Message From Our New President John Mahon
|
|
Greetings to all,
Welcome to the latest MARC NAHRO newsletter.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the MARC membership for their confidence in allowing me to lead MARC NAHRO for the next two years. We have a talented, passionate Executive Board that has a lot to contribute to our residents and the membership.
If you are old enough to recall when the Tonight Show changed hosts in the 1990s, the new host made an infamous mistake by not thanking his predecessor. With that in mind, I would like to thank and recognize Marsha Parham-Greene for her leadership the last two years. When the organization was in upheaval, Marsha brought a sense of order and took great steps to establish closer ties with our state chapters and bring the board into focus. I appreciate the opportunity to assist Marsha during her term.
I also had the privilege to serve as Senior Vice President for another President. Regina Mitchell unexpectedly assumed the presidency in the middle of a term. Not only did she see us through a turbulent time, she also took the reins of a standalone conference. I want to once again thank Marsha and Regina for their leadership.
Also, MARC would not and will not be successful without our service officer, Sylvia Bowen. We are truly fortunate to have Sylvia assigned to MARC. I would also like to acknowledge our newest team member, Chuck Wellard, the NAHRO Chief Operating Officer. He has been tasked with reviewing and updating the MARC finances and keeping the books, and we have seen tremendous results already.
I am also excited to be working with our leadership team of SVP Kathy Walter, Treasurer Robin Senss and Secretary Gina Gibson. We pledge to work together as a team for MARC.
As we begin this new term, we have several new Executive Board members. Greetings to:
Nickal Biggs
--Havre de Grace;
John Clarke
--New Brunswick;
Pam Ferguson
—Milford;
Deborah Jackson
-Washington, DC;
Nicole
Jackson
—Pittsburgh;
Chelsea Johnson
—Washington, DC;
Debra Johnson
—West Chester;
Senghor Manns
—Harrisburg, PA; and
Coran Rimes
, Housing Authority of the City of Orange We look forward to your participation and WELCOME to the MARC Executive Board! A complete roster of Executive Board members is posted on the region’s website at
https://marcnahro.org/about-marc-nahro/executive-board/
. Meeting minutes are also posted on the region’s website.
I look forward to building upon the success of my predecessors and to trying to make MARC more of a force in NAHRO. MARC has six of the country’s 10 largest public housing agencies in our region. We hope to build a more collaborative relationship with these agencies.
Also, I hope we can establish stronger Professional Development opportunities for our membership and find a central location that is accessible to most of the members for training. If you have specific training needs, please let me know (bayonneha@optonline.net).
Leaders and Contest Winners
MARC is proud to be part of national NAHRO leadership. Two MARC members serve as standing committee chairs:
Stacy Spann
(Community Revitalization and Development) and
Clif Martin
(Budget and Administration); in addition
, Liz Glenn
serves as the Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
MARC is also very honored to be the home region of the grand prize winner of the annual
Housing America “What Home Means to Me”
poster contest and a monthly winner. The grand prize winner, whose poster will grace the cover, is
Owen Lasalle
, a 12-year-old resident of the Puerto Rico Housing Administration.
Lasalle explained that home is “a tree where the roots are strengthened by the love of [his] mother, who helps [him] grow….” We will have the pleasure of meeting him and personally congratulating him during the Washington Conference. As you may know, in addition to having his poster on the cover of the 2020 calendar, Owen has won a trip to Washington, D.C., an iPad, and a framed copy of his poster. While in D.C., he will also meet with his congressional representatives.
Our other winner is seven-year-old
Jayla Holloway,
who is a resident of the Housing Authority of the City of Erie, whose poster will be featured in the calendar. Jayla said “My home is very special. It’s my favorite place because it’s where I get to love my family and be myself. It’s my favorite place to cuddle with my big sister. I’m very lucky to have a home.”
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday May 3 – Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Finally, with pardonable pride, NJNAHRO is cohosting the 2020 MARC Annual Conference at the Hard Rock Café Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. One of the newest entries into the Atlantic City market, the Hard Rock is a bright, vibrant and completely renovated facility, right on the famed Atlantic City boardwalk, that will be an excellent venue for the conference.
Please make every effort to attend the conference and to support MARC. Agendas and further information will be published soon in the regional newsletter.
