the state’s operating General Fund as well as dedicated and support business development in budget. revenue from document recording fees. the state; Last year, funding for the state hous- • $40 million to supplement the The other components of the Gover- ing trust fund was sustained through a state’s Transportation Trust Fund to nor’s “Building Delaware’s Future Now” $4.07 million base, and supplemented maintain roads, rail stations, bike paths, jobs plan would (1) reduce the state’s by an appropriation of $4.5 million that and air and waterways; debt and cut income and business taxes was also earmarked for the preservation • $35 million for an “Asset Preserva- targeted to core industries, including of affordable rental housing. tion Fund” to maintain historic proper- small businesses, ﬁ nancial services, ties, state buildings, and cultural institu- and manufacturing, and (2) make new According to the Delaware Hous- tions; and investments to improve the quality ing Coalition, there are almost 28,000 • $10 million for open space preser- of early childhood education and to extremely low-income (ELI) households vation. build residents’ job skills by expanding in Delaware who pay more than 30% of research and job training facilities at the their income for housing, and approxi- Given the volatility of the projected state’s institutions of higher education. mately 25,000 Delaware households are revenues, which are derived largely from “at risk” due to housing cost burdens abandoned property, the Governor’s The Housing Development Fund, or other serious housing problems. spending increases were proposed in a which is the repository for the preserva- Between 2000 and 2008, Delaware lost bond bill to be included in the capital tion funds, was created in 1986 and has 9,460 affordable rental units while it gained 25,150 high-end units.

Contact: Ken Smith, Execu� ve Director, Dela- Anas Gen Addi, Director, Dela- ware Housing Coali� on, PO Box 1633, Dover, ware State Housing Authority, DE 19903 (302-678-2286) dhc@housingforall. addressing the crowd at the org or www.housingforall.org. Delaware Housing Coali� on Day for Housing, May 10, 2011, in Dover, Delaware. DELAWARE HOUSING COALITION DELAWARE

Capital Green, a subsidized rental community near Legisla� ve Hall in Dover, Delaware, was recently renovated with funds from a previous state Bond Bill alloca� on. DELAWARE HOUSING COALITION DELAWARE

4 Florida Housing Advocates Victorious in Lifting Cap on State Housing Trust Fund

FLORIDA HOUSING COALITION or the last ﬁve years, the William FE. Sadowski Coalition’s priority has been to repeal the cap placed on the state and local housing trust funds in Florida put into place in 2007. The Wil- liam E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act was passed in 1992 and dedicates a portion of the documentary stamp tax paid on real estate transactions and directs those resources into Florida’s state and local housing trust funds. Since 2007, after the dedicated revenue reached $243 million, any additional monies were diverted into the general fund.

