News from Naceda
National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations November 30, 2016

Federal News

Ben Carson Reported to Accept HUD Secretary Nomination

Presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Ben Carson is reported to have accepted the nomination for HUD Secretary. Little is know about Carson's position on housing and community development since he has no experience in the field. Carson published a Washington Times editorial titled Experimenting with failed socialism again that attacks Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, describing it as a "new rule" although it has been around since 1968. In The New York Times, Emily Badger discusses How Ben Carson at Housing Could Undo a Desegregation Effort.

Treasury, HHS, and More Cabinet Nominees Announced

President-elect Trump will name longtime banker and former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin to Treasury Secretary. Mnuchin was involved deeply in developing the president-elect's tax proposals, which could cut $6 trillion in taxes over 10 years. His involvement in OneWest Bank following the 2008 housing market crash could complicate his confirmation.  In 2009, Mnuchin put together a group of billionaire investors that bought failed California-based bank IndyMac, a big mortgage lender. Mnuchin became chairman and CEO of the bank, renamed OneWest Bank, whichdeveloped a reputation during the recession for being quick to foreclose on delinquent homeowners, closing on more than 36,000 households under Mnuchin, according to the California Reinvestment Coalition 

President-elect Trump will nominate U.S. Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Rep. Price has been a leading opponent of the Affordable Care Act and has offered a replacement plan in every session of Congress since 2009.

Read the New York Times guide to Cabinet nominees.

Congress Expected to Delay FY 2017 Budget Deal Until After Trump Takes Office

House Republicans are expected to use a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through March 17 rather than negotiating a final FY 2017 budget deal before the current CR expires on December 9. This strategy would enable Republicans to negotiate the final FY 2017 budget deal with President-Elect Trump instead of President Obama. The spending bills are likely to be negotiated under lower budgetary caps and are more likely to contain controversial policy “riders.” Trump has proposed cutting total funding for non-defense programs funded through the annual appropriations process by 1 percent per year. 

Sign On to Support the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

A sign-on letter by the ACTION Campaign calls on the Trump Administration and Congress to prioritize the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) as they consider reforms to the nation’s tax code and investments in infrastructure. Specifically, the letter urges the Administration and Congress to: ensure that the Housing Credit and Housing Bonds remain viable under tax reform by holding them up as positive examples of the power of the tax code to improve communities; and expand and strengthen the Housing Credit to increase the availability of safe and affordable housing and revitalize local economies. Sign on to support the Housing Credit by Friday, December 2.

Fair Housing Act Guidance about Land Use Laws Updated

HUD and the Department of Justice released a Joint Statement updating guidance about how the federal Fair Housing Act applies to state and local land use and zoning laws. The guidance is designed to help state and local governments better understand how to comply with the Fair Housing Act, as well as to help the public understand their rights.

 

NACEDA News

Major Discount on NDC Housing Development Finance Certification Series

Members of community development associations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, DC Metro Area, and Philadelphia can take the full, 17-day NDC Housing Development Finance certification series at a highly discounted rate: $250/course for nonprofits; $750/course for for-profits. These courses usually each cost $885-$1375. Discounted rates are made possible thanks to the generous support of BB&T. The next course HD420 Rental Housing Development Finance will be held December 5-19 in Philadelphia, PA. HD420 is a prerequisite for two of the other courses in the certification series. Learn more about the series of four professional certification courses presented by NDC, the per-eminent national provider of rental and home ownership finance training. Discounted rates can only be used for new registrations; discount cannot be applied to past or existing registrations.

Plan Attend the People & Places Conference May 31-June 2

Grow your access to a network of people who make places better! Attend the nation's most diverse and inclusive community development conference on May 31-June 2 in the Washington, DC area brought to you by NALCAB, the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA), the National Urban League, and the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD). The conference will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, located minutes from downtown Washington, DC. Mark your calendar. 

JPMorgan Chase and NACEDA Explain the Importance of Investing in Associations

JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s Naomi Camper and NACEDA's Frank Woodruff co-authored a blog titled Smart Money: Investing in Infrastructure about the unique role networks play in building the capability of community organizations.

 

Member News

Affordable Housing Ballot Measures Succeed Locally

NACEDA members in California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington, and Maryland organized and advocated for these successful local ballot measures to address homelessness and expand the supply of affordable rental housing: 