Lastly, I would like to recognize the sudden passing of our colleague,
Shauna Sorrells
. Shauna was slated to be a MARC representative on the Board of Governors before her untimely passing. Shauna’s intelligence, energy, passion and smile will be sorely missed. On behalf of MARC, our condolences are extended to Shauna’s son and her family. A wonderful memorial service was held for Shauna in late October and based on the attendance, the sentiments I expressed above were shared by many.
Have a great Thanksgiving with family and friends!
Sincerely
John Mahon
President
|
|
2020 NJNAHRO/MARC NAHRO Annual Conference
|
|
Hard Rock Hotel
Atlantic City, NJ
May 3-6
Place a hold on your calendar today! This will be the largest gathering of regional members and there will be something of value to everyone: commissioners, executive, mid-level and maintenance staffs. Each and every MARC NAHRO member can contribute to the success of this event by registering and encouraging their peers to do so, solicit vendors and sponsors, and volunteer to staff events onsite. Watch for updates via this newsletter and emails sent directly to you.
|
|
NAHRO Awards of Excellence
|
|
Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) accepts NAHRO Awards of Excellence.
|
|
At the NAHRO National Conference and Exhibition in San Antonio, TX, the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County received Awards of Merit for
The Lindley in two categories--project design and affordable housing.
Through critical public-private partnerships, HOC created a self-sustaining property and increased affordable units in one of the top communities in the country for low-income youths to achieve upward mobility while building a new public park for the community.
|
|
PAHRA PRESENTS ANNUAL BELLAMY & BEST PRACTICES AWARDS
The PAHRA Best Practices Showcase is held annually to recognize the outstanding achievements of our member agencies, and also to demonstrate the diversity of activities involved in providing affordable housing, improving lives, and revitalizing communities.
Each year, PAHRA recognizes members who have implemented innovative ideas, explored successful entrepreneurial activities, exhibited excellence in design, shown progressive program operations, provided stellar customer service or supportive services in a unique way, or created a lasting impact on their communities.
|
|
The Bellamy Award is PAHRA’s highest recognition of achievement. PAHRA was pleased to present the
Bellamy Award for a Housing Related Project or Program
to the
Fayette County Housing Authority, Mark Yauger, Executive Director,
for their
White Swan Apartments
project.
A challenging project involving restoration of an outdated high-rise in a serious state of disrepair while maintaining the integrity of the historical structure, requiring relocation of elderly residents. The site was self-developed by the housing authority into a modern 47-unit affordable senior housing community, while restoring the city’s landscape and promoting economic growth in the area.
|
|
The
Bellamy Award for Redevelopment or Community Development Programs
was awarded to the
Clarion County Housing Authority, Penny Campbell, Executive Director,
for the
Boundary Street Rehabilitation & Rental
project.
Addressing both community blight and homelessness through the transformation of foreclosed, distressed properties into attractive, fully furnished transitional housing for homeless families. Partnerships have been established to provide much needed life-skills, promoting self-sufficiency, keeping families intact and children out of the foster care system.
|
|
Earning the
Best Practices Award for Housing
was the
Jefferson County Housing Authority,
Sandra McGuire, Executive Director,
for their
Family Homeless Shelter.
With no family shelters available, families experiencing homelessness must be separated by gender or age, placing a deep and negative impact on both children and parents. JCHA designated a former 4-bedroom public housing unit as a family shelter and gives preference for these residents to secure more permanent public housing.
|
|
The 2019
Best Practices Award for Redevelopment or Community Development Programs
was presented to the
Berks County
Redevelopment Authority, Ken Pick, Executive Director,
for an alliance designed to create similar
Family Shelters
.
Through true community collaboration, a number of single-family homes have been acquired and rehabilitated to develop shelters where entire families can reside. Keeping the family unit intact in this way avoids stressful separation and allows supportive services to be provided more easily.
Each of the agencies that submitted an entry and participated in our 2019 Best Practices Showcase was recognized with a
Certificate of Merit
for their accomplishments. In alphabetical order, they are:
1)
Chester Housing Authority, Steve Fischer, Executive Director – Housing Stability Program:
Providing case management, home nursing visits, and ongoing oversight of vulnerable resident populations resulting in successful tenancies, more stable households, reduced stress and family trauma.
2)
Clarion County Housing Authority, Penny Campbell, Executive Director – Little Libraries:
Promoting literacy, community interaction, and cultivating generosity by providing small on-site structures offering age appropriate reading materials where residents can share through a “take a book, leave a book” process.
