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NEWS BRIEF
November 2018
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Message from President Marsha Parham-Green
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Thank you to all the MARC members who supported the NAHRO National Conference in Atlanta. It was an exciting time. We had the opportunity to meet and greet members of the MARC region. We look forward to your support next year during the Washington Conference on April 7 - 9, 2019 and the Regional Conference at National Harbor, May 29 - 31, 2019.
Regards,
Marsha J. Parham-Green
President
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Remembering Herb Siegel
MARC NAHRO was informed of the passing of Herb Siegel on September 29, 2018. Herb was the President of the New York City Metro Chapter of NAHRO and was very involved with the MARC NAHRO Board.
Herb led the planning and hosting of a delegation of four housing professionals from China. This led eventually to the NAHRO study tour to China as a return of the exchange.
Herb will be missed by his colleagues in the region.
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PHA Receives Mainstream Housing Vouchers to Fight Homelessness
The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has received 99 Mainstream Housing Choice Vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The vouchers are specifically for non-elderly persons with disabilities who are transitioning out of institutional or other separated settings, those at serious risk of institutionalization, homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless.
The voucher subsidies worth over $873,000 enable non-elderly disabled families to lease affordable private housing of their choice. The vouchers are particularly valuable to persons with disabilities who often face difficulties in locating suitable and accessible housing on the private market. Sixteen percent of Philadelphia residents are people with disability and 13 percent of them are mobility impaired.
PHA Completes Lead Assessment of Homes with Young Children
Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has completed visual assessments of lead-based paint hazards on all homes in its portfolio built before 1978 where at least one child under six years of age lives.
More than 1,500 homes were assessed that could potentially pose a risk of lead exposure. Following protocols established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PHA staff corrected the few deficiencies identified. EPA-certified risk assessors then tested the repaired areas and confirmed that the corrections were effective. All work has now been completed.
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PHA and City Open Blackwell Community Center in West Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) and the City of Philadelphia today formally opened the long-awaited Lucien E. Blackwell Community Center, on the site of the West Philadelphia public housing development that bears the name of the late congressman and city councilman.
“We are excited that residents of the Mill Creek neighborhood and Lucien E. Blackwell Homes have a modern and convenient community gathering space,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “This center reflects our commitment to improving the quality of life in neighborhoods across the city in a variety of ways. I want to thank Mayor Jim Kenney, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and the Department of Parks and Recreation for working with us to make this construction possible. ”
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Above: Blackwell Center
Below: PHA President and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah, with Ms. Blackwell
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Other PHA Press Releases:
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North Bergen
Housing Authority
Opens New Outdoor Gym
The North Bergen Housing Authority held a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month to celebrate the opening of new outdoor exercise gym in Meadowview Village. Located near the children’s playground on Meadowview Avenue, the gym contains eight pieces of outdoor exercise equipment that can accommodate up to 12 individuals at once.
The gym, which is geared toward adult-use, will be open daily from dawn to dusk. Located immediately adjacent to the playground, it allows parents and caregivers to utilize fitness equipment in a neighborhood where many residents would not otherwise have affordable access to a gym – all while keeping a close eye on their children in the playground just a few feet away.
The $20,000 cost of the project was the result of a grant secured by North Bergen Board of Health. The second component of the grant will be met this fall through the creation of monthly farmers markets which will be held in the same neighborhood.
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The gym is located near senior housing, schools, and public transportation, as well as the 178 apartments in Meadowview Village, housing approximately 250 tenants. As part of the initiative to promote healthy living and fitness, residents will also be provided with a monthly newsletter offering information regarding use of equipment, disease prevention, nutritious recipes, and more.
The project was coordinated by Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Board of Health Director Janet Castro, Parks & Public Property Commissioner Hugo Cabrera, and NBHA Executive Director Gerald Sanzari.
Halloween Party for the Children
Halloween season is underway in North Bergen, with a slew of parties and events scheduled for the coming week. The Housing Authority kicked things off by hosted its annual Halloween party for residents of Meadowview Village on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018.
Kids were treated to free pizza, hot chocolate with marshmallows, brownies, cookies, and cupcakes, while spooky music played and the film “Hotel Transylvania” was screened.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco presided over a fun costume contest, with gift certificates from Target going to the winners in categories like “spookiest costume,” “funniest costume,” and “best costume.” The evening ended with everyone taking home goodie bags.
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Orange Housing Authority Commissioner Dr. Joseph Juliano Pledges to Better Serve City with Advanced Certification
ORANGE, NJ – Dr. Joseph Juliano, who serves as vice chair of the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Orange, has been certified as a public housing manager by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.