This year, with the passage of HB639, the campaign to repeal the cap has finally come to a successful conclu- Habitat for Humanity of Florida credits the SHIP program for making sion. As the real estate market recovers, Florida’s Habitat Affiliates the most produc�ve in the na�on, assis�ng the documentary stamp tax collections 11,000 families across Florida. will increase and provide much needed revenue for affordable housing. is a critical need to rehabilitate or sell excess the House was the alternative to the Representative Gary Aubuchon (R) and inventory of unsold homes, including foreclosed Governor’s proposal to permanently Senator Mike Bennett (R) championed homes and newly constructed homes as well as a eliminate the state and local housing the repeal of the cap. The Florida critical need for the rehabilitation and preserva- trust funds and the Senate’s proposal to Housing Coalition and its members tion of older, affordable apartments … and permanently redirect all the dedicated worked tirelessly on this campaign, that there is a critical need to create housing funds to the general fund. including: Habitat for Humanity of related jobs and that these conditions require Florida, the Florida Supportive Housing the targeting of state and local housing trust Affordable housing is an express pur- Coalition, the Florida Coalition for the fund moneys for those purposes.” The “no pose of SEED. As SEED currently Homeless, the Florida Realtors, the Co- new construction” provision expires stands, it is not self implementing, as it alition of Affordable Housing Provid- July 1, 2012. does not prescribe the manner in which ers, the Bankers, and all the individual applications are to be made and does and local organizational members of the The Florida legislature also created the not provide criteria for awarding funds. Florida Nonprofit Housing Advocates Department of Economic Opportunity The concept is that the legislature sees Network. and reorganized state agencies. In addi- a business plan before they create the tion, the State Economic Enhancement administrative system and appropriate The centerpiece of HB639 was the Development trust fund (SEED) was funds. repeal of the cap, but the 32-page bill created and funds from the state and contains a number of other provisions, local housing trust funds are perma- Beginning in July 1, 2012 (FY12-13) including a finding that “due to the current nently redirected to the newly created money that was going into the Hous- economic conditions in the housing market there SEED trust fund. This proposal from continued on page 6 5 , FLORIDA continued from page 5 FLORIDA HOUSING COALITION ing Trust Funds and the Transporta- including the tion Trust Fund flow into SEED: $75 entire Sadowski million each year from Housing and $50 Coalition, that this million (FY12-13), $65 million (FY13- would be the year 14) and $75 million (FY14-15) and to use the housing thereafter from Transportation. trust fund monies for housing—put- Dedicated revenue to the State and ting the out of Local Housing Trust Funds in Florida work contractors must be appropriated. For the last back to work two years, the State Housing Initia- rehabilitating fore- tive Program (SHIP) program has not closed homes and been funded and this will be true for moving existing Associated Industries of Florida being interviewed by reporters a�er FY11-12. Repealing the cap on the inventory to light a Housing Day Rally at the Capitol. Business and industry groups trust funds will not matter to a county fire under the real con�nually stressed the connec�on between housing and jobs. that will soon have to close its housing estate market. development for lack of SHIP funding. For this reason, the Florida Housing The coalition is pleased with its victory strategies for restoring full funding of Coalition urges the Florida Housing in avoiding the redirect of the hous- the state’s model housing programs. Finance Corporation to use other funds ing trust fund revenues, with only $75 to fund SHIP offices in FY11-12 to million permanently redirected from Contact: Jaimie Ross, President of the Board keep them afloat. the state and local housing trust funds of the Florida Housing Coali�on and Afford- beginning in FY12 to the newly created able Housing Director for 1000 Friends of The estimated $194 million available for SEED trust fund. And as the economy Florida, P.O. Box 5948, Tallahassee, FL 32314 appropriation from the state and local recovers, the state and local trust funds (850-222-6277) [email protected] or housing trust fund would have created can anticipate renewed support for their www. flhousing.org. approximately 15,000 jobs and more affordable housing activities. than $1.4 billion in economic activity. The political priority was jobs creation, The September conference of the so it seemed to housing advocates, Florida Housing Coalition will focus on

The bar graph illustrates that over the next eight years, the Housing Trust Funds are projected to receive $2.3 billion in doc stamp monies, more than $392 million of which would otherwise have gone to general revenue if the cap had not been repealed.

6 Louisville Takes Steps Forward with Affordable Housing Trust Fund

ith the strong support of the CLOUT Wcommunity and housing advocates, Louisville, Kentucky Mayor Greg Fischer is making important strides in securing resources for the Louisville Af- fordable Housing Trust Fund. During his ﬁrst year in ofﬁce, Mayor Fischer allocated $100,000 in general fund resources to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in his FY2011-12 budget, and is working with members of the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board to identify and secure a long-term, dedicated revenue source.