Proposition HHH in Los Angeles, CA: Authorizes a $1.2 billion general obligation bond to finance the creation of 10,000 units of permanent supportive housing for the homeless, as well as emergency shelters and affordable housing for very low-income households.
Measure A in Santa Clara County, CA: Authorizes a $950 million general obligation bond to finance affordable housing programs in the county. 
Measure KK in Oakland, CA: Authorizes a $600 million general obligation bond to finance infrastructure improvements and affordable housing programs in the city. Measure A1 in Alameda County, CA: Authorizes a $580 million general obligation bond to finance affordable housing programs across the county (which includes Oakland). 
Measure 26-179 in Portland, OR: Authorizes a $258 million general obligation bond to finance affordable housing programs in the city. 
Measure K in San Mateo County, CA: Extends the county’s current half-cent sales tax for an additional 20 years to fund a number of public services, including affordable housing programs (generates about $85 million annually). 
Community Preservation Act in 11 MA cities and towns: Establish dedicated funds for housing, open space, or historic preservation through small tax increases.
Proposition 1 in Vancouver, WA: Authorizes a property tax levy that would generate up to $6 million annually for affordable housing programs in the city. 
Question J in Baltimore, MD: Creates a citywide fund dedicated to affordable housing programs, but does not specify the size of the fund or a permanent source of funding. 
Measure JJ in Oakland, CA: Establishes a number of renter protections in the city, such as requiring landlords to petition to raise rents above inflation, expanding the coverage of just cause eviction protections and strengthening the accountability and transparency of the local rent board. 

 

 

Lisa Hershey Named Executive Director of Housing California

Lisa Hershey has extensive background in managing complex multi-sector initiatives leading to statewide policy change in both the housing and public health fields. She served as Housing California’s Sustainable Communities Coordinator before taking the role of Acting Executive Director in January 2014. Before joining Housing California, Lisa spent 21 years in public sector roles, which included managing department-wide equity and place-based initiatives and advising the director on Policy and Programs at the California Department of Public Health. She was Program Director for the Public Health Institute's California Convergence Coordinating Office.

Denise Hamet to Lead CDC Association of Greater Cincinnati 

Denise Hamet brings 25 years of private and public experience encompassing economic development, real estate development, banking, community planning, and financial analysis. She served as Economic Development Director of the City of Middletown and president of Commercial Real Estate Women. During her seven years with Middletown, she facilitated approximately $1.25 billion of office and industrial investment and nearly $50 million in investment from medical providers, educational and arts institutions. 

Indiana Association Announces New Brand: "Prosperity Indiana"

The Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED) revealed its new brand at their Prosperity Indiana Summit and 30th Anniversary Celebration on November 16. The new brand, Prosperity Indiana, better embodies the comprehensive work IACED delivers to strengthen Indiana communities. The rebranding was supported in part by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. PNC Bank also supported the re-branding effort. IACED Executive Director Andy Fraizer said, “For 30 years, IACED’s work has meant focusing on the key assets of local people mobilizing collective action to advance local places and our state. The new brand embodies a more authentic and approachable way to convey our vision and work." PNC Bank, an IACED member and funder lent support in the re-branding effort."

 

 

Member Events

Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
Annual Meeting: Working Toward Racial and Income Equality
December 2nd, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM | College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA

Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
2016 Annual Meeting & Conference
December 2 | Worcester, MD 

East Bay Housing Association
2016 Membership Meeting & Celebration
November 2 | Oakland, CA 

 

Partner News

Submit Your Affordable Housing Success Story to Share with Congress

The Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding is preparing a national report on the broad, positive impacts created by HUD and USDA's affordable housing programs to share with Members of Congress. NACEDA is an active member of the coalition, which plans to feature a wide range of success stories demonstrating how these programs have helped low income families living in rural, suburban, and urban communities nationwide. The report is slated for publication in early 2017. We encourage state and local organizations, as well as individuals, to submit one success story to be included in this publication. Your story is particularly important if you are represented by a Member of Congress on this target list and if it shows how housing and community development have a positive economic impact. Submit a success story by December 15.

Report Highlights Local Strategies to Preserve Affordability

New York University’s Furman Center released Gentrification Response: A Survey of Strategies to Maintain Neighborhood Economic Diversity that reviews local strategies to preserve affordable housing, protect tenants, and maintain diversity in the face of rising rents in gentrifying areas. The report describes the strategic use of city-owned land and other city resources for creating and preserving affordable housing, tenant-landlord regulations and movers’ assistance to protect lower-income tenants, and inclusionary zoning and linkage fees to harness market forces to benefit affordable housing. 

 

Partner Events

Community Catalyst 
Aging in Place Webinar: Integrating Health and Housing for Low-Income and Chronically Ill Seniors
December 1, 1:00-2:30 pm | Webinar

Housing Assistance Council
Rural Housing Conference

November 29-December 2 | Washington, DC

Local Government Commission
New Partners for Smart Growth Conference

February 2-4 | St. Louis, MO

National Community Reinvestment Coalition
Creating a Just Economy

March 28-30 | Washington, DC

NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks Training Institute

December 12-16 | Washington, DC

National Housing Conference
National Housing Policy Convening

December 14 | Washington, DC

National Low Income Housing Coalition
Housing Policy Forum and Leadership Awards Reception

April 2-4 | Washington, DC

 

Job Postings

Executive Director
Housing Alliance of Delaware - Wilmington, DE

Executive Director
Charter Oaks Communities – Stamford, CT

Executive Director 
New Kensington CDC - Philadelphia, PA

To post a job opportunity, contact Suzanne Gunther. A $25 donation is suggested.

 

Funding Opportunities

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