WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DESIGN
This month’s newsletter includes links to a number of design related articles, more articles than usual about homelessness, several articles about the recovery efforts after Katrina and the recently released rebuilding plan for New Orleans in addition to many articles that have to do with funding, legislation and other issues related to affordable housing design.
Be sure to look at the announcements, studies released, and upcoming events section of the newsletter for information you may find useful.
Title Summary
Articles
Design and Related Articles
Can a Building Have Rhythm? Absolutely, and Good Design Provides the Beat
City Planners Have Big Plans for Small Lots
Utility District and Nonprofit Build Test House in Oak Park
'Smart Growth,' School Support Funds Face High Demand
Renovated Beyond Middle Class Means
Prefab Housing For The Masses
The Power Of Infilltration
Can Boston's Housing Affordability Crisis Be Fixed?
Green Affordable Housing Bill Introduced in the House
Rules Place Stranglehold on Housing
Boston-Area Slowdown Blamed on Local Rules
Conservation Subdivisions Catching On, Worrying Affordability Advocates
Agency Seeks Rezoning for Homes for Adoptive Families
High Percentage of New Mexico 's Homes Arrive on Wheels
Density Rankings Will Inform Growth Debates
'Green' Co-Housing Under Way in Maine
Duany Predicts Growing Demand For New Urbanism Experts
Hotel Conversion Plan Advances City Housing Goals
Habitat to Build Sarasota Condos
Homelessness Related Articles
Numbers of Hungry, Homeless Rise Slightly in Year
Some Under City Program to Combat Homelessness Face Rent Increases
SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS: MIXED USE?
Rural Homeless Shelters Sprout as Demand Grows
More Cities Embracing 'Supportive Housing' for Homelessness
Group Helps Mentally Ill Rebuild Lives
New Genesis Eases Transition From Streets to Stability
The Homeless Capital Of The Nation
Sarasota Collects 'Meanest City' Title
Las Vegas Still on Infamous List
Mayor Kicks Off Homeless Program Involving Metro-Area Congregations
Denver Mayor Recruits Congregations in Plan To End Homelessness
Mean Streets: How America Criminalizes Homelessness
Officials Seeks Residential Facilities to Alleviate Chronic Homelessness
Not So Golden; Retirees Sleep in Truck, Unable to Afford Home
Survey is Counting Gay Youths Who are Homeless
More Young Adults Struggling in Shelter System
Katrina Related Articles
Waning Days of Grace for New Orleans Homeowners
States With Evacuees Try to Add Up the Costs
New Orleans: It's War
Nagin Panel Says Hardest Hit Areas Must Prove Viability
Rebuilding Plan Harshly Criticized
A Responsible Plan
Manufactured Housing: Blessing or Curse For Katrina Survivors?
Home Depot Lease Opens Debate on Agency Priorities
Katrina Devastation Lures National Homebuilding Firms
'Dream Team' To Shape Katrina Rebuilding
New Orleans Recovery Is Model City Planning
Legislation, Funding and other Articles
Regulators Target Mortgage Bankers
Wisconsin Stops Loans to Undocumented Immigrants
Housing Sales Hit Eight-Month Low
People Fleeing Pricey Coastal States for South, West
Program Works With Select Builders to Put Homes on Derelict Lots
Area Colleges Say Federal Funds Will Benefit Communities
Cal State Professors Eligible for City Housing Aid
Groups Assail Housing Lawsuit
County Greenlights Atlanta's Massive Renewal Project
HomeLink Brings Help to Seniors
Land Use Regulations And Housing Prices
Wtc Redevelopment To Have Residential Component
'Cheap Mortgages' Start To Come Due
New Neighborhood With Single-family Homes Fills Vacant Lot on St. Paul 's East Side
Habitat Subdivisions Give Homes a Community Feel
California Housing Finance Agency Launches Loan Program with Habitat for Humanity
Crowding Ordinance Suspended
Stuck Between Nimbyism And Anti-Gentrification
Oxford Builds Affordable Homes To Maintain Standing In Academy
From Hellhole To Safe Haven?
