HUD
HIGHLIGHTS
February
2009
HUD e-Briefs from
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington
Martha Dilts, Region
X Deputy Director
206/220-5356 Leland Jones,
Editor
RECOVERY
On Friday January 30th, President Obama declared, at the
request of Governor Gregoire, that Federal aid would be made available in King,
Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Piece, Snohomish, Thurston and Wahkiakum counties to help
residents and business recover from damage caused by flooding, mudslides and
landslides in January, 2009. Assistance can include grants to help
individuals and households pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other
serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small
Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business
losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for
hazard mitigation measures. To apply, visit
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm. To find the HUD assistance
triggered by the President’s declaration, visit
http://www.hud.gov/info/disasterresources_dev.cfm
DC
BOUND
President Obama has nominated King County Executive Ron Sims
to serve as HUD’s Deputy Secretary, charged with managing HUD's day-to-day
operations, a nearly $39 billion annual operating budget and the agency's 8500
employees. Born in Spokane in 1948, Mr. Sims has served as County
Executive, an elective position, since 1996. “Ron’s visionary leadership
in government, the environmental and social justice arena, make him the perfect
partner,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. The appointment is subject to Senate
confirmation.
FHA-ntastic!
Mortgage markets may be troubled, but calendar 2008 was a
very good year across the Northwest for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing
Administration. A record number of FHA mortgages were insured in the Olympia,
Bend, Bremerton, Twin Falls, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Aberdeen and Bellingham areas.
FHA insured its 13,000th mortgage in the Pocatello area, its 30,000th mortgage
in the Eugene-Springfield area, its 90,000th mortgage in the Spokane area and
its 200,000th mortgage in the Portland-Vancouver area. Since its creation,
FHA now has insured mortgages totaling more than $400 million in the Juneau
area, $500 million in the Longview-Kelso area, $800 million in the Idaho Falls
area, $900 million in the Medford-Ashland area, $2 billion in the Salem are, $7
billion in the Boise area, $8 billion in the Tacoma area and $30 billion in the
Seattle area.
e-WARE!
If your group is registered with www.grants.gov and it
receives an e-mail from the Department of Transportation about the Central
Contract Registry, DON’T respond! DON’T give your DUNS number! DON’T
provide your TPIN numbers! It’s an e-hoax and a nasty one at
that.
FARE
WELL
Appointed by President Bush, John Meyers submitted his
resignation effective January 19th after seven years as HUD’s Regional
Director. Deputy Regional Director Martha Dilts will assume his
responsibilities until President Obama names a successor.
BRIEF
BRIEFS
HUD approves Oregon’s $19.6 million Neighborhood
Stabilization Program to help communities address consequences of home
foreclosures and abandonment. . . Oregon Tradeswmen, Inc. of Portland wins
$20,000, EPA Brownfields Environmental Training grant. . .Governor Gregoire
names Larry Williams interim director of Washington Department of Community,
Trade & Economic Development. . .U.S. Department of the Treasury begins
accepting applications for 2009 Bank Enterprise Award program that recognizes
FDIC-insured banks “for their increased community and economic development
lending”. . .My Father’s Place wins $100,000 Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
grant to build family shelter in Gresham. . .Tundra Times reports that United
Way of Anchorage campaign asking Alaskans to donate their $1,200 state energy
rebate to “those who need it more,” especially in rural areas, raises
$22,000. . . The Oregonian reports that Mid-Valley Housing Plus and
Community Outreach, both of Corvallis, have decided to merge to insure, “in a
cold economy,” that “the services of both agencies continue” . . .Seattle
Public Health and the King County and Seattle housing win $400,000 Robert Wood
Johnson grant “to address the factors that make it difficult for children from
low-income families to maintain a healthy diet and an active lifestyle”. .
..Andrew Ebona of Anchorage re-elected as Chairman of Rural CAP board. .
