The Latest News
November 2018
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Regional Service Officer Message
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Involvement with PNRC
I recently celebrated four years with PNRC as your Regional Service Officer. During this time I have found that there is a continuing challenge to getting new people involved in the organization. However, when new people do get involved they find that it is a great experience and helps them build skills and develop relationships that enhance their understanding of the industry and career. Now is your chance to get involved!
The region is very strong and that is due to the commitment of a small number of members that give their time to be on task forces, committees and in leadership positions. In order to remain strong we need to get new people involved.
Elections for the 2019-2021 term will be held early next year with announcement of the winners at our Regional Conference in April. The Nominating and Elections Committee has been appointed and they will soon begin reaching out to potential candidates.
The Nominating Committee selects nominees that are able to provide a range of interests, activities and administrative responsibilities as well as geographical, racial, ethnic, and agency size representation of the region. This means that you do not need to be an Executive Director or manager in your agency to get involved. We want involvement from all levels of agencies. Who knows better what the region can provide its members than those that are on the "front lines" every day? Whether you are in maintenance, receptionist, resident services, accounting technician, or anywhere, you can make a difference!
Nominations are being accepted for the following positions:
Officers
: President, Senior Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer
Vice Presidents of Committee
: Commissioners; Community Revitalization & Development; Housing; Member Services and Professional Development.
- The Vice President's of Committee act as the Region's representative on the corresponding National Committee.
At Large Members
(three)
If you would like more information about time commitments, responsibilities, expectations, etc., please contact me at
kdamazio@nahro.org
or call 503-828-5371.
If you would like to nominate yourself or another person, please contact the Nominating and Elections Committee Chair, Cupid Alexander at
cupid.alexander@portlandoregon.gov
.
I hope that you will consider adding your experience, education and skill set to our region's leadership. Together we can keep PNRC vibrant, strong and relevant!
Sincerely,
Kristen Damazio
Regional Service Officer
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Friend of Housing Awards Honor State’s Housing Champions
The Washington State Housing Finance Commission has honored seven of Washington’s most dedicated affordable housing advocates as 2018 “Friends of Housing.”
In addition, the Commission presented its Margaret M. Sevy Lifetime Achievement Award to two leaders: Paul Lambros and Melora Hiller.
As a group, the awardees have ensured that thousands of Washington residents have an affordable place to call home and that funding, policies and programs are in place to support affordable housing into the future.
“We’re deeply inspired by the passion, innovation, and tenacity each of these housing leaders has shown,” Karen Miller, chair of the Housing Finance Commission, said. “We couldn’t be happier to honor the people who who’ve made it their life’s mission to create and preserve affordable housing.”
2018 Margaret M. Sevy Lifetime Achievement Awards:
Paul Lambros:
As the head of Plymouth Housing for 25 years, Paul’s pragmatic optimism and commitment to “housing first” have helped transform Seattle’s approach to homelessness through not only providing housing for the homeless, but also leading others to collaborate in practical solutions.
Melora Hiller:
Most recently CEO of the national Grounded Solutions Network, Melora expanded the land-trust model of permanently affordable homeownership, and over 30 years in various roles, she significantly increased Washington state’s capacity to build and preserve affordable housing of all kinds.
2018 Friend of Housing Awardees:
- Andrew Lofton: As the Executive Director of the Seattle Housing Authority, Andrew has made a lasting impact on Seattle’s housing landscape and on 34,000 residents of SHA properties. He has led the transformation of Yesler Terrace into a vital community of new buildings and public spaces, and increased resident services to support education, health and job training.
- John Harmon: For more than 30 years, John used every tool available to more than double affordable housing in Bellingham. As the recently-retired leader of the Bellingham and Whatcom County Housing Authorities, John added and rehabilitated thousands of affordable apartments across 27 properties.
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Tiki Apartment Owners Partner with Tacoma Housing Authority to Transform Newly Renovated Apartment Building
into Affordable Housing for
Homeless Tacoma Community College Students
THA and TCC’s College Housing Assistance Program (
CHAP
) is a first of its kind model in the United States and named by Harvard’s Kennedy School as one of nation’s 25 most innovative governmental initiatives for 2018.
Tacoma Housing Authority (THA), and CWD Investments (owners of Highland Flats, formerly the Tiki Apartments) are pleased to announce an agreement that will enable the 62-unit building to become part of THA and TCC’s innovative partnership to house homeless and near homeless TCC students.
Tacoma Housing Authority, Korean Women’s Association
and Pioneer Human Services Make 61 Housing Units
More Affordable in Downtown Tacoma
Tacoma Housing Authority (THA), Pioneer Human Services (PHS) and Korean Women’s Association (KWA) are excited to announce the funding of 61 affordable housing units in Downtown Tacoma. Thirteen of these apartments will be in PHS’s property, Rialto Apartments on 311 South 9
th
Street, and 48 of these apartments will be in KWA’s Olympus Hotel on 815 S. Pacific Avenue. This partnership will preserve these affordable units amid the shrinking downtown options for low-income households. This effort not only preserves affordable housing but also protects the Olympus Hotel as a historic building.
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Renton Housing Authority Celebrates the Grand Opening of the Sunset Court Apartments
Sunset Court will provide affordable housing with 50 units consisting of 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units. These will soon be the homes to working individuals and families, people with disabilities, and homeless who are seeking an affordable place to live, raise children, age comfortably, build fulfilling lives, and to contribute to their community.
Key financing partners in the Project include Royal Bank of Canada as the tax credit investor, Banner Bank as the construction and permanent lender, King County who is providing funding to the project and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission who allocated the 9% tax credits.