This certification is not required, and Dr. Juliano complete the course using his own funds. He already holds required certifications from Rutgers. “NAHRO has all these great classes and courses,” said Dr. Juliano, an Orange resident with a chiropractic practice located in the city. “I believe you should never stop learning. You have to keep up with what you are voting on as a commissioner.”
The Public Housing Manager certification encompasses an overview of the basic principles of public housing management in the asset management environment. The training covers a wide spectrum from the history of public housing, ethics, and maintenance to administration of the process of public housing management, the roles and responsibilities of the public housing manager, the functions of occupancy, effective communication skills, key principles of public housing management, safety and security and market viability.
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Each of the buildings are a replica of HCACC's housing communities. The children of Freetown Village, one of HCACC's Public Housing family sites, created this masterpiece as their project to celebrate Housing America Month.
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Elkton Housing Authority Wins Scarecrow Contest
The Elkton Chamber & Alliance had its Inaugural Scarecrows on Main Contest.
The public votes on their top 3 picks and the Elkton Housing Authority won first place.
See below a picture of "Handy Andy and his Family".
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Housing Opportunities Commission and Partners Celebrate Opening of The Lindley and Dedication of Jean Banks Park in Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase, MD. Monday, October 15, 2018. On Monday, October 15, 2018 the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) together with The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, EYA, Donohoe Construction, local government and other partners celebrated the ribbon cutting at The Lindley and dedication of Commissioner Jean Banks Park in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
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Once home to 68 low-rise, garden-style apartments, The Lindley has transformed the area into a vibrant, mixed-income community in the heart of Chevy Chase. A public-private partnership with the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation has enabled the development of what is likely the first mixed-income property in the nation to include private equity as a source of development funds.
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Furthermore, selling a portion of the property to EYA enabled HOC to leverage the value of the land and consolidated the apartments into a highly-amenitized, 200-unit high-rise building. Development of The Lindley has resulted in a net increase of 22 units of affordable housing in the community, 680 jobs in Montgomery County, and $6.9 million in tax revenue for the County and State.
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Baltimore Celebrates Next Milestone in O’Donnell Heights Revitalization
The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC), together with its private-sector partners, The Michaels Organization and AHC-Greater Baltimore, hosted a grand opening event for the newest phase of housing now open at Key’s Pointe.
Key’s Pointe Residences is part of a comprehensive revitalization of O’Donnell Heights, a distressed public housing community located on Baltimore’s southeast side. The current revitalization plan forO’Donnell Heights calls for new affordable and market rate townhomes and apartments with new parks
and green space.
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HABC, Michaels, and AHC-Greater Baltimore Host Ribbon-Cutting Event for Latest Phase of New Housing at Key’s Pointe Residences
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HEAL One-Year Anniversary!
O
n November 21, 2018, the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) Executive Director Janet Abrahams will host a press announcement with City partners at Baltimore City Hall to celebrate the one year anniversary of the HEAL (Healthy Elimination of All pests Long-term) Campaign, which was implemented in 16 public housing developments in November 2017. HEAL is a special project of HABC that will rid public housing of rats, mice, roaches, and other pests, which are associated with health issues such as asthma. The initiative aims to make public housing healthier, especially for children.
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Accomplishments over the past year include:
- 85% decrease in the number of active rat burrows at HABC public housing developments;
- Hundreds of Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) Code enforcement actions surrounding public housing developments taken;
- Tripling the rate of enrollment by public housing families in the Baltimore City Health Department's community asthma program;
- CDBG funds guaranteed for a second year to the HEAL Campaign
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"What Will
Our Industry Look Like in 2030?"
This was an Executive Round Table at the NAHRO National Conference in Atlanta that discussed the need for data collection and analysis to foster equity and inclusion in the affordable housing industry that NAHRO serves.
The Executive Round Table also discussed how to attract and retain millennials in the affordable housing industry. The round table consisted of executive level staff from a diverse array of housing authorities from many regions within NAHRO's footprint. From the East Coast to the West Coast, and from Northwest and the Northeast, executives presented their perspectives on how to sustain the industry through data collection, analysis, marketing, and outreach. The round table was interactive and engaged members of the audience in a passionate discussion about how data would be used, how to collect data, and what kinds of information to collect. Audience members offered suggestions about engaging young people, including delving into what types of training and professional development was needed to prepare young people for careers in affordable housing.
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Photo of participants at NAHRO's Closing Plenary Session "What Will Our Industry Look Like in 2030?"
