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Excellence in Affordable Housing Awards 2011
ADVOCACY: Representative Tina Orwall & Bruce Neas - Foreclosure Fairness Act
Representative Tina Orwall became the prime sponsor of HB 1362 improving notification of borrower rights in foreclosure, increasing the number of housing counselors working with homeowners, and providing a process for homeowners to meet face-to-face with lenders to resolve potential foreclosure. Bruce Neas, Attorney with Columbia Legal Services, led negotiations with lender representatives, helped devise a funding mechanism by which the lender and the borrower pay for mediation if needed, and integrated the existing foreclosure counseling program into the process. The Foreclosure Fairness Act passed, becoming effective July 22, 2011. Statewide the number of available housing counselors has doubled, 175 mediators have been trained, and 537 mediation referrals have been made. Mr Neas continues to work with government entities to implement the law.
COMMUNITY IMPACT: Rebuilding Together South Sound
Rebuilding Together South Sound collaborates with community partners to provide free home repairs for low-income homeowners who are elderly or disabled, or are families with children. They spe- cialize in modifications for the home to keep it safe as people age and their physical needs change. In the last 10 years, they have repaired or modified 370 homes and 14 nonprofit facilities in the South Sound, with a market value of more than $4.4 million and directly impacting nearly 1,200 people. In the last fiscal year, 37 ramps and porches have been built or repaired, 28 grab bars installed, 8 roofs repaired or installed, and electrical and plumbing repairs were made at 17 homes, with a market value of nearly $700,000.
INNOVATION: YWCA Pierce County - The Wilsonion
The YWCA purchased the Wilsonion Apartments in December 2008. Believing that even in a down economy, they could raise $5 million to create a better space for women and children fleeing domestic violence, they raised the funds for a complete renovation, with the goal that it be a place anyone would want to live. They broke the stereotype of shelters as confidential locations; it is safe, not secret. The shelter went from 50 to 80 beds, including 23 new bunk beds for kids as a result of partnerships with local companies. Every unit was adopted by interior designers, adding another $500,000 of in- kind donations. Creating privacy for each family has allowed the YWCA to operate with fewer staff, meaning that even with state budget cuts—at least so far—they have not had to reduce these critical services.
SUSTAINABILITY: Puyallup Tribal Housing Authority - NE Longhouse Project
PTHA was tasked with building a culturally relevant development that protected the natural environment including a protected wildlife corridor, left a small carbon footprint, included the existing apartment complex and the surrounding community, used energy saving heating systems to save low-income tenants money on utilities, and created a park-like setting that preserved the open space. PTHA designed a mutli-family living space modeled after traditional longhouses. The project involved residents and members of the com munity, creating a sense of local pride. The first longhouse building has five 1-bedroom and five 2-bedroom units. The design included renovation of an old community building on the site that had become an eyesore. It also included rain gardens, geothermal heating, walking trails, and a play area. The Longhouse project is obtaining LEED platinum certification.
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In Tacoma-Pierce County, as in most areas of the U.S., having a job does not guarantee a family a place to live at an affordable cost. Minimum-wage workers simply do not earn enough. Many seniors and persons with disabilities live on limited incomes. These incomes often aren't adequate to afford the high market-rate rents that are found throughout Pierce County.
Many of these are people you see every day - your child's teacher or childcare worker, the clerk employed at the local store, the woman in the wheelchair or the elderly man on the bus, a police officer, janitor, office worker or waiter. People like you and me.
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When people spend too much money on housing, they don't have enough money left to cover other basic needs, such as transportation, food and health care, or to cope with emergencies.
Affordable housing provides attractive, low-cost homes for people who simply do not earn enough to pay for "market-rate" apartments. It gives people with low and modest incomes safe and decent places to live in our communities.
Formed in 2001, the Tacoma Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium is a nonprofit organization of 62 housing providers, lenders, and other stakeholders who work in Pierce County to provide a unified voice for affordable housing in our community.
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