The Latest News
January 2018
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President's Message
Happy New Year!

The affordable housing industry took it in the chin in 2017. The 2018 budget requested by HUD from Congress was $6billion lower than last year. The tax-cut bill nearly wiped out tax-exempt bonds and tax credits. The country continued the pre-occupation with tweets and conjecture, diminishing the importance of our work and mostly ignoring the serious homelessness crisis. Rents continued to climb all year and construction cost increased at an alarming rate. Good riddance.

Now that it is 2018, we must pick ourselves up and plan for a better year with resolve and hopefulness. We, in the public sector, accept our responsibility and duty to address homelessness and creating a better foothold for economically struggling individuals and families. My goal in 2018 is advocating "better" and working "closer" with nonprofits, neighborhood groups, social services, and conscientious private sector partners. We have our work cut out for us.

For Christmas, at the request of his nine-year-old daughter, one of my employees went to the store and bought what his daughter thought was important for people in homeless encampments to have. They handed out the goodies and planned to do it again throughout the year. What this little girl wanted is a lesson for all of us. Refrain from getting upset with someone in need. Channel your energy on systematic changes needed to help them escape their situation.

I am looking for guest writers for future newsletters. Call me.

Now to our PNRC work. 

The Annual PNRC Conference will be held on May 7th and 8th. Registration will go live on January 15, 2018. Visit the conference webpage here.

The conference planning committee is hard at work and have developed six tracks including Finance, Innovations, Maintenance, Management & Leadership, Resident Services and Section 8 & Public Housing.  Each track will have at least three sessions and up to five sessions. Read more about the conference below. 

NAHRO's Housing America Task Force will again host the What Home Means to Me Poster Contest. The deadline to submit to the region will be April 1st. Please encourage your staff to organize events for kids to participate. Additional information is found here

PNRC President and  Deputy Executive Director, Vancouver Housing Authority
2018 PNRC-NAHRO Annual Conference


Join us May 6-8, 2018 at the brand new Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle's Southport in Renton, WA. The conference planning committee has been working tirelessly to have as many details of the conference confirmed before we open up registration.  

Click here for details and to register.  Registration will open on January 15, 2018 at 8 a.m. We are proud to announce that due to our tremendous support from our Exhibitors and Sponsors, we are able to keep our conference registration fees low!  Only $260/member, $360/non-member gives you almost 30 breakout sessions, amazing keynote speakers, exhibit hall full of industry focused organizations, networking with your colleagues in the region, two breakfasts, two lunches, snack breaks and an evening reception (with amazing views of Lake Washington).

We are excited to announce our Keynote Speakers for 2018 will be Dr. Tiffany Manuel, Vice President - Knowledge, Impact & Strategy at Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. and Sasha Abramsky, Freelance Journalist and Author.  In addition to our keynote speakers, our general sessions will include Adrianne Todman, NAHRO CEO, Carl Richie, NAHRO President and Tess Hembree, NAHRO Congressional Relations.

Some sessions are still in the planning stages, but the sessions that are confirmed are listed below. Please keep in mind that sometimes sessions change or are cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. 
We will do the best we can to alert you of these changes before any cancellation deadlines. 
  • Finance
    • Impact of Tax Reform on New & Existing LIHTC Projects
    • Panel Discussion: Effects of the 2017 Tax Reform Bill on Development and Preservation of Affordable Housing
    • HUD REAC Presents PIC-NG and UPCS-V
    • Two additional sessions are being planned but are not confirmed at this time
Post conference there will also be the Casterline Financial Update (May 9-10).  Details will be available on the registration page.
  • Innovations
    • Behavioral Science and Landlord Engagement: An introduction and the Future of Partnerships
    • Development of Project Deliverables Utilizing Project Management Best Practices with HUD Projects
    • How Tacoma Housing Authority is Changing the Game in Public Housing & Homelessness
    • Tiny Homes/Accessory Dwelling Units/Micro-Units
       
  • Maintenance
    • Customer Service - Getting Beyond the Cliches
    • Get SMART - Developing and Implementing a First-Class Training Program
    • Innovating from Within
    • Keeping up the Energy: Working with Long-Term Staff
    • Preparing for the Marathon: Motivating Staff for the Long Run
       
