As a reminder, the SAHMA Update and Outlook are sent via email, so please add sahma.org to your list of accepted domains. Keep an eye out for the SAHMA Update and SAHMA Outlook Newsletter in the subject line. Click here to view newsletter as webpage.
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A Look Forward by Looking Back!
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It is hard to imagine that as I write this article my first year as your President is in the books and I have already attended several 2019 State Meetings!
As I have stated many times, it is a privilege to serve as your President, and this privilege has allowed me to witness unending energy and imagination expressed in so many different ways from state to state. For instance, beginning in February of 2018 the Georgia state meeting committee still had the energy to lead the way with an evening trade show after a day filled with many educational opportunities. An evening trade show that increased from the previous year.
March found me in South Carolina and Florida. In South Carolina under the Big Top (Ring Master and all), the committee was totally dedicated to each other as if it was their primary job. Florida was impressive! The all-day trade show in their venue was terrific, and with so many presenters they could not have accommodated many more vendors.
Since I live in the Memphis, TN area, April found me Rolling Down the River to the Mississippi State Capitol of Jackson and under the terrific leadership and planning of Captain Phelan and her First Mate Smith. They even had former SAHMA President Caruso authentically dressed as a vessel Captain! After that, I found myself in Louisville the week before the Kentucky Derby and what I believe is the most coordinated state meeting utilizing our regulatory partner as a resource to the maximum. It is always impressive.
And speaking of our partners, when I arrived in North Carolina I learned that it was a Regulatory Partner who developed the 2018 theme of Alice in SAHMA Land. And Scott Alderman, the State Director of the Year in 2018, was the Mad Hatter! What a sight. Later in the month, I attended the Alabama State Meeting, and it was terrific to be back in a neighborhood I actually lived more than 30 years ago. I knew when I lived there, it was a great place, and the hospitality and energetic planning Committee only confirmed it once again. It was not our largest meeting; however, you wouldn’t have realized it observing the volunteers and their unending energy. We had an opportunity to celebrate the retirement of Eric Strong from Navigate Affordable Housing Partners, one of SAHMA’s strongest Partners for many years.
My last stop on the 2018 tour was very familiar; my home SAHMA state of Tennessee. The committee had some ups and downs last year but when the week of the State Meeting arrived not a single attendee would have known any different. By all accounts, it was their largest attendance ever.
And, let’s not forget the terrific Regional Conference in Orlando, FL at the Disney Contemporary Hotel. In addition to a great agenda and learning opportunities, I believe all of you would agree with me when I say “Mickey is alive and well and dreams do come true!” President-Elect Sondra Wimbs and her committee put together a great conference.
So why do I provide a lookback of my 2018 travels on the eve of my 2019 adventures? And what is the common theme between the two years? Just before my first meeting last year, the Executive Committee discussed the very simple fact that SAHMA lives or dies on the strength of its volunteers. So my two themes at each stop were very simple. First, to identify and recruit members from each state to add to each State Meeting Committee both immediately and for the future and secondly, to identify leaders from all the great management companies who are members of SAHMA to lead our organization by serving as its Board of Directors. The key in both themes is to spread the tasks and leadership to as many different member companies as possible. Is your management company represented in your state planning committee? Is your company represented on SAHMA’s Board of Directors?
Our great staff at SAHMA continue to perform at a high level, and I hope each of you will take an opportunity to thank them for quietly working behind the scenes each and every day. And, if you did not let your interests be known last year during your state meeting regarding your willingness to serve but still have the itch to explore it, contact your State Director; Daria Jakubowski, the SAHMA Executive Director; Reese Quick, SAHMA’s Past President and Chair of nominations or myself. All of us would be excited to explore how best to get you plugged into volunteering for this great organization.
Again, thanks for allowing me to serve you and have a great 2019. I do hope each of you will take the challenge and explore how to best serve one of the best Associations in this country. I do hope I get to visit with you at one or more of this year’s State Meetings and don’t forget, the 2019 Regional Conference will be in Greenville, SC!