Left to Right:
Felicia Davis, John Mahon, Phillip Bernal, Kathy Walter, Elizabeth Glenn, Cupid Alexander, Regina Mitchell, Richard Herrington, Donovan Duncan, Cliff Martin, and Patricia Wells
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Awards of Excellence Winners
NAHRO recently awarded 22 prestigious 2018 Awards of Excellence to 19 housing and community development organizations for creating innovative programs that stimulate positive change in their community. “These agencies are leaders in the housing and community development industry,” said NAHRO President Carl S. Richie, Jr. “Their innovative approaches improve the lives of their residents and revitalize their local communities, and I am proud to celebrate their achievements.”
Winners from the Middle Atlantic Region were:
Housing Authority of Northumberland County (Pennsylvania)
Phoenix Court Apartments
Phoenix Court Apartments were constructed in 2016-2017 on a site in Atlas, PA - Northumberland County. A number of blighted properties that were severely damaged by a fire in 2013 were demolished to construct the development, which features five apartments for modest income seniors. One is available for persons with behavioral health disabilities. The total project cost is $850,676. Construction was completed on April 30, 2017 and all are occupied. All units are visitable and one is fully accessible. This project earned the Bellamy Award given by PAHRA, which is its highest award for excellence.
Housing Authority of the County of Chester (Pennsylvania)
The Whitehall-Affordable Veterans Housing
Mission First Housing Group renovated the historic Whitehall Inn and constructed a new addition to create 48 permanent supportive housing apartments for veterans in need -- the Whitehall Apartments. Mission First developed The Whitehall in response to a local need for housing for at-risk veterans and a national effort to end veteran's homelessness. The key project building block was a 15-year voucher contract from the Housing Authority of Chester County, which translates into $5 million in housing assistance. The Whitehall was built using Passive House design standards for energy efficiency, which will reduce utility usage by 80% over standard construction.
Housing Authority of the City of Meadville (Pennsylvania)
STEM Connection
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Connection After-School Program was initiated in 2015 to address the achievement gap that exists for rural, low-income children in technology. For the past three years, classes have been held at the Housing Authority of the City of Meadville (HACM) learning centers and concentrate on a variety of project-based, hands-on activities that relate to real-world experiences. Through resident engagement, broad community support, and financed by Resident Council MOU funds, 40 youth between the ages of 7-17 have participated. Proven results include increased self-confidence working on science projects, increased knowledge in STEM topics and careers, and strengthened families.
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Honoring Tawanna Barnes-Jackson
NAHRO sadly announces the loss of longtime employee Tawanna Barnes-Jackson. Tawanna worked at NAHRO for more than 31 years in Member Services.
She was a skilled and hardworking customer service professional, known for her kindness, patience, and radiant smile.
“Tawanna was wrapped in joy,” said NAHRO CEO Adrianne Todman, “and she brought joy to us here at NAHRO and to housing officials across the country.”
Tawanna also was the primary contact for the Awards of Merit program and handled the yearly presentation of the Awards of Excellence. She will be deeply missed.
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NAHRO, LDG Partner for $1 Million Scholarship Program
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and award-winning multi-family housing developer LDG Development have unveiled an innovative scholarship and professional education initiative to serve low-income students and young professionals in the affordable housing industry.
LDG will contribute $1 million, over a 10-year period, to establish a new NAHRO/LDG Scholars initiative and to fund the NAHRO Merit College Scholarship, which provides grants to college students who live in HUD-assisted affordable housing. The initiative was announced on Friday, October 25, at Innovate 2018: IMPLEMENT, the NAHRO National Conference and Exhibition in Atlanta, Ga.
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, LDG has developed almost 10,000 units for families and seniors across eight states. The company was founded almost 25 years ago based on the belief that everyone deserves a quality place to live.
“At LDG, we have the honor of investing in and supporting thousands of families who call one of our developments home,” said Chris Dischinger, co-founder and principal of LDG Development. “The NAHRO/LDG Scholars program will allow our company to further invest in and support hard-working families and students who understand how a college education can help them achieve their long- and short-term goals.”
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NAHRO has long delivered on its mandate to provide superior professional development to organizations and individuals in the affordable housing industry.
Our comprehensive agenda of educational opportunities is second to none.
Participants stay informed as they learn from recognized industry experts and apply what they've learned to their own agencies and communities.
Whatever career path, interest, or training need, NAHRO Professional Development has the resources and tools to get you up to speed and keep you there.
Upcoming Trainings:
December 3-7, 2018 - Glen Burnie, MD
December 4 - E-Learning Online
December 5 - E-Learning Online
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DC Housing Authority - Washington, DC
Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County - Glen Burnie, MD
Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis, MD
Philadelphia Housing Authority - Philadelphia, PA
Virgin Islands Housing Authority
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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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