Tenants, Landlords Debate Oversight of Delaware 's Manufactured Home Industry
Higher High-Rise Fee Proposed
Atlanta Mayor Credits Bridge to Private Sector
Utility Rules Criticized for Limiting Housing Opportunities
Is The First Wave Of Gentrification Hitting The South Bronx?
The Battle In Brooklyn
Ken Wade: Homeownership Will Remain 'Strong Engine' for Wealth Creation
West Palm Moves on Affordable Housing
County Looks to Other Regions for Affordable Housing Lessons
DeKalb is Already an Affordable Place to Live
Delray Group Aims for Affordable Housing
New York Lotteries Aid Aspiring Homeowners
State Presents Award to Local Housing Group
Least Affordable Housing Markets In Six Countries
Leaving New Jersey: The Hunt For Affordable Housing
The Emergence Of The Cdc Network
Cleanup Of Times Square A Model For Downtown La?
Announcements
Fannie Mae Foundation Names James A. Johnson Fellows
Awards Announced for Highest-Quality Multifamily Affordable Housing:
The National Urban Fellows Program (NUF) is seeking applicants
Second Annual Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Award.
The Fannie Mae Foundation Fellowship Program in Affordable Housing
FEMA Registration Deadline for KDHAP Extended to March 11
Studies Released
HUD Tracks Worst-Case Housing Needs
Report Covers Housing Voucher Mobility Issues
Recovery, Rebuilding, And Renewal Report Published
Katrina Index: Tracking Variables of Post-Katrina Reconstruction.
Fair Housing
Promising Practices in Revenue Generation for Community Organizing
Analysis Looks at Housing the Homeless Mentally Ill
Study Examines Manufactured Homes in Rural America
An Evaluation Of Metropolitan Planning Organization Boards
Events
Affordable Housing Lenders Meeting, Feb. 9-10
Information and Urban Markets Forum, Feb. 16-17
NLIHC Policy Conference and Lobby Day, Feb. 27-28
Affordable Housing and Child Care:
Reinventing Older Communities: People, Places, Markets April 5-7
NeighborWorks Training Institute ~ Atlanta ~ February 20-24
"Expanding Design" explores alternative community-based work
Conference on Ending Homelessness, Feb. 23-24
ARTICLES
Design Related Articles
A BUILDING CAN HAVE RHYTHM AND GOOD DESIGN PROVIDES THE BEAT
The way a street feels isn’t just about the size and spacing of the buildings, it also has a lot to do with the size and rhythm of the openings in those buildings and how they work together.
Enterprise Network News January
CITY PLANNERS HAVE BIG PLANS FOR SMALL LOTS
The Los Angeles Planning Department and Enterprise Community Partners are cosponsoring a competition to produce a residential design for a small city lot owned by the nonprofit Enterprise Home Ownership Partners, reported The Daily News. KnowledgePlex January 5
UTILITY DISTRICT AND NONPROFIT BUILD TEST HOUSE IN OAK PARK
The Sacramento , Calif. , Municipal Utility District and Sacramento Habitat for Humanity are co-developing an energy-efficient home for a low-income family, reported the Sacramento Bee.
KnowledgePlex January 5
'SMART GROWTH,' SCHOOL SUPPORT FUNDS FACE HIGH DEMAND
According to some officials, Massachusetts may be unable to meet the high demand for state funds under two new laws encouraging affordable housing development, reported The Boston Globe.
KnowledgePlex January 5
RENOVATED BEYOND MIDDLE CLASS MEANS
In Hastings-On-Hudson, NY, one house's history follows the price bubble's rise. Jan 04 2006 -- The New York Times
Planetizen January 5
PREFAB HOUSING FOR THE MASSES
Prefabricated housing used to be a dirty word in the housing business. Today, many designer prefab houses are an affordable and elegant solution -- maybe even the "holy grail of modernism". Jan 05 2006 -- Wired Magazine
Planetizen January 9
THE POWER OF INFILLTRATION
Planning Magazine examines how cities are encouraging multifamily projects and higher densities. Jan 05 2006 -- Planning Magazine
Planetizen January 9
CAN BOSTON'S HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS BE FIXED?
The Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research summarizes a recent study by Harvard University economist Edward L. Glaeser that charges that zoning is major cause of the crisis in Massachusetts' housing affordability. Jan 08 2006 -- The Boston Globe
Planetizen January 9
GREEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
Representatives Adam Smith (WA), Earl Blumenauer (OR) and John Lewis (GA) recently introduced the High Performance Buildings bill (H.R. 4609), which encourages sustainable development in affordable housing. The bill establishes a grant program to assist nonprofit organizations in building “green” affordable housing. It also encourages local jurisdictions to include sustainable development provisions in their consolidated plans.
Enterprise Network News January
RULES PLACE STRANGLEHOLD ON HOUSING
Besides increasing housing prices by constricting supply, regulations appear to have environmental impacts, wrote the Pioneer Institute's executive director in an opinion article for The Boston Globe. Ten of the communities surveyed ban multifamily development outright. In the others, the rules are so tight that most multifamily projects are built under Chapter 40B, a state law allowing developers who include affordable housing to bypass local zoning requirements.
KnowledgePlex January 11
BOSTON-AREA SLOWDOWN BLAMED ON LOCAL RULES
According to a new report by Harvard University 's Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston and the Pioneer Institute, locally mandated lot sizes and other developer requirements are driving up housing prices in the Boston region, reported The Boston Globe.
KnowledgePlex January 11
CONSERVATION SUBDIVISIONS WORRYING AFFORDABILITY ADVOCATES
Zoning codes that reward subdivision developers for clustering smaller lots to preserve open space are increasingly popular in Waukesha County , Wis. , reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. For example, the Town of Mukwonago 's ordinance requires at least 40 percent of the land in each development to be preserved as open space but allows developers more flexibility to work in sensitive natural areas.
KnowledgePlex January 11
AGENCY SEEKS REZONING FOR HOMES FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES
An adoption agency in Hillsborough County , Fla. , wants to develop a community for foster children, their sponsor families, and senior citizens who would help care for the children, reported the Tampa Tribune.
KnowledgePlex January 11
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF NEW MEXICO 'S HOMES ARRIVE ON WHEELS
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, New Mexico ranks second only to South Carolina in percentage of state housing units that are mobile homes, reported The Santa Fe New Mexican. In New Mexico , 18.6 percent of housing units are mobile homes, compared with 20.3 percent in South Carolina and only 0.2 percent in Hawaii , reports the Bureau's latest U.S. Statistical Abstract.
KnowledgePlex January 18
DENSITY RANKINGS WILL INFORM GROWTH DEBATES
A new density study of Austin , Texas , injects "hard numbers" into a contentious, long-running debate, reported the Austin American-Statesman.
KnowledgePlex January 18
'GREEN' CO-HOUSING UNDER WAY IN MAINE
Builders in Mount Desert Island , Maine , expect to break ground on an environmentally friendly co-housing project as soon as midsummer, reported the Bangor Daily News.KnowledgePlex January 18
DUANY PREDICTS GROWING DEMAND FOR NEW URBANISM EXPERTS
New Urbanism pioneer Andres Duany says the movement could change affordable housing and predict growing demand for experts.
Jan 22 2006 -- Orlando Business Journal
Planetizen January 23
HOTEL CONVERSION PLAN ADVANCES CITY HOUSING GOALS
The Anaheim , Calif. , City Council plans to purchase a deteriorated hotel for $5.3 million and transfer it to a nonprofit for redevelopment as affordable housing, reported the Orange County Register.
KnowledgePlex January 25
HABITAT TO BUILD SARASOTA CONDOS
Under a partnership described as "precedent-setting," Habitat for Humanity's Sarasota , Fla. , chapter will develop condominiums on land purchased from the Sarasota Housing Authority.