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The REAC inspection process has been with our industry for quite some time. As of late, many of you have heard about and are concerned with the announcement that HUD leadership plans to undertake a wholesale evaluation and restructuring of its physical inspection process across its subsidized housing programs: public housing, vouchers, and multifamily housing. HUD has stated that the impending REAC overhaul is intended to meet two key goals: Adjusting the notification timeframe of physical inspection to improve the year-round condition of the portfolio; and adjusting the inspection protocol, model, and scoring to improve the REAC tool as a reflection of the portfolio.
This month HUD rolled out a new website and announced a new protocol name. Formerly Uniform Physical Condition Standards, UPCS will now be known as the National Standards For The Physical Inspection of Real Estate, or NSPIRE. While the new website for NSPIRE is still undergoing updates, the site will soon house NSPIRE Demonstration Timelines, Webcasts, and Notices. Information can be found at
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/reac/nspire.
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HUD has begun holding listening sessions to discuss with regional stakeholders the intended short-term and long-term efforts of a REAC overhaul. Our HUD Region IV listening session took place on Thursday, April 4
th with several members of SAHMA Leadership in attendance.
REAC Listening Session slides are
available here for your information. In addition, our NAHMA Partners have written a wonderful summary of one of the recent Listening Sessions, available
here.
Stay tuned as we will distribute information regarding the proposed REAC changes as soon as they become available via either our SAHMA Update publication or a News Blast!
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SAHMA Named AHMA of The Year
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NAHMA’s Biannual Top Issues in Affordable Housing Winter Conference took place in Washington, DC March 3rd-5th. At this event, NAHMA honored individuals and AHMA’s alike for dedication and accomplishments in the industry.
SAHMA was well represented at the meeting with members of our board and leadership who also participate at the NAHMA level, along with SAHMA’s Executive Director, Daria Jakubowski. The NAHMA meetings are an important part of our partnership and allow us the opportunity to work with various committees and focus on important initiatives. NAHMA members and AHMA representatives from across the country gather twice a year to share ideas on the business of the association as well as industry updates and emerging issues.
At this year’s event, our organization was named AHMA of the Year for the 14th year in a row! Quite an accomplishment and it was all due to the support and participation of our members and many volunteers. In addition, SAHMA received the AHMA Communities of Quality Program Award for having the most National Recognized program participants as well as the AHMA Innovation Award in recognition of establishing an Advocacy Task Force and the Affordable Housing Advocate Award to honor and recognize those who have demonstrated great leadership, support, and commitment to affordable housing.
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SAHMA-U: April is Fair Housing Month!
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April is Fair Housing Month and SAHMA is currently offering SAHMA-U webinars to celebrate with both on-demand webinars through our Learning Library and live instructor lead webinars! Gain knowledge to help stay in compliance and continuing education (CEUs) that can be used for your professional designations.
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Live Webinars -
Live instructor lead webinars are held weekly at 10:00 am EST.
SAHMA Members: $95
Non-members: $195
Learning Library -
The Learning Library is convenient and affordable on-demand training that allows you anywhere, anytime access to valuable information.
Just $45 per webinar!
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Featuring Sisson/Ownby Rising Star Award Winner, Simona Torres
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The Sisson/Ownby Rising Star Award honors two of SAHMA’s founding members, the late Ed Sisson and SAHMA Past-President Patty Ownby. Both were recognized as rising leaders in the industry and exemplified the same commitment and dedication to affordable housing management. They left a legacy of outstanding work in providing and improving the quality of affordable housing in the Southeast.
Each year, SAHMA honors their legacy by presenting The Sisson/Ownby Rising Star Award to emerging leaders who embody their commitment to affordable housing and is a rising star in the industry. Last year at Regional Conference, Simona Torres, a Community Manager with SPM, LLC in St. Cloud, Florida, received the 2018 Sisson/Ownby Rising Star Award.
“The Sisson/Ownby Rising Star Award offered me an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge in the affordable housing industry as well as property management,” Simona reflected. “The award validated my passion for the industry throughout the years and encouraged me to continue to raise my standards for a higher commitment to serve. It has given me the opportunity to expand my professional network with others working in the same area, while also inspiring and motivating me to pursue and receive the housing credentials that allow me to work more effectively.”