“Mayor Fischer has recognized the significance and usefulness of a local Affordable Housing Trust Fund in both providing housing and in At CLOUT’s Nehemiah Ac�on Assembly in April 2011, more than 1,560 members asked creating jobs. He highlighted this first alloca- Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer to commit to priori�ze securing a dedicated ongoing tion under his administration as solidifying his revenue source for the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund. commitment,” acknowledges Cathy Hinko, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition. for a dedicated revenue source for the ties for a dedicated, ongoing revenue Affordable Housing Trust Fund. source, and Advocates worked for several years to (5) Report back on progress to a pass the Louisville Affordable Housing In April 2011, CLOUT invited the CLOUT assembly in October 2011. Trust Fund in 2008 with a $1 million Mayor to its Nehemiah Action As- allocation from the City general fund to sembly, attended by more than 1,560 The Mayor pledged to prioritize secur- seed initial operations. In 2009, the Af- members. Among several issues for ing the dedicated, ongoing revenue fordable Housing Trust Fund ordinance which CLOUT requested support from source, agreed to the strategy meeting was amended enabling the trust fund elected officials, CLOUT asked Mayor within 30 days, and said he would return to become a 501(c)(3). The Louisville Greg Fischer to make five commitments to CLOUT in October. The Mayor said Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board related to the Affordable Housing Trust he could not allocate $500,000 in the is now appointed and they have hired Fund: FY2011-12 budget, but he was commit- a consultant to help develop an imple- (1) Make securing a dedicated, ted in principle to committing local rev- mentation strategy for making the fund ongoing revenue source for the Fund a enue to the Affordable Housing Trust operational and for securing short and top priority the first year of his admin- Fund until a dedicated, ongoing source long term revenue for the fund. istration, is secured. The Mayor did pledge (2) Allocate $500,000 in City general $100,000 for FY2011-12 budget. Long time champions of the housing funds in the FY2011-12 budget, trust fund, CLOUT (Citizens of Lou- (3) Allocate $1 million in City Following the meeting, Mayor Fischer isville Organized and United Together) general funds annually until a dedicated has followed through on his commit- and the Metropolitan Housing Coali- ongoing revenue source is secured, ments. In addition to the $100,000 tion, have been working with the Mayor (4) Meet with leaders from CLOUT general fund budget allocation, in late within 30 days to discuss possibili- and the City Council to make the case continued on page 8

7 LOUISVILLE, continued from page 7

June, the Mayor sat down with leaders from CLOUT and members of the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust To download a Fund Board to discuss viable sources copy of “The State for dedicated revenue, with a pledge of Fair Hous- to continue working with the Board to ing in Louisville: secure a revenue source. Impediments and Improvements,” Though the $100,000 the Mayor allocat- go to: http://www. ed in the FY2011-12 budget is a good metropolitanhous- start, the Mayor is requiring that the ing.org/reports. Board secure a matching $100,000 from cfm?article_id=26 other public, private or philanthropic 5&CFID=1542359 sources before releasing the funds. The &CFTOKEN=207 Board has already begun to identify 99977 some potential resources for the match, with the help of the Mayor’s offi ce. But advocates recognize that even when the match is secured, the growing need for affordable housing in Louisville requires greater resources. comes, incomes, protected class status, 2,000 individual endorsements of the and where people are living. The report Affordable Housing Trust Fund, as well “There is an urgency to take action here. We concludes with a series of recommen- as supporting two rallies and sending have families and single women sleeping in tents dations for increasing housing oppor- more than 1,500 postcards to the Mayor down by the river,” said David Dutschke, tunity, including funding the Affordable and Metro Council. Co-President of CLOUT. “When we Housing Trust Fund through a dedi- started this campaign in 2005, the Housing cated, renewable public source. Now, working with the commitment Authority of Louisville had a waitlist of of Mayor Fischer, the Open the Door 11,000. Here we are six years later, and the With simultaneous short-term and long- Campaign can secure its original vision waitlist has more than doubled to 25,000, term revenue campaigns to manage, of a dedicated public revenue for the which is both staggering and shameful when you members of the Board and its allies are Louisville Affordable Housing Trust think of the human impact and what could looking to reinvigorate the Open the Fund. have been done over those years.” Door Campaign, the effort focused on creating the Affordable Housing Trust “The Affordable Housing Trust Fund we have In addition to the increasing numbers Fund several years ago. The Open in place is a tremendous tool developed out of of people experiencing homelessness, Door Campaign involved several orga- best practices from around the country that the lack of affordable housing in nizations, including: the Coalition for could help people in Louisville fi nd a place to Louisville also limits where people are the Homeless, the Metropolitan Hous- live,” said Dutschke. “But until we put sig- able to live, often resulting in families ing Coalition, CLOUT, Habitat for Hu- nifi cant revenue in the fund, it is a tool sitting living in substandard and unsafe hous- manity of Metro Louisville, Kentuck- on the shelf. The time to prioritize funding for ing. In January 2011, the Metropolitan ians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky housing and secure an ongoing revenue source Housing Coalition released “The State Jobs With Justice, Women in Transition, is now.” of Fair Housing in Louisville: Impediments the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Improvements.” The report outlines and Political Repression, among others. Contact: Rachel Hurst, Consultant to the patterns of housing segregation based Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund Board, 1227 on race, gender, familial status, disability The Open the Door Campaign demon- South Sixth Street, Louisville KY 40203 (270- and national origin. The report also strated signifi cant community support 869-5613) or [email protected]. examines the link between health out- with more than 80 organizational and 8 JUNEAU’S HOUSING CRISIS AFFECTS ALL Juneau Begins Implementation of its

