Message from President Marsha Parham
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Spring Time Means It’s Conference Time!
It was an honor and privilege to participate in the Delaware Annual Conference at the University of Delaware’s Virden Center. The theme of the conference was “Reimagining Affordable Communities”. The conference focused on Redevelopment Initiatives, Innovative Solutions, Design, and Transformation of existing Public Housing units and communities. Great Job Delaware!
My next stop was the Maryland Annual Conference held in Ocean City, Maryland. The theme for Maryland was “Community Connected Housing”. Their conference focused on Conflict Management for Property Managers, Hoarding Intervention Strategies, Intersection between Housing and Health, Navigating 9% and 4% Low Income Tax Credits, and Recognizing and Accommodating Individuals with Behavioral Health Disorders. There was a significant HUD presence during the conference. Not only did they kick off the event; they stayed to host and participate in sessions. Go Maryland!
Unfortunately I was unable to make a stop at the New Jersey Annual Conference and Trade Show held in Atlantic City, New Jersey on May 21
st
thru May 23, 2018. The conference included work sessions on Risk Management, Maintenance, Finance, and HUD related topics.
It is wonderful to see the support each conference receives from their vendors and sponsors. Their support allows us to continue to provide these events to our membership. Visit each chapter website to get a recap of their events.
See you in HERSHEY!
Regards,
Marsha J. Parham
President
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The NAHRO Executive Management & Leadership Seminar
will be available at the Joint Spring Conference
NAHRO Executive Management & Leadership Seminar includes two-day NAHRO seminar registration, all course materials both hard copy and electronic, as well as admission to all Annual Spring Conference & Expo events, refreshment breaks, Lunch with Exhibitors, Country BBQ, evening hospitality and networking events, and all other conference materials.
NAHRO Training & Materials Fee: $400 (includes both hard copy and electronic)
50% Discount Conference Registration Fee: $150
*Total Cost for Both Seminar & Conference Combined $550
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PHA and Building Trade Unions Agree
to Reduce Construction Costs
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Agreement will also bring more women and minorities into the workforce
The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) and the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) today signed an agreement that will lead to lower costs on large-scale PHA construction projects and greater inclusion of women and minorities at those worksites.
“The signing of this agreement marks more than two years of efforts to reduce the labor costs of building homes for our city’s low-income seniors, disabled, veterans and families,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “John J. Dougherty, Sam Staten and the rest of the Building Trades' leadership recognizes the tremendous need for affordable housing in Philadelphia, and acknowledges that by lowering construction costs we can produce more of these homes.”
In addition to cost savings, the agreement – which affects projects of $3 million or more — also mandates that PHA residents make up at least 25 percent of the workforce. PHA’s apprenticeship program has produced hundreds of graduates who have earned their Building Trades cards and are available to fill these slots.
“This project labor agreement (PLA) provides efficiency, structure and stability to PHA’s large-scale construction projects. Our members are gratified to help provide more housing to the city’s lower-income citizens and add to the diversity of craftsmen at these worksites,” said BCTC Business Manager John J. Dougherty. “This will certainly help increase opportunities for minorities and women to have successful careers in the Building Trades.”
Under the PLA, project-specific adjustments can be made to existing collective bargaining agreements related to conditions of employment such as length of the work day and work week. For example, a contractor could use a four-day, ten-hours-per-day work week rather than a traditional five-day, eight-hours-per-day schedule. Similarly, if severe weather causes a nonwork day the contractor may schedule a Saturday make-up day. The agreement also prohibits strikes, work slow-downs, sick-outs or other disruptive activity as well as lock-outs by the contractor.
“This agreement is intended to encourage close cooperation between management and labor, which I have already felt throughout this deal’s negotiation process,” Jeremiah said.
Another part of the agreement requires contractors to sign a PLA with the unions and abide by all provisions, including a minimum of 20 percent minority and women-owned business participation.
Now that the PHA Board of Commissioners has approved the agreement, it must receive final approval from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.
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Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County Celebrates the Grand Opening
of Heritage Overlook
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The Housing Commission and its developer partner Pennrose Properties were excited to complete the final phase of the Burwood Gardens re-development project. Heritage Overlook is the second of two phases of the plan which commenced in 2009 via the HUD Demolition/Disposition Program. The project included demolition of 200 units of elderly/disabled apartments and the re-construction of a 100 unit, 5 story elderly community, Heritage Crest.