..Lewis-Clark State College President Dene Thomas appointed by Governor Otter to
board of Idaho Housing & Finance Association. . .Oregon Housing &
Community Services and Oregon Community Action Partnership release Report on
Poverty 2008 at Capitol in Salem.. .HUD awards $4.1 million to 37 housing
authorities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to help families become
economically self-sufficient.
QUOTE TO
NOTE
“I am humbled and honored that President Obama asked me to
serve in his Administration and to lead this department. Like so many of you, I
have long been committed to affordable housing. In this line of work, we often
talk in terms of units built and dollars spent. That is our common language. But
it does little to convey the reason I have devoted my career to this work.
America’s homes are the foundation for family, safe neighborhoods, good schools
and solid businesses. A home represents and confers stability: a base from which
to raise our children. These things have not changed – but the world has. I am
at HUD because I know that together, we can restore this vital sector to health
and make quality housing possible for every American.” – From an e-mail note to
HUD employees sent by Shaun Donovan, confirmed by the Senate on January 22nd as
the nation’s 15th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
PRE-PACKAGE
As Congress and the President debate the size
and shape of a new stimulus package, there's already one stimulus package up,
running and packaged. It's called the Earned Income Tax Credit if every
income-eligible household in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington were to apply
for the Credit, that would mean millions more in their pockets and, obviously,
millions more coming into the Northwest’s local economies. And that’s the point
- making sure eligible families apply for the Credit. There’s free tax
preparation help available. For help in Alaska, visit
http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/features/press/eitc/; in Idaho, visit
http://www.idahocommunityaction.org/CEI.html; in Oregon visit,
http://www.cashoregon.org/ ; and in Washington, visit
http://www.cted.wa.gov/site/994/default.aspx.
BOW
WOW!
Seattle’s KING-TV news says it won’t be long before Bugsy the
beagle is on the prowl. His prey? He’s specially trained to hunt
down bed bugs, a growing problem in some Seattle Housing Authority units.
And once Bugsy bags the bed bugs, the Authority will use a thermal remediator to
heat infested unit to 140 degrees, way too hot for the normal bedbug, “the
toughest pest I’ve ever come up against,” said someone with 30 years in the pest
control business. But, we’ll bet, not as tough as Bugsy.
READY FOR
MORE
Calling it “a good example of Alaskans helping fellow
Alaskans,” Governor Palin has announced the award of $46.8 million in grants and
Federal low-income housing tax credits by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
to build or renovate almost 300 rental units for the elderly and people with
disabilities in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, Togiak, Houston, Soldotna,
Houston, Palmer and Kodiak. The Corporation noted that it contributed some
$5.5 million in corporate receipts “to increase the number of affordable and
senior housing units” this year’s awards will produce. And, looking
forward to its next funding round in April, the Corporation says it “stands
ready” to help organizations put together their applications.
SPEAKING OF
WHICH
Affordable housing also got a boost with HUD’s award of $46.9
million in Section 202 and Section 811 grants for the construction of 339 units
of housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Spokane, Tacoma,
Moses Lake, Everett, Kennewick, Coeur d’Alene, Haines, Togiak, Grants Pass,
Springfield, Aloha and Wilsonville. The funds provide the non-profit
developers with capital grants and three years of rent subsidies sot the very
low-income tenants do not spend more than 30 percent of their income on
rent. “I really hadn’t expected funding” because of the bad economy, Rich
Barchet, chairman of SEC Housing in Kennewick, one of this year’s winners, told
The Tri City Herald.
AND FURTHER,
MORE
Another big boost for affordable housing also came with King
County’s announcement, also in January of the award of some $36 million in loans
and grants for 636 new units for families who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness and to provide services and support to help another 300 “very
vulnerable” people out of homelessness. The county noted that the National
Association of Home Builders says every 100 units of new multi-family housing
generates 116 jobs and $8.7 million in income for construction trades and “a
“boost to the local economy.”