Affordable Housing TrustThree Distinct Fund Affordability Problem Areas in Juneau: he Juneau Affordable Housing To ensure sustainability�� of the Fund un- homeownership housing units were Fund, established in 2010, issued til a dedicated revenue�� source is secured, built during that same period. In 2010, T �� its ﬁ rst request for proposals in April, 65% of the funds will�� be available for one, three and four bedroom rental and is now bolstered by a $90,000 ap- Round One and the majority�� of the homes posted a vacancy rate of zero. propriation which the Alaska legislature awards will be low-interest1. Low loans. Income Five Renters/Homeless. Estimates are that 343 new housing included in its FY12 capital budget. percent of the funds 2.willRenters be available that should units be owners. are needed in Juneau. “The legislative appropriation is a positive sign for zero-interest loans.3. HomeThe maximum owners that are mortgage burdened. that there is a recognition--especially among award available for an individual appli- “Having the JAHF in place is exciting for our our local delegation--that more resources are cant is $150,000. community. We’ve realized two key beneﬁ ts �� needed for affordable housing projects in the thus far; the availability of an additional �� state,” credits Scott Ciambor, Afford- In Round One, the Commission re- ��development resource for housing and--even JUNEAU HOUSING 2011 able Housing Coordinator of the Juneau ceived four�� applications. Three projects more importantly--the establishment of a Economic Development Council. focused on senior-housing and the process that allows ��for the use of local expertise �� other was a permanent supportive hous- and stakeholder feedback on projects�� that will

