NLIHC released Advocates’ Guide 2022: A Primer on Federal Affordable Housing & Community Development Programs & Policies, a comprehensive resource for advocates and others involved in many aspects of affordable housing and community development. Advocates' Guide is an invaluable resource for advocates around the country advocating for affordable housing solutions throughout the year.

Advocates for Ohio's Future is seeking older adults who are currently receiving SNAP benefits to participate in a 30-minute phone survey about what the additional SNAP benefits have meant for you during the pandemic. Participants selected for the survey will receive a $100 gift card in exchange for their time. Fill out their interest survey.

Prosperity Now and United Way have drafted a letter of support to Congress for funding VITA at $45 million for fiscal year 2023. Sign onto our letter and add your organization to support this critical program. The deadline to sign on is Friday, April 1 at 5 pm ET. 

Join the Ohio Land Bank Association for their 11th Annual Ohio Land Bank Conference—LandBank U. ‘22! The conference will be held in Cleveland, April 27-29. Land Bank U. ’22!

America’s economic system and culture has from its beginning valued some lives over others. We need to create a new normal that is unlike the old. The old normal wasn’t built for everyone. It was indefensible. America needs a new reality rooted in a Just Economy. Join the Fight.

The event will feature inspiring examples of revitalization and emerging best practices. The Summit will showcase interventions for creating sustainable and livable communities, like zoning reform, active infrastructure investments, and population attraction. And the Summit will highlight strategies to build trust, collaborate, and carry out multipart projects that produce equitable outcomes. Register now.

The 12th Annual #PCRGSummit will be an intentionally inclusive union that highlights the struggles and efforts to address issues of race inequity. The Summit offers cross-sectional and regional collaboration opportunities in community planning, land recycling, affordable housing, transit-oriented development, and neighborhood revitalization.

ServeOhio provides grants to organizations that demonstrate they will engage AmeriCorps members to provide a service intervention that addresses a critical need in Ohio. We offer two funding competitions each year - a formula funding competition in the spring and a competitive funding competition in the fall. Deadline is April 6.

The Neighborhood Business District Support Grant Program was created in response to the adverse economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This proposed $2 million program will include funded activities such as capital projects, business start-up expenses, and other investments that will help neighborhood business districts stabilize and recover to build stronger communities through the development of affordable housing. Round 2 deadline is 4/8.

Urban forests are trees for people, where they live, work and play, which includes natural resources on public and private property that contribute to quality of life, supports community development, green infrastructure, and provide a wealth of benefits to cities and towns. Deadline is April 8.

The Muste Institute's Social Justice Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 for grassroots activist projects in the U.S., with a focus on organizations with small budgets and little access to more mainstream funding sources. Priority is given to efforts to achieve the following: 1) end the violence of borders and the criminalization of immigrants; 2) abolish prisons and dismantle and redefine systems of policing and criminal justice; 3) confront institutionalized violence against racial, ethnic, gender-based, and LGBTQ communities; 4) put an end to economic exploitation, class stratification, and systemic poverty; and 5) stop the war machine, end state sponsored terrorism, and expose the dangers of nuclear power. Applying organizations must have an annual income of less than $500,000. The upcoming deadline for the Fund is April 11.

Partners for Places is a matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties in the US to improve communities by building partnerships between local government leaders, community-led groups, and place-based local or regional funders. Through the program, national funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and the well-being of all residents. The current focus is on equitable climate and green stormwater action in communities through collaborative partnerships. For Round 19, grants will range between $25,000 and $75,000 for one-year projects, or $75,000 and $150,000 for two-year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more place-based foundations. The application deadline is April 13.

Famicos Foundation, Cleveland, is seeking a Housing Rehab Specialist.

Community Building Partnership of Stark County, Canton, is seeking a Housing Counseling Program Assistant.

City of Shaker Heights is hiring a Neighborhood and Housing Specialist.

Ohio CDC Association is seeking a Summer Communications Intern.

Madisonville CURC, Cincinnati, is hiring an Executive Director.

Cincinnati Development Fund is seeking a PT Office Assistant.

Working in Neighborhoods, Cincinnati, is seeking a Fund Development Director.

There is one AmeriCorps VISTA Leader position in our office which still needs to be filled. VISTA Leaders are essential to the function of the OCDCA VISTA program. Learn more. Additionally, there are two AmeriCorps Member positions we are working to fill within our office.

View more employment opportunities on our website. OCDCA members and our funders with employment opportunities may send their notices for free posting to Lisa Much. There is a small fee for non-members to post jobs.

On March 2, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 105 into law, requiring that political subdivisions recognize state-level certifications of minority business enterprises (MBEs), women-owned business enterprises (WBEs) and veteran-friendly business enterprises (VBEs). The bill was sponsored by Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, and Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Canton.

Through her work at Aventi Enterprises, Deonna Barnett has assisted entrepreneurs with the certification process. "It takes a lot of time to do those applications," said Barnett, who is the company's CEO and managing consultant. "Having to do that same process over and over again—it's discouraging. I believe this will open up more access and more opportunities. I would like to see what the municipalities' plans are to quickly move forward with putting this into effect." Read more in the Columbus Dispatch.

"If we continue to burden the affordable housing model by making market rate valuations vs. income valuations, developers will be forced to walk away, and the entire model will simply collapse," said Jennifer Walters, president and CEO of Fairfield Homes.

One issue, identified by Ms. Walters and Leah F. Evans, president and CEO of Homeport, is the appeals process, typically initiated by local entities. The process takes time and resources away from affordable housing operators who are already strapped by stagnant revenues and increasing costs. Both Ms. Walters and Ms. Evans said that could be accomplished with a canceled pilot program that initiated earlier and more thorough information exchanges between property owners and county auditors.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday that more than $4 million in state funding will be used to find and replace toxic lead water pipes in communities around Ohio. Of that money, more than $2.1 million from the governor’s H2Ohio program will be used to replace lead pipes already identified in six cities and villages: Delphos in Western Ohio, Norwood and Lockland in Hamilton County, Hubbard in Trumbull County, Scio in Harrison County and Sebring in Mahoning County, according to a release. Read more.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming primary election, at least part of the May 3rd election is possibly expected to continue. Secretary of State Frank LaRose ordered county boards of election to remove state legislative races from the spring ballot, meaning Ohio will likely have two primaries. As the primary approaches, don’t forget to register to vote, or update your voter registration if you have moved! The voter registration deadline is April 4, 2022. Register online.

“We need to advocate for the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development subcommittee to get the biggest possible slice of the budget pie in FY23,” said NACEDA Executive Director Frank Woodruff. “Please sign this organizational sign-on letter advocating for maximum housing and community development resources. Urge your networks to sign on too.” 

To learn about FY22 budget highlights and gear up for FY23 budget advocacy, participate in the April 14 webinar hosted by the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding. NACEDA is a proud member of the campaign.