  • Management & Leadership
    • Managing in Tough Budget Times
    • Relocation - What you Don't Know Will Hurt You
    • The Benefits of Benchmarking for Sustainability
    • When Disaster Strikes: Emergency Response and Recovery Operations
    • Washington DC Update
       
  • Resident Services
    • FSS and Education....for the WHOLE Family
    • Project90 - a Self Sufficiency Case Management Model
    • The Evolution of AHFC's Bridging Hardship Process - Balancing Support in a Crisis with the Promotion of Economic Independence
    • Understand Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their Affects
       
  • Section 8 and Public Housing
    • HOTMA Implementation
    • HUD's HCV 2 Year Tool
    • LEAN Processing
    • MTW Expansion and Application Process
    • Section 8: Landlord Outreach Efforts and Low Vacancy Rates 
NEW THIS YEAR!
We are excited to announce that this year we will have a PNRC Conference APP.  You will be able to download the app onto your phone and access all of the conference information including schedules, session titles and descriptions, speakers bios and handouts, maps of the venue, general information, frequently asked questions, sponsor and exhibitor information, attendee rosters (great for networking) and more.  Attendees will also be able to upload pictures throughout the conference and complete session feedback surveys.  This APP will not only save us money on printing conference programs, it will also make it easier for you to access information and we can update and change things in real-time.  We will have a limited number of printed schedules available on-site for those who do not want to use the APP.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!
The conference planning committee is considering adding a Housing & Community Development tour of local agencies properties.  This tour would have an additional fee on top of the regular conference fee, at this point we are thinking it will probably be about $25 per person and will only be available to those that register.  Please click here to complete a survey to let us know if you would want to participate in the tour.

 Regional News

KCHA purchases Ballinger Commons Apartments in Shoreline
 
In December 2017, the King County Housing Authority purchased the Ballinger Commons Apartments to preserve the affordability of the 485-unit apartment community in Shoreline, a county submarket experiencing rapidly escalating rents.  At $133 million, it is the housing authority's largest property acquisition ever.
 
More important than the size of the transaction is the irreplaceable nature of the development. The community is well-sited in a high-opportunity neighborhood with excellent schools. It is within a quarter of a mile of the Aurora Village Transit Center and close to the new light rail stop planned for 185th Street.
 
Rents were projected to rise $150 - $300 per month if a private real estate firm had purchased the property.

It would be impossible to construct this many new units of quality housing in such a prime location for the price we paid to acquire it. We plan to increase the number of subsidized households living in the community.
 
The complex, located at 2405 North 202nd Place, in Shoreline, consists of 185 one-bedroom, 252 two-bedroom, and 48 three-bedroom homes. It sits on an attractive 72.5-acre parcel of land. Amenities include two community buildings, a fitness center, a playground, and walking and jogging paths. There is also an access point to a public trail on the western edge of the property.
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Greetings from the Housing Authority of Washington County

2017 was a busy year for our department. We are wrapping up the construction of Sunset View Apartments in Beaverton, a 236 unit property comprised on 1,2 & 3 bedroom units. This property is 100% income restricted at 60% AMI. This has been our first partnering experience with a for-profit developer (Pedcor) and it has proven to be an excellent opportunity to provide affordable housing with a quality product.
 
We have two projects in development stages with our partner, DBG, Inc. including the Fields (264 units) in Tigard and Willow Creek Crossing (120 units) in Hillsboro. In 2018 we will complete Clover Court a 6 unit property with partner Luke-Dorf. This 6 unit property will be 100% Shelter+Care and PBV's. It is designated for mentally challenged clients. Pomeroy Place is opening within the next few days. This 20 unit property is a combination of PBV and VASH with a preference for veterans and their families. It was developed by NW Housing Alternatives. The property was named in honor of Retired Army Colonel Betty Pomeroy.
 
The New Year will also begin February 5th with a new Executive Director (Jill Smith) joining the agency after Val Valfre's retirement. You have probably already met Jill as she has been involved on the PNRC Executive Board for many years. Welcome Jill!