The City and Borough of Juneau As- ing project for very low-income persons�� compete for state and federal funding,” shares sembly created the fund and appropriat- (50% area median income and below). Scott Ciambor. �� Theed $400,000Cost to be ofused forHousing the creation, The Commission will meet on July�� 28 to �� acquisition, rehabilitation, or preserva- decide which projects to fund. The fi nal A survey of 125 Juneau business leaders Juneau housing costs are anywhere from 35-64 percent �� higher in tionJuneau of thanaffordable in the “average” housing. US Preliminary city, depending step is for the Assembly to approve the asking them which elements are signifi - �� on the comparisonapplications criteria: for the fi rst funding round funding recommendations. cant to operating their businesses, the were due by the end of May 2011. �� high cost of housing, in general, was • In 2008 the median assessed value of an owner-occupied housing unit in Juneau was 53% higher than the nationalThe Juneau Affordable Housing Fund deemed a barrier to 77% of Juneau �� medianThe value purpose and 30%of the higher Fund than is to the address Alaska medianwas created because Juneau does not business leaders. value. �� the shortage of affordable housing in have enough housing to meet the cur- • Housing costs for a family of four with a relatively low standardJuneau of living by providing costs 49% low more and inzero-inter- Juneau thanrent a demand or to support growth. In Contact: Sco� Ciambor, Aff ordable Housing standard U.S. city. �� • est loans to nonprofi t organizations, the last ten years, 25 units of affordable Coordinator, Juneau Economic Development Professional and executive housing is 64% more expensive �� • �� Council, 155 S. Seward Street, Juneau, AK in Juneaupublic than housing the “average” authorities, US city. and profi t- rental or supportive housing have�� been �� 99801 (907-523-2338) or h� p://jedc.org/hous- • The medianmotivated monthly entities Juneau that homeowner can provide cost (for thoseadded to Juneau’s housing stock. ��An- homeownershousing with for households a mortgage) at 120% was $2,039 area in 2008.other 92 single-family affordable ��ing-fund.shtml. Comparatively, these costs are 17% higher than the �� Alaska medianmedian incomeand 35% andhigher below. than the national median. �� The Fund is managed by the City and �� Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Assembly-ap- �� pointedThe Affordable High Price Housing of HousingCommis- �� sion andHurts the CBJJuneau Affordable Businesses Housing Coordinator at the Juneau Economic �� We asked 125 Juneau business leaders Development Council. Each year the to tell us which elements act as Housing�� Costs �� Commissionbarriers or setsbenefits priorities to operating for the use their of businesses.the Fund. Round Two of One the prioritiestop three �� answers included the high price of include: �� local real estate. The high cost of housing • Use of in capitalgeneral to was develop deemed housing a �� units;barrier 78% of Juneau business leaders,• One-bedroom and business rental real units estate for low-costs �� were called a barrier by 71%. income residents; and �� • Long-term affordability (50+ yrs.). �� 1 9 Puerto Rico’s Housing and Human Development Trust Fund Awards $585,000

n 2010, the Puerto Rico Housing and derly people. FIDEVI was created • The Governor of the Common- IHuman Development Fund (Fidei- in 2004 because the gap in the rental wealth of Puerto Rico, comiso de Vivienda y Desarrollo Hu- market was greatest for the very low • President of the Puerto Rico mano de Puerto Rico—FIDEVI), cre- income population and the demand for Mortgage Bankers Associations, ated as a collaborative alliance between rental housing was projected to increase • President of the Puerto Rico Puerto Rico’s banking industry and the to 423,000 in 2010. Bankers Association, homeless population advocacy commu- • Three citizens from the Homeless nity, awarded $585,000 to six organiza- Various local laws were amended to advocacy community, and tions to assist persons most in need of provide the Trust with the capacity to • One public interest citizen. housing. Cossma Inc., Fundacion de issue notes that are tax exempt, with Desarrollo Comunal de Puerto Rico, interest income generated by the notes In addition a Trust Advisory Council Lucha Contra el SIDA Inc., Corpora- excluded from the ordinary income to was created with at least seven members cion Fondita de Jesus, Hogar Crea Inc., the note holders. The Trust has entered to advise the Trustees regarding the and Habitat for Humanity of Puerto into various arbitrage transactions in operational aspects of the Trust. The Rico will help close the housing need which tax exempt notes are sold to buy Council consists of a member appoint- gap by facilitating the development of taxable securities used as collateral and ed by the Governor, a member appoint- housing for the homeless community. source of payment of the notes. The ed by the Secretary of the Department differential between what the note gen- of Housing, a member appointed by The mission of FIDEVI is to combine erates and the securities acquired is used the Puerto Rico Bankers Association, public and private efforts in the consti- to pay for the transaction expenses and a member appointed by the Mortgage tution of a permanent and irrevocable to provide the Trust with an income to Bankers Association, three members fund that will promote and support the be used for its charitable purposes. The representing the homeless advocacy development of affordable and acces- Fund can also receive donations from community, and other members as the sible housing for persons of scarce or private companies as well as state and Trustees may deem advisable. no resources, such as homeless people, federal funds. mental patients, single mothers and el- Requests for proposals are issued once The program offers financial support a year. Organizations go through a of up to $100,000 to nonprofit and qualifying process. In 2010, seventeen nongovernmental organizations from organizations were pre-qualified and the local homeless advocacy community invited to submit a proposal from 72 to develop housing projects. The Fund nonprofit/nongovernmental organiza- targets homeless, seniors, women with tions answering the announcement. children and families with extremely Fourteen organizations submitted ap- low incomes and supports transitory plications of which six were approved or permanent housing. The Fund also for funding in 2010. The investment of promotes rehabilitation or new con- $585,000 in 2010 will support six devel-