BRIEF BRIEFS
TOO
National Trust for Historic Preservation and HUD now
accepting nominations – due March 2nd - for 2009 Secretary’s Award for
Excellence in Historic Preservation at
www.huduser.org/Research/09_hist_award_appl.pdf. .. .Idaho Housing Finance
Association releases schedule of almost 90 Finally Home workshops for first-time
homebuyers in Boise, Caldwell, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Pocatello,
Sandpoint and Twin Falls in 2009. . .USDA Rural Development begins accepting
applications for $45.8 million in loans and grants for to promote rural
community and economic development .. . . . .January 12th Federal Register
publishes 2009 Contract Rent Annual Adjustment Factors notice. . .Ketchum
Mayor calls award of tax credits by Idaho Housing & Finance to 32 unit
affordable project – one of 19 Idaho projects winning tax credits this year – a
“big win” for city that “validates” its support for local community development
corporation. . .HUD awards more than $9.9 million in Indian Community
Development Block Grants to 19 tribes and native organizations in Alaska, Idaho,
Oregon and Washington to build new housing, improve water and sewer facilities,
promote economic development and expand health and education facilities. .
.Seattle Housing Authority wins Evergreen Safety Council award for
“significant achievements” in reduction safety incidents and the costs
associated with them. . .Idaho Mountain Express says that, “like a phoenix
rising from the ashes,” Blaine County housing authority has “resurrected” itself
after trimming $100,000 from budget. . .Newport News Times says Lincoln
County making $100,000 available for local economic and community development
projects. . .Washington Department of Archaeology & Historic
Preservation sets March 5th as deadline for nominations for 19th annual Awards
for Outstanding Achievement in Historic Preservation.
FUNDING-MENTALS
February 4th is deadline to apply for Office of Violence
Against Women Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence & Sexual Assault
grants. . .February 16th is deadline to apply for $1 million in 2008 Urban
Forestry Challenge Grant program. . . Deadline for HUD Section 202
Pre-Development Design grants has been extended to February 18th . . . March
16th is deadline to apply for EPA Community Action for a Renewed Environment
grants . . . March 4th is deadline to apply for Department of Justice Gang
Prevention Coordination Assistance Program grants . . . USDA accepting
applications until May 31st, for household water well funds to give rural
residents “access to clean, safe drinking water.”
COMING
UP
Native American Indian Housing Council hosts workshop on “the
basics” of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program February 10th and 11th in
Portland. For more, visit
http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=682048
HUD Seattle hosts training on the Indian Housing Plan and
Annual Performance Reviews February 11th and 12th in Seattle. For more,
visit
http://www.hud.gov/local/shared/working/r10/nwonap/calendar/event.cfm?record=9153&scheduleID=8914&calendarID=86
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians winter conference in
Tulalip, February 16th to 19th. Register at
http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=673762
The Western Lead Training Center is offering lead abatement
training for supervisors from February 17th to 20th and for workers February
23rd to 25th in Caldwell. For more, visit
http://cbee.oregonstate.edu/wrltc/classes.html
HUD Seattle hosts Federal Labor Standards training for
housing authorities on February 23rd and for grantees on February 24th.
For more, visit
http://www.hud.gov/local/shared/working/r10/olr/training.cfm?state=wa
HUD Spokane hosts Fair Housing Act training March 4th in
Spokane. To register, visit
http://www.hud.gov/apps/calendar/event.cfm?state=id&record=8999&scheduleID=8760&calendarID=16
Idaho Association of Mortgage Brokers holds annual conference
March 19th and 20th in Boise. For more, visit
http://www.idahomortgagebrokers.org/iamb_conference.shtml
HUD Seattle hosts Fair Housing Act training March 25th in
Seattle. To register, visit
http://www.hud.gov/apps/calendar/event.cfm?state=wa&record=9010&scheduleID=8771&calendarID=52
2009 Oregon Heritage and Pacific Northwest History
Conferences to be held April 15th to 18th in Portland. For more, visit
http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/Conference.shtml
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