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Please use MAX and light rail because parking is very limited near the site though there is a small "Star Park" with metered parking under the hotel at the corner of NE Holladay and NE MLK
(one block from the event site).
This is an active construction site so please consider wearing appropriate footwear! 
NAHRO News
Deadline has been extended to January 26, 2018
for the  NAHRO Awards of Merit in Housing and Community Development

The NAHRO Agency Awards Program was created to give national recognition to the achievement and innovation of NAHRO agency/organizational members throughout the country; to provide additional opportunities to inform the public of the best in housing and community development; and to create a resource bank of information on significant, innovative activities performed by housing and redevelopment agencies and community development departments.  Since 1989, NAHRO has honored more than 6,000 programs.

The Agency Awards Program is a two-tiered program consisting of the Awards of Merit and the Awards of Excellence.  The first tier of the program, the Awards of Merit, are submitted to National NAHRO and sent to Regional Juries for review.  The second tier of the program, the Awards of Excellence, are selected from the Award of Merit winners nominated for an Award of Excellence by the Regional Juries.  They are sent to National Juries who may select up to 24 Awards of Excellence in a given year.

The Awards Application consists of two main parts.  A Program Summary that describes the program in 100 words or less and a Program Narrative that creates an overview of the program that addresses a set list of questions/topics in 2,400 words or less.  For more information, please review the 2018 Awards Flyer.

 
 For more information, visit the Awards page on the PNRC Website or the NAHRO website
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Tax Credits 101
The Beginner's Guide to LIHTC as a Financing Tool
A NAHRO Professional Development e-Learning
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
1:30 - 4:00 pm EST

Through our partnership with Enterprise Community Partners, NAHRO Professional Development is pleased to offer this new e-Learning on the basics of using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit as a financing tool. This live, instructor-led online seminar is aimed at small- and medium-sized PHAs but will be of benefit to any agency that has been unable to devote resources to expanding its capacity in this important area. Individual registration is required, and all participants earn 0.25 CEUs that can be applied toward  NAHRO Certification  and recertification requirements.



HQS Refresher
A NAHRO Professional Development e-Learning
Wednesday and Thursday, January 24-25, 2018
1:30 - 4:00 pm EST

Don't miss this online refresher course for conducting Housing Quality Inspections. Learning is interactive with discussion and exercises designed to address and answer participants' questions. This e-Learning seminar (0.5 CEUs) is a must for those with five or more years of experience who are considering obtaining NAHRO's Certified Specialist of Inspection - Housing Quality Standards (CSI-HQS), as well as for those who require CEUs to maintain an existing certification. NAHRO Faculty Member Richard Wankel will cover essential topics, including:
  • Updated requirements for HQS electrical changes;
  • Lead-based paint requirements;
  • Changes resulting from recent OIG recommendations or QC Inspections;
  • Potential strategies for reducing inspection costs;
  • Rent Reasonableness changes linked to Inspectors' Field Observations; and
  • Updated photos of conditions that an Inspector may observe, and how to rate the condition
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Looking for a new job or just want to see what's out there?

Deputy Executive Director for Administration  
The King County Housing Authority (KCHA) is conducting a national search for a talented and dedicated professional to serve as its next Deputy Executive Director for Administration. The selected candidate will join the executive team of an industry leader, known for its innovative approach and successes in providing affordable housing solutions on a regional scale. The Authority has an inventory of over 10,000 units, provides rental assistance to another 9,000 households and has an asset base of over $1 billion.
 
Serving as a key member of the executive team, the Deputy Executive Director for Administration has broad oversight on Authority operations and a tremendous opportunity to help shape the future of one of the most innovative and progressive housing authorities in the nation.
 
Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities that would ordinarily be gained through extensive breadth and depth of experience in leadership and management is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the qualifications and competencies is: A Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or a closely related field. A Master's degree is preferred. A minimum of ten years of experience in accounting, finance, housing operations, human resources, or information technology. Five or more years of supervisory experience is required.
 
The annual salary range for this at-will, exempt position is $133,003 to $193,852. KCHA offers an outstanding benefits package including Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).
 
Interested candidates should apply by January 22, 2018. Electronic submittals are strongly preferred to apply@ralphandersen.com and should include a compelling cover letter, a comprehensive resume, and five professional references. Confidential inquiries welcomed to Greg Nelson at (916) 630-4900. Recruitment brochure available at raa.careers/kcha-ded.  

To see other jobs, click on the PNRC Job Openings Page.

If you have position to be posted, please send it to Kristen Damazio,
Regional Service Officer at kdamazio@nahro.org
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