CORPORACION DE LA FONDITA DE JESUS DE LA FONDITA CORPORACION struction of housing and emphasizes opments providing 127 housing units. that housing has living assistance and/ or other special services support. Contact: José A. Rivera Reyes, Execu- �ve Director, FIDEVI, Ponce de Leon Ave # Because of its public/private origins, 208, Suite 1014, San Juan, PR 00918-1002. FIDEVI is established as a nonproﬁt ﬁ[email protected]. with a Board of Trustees comprised of Corporacion Fondita de Jesus is one recipi- ent of an award. Puerta Al Cambio, shown several members, representing: here, facilitates the reintegra�on of par�cipants into the community. 10 New Release! Report on Providing Housing for Extremely Low Income Persons

he Housing Trust Fund Project has just released “Model TApproaches to Providing Homes for Extremely Low Income Households” -- a report proﬁling the experiences of ﬁve State and three Local Housing Trust Funds. The report is intended to document programs and strategies that have been tried and proven effective to help advance the conversation on best approaches to providing homes for extremely low income (ELI) households in anticipation of securing funding for the National Housing Trust Fund.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s draft regulations to implement the National Housing Trust Fund propose that all funding within the ﬁrst year of implementation be used to serve ELI households. Though the overwhelming need for ELI units is clear, developing housing for ELI households presents particular challenges that deserve examination.

Model Approaches to Providing Homes for Extremely Low Income Households outlines three approaches:

• Cross-Subsidization between higher and lower income housing, • Supporting on-going operating and maintenance costs, and • Providing project or tenant-based rental assistance. To download the report, go to: The report proﬁles programs in http://www.communitychange. org/our-projects/htf/other- • Chicago, Illinois, media/Models-for-Providing- • Louisiana, ELI-Housing-HTFProject.pdf • New Jersey, • North Carolina, • Ohio, • Oregon, • Portland, Oregon, • Seattle, Washington, • Washington, and • Washington DC. T he Housing Trust Fund Project would like to acknowledg e the g enerosity of the ag encies and org anizations whose staff par ticipated in inter views and provided backg round infor mation. Model Appr oaches to Pr oviding Homes for Extr emel y Low Income Households was made possible with suppor t from the Oak Foundation and the Butler Family Fund. 11 Campaign for Community Change Launches Change Nation

he Campaign for Community Change is building a new action network for people who care Tabout ﬁxing America’s broken economy called Change Nation. The intention is to create and develop new organizing tools that empower people to join together to work for an America where everyone has a chance to thrive.

The Campaign for Community Change is the action arm of the Center for Community Change. The Campaign seeks to educate and empower marginalized communities to inﬂuence the public policies that affect their lives; increase their ongoing civic participation; and help them build the political will for reform.

On the weekend of July 16, Change Nation kicked off its ﬁrst major initiative, joining with MoveOn.Org, Change to Win, USAction, DEMOS and 50 other progressive groups as part of the ReBuild the Dream campaign. People opened up their homes to host more than 1,500 house meetings across the nation to discuss and generate ideas for rebuilding the American dream.

To learn more about Change Nation and how to get involved, go to: http://joinchangenation.org/