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Housing Authority of Snohomish County
Preserves Affordable Housing for Seniors in Mountlake Terrace
Trillium Apartment Grand Opening, September 18th
Trillium, formerly known as Tall Firs, was built in 1977 to provide affordable homes to 40 elderly (age 62 and older) households, with a preference for elderly veterans in 20 of the 40 units. The Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO) purchased Trillium in 2015. Acquisition of the property was financed with tax‐exempt bonds issued by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC), as well as a Land Acquisition Program loan from WSHFC.
Below are a few of the improvements renovation work completed at Trillium included:
- Replacement of the existing roofing and new insulation in the attics
- Improved entrances with porticos to provide a sense of place and weather protection
- Installation of new native and adaptive landscaping to reduce water usage
- New community garden with raised beds for residents
- New handicap‐accessible pathways
- Improvements to the community room, including new handicap‐accessible bathrooms and community kitchen
- New energy and water efficient appliances and fixtures in units and common areas
- Replaced the interior and exterior lighting with new energy efficient LED lighting
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Trunk or Treat
Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships held a Trunk or Treat which also served as our Housing America Event.
We hosted this event at seven different properties. Each child received a Halloween gift pack with candy, small toys or games, and an age appropriate book. Even children who did not attend had the bags delivered to their home.
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THA & CWD Investments Set Aside 7 Units
for Displaced Homeless Tiki Residents
NW Furniture Bank, Associated Ministries, and Comprehensive Life Resources Provide Furniture for Them and Homeless TCC Students
THA and CWD Investments Set Aside 7 Initial Vacancies for Displaced Homeless Tiki Residents; NW Furniture Bank, Associated Ministries, and Comprehensive Life Resources Provide Furniture for Them and Homeless TCC Students
After helpful discussions with Tacoma Tenants Organizing Committee, Tacoma Housing Authority, CWD Investments, and Tacoma Community College have agreed to reserve 7 initial vacancies at Highland Flats (formerly Tiki Apartments) for previous Tiki residents displaced by the reconstruction in April and who are presently or near homeless. They will share the building with homeless or near homeless TCC students housed by THA and TCC’s College Housing Assistance Program, a unique program in the nation that won an award for innovation from the Harvard Kennedy School. NW Furniture Bank, Associated Ministries, and Comprehensive Life Resources will help all these households furnish their apartments with their own innovative program and partnership.
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Cupid Alexander, PNRC's Senior Vice President, Wins National Emerging Leader Award
Cupid Alexander, the Senior Housing Policy Advisor to the Portland Office of Mayor Ted Wheeler, was named the 2018 recipient of the Emerging Leaders Award by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). An award presentation will be held on October 25 at the NAHRO National Conference and Exhibition in Atlanta, GA.
“We are excited to celebrate Mr. Alexander’s dedication and impact within NAHRO and the Portland community,” said NAHRO CEO Adrianne Todman. “We appreciate his contributions and are eager to support his development as a local and national leader in the affordable housing and community development industry.”
Alexander is actively involved in the Portland community. He is both the president and a board member of the National Urban League Portland chapter, collecting over 300 volunteer hours with the organization. He served on the planning committee and hosted Cascadia Behavioral Health’s 2018 “A Culture of Caring” fundraising gala, which raised over $200,000 for mental health and housing services. Every month, Alexander visits local radio station XRAY-FM to inform and educate his community on affordable housing issues. He also serves as a board member of Black Male Achievement with the My Brother’s Keeper initiative.
Alexander has been a NAHRO associate member for nine years. He is an active participant on national committees such as the National Emerging Leaders Subcommittee, the Community Revitalization and Development Committee, the Legislative Network and the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.
Currently, Alexander is the Senior Vice President of NAHRO’s Pacific Northwest Region (PNRC), is involved with the region’s Scholarship Committee, and is working on a regional mentorship program.
He is also creating a Regional Emerging Leaders group and leading the development of an Emerging Leaders track for the 2019 PNRC Annual Conference.
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Left: Cupid Alexander, PNRC's Senior VP receives award from
Andy Rodriguez, PNRC Past President and NAHRO Member Services Committee Chair
Right: Cupid's acceptance speech
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Congratulations to the 2018 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 Pacific Northwest Region were:
Agency: Cook Inlet Housing Authority (Alaska)
Category: Affordable Housing
Project: 3600 Spenard
Agency: Housing Authority of the City of Yakima (Washington)
Category: Affordable Housing
Project: Cosecha Court Homeless Housing
Agency: Seattle Housing Authority (Washington)
Category: Administrative Innovation
Project: Lean Public Housing Inspections
Agency: Seattle Housing Authority (Washington)
Category: Administrative Innovation
Project: Specialized Maintenance & Repair Training Program
Agency: Vancouver Housing Authority (Washington)
Category: Affordable Housing
Project: Lincoln Place Apartments Collaboration
To see all of the winners and learn more about the awards,
click here.
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Left to right: Adrianne Todman, NAHRO CEO; Rod Brandon, Seattle Housing Authority Director of Operations; Carl Richie, NAHRO President and Pat Anardi, Seattle Housing Authority Operations Program Administrator
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Left to right: Carl Richie, NAHRO President; Lowel Kreuger, Yakima Housing Authority Executive Director and Adrianne Todman, NAHRO CEO
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Left to right: Carl Richie, NAHRO President; Saeed Hajarizadeh, Vancouver Housing Authority Deputy Director and Adrianne Todman, NAHRO CEO
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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.
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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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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 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:
November 13 - E-Briefing Online
November 14-15 - E-Learning Online
December 4 - E-Learning Online
December 5 - E-Learning Online
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Alaska
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Oregon
Home Forward (Portland)
Washington
Tacoma Housing Authority
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For a list of all of the job openings in the region, please visit our
website.
If you have position you would like included in the newsletter and on the website, please email Regional Service Officer, Kristen Damazio at
kdamazio@nahro.org
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