3)
Fayette County Redevelopment Authority, Andrew French, Executive Director – Act 33 Land Bank Powers:
Recognition of exceptional advocacy efforts culminating in enactment of Act 33, which provides expanded land bank powers to redevelopment authorities to facilitate revitalization, blight abatement, and economic development initiatives.
4)
Philadelphia Housing Authority, Kelvin Jeremiah, President & CEO – Norris Apartments Phase II:
An affordable housing development that transforms a distressed community once called “the badlands”, Norris Apartments Phase II consists of 89 units scattered on 8 city blocks that complements ongoing private residential and commercial development in the neighborhood.
5)
Westmoreland County Housing Authority, Mike Washowich, Executive Director – CORE 2 Career Program:
A serious shortage of skilled “blue collar” workers prompted this joint venture to provide a paid training program for young adults ages 18-24 to provide essential skills. Participants then have the opportunity to apply for WCHA’s Maintenance Assistance Program, a year-long on-the-job paid employment/training program.
Congratulations
to our Showcase participants and to all PAHRA member agencies who are putting forth their best efforts each and every day to provide award winning services!
|
|
The certification of specialized skill sets affirms a knowledge and experience base for practitioners in a particular field, their employers, and the public at large.
Congratulations to all who are NAHRO Certified. Below is a list of MARC NAHRO members who have achieved a NAHRO Certification since July 2019.
NAHRO Certified Specialist of Inspection (CSI-HQS)
Itamar Roman, Montclair, New Jersey
NAHRO Certified Specialist of Inspection (CSI-UPCS)
Jaron Marquis Footman
NAHRO Certified Public Housing Manager (C-PHM)
Sandra L. Boothe, Poughkeepsie, New York
Kathy Sanders, Linden, New Jersey
NAHRO Certified Specialist of RAD Project-Based Vouchers (CRPBV)
Cassandra Gadsden, Odenton, Maryland
Christopher Ostovitz, Glen Burnie, Maryland
NAHRO Certified Commissioner (NCC)
Leonard Williams, Buffalo, New York
Steven Washington, Wilmington, Delaware
NAHRO Certified Specialist of Occupancy (CSO-HCV)
Deirdre Harris, Gwynn Oak, Maryland
Christa Carey, Baltimore, Maryland
Linda Edmundson, Kensington, Maryland
Tina Fennell, Kensington, Maryland
Torrey Green, Baltimore, Maryland
Deirdre Harris, Gwynn Oak, Maryland
Mrs. Sharmarie Hinton, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Serene Elizabeth, Holmes, Towson , Maryland
Kaitlyn Massa, Kensington , Maryland
Ms. Fialelei D.A. Matthews, Germantown, Maryland
Antoineka Nivens, Baltimore, Maryland
Shin Park, Kensington, Maryland
Mrs. Doreather P. Robinson, Baltimore, Maryland
Lucinda Scott, Kensington, Maryland
Elizabeth Velazquez, Rockville, Maryland
Kelly White, Oakdale, New York
NAHRO Certified Specialist of Eligibility and Calculation (CSEC-HCV)
Deirdre Harris, Gwynn Oak, Maryland
Christa Carey, Baltimore, Maryland
Linda Edmundson, Kensington, Maryland
Tina Fennell, Kensington, Maryland
Torrey Green, Baltimore, Maryland
Deirdre Harris, Gwynn Oak, Maryland
Mrs. Sharmarie Hinton, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Serene Elizabeth, Holmes, Towson , Maryland
Kaitlyn Massa, Kensington , Maryland
Ms. Fialelei D.A. Matthews, Germantown, Maryland
Antoineka Nivens, Baltimore, Maryland
Shin Park, Kensington, Maryland
Mrs. Doreather P. Robinson, Baltimore, Maryland
Lucinda Scott, Kensington, Maryland
Elizabeth Velazquez, Rockville, Maryland
Kelly White, Oakdale, New York
|
|
DE NAHRO
Delaware Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials Presents:
Understanding the Fair Housing Act
March 3, 2020
Woodside, DE
|
|
National Conference and Exhibition -- San Antonio, Tex. October 10-12
Approximately 100 MARC NAHRO members attended this event
|
|
MARC NAHRO leaders take the oath of office.