This final phase, 50 units for persons with disabilities and 50 units for families with children was robust challenge that created new affordable family housing; a rarity recently in Anne Arundel County. This community, Heritage Overlook, sits adjacent to the first phase and contains a Resident Center and a Boys and Girls Club. This community began leasing in late February and is nearly 100% occupied already.
The Housing Commission co-developed the sites and will now serve as developer for the remaining 6 public housing communities as they convert via the Rental Assistance Demonstration Project in 2018 and 2019. The new development company, Housing Enterprises of Anne Arundel County, has just recently closed the first RAD deal on Freetown Village.
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Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County Closes First RAD Deal!
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Freetown Village to Acquire Huge Makeover
and Receive 36 New Apartments
The Housing Commission closed its first Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) deal for Freetown Village in Pasadena, Maryland on May 31, 2018. The commission's development company, Housing Enterprises of Anne Arundel County, completed the three-year project with an array of partners including Housing Authority Insurance Group, Baker Tilly, National Affordable Housing Trust, Zavos Architects, CPJ Engineering, Whiting Turner, RBC Investments, Arundel Community Development Services, Reno Cavanaugh and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
The $42MM project includes the complete renovation of the interior of 154 apartments and townhouses (while the residents are in place), exterior upgrades to facades, windows and entrances; upgrades to the Resident Center and the construction of 36 new two and three bedroom apartments designed to create a broader income mix into the existing community. The community is home to a Head Start Center, a Boys and Girls Club, A Career Connections Center and a Management Center. All of these areas will be getting upgrades and renovations also.
This is the first phase of six RAD conversions expected between 2018 and 2019. Meade Village is expected to close in the late Fall of 2018 and the remaining communities will follow in 2019 and beyond.
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Member Services Committee
The MARC Member Services Committee with be contacting your Housing Authority to show you the benefits of being a MARC member.
In Hershey at the MARC/PAHRA Conference, the Member Services Committee will be discussing why Authorities should be a member and active in the MARC Region. How to get more agencies to submit application’s for NAHRO’s Award of Merit.
Kathryn Walter, MARC VP of Members Services
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International Research and Exchange Committee
The IRGE committee activities have been having discussion on implementing Habitat III sustainable objectives in the region. Members have been dialoging on INTA matters and the AHI MOU with Australia. We had discussions on possible recommendations for this years’ Lange Award nominees. MARC members who have stepped up to the plate to serve as sub-committee chairs are Tara Clifford for Communications and Kerron Barnes for Exchanges & Partnerships.
Don Bibb, MARC VP of IRGE Committee
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Upcoming Elections
The members listed below currently serve as Members-at-Large on the MARC Executive Board for the 2015-2018 term. All of these members have informed the Nominating and Elections Committee of their desire to remain on the board. Therefore, the Committee is submitting these names for election which will be held at the Joint PAHRA/MARC Spring Conference in June in Hershey, PA.
- Gary Centinaro, CMPO - Housing Authority of the City of Beverly, NJ
- Dale Gravett, SPHM - Housing Authority of Chester County, PA
- Walter McNeil, PhD - Housing Authority of the City of Orange, NJ
- Cynthia Osborne, SPHM, PHM - Elkton, MD Housing Authority
- Stacy Spann - Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County, MD
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NAHRO Individual Awards
NAHRO offers a variety of awards and recognition to persons who have made outstanding contributions to the housing and community development field. Make sure your deserving candidate is nominated for one of the following awards:
M. Justin Herman Memorial Award
,
NAHRO's most prestigious award, honors an exceptionally qualified person who has made outstanding contributions to the quality of life through service in the field of housing or community development.
John D. Lange International Award
acknowledges a person who has made contributions to the international community.
Elizabeth B. Wells Memorial Award
celebrates the accomplishments and service of an outstanding commissioner.
Emerging Leader Award
recognizes an individual who has been involved in NAHRO at the national, regional and/or chapter levels for at least five years and has distinguished him/herself as an Emerging Leader.
Deadlines for these awards: AUGUST 15, 2018.
The winners will be honored at NAHRO's National Conference
in Atlanta, GA: October 25-27, 2018
NAHRO Fellowship Program venerates recipients who have demonstrated exemplary qualities as housing and community development advocates, professionals and/or volunteers.
Deadline for applications: July 1, 2018
Roll of Achievers showcases residents who have made noteworthy efforts to improve as an individual or as a member of the community.
Applications are accepted all year
.
For additional information on these awards, click
here
.
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MARC NAHRO State Chapters
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