Message from President Marsha Parham
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Thank you to all that attended the MARC/PAHRA Annual Conference. We had an exciting time. We are beginning the planning for the 2019 Annual Conference.
My deepest gratitude to the Pennsylvania Chapter President, Senghor Manns, for hosting the Region. Kelly Hicks, Pennsylvania Service Officer for a phenomenal event. We could not have asked for more. The vendors and participants enjoyed every aspect of the conference.
There will be a strong representation from MARC at the Summer Conference in San Francisco. I hope to see as many of you as possible.
Take care and enjoy your summer!
Regards,
Marsha J. Parham
President
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Annual Conference Highlights
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MARC partnered with the Pennsylvania Association of Housing & Redevelopment Agencies (PAHRA) for the Annual Spring Conference & Expo held June 24-27 in Hershey, PA. An excellent professional development agenda was balanced with plenty of networking opportunities, while forty (40) industry partners exhibited their products and services.
During the event, MARC announced their selections for the 2018 NAHRO Awards of Merit. Seventeen (17) projects received recognition:
- Resident and Client Services -
- Housing Search Program - Baltimore County Housing Office
- Family Self-Sufficiency Program - Baltimore County Housing Office
- Choices Program - Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County
- HACE Lethality Assessment Program - Housing Authority of the City of Erie
- Striving for Financial Security, Independence - Westmoreland County Housing Authority
- Stem Connection After-School Program - Housing Authority of the City of Meadville
- Berks Community Health Center - Reading Housing Authority
- Nothing Old about this New Senior Initiative - Westmoreland County Housing Authority
- Administrative Innovation
- Mobility Counseling Program - Baltimore County Housing Office
- Environmental Projects become Learning Tools at HA - Hightstown Housing Authority
- Affordable Housing
- Joint Venture in Developing Affordable Housing - Madison Housing Authority
- Northwest 9 Program - Clarion County Housing Authority
- Project Design
- Unique Design for Affordable Housing - Madison Housing Authority
- Crestview Village Exterior Renovations - Housing Authority of the County of Beaver
- Blumberg Phase I - Philadelphia Housing Authority
- The Whitehall - Affordable Veterans Housing - Housing Authority of the County of Chester
- ·Community Revitalization
- Phoenix Court Apartments - Housing Authority of Northumberland County
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MARC President, Marsha J. Parham and PAHRA President, Senghor Manns
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NAHRO Senior Vice President, Sunny Shaw and Executive Director of Allegheny Housing Authority, Frank Agazzio
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Housing America Poster Contest
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Over 150 posters from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico we submitted for the regional competition. Each region submitted their first choice for each category. Those posters were displayed and voted on by attendees at the MARC/PAHRA Regional Conference.
The following winners have been sent to NAHRO to be judged in the National Competition:
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Elementary School:
Immanuel
York Housing Authority
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Middle School:
Natasha
Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration
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High School:
Sean
Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County
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On Thursday, June 14, 2018, agencies in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council participated in the 2nd Annual Day of Service in association with the Maryland Association of Housing and Redevelopment Agencies (MAHRA). The Day of Service was established so the staff from public housing authorities across the State of Maryland could give back to the communities that they service. Participating agencies close their doors for the day or allow staff to participate in group projects. Agencies outside of Maryland were asked to participate as well.
The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) helped coordinate the second annual Maryland Association of Housing and Redevelopment Agencies (MAHRA) Day of Service (DOS) with fellow PHAs from across the state. During DOS, staff volunteered their time, energy and talents to provide support to many of the nonprofit and mission-oriented organizations that serve our customers and communities. This year, the Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County and the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership joined HOC with a total of 358 staff volunteers serving 27 organizations in their respective local communities throughout Maryland.
HOC volunteer highlights from DOS include:
- At a Wider Circle in Silver Spring, MD, HOC volunteer staff supported their Neighbor to Neighbor program by stocking and organizing donations.
- Working with the Montgomery County chapter of Project Linus, volunteers weaved fleece blankets to be distributed at local hospitals, shelters, or anywhere else children might be in need.
- DOS volunteers helped Montgomery Parks and Recreation construct and clear park trails, plant and perform garden maintenance projects in parks throughout the county.
- At the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Rockville, MD, volunteers cleaned and organized home good donations.
Throughout the day, volunteers shared photos of their service projects via Twitter and Facebook.
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HOC’s Day of Service volunteer site organizations included:
- A Wider Circle
- Interfaith Works
- Montgomery County Public Schools
- Montgomery County Public Libraries
- Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland
- Montgomery County Department of Parks
- Project Linus – Montgomery County Chapter
- Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
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The North Bergen Housing Authority had a Day of Service event consisted of arts and crafts, " What home means to me contest", Hula Hoop, Jump Rope, Bouncy House, Limbo, Tattoos, Face Painting,water balloons, ice cream, lots of food, and great music. They also had the Army, Lincoln Tech School, A local Pharmacist, and our local library on site.
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MARC received nine scholarship applications from three agencies.
A committee was formed and scoring took place at the MARC/PAHRA Conference in June.
The winner was Jeovani from the DC Housing Authority. Jeovani will be attending Frostburg State University in Maryland to study Business Administration.
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Housing Opportunities Commission
of Montgomery County
Breaks Ground at 900 Thayer in Silver Spring
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On Monday, June 18, 2018, the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) celebrated the groundbreaking of 900 Thayer in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland at the future site of the 124-unit multifamily property.