Looking back on the impact the award has made, Simona discussed how “it has helped to unlock more clarity and self-awareness,” and how the award carries with it the continuing “aim of being a future innovative leader in the affordable housing industry.”
The Sisson/Ownby Rising Star Award not only impacted Simona Torres, but also her fellow coworkers as well. “It has helped me to enhance motivation and engagement among my coworkers to deliver high standards of excellence in the community,” said Simona. This inspiring motivation was exemplified at the Florida State Meeting, where Simona has been a longtime volunteer. “The award has helped renew my commitment to volunteering for SAHMA at the State Meeting and spreading the organization’s mission,” she expressed. Simona Torres is a true Rising Star, whose future will shine brightly in the industry.
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Do you have someone in your organization or know of a deserving member of our affordable housing community who is uniquely gifted and inspiring? Are they working their way up the professional ladder one rung at a time? Nominate them for The Sisson/Ownby Rising Star Award. The winner will receive a $1,000 tuition honorarium, so they can continue up the ladder and fulfill their professional goals. Nominees must be employed by a SAHMA member company. The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 14, 2019. The award recipient will be selected by the SAHMA Awards Committee based solely on the information derived from the nomination. The award will be presented at the SAHMA Regional Conference and Trade Show, August 19th - 21st 2019, Greenville, NC.
Click here to learn more about the nomination process.
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2019 NAHMA Educational Foundation Scholarships
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Spread the Word! Scholarship Applications Due Soon!
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Each year, the NAHMA Educational Foundation awards scholarships to worthy student residents. This year will be the 13th consecutive year that the foundation has made scholarships available. In 2018, the foundation awarded 64 scholarships worth a total of $160,000. NAHMA Educational Foundation Chairperson Alice Fletcher announced that, “The foundation is excited about the release of the 2019 application and is looking forward to continuing the outstanding legacy and tradition of awarding scholarships to residents. In our continuing attempt to make impactful awards the scholarships will again each be worth $2,500 in 2019.”
We are excited to announce that there is still time to submit applications! Applications are due
Friday, May 15th, by 10 p.m. EDT.
Eligibility for the program requires that an applicant be a resident in good standing at an AHMA-affiliated multifamily community and be either a high school senior with a minimum 2.5 GPA or a matriculated student with a minimum 2.3 GPA at an accredited community college, college, university or trade/technical school.
New this year: the foundation will no longer accept applications from students in graduate-level programs.
Applicants must complete an online application form and provide two references, an essay, and a certification of residency in good standing form. A current grade transcript is also necessary and is the only application component sent via U.S. mail to the foundation. All required forms are provided within the web-based application at
https://nahma.communityforce.com
, and no hard copies are needed.
Anyone with questions about the application process or the scholarship program, in general, should contact Dr. Bruce W. Johnson, NAHMA scholarship program administrator, at 215-262-4230 or at
bjohnson@tmo.com
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Supporting NAHMA's Advocacy Efforts
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Supporting the NAHMA Legislative Fund
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As 2019 began with the onset of the government shutdown, NAHMA and SAHMA quickly went to work to call on our members to urge Congress to protect affordable housing by enacting Full-Year funding for HUD and USDA. Our voices were heard, and a deal was met to fund HUD, USDA, and other impacted agencies. Time and again, our voices, along with the efforts of our National Partner, NAHMA, are key to building and sustaining support for the Affordable Housing Industry. Through these advocacy efforts, our message is carried to decision-makers in Washington.
As the legislative season in Washington continues, work by our industry partners is crucial. Supported by the NAHMA Legislative Fund, NAHMA works to create one-on-one dialogue with government leaders and agencies. The relationships formed allow NAHMA to push for policy change to strengthen our industry. This year, NAHMA has been working to advance legislation to preserve multifamily affordable housing, including rural and senior populations; provide industry insight of proposed rules and regulations; and ensure the viability of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
NAHMA needs our support to help achieve these policy goals, along with many more throughout the year. We ask that you consider contributing to the NAHMA legislative fund to continue to support advocacy on behalf of the industry. Please click on the link below to be taken directly to NAHMA’s advocacy support webpage and donate today!
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