|
|
Left to right: MARC NAHRO President-Elect John Mahon, NAHRO President-Elect Sunny Shaw, MARC Regional SVP-Elect Kathy Walter
|
|
Left to right:
MARC NAHRO President-Elect John Mahon, Past President Carl S. Richie, Jr. (2017-19), MARC Regional SVP-Elect Kathy Walter
|
|
Left to right: MARC NAHRO President-Elect John Mahon, MARC NAHRO Past President, VP of Professional Development Marsha Parham-Green (2017-19), MARC Regional SVP-Elect Kathy Walter
|
|
MARC NAHRO Past President, VP of Professional Development Marsha Parham-Green (2017-19) presents the Professional Development Award to Buddy Oldfield
|
|
Inaugural International Forum on Housing and Community Development (Forum) – Austin, Tex., October 12-14
|
|
|
|
Nine MARC NAHRO members who serve on either the NAHRO Board of Governors, International Research and Global Exchange, Community Revitalization and Development or Housing Committees attended the Forum. The Forum was a great chance for attendees to learn and network.
Alongside attendees from United States, delegates representing Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, and New Zealand addressed issues related to
Creating Community. MARC NAHRO Past President Marsha Parham-Green presented on
Built Environments.
|
|
11/19/2019
HOUSING RULES SERIES: HUD REAC INSPECTIONS UPDATES
ERIC OBERDORFER, GEORGI BANNA ESQ., TUSHAR GURJAL
E-BRIEFING; ONLINE
11/20/2019 - 11/21/2019
ETHICS FOR COMMISSIONERS
GARY GRAMLING
E-LEARNING ONLINE 0.50 CEU
12/4/2019 - 12/5/2019
SEMAP
BETH TURNER
E-LEARNING ONLINE 0.50 CEU
12/10/2019
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ABCs
ERIC OBERDORFER, GEORGI BANNA ESQ., TUSHAR GURJAL
E-LEARNING; ONLINE 0.25 CEU
12/11/2019 - 12/12/2019
WORKSHOP FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
ERIC C. BROWN
E-LEARNING; ONLINE 0.50 CEU
1/8/2020
STRATEGIC VISIONING & BUDGETING ONLINE
1/15/2020
HUMAN RESOURCES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ONLINE
|
|
2020 Agency Awards of Merit Applications Now Open! Save $20 – apply by Nov. 22
Take advantage of NAHRO’s Agency Awards of Merit to showcase the innovative work being done by your agency. Winners receive national recognition and are added to the resource bank of the best programs in housing and community development throughout the nation. At the Merit Award level, entries are judged on their own merit and not in competition with each other.
The 2020 online application is now available on the
NAHRO website
. Submit your application by November 22, 2019 to take advantage of the $50 early bird pricing.
|
|
NAHRO 2019-2021 Steering Committee Announced
|
|
Left to right: NAHRO SVP Patricia S. Wells, NAHRO President Sunny Shaw, and Past President Carl S. Richie, Jr.
|
|
On October 12, Sunny Shaw, executive director of Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships in Pocatello, Idaho, began her term as NAHRO president “I am honored to lead this venerable organization of housers and community builders,” Shaw said. “I promise an unwavering commitment to our members, to the people they serve, and to ensuring NAHRO’s continued growth and excellence.”
Patricia S. Wells, executive director of the Oakland (Calif.) Housing Authority, will serve NAHRO’s next senior vice president. “I am incredibly honored by the opportunity to serve this diverse and powerful organization,” Wells said. “I am proud of the work NAHRO does to support our members throughout the country who make a difference in their communities and the families they serve, and I look forward to being a catalyst for even more active engagement as individuals tap into the resources that help them reach their goals.”
Shaw and Wells will join their colleagues in serving on the Steering Committee, which was also announced at the National Conference held in San Antonio, Tex., on October 10-12.
Click here to view the complete list of Steering Committee members.
The Steering Committee provides advice and counsel to the President between meetings of the Board of Governors.
|
|
Share your News – We want to hear from you!
We want to celebrate your successes!
Hear about your best practices—this will help your peers do their jobs better each business day!
Advertise your job openings!
Send information to RSO
Sylvia Bowen
by the 10
th
of each month.
|
|
MARC NAHRO State Chapters
|
|
Do you have news to share from your agency?
E
mail MARC Regional Service Officer by
10th
Wednesday monthly
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