900 Thayer will connect families to the best of what Montgomery County has to offer – putting customers mere steps from the proposed Purple Line light rail and less than half a mile from the Silver Spring Transit Center and connecting them to employment and other opportunities across the county. Furthermore, it will provide 84 affordable units which will serve as relocation housing for former Public Housing residents through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Rental Assistance Demonstration program (RAD). To date, HUD’s RAD program has helped HOC transform each of the nearly 1,600 aging Public Housing units that were once part of the agency’s portfolio.
“Thanks to HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program, 84 families from former Public Housing units will benefit from the connections that come from living in downtown Silver Spring – recognized by Harvard academics as a leading community for offering low-income children a real opportunity to change their life’s economic trajectory. 900 Thayer will act as the nexus between families and the critical services and resources that help them move toward their definition of success,” said Stacy Spann, Executive Director at HOC.
HOC’s Chair of the Board of Commissioners Jackie Simon remarked that the development of 900 Thayer embodied the Commission’s commitment to serving families, adding, “We use housing as a platform to build strong families and strong communities. 900 Thayer will provide individuals with stable housing and connect them to critical resources, enabling them to focus on investing in what matters most – their children and their community.”
Several 900 Thayer development team partners were in attendance, including
the Concourse Group,
CBG Building and KTGY. Also present were key federal, state, and local government partners, including representatives from HUD, the Montgomery County Council, and the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA).
Director of DHCA Clarence Snuggs applauded HOC’s focus on bringing more families into the vibrant Silver Spring community
and recognized the creative financing structure proposed by seeking both 4 percent and 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits.
Montgomery County Council President Hans Riemer closed the ceremony by expressing the County’s pride in 900 Thayer, noting, “If we can keep that key ingredient, that Silver Spring is a diverse community where everyone has a place, then that is the recipe for success, not only for Silver Spring, but for Montgomery County.”
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REIMAGINING AFFORDABLE COMMUNITIES
From the Past to the Future -
How Affordable Housing is Changing
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On May 18
th
the Delaware Chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (DE NAHRO) brought together housing officials, community development professionals, developers, management agents, and elected officials to the transition of affordable housing from the image of the past to the modern image of today. Speakers demonstrated the impact of design and community support on affordable housing development and redevelopment. Design changes to buildings and landscaping have made significant changes in how residents relate to their community. Current studies showing that there is a relationship between the built environment and the resident’s physical, social and mental health were discussed. Panelists highlighted four projects that demonstrated how design was used to promote positive community outcomes.
Keynote speaker Unabyrd L. Wadhams, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations for HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing, outlined the changes being discussed inside the beltway and the ramifications to the nation’s public housing stock. Although the audience was not happy to hear the message, she definitely got her point across that public housing authority’s need to start planning ahead now for the changes that is coming. In addition to Ms. Wadhams, the conference welcomed HUD’s Region III Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice and the Delaware State Housing Authority Director Anas Ben Addi to speak about issues happening in the region and throughout the state of Delaware.
At the Conference, two professionals were recognized for their outstanding contributions to housing and community development.
The
Ambassador Award
recognizes a DE NAHRO member for their outstanding contributions and exceptional work with DE NAHRO and the State of Delaware. This prestigious award was first given in 1985 and continues to be a much honored distinction for those members dedicated to the field of housing and community development. This year the award was presented to Karen Spellman, the Interim Executive Director of the Wilmington Housing Authority, by MARC President Marsha Parham. Karen has over 20 years of executive-level experience at WHA and 18 years of experience working at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Karen’s broad knowledge of the housing industry, compassion for others and commitment to doing what is right are the underlining components in achieving her many accomplishments.
The
Robert S. Moyer
Award
is presented to a person that has made outstanding contributions in Housing and Community Development in the State of Delaware. This prestigious award was first given in 2006 and continues to be a much honored distinction for those who are dedicated to the field of housing and community development. The award is named in honor of one of the founding fathers of the Delaware Chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials. Maria Bynum was honored with the award this year. As the Delaware Field Office Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Maria Bynum is the “face” of HUD in the First State. In her role as Field Office Director, Maria has been an instrumental partner to several initiatives throughout Delaware, with the most notable being her involvement in the Mayors Challenge to End Veterans Homelessness.
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We Are Here For You!
News from the MARC Membership Committee
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The benefits of membership in MARC NAHRO:
- Network with local and national industry leaders at regional and national conferences
- Opportunity to represent your state or chapter by holding a regional leadership position within MARC NAHRO
- Become involved in the exciting Housing America events
- Members only resources on the website
- Ability to post job listings/company advertisements on website
- Opportunity to receive recognition for outstanding achievements
- Access to the regional and national scholarships
- Access to opportunities that will certify and enhance the skills of your staff
- Reduced rates for conferences, seminars at regional training centers and on-site locations
- Regional recognition of Outstanding Achievements
- Opportunity to be involved in advocacy at regional and national levels
- Monthly e-newsletter with regional news, national news, job postings and more
- Affordable Membership Dues (only $150 per agency, per year)
Do you know an agency that isn't a member?
Watch this newsletter in the coming months for information about Emerging Leaders, Scholarships and more!
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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
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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
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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Elmira Housing Authority - Elmira, NY
Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County - Glen Burnie, MD
Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis, MD
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MARC NAHRO State Chapters
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Do you have news to share from your agency?
E
mail MARC Regional Service Officer. Kristen Damazio
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