Federal News

RNC and DNC Platforms Address Housing

The Republican and Democratic National Conventions formally adopted policy platforms at their conventions. The Republican platform calls on the federal government to scale back its involvement in the housing finance system, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration. And, it calls for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be abolished. Like the House Republican’s anti-poverty plan, the party platform focuses on what Republican see as the failures of the War on Poverty. The Republican platform also criticizes federal fair housing and fair lending laws, stating that the party will “end the government’s use of disparate impact theory in enforcing anti-discrimination laws with regard to lending.”

The Democratic platform calls on the federal government to expand the supply of affordable housing by substantially increasing funding for the National Housing Trust  Fund; increasing funding for the housing choice voucher program and other rental assistance programs; and providing robust funding to end homelessness. It also calls for increasing support for first-time home buyers; expanding access to housing counseling; defending  and strengthening  the  Fair Housing  Act; and defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) offered affordable housing and community development policy recommendations to each major party's platform committee. NACEDA is an active member of this coalition of 70 housing, homeless and community development organizations working together to get the highest possible funding for these programs. Read the letter to the RNC and the letter to the DNC. ADD LINKS TO LETTERS. CHCDF also sent a letter to Senator Paul Ryan (R-WI) to respond to the GOP's recently released plan to address poverty.

100 Days, 1 Million Messages To Congress -- Campaign Kicks Off Monday

The Make Room Campaign and the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding joined forces to launch a campaign to get 1 million messages to Congress before the November elections about the need to make affordable housing a top priority. Register for the kickoff webinar Monday, August 1 at 4:00 pm Eastern Time to find out how you can make some noise and some change. The Make Room Campaign launched a new interactive advocacy platform to make it easy and fun for organizations and individuals to send direct messages to members of Congress.

FY17 Appropriations Stalled in Congress

The House and Senate have not agreed on any appropriations bills for FY17 and will be out of session until Labor Day. In September, Congress is expected to pass a continuing resolution or omnibus funding bill to keep the government running after FY16 ends on September 30.

Congress Approves Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act

The President is expected to sign H.R. 3700, which provides the first comprehensive update to the nation’s low-income housing programs in 18 years, will improve federal rental assistance programs while retaining the core characteristics that make them effective — such as income-based rents that ensure that even very poor families can keep a roof over their heads and rules targeting most assistance on the neediest families. Read the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' analysis. An exceptionally broad range of housing groups supported the legislation.

Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act Introduced

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2016 (S. 3237) cosponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. The Act builds on Housing Credit legislation that Senators Cantwell and Hatch introduced this spring (S. 2962) by adding provisions to make the program more streamlined and flexible.

NACEDA News

Keynote Speakers Announced for Symposium to Advance Community Development & Health Partnerships

Dr. Doug Jutte and Dr. Kevin Barnett will keynote Community Development & the Social Determinants of Health Symposium on August 30 in Cleveland. The symposium brings together healthcare, public health, and community development leaders to advance partnerships that improve health outcomes.

Doug Jutte is Executive Director of the Build Healthy Places Network, a national organization that catalyzes and supports collaboration across the community development and health sectors. A pediatrician, professor and population health researcher, Doug's research focuses on the impact of the social determinants of health on children’s well-being through their lifespan and the policy levers and financial tools that can intervene to protect families and communities.

Kevin Bartnett is a Senior Investigator at the Public Health Institute, with over two decades of experience in research on hospital community benefit practices and health workforce diversity. A major focus of his work last five years has been on the integration of community benefit as an engine for health care transformation -- and strategies to align the health and community development sectors.

The symposium is part of the NACEDA Summit, which is sponsored by the New Venture Fund with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and LISC. Discounted room are available through August 7 at the Wyndham Cleveland Playhouse Square.

Frank Woodruff Selected for NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program

The NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program is an 18-month program that equips executives with the skills to advance their organizations’ performance. Achieving Excellence includes three formal sessions at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, as well as executive coaching, intensive peer learning and guidance from author and consultant Douglas K. Smith. Each participant sets a goal for their participation in the program, which is sponsored by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and the Ford Foundation. "My goal through the Achieving Excellence will be to lead NACEDA and its partners through an increasingly difficult public policy environment for low-income communities. It will be a challenge both personally and organizationally," Frank said.

Member News

Seattle Area Invests $87 Million in Housing Near Transit

More than 1,000 affordable homes will be created over the next five years around Sound Transit and King County Metro transit stations in Seattle, Washington, one of the hottest housing markets in the nation. Up to $87 million from the sale of bonds will be backed by future lodging tax revenues. The Housing Development Consortium Seattle-King County conducted a major advocacy campaign, gaining over 55 endorsements from the business, local government, faith, environmental, social justice, and housing and human services communities. “This is an incredibly robust and intentional plan,” said Kelly Rider of the Housing Development Consortium. “By providing affordable homes near transit, this Plan will cut household expenses for low-income people, reduce traffic congestion, and ensure families can spend more time together rather than stuck in traffic.” Learn more.

Partner News

NLIHC Documents Severe Housing Shortfall for Extremely Low-income Renters

The Gap, issued by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, reports a shortage of 7.2 million affordable and available rental units for households with income at or below 30% of their area median. Three-quarters of extremely low-income renters are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half their income on rent and utilities. Data is provided at the national, state, and metropolitan area levels.

Nominate Rural Housing Leaders for HAC Awards

Nominations are due September 30 for national rural housing service and local community service awards. Complete the online nomination form.

Funding Opportunities

Go to our website for current grant opportunities. The're updated throughout the month.