KnowledgePlex January 25
HOMELESSNESS RELATED ARTICLES
NUMBERS OF HUNGRY, HOMELESS RISE SLIGHTLY IN YEAR
The U.S. Conference of Mayors' new Hunger and Homelessness Survey found that demand for emergency food and shelter this past year increased "slightly less than usual," reported The San Francisco Chronicle.
KnowledgePlex January 5
SOME UNDER PROGRAM TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS FACE RENT INCREASES
Over the last year, 4,700 formerly homeless families on welfare enrolled in New York City 's new Housing Stability Plus program, reported Newsday.
KnowledgePlex January 5
SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS: MIXED USE?
San Diego has built apartments close to services to help keep homeless off the streets. Jan 04 2006 -- Christian Science Monitor
Planetizen January 5
RURAL HOMELESS SHELTERS SPROUT AS DEMAND GROWS
Although the rural homeless are less visible than their urban counterparts, rural communities are stepping up efforts to serve them, reported the Omaha World-Herald.
KnowledgePlex January 11
MORE CITIES EMBRACING 'SUPPORTIVE HOUSING' FOR HOMELESSNESS
A three-square-block community for formerly homeless people in San Diego represents a homeless treatment strategy that is appearing in cities across the nation, reported the Christian Science Monitor. The St. Vincent de Paul Village includes 90 mostly studio apartments; clinic space for 12 psychiatrists, doctors, dentists, case workers, and substance abuse counselors; and a site for Catholic church services.
KnowledgePlex January 11
GROUP HELPS MENTALLY ILL REBUILD LIVES
According to a homelessness expert with the city of St. Louis, about five of the city's 50 or so homeless service agencies take a "housing first" approach to handling homelessness, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. One such group is Places for People, which serves people with mental illness.
KnowledgePlex January 11
NEW GENESIS EASES TRANSITION FROM STREETS TO STABILITY
A Denver-based organization uses a three-step process to help homeless people achieve self-sufficiency, reported the Rocky Mountain News.
KnowledgePlex January 11
THE HOMELESS CAPITAL OF THE NATION
A new report details just how serious the homeless problem is in Los Angeles County. Jan 12 2006 -- Los Angfeles Times
Planetizen January 17
SARASOTA COLLECTS 'MEANEST CITY' TITLE
A new report from the National Coalition for the Homeless lists Sarasota , Fla. , as the nation's least charitable city to the homeless, reported the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The coalition and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty reviewed 224 U.S. cities, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
KnowledgePlex January 18
LAS VEGAS STILL ON INFAMOUS LIST
Sarasota and Las Vegas officials defended their cities' records, the articles said. Sarasota 's new law allows police officers to send offenders to the Salvation Army instead of jail. The law helps protect the homeless and leads them to services, said city officials. Las Vegas is using $5.4 million in 2005 federal homeless assistance funds to create 121 new housing units for various homeless subgroups, said Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.
KnowledgePlex January 18
MAYOR KICKS OFF HOMELESS PROGRAM INVOLVING AREA CONGREGATIONS
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper officially launched an initiative engaging congregations in the city's 10-year plan to end homelessness, reported The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News.
KnowledgePlex January 18
MAYOR RECRUITS CONGREGATIONS IN PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
Hickenlooper persuaded 65 congregations to join the 45 already involved in mentoring. Another 90 congregations said they are considering participation. Under the program, congregations are asked to give $1,200 to the Denver Rescue Mission for each homeless family they agree to assist. Mission staff finds housing for the family and pays the first month's rent and security deposit. Over the course of four to six months, mentors meet with the families to teach budgeting, parenting, and other self-sufficiency skills. Mentors are prohibited from trying to religiously convert the families.
KnowledgePlex January 18
MEAN STREETS: HOW AMERICA CRIMINALIZES HOMELESSNESS
The National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty review the state of the homeless in 20 of America's "meanest" cities, as well as those cities which have adopted more constructive measures for addressing housing Jan 16 2006 -- National Coalition for the Homeless
Planetizen January 19
OFFICIALS SEEK TO ALLEVIATE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
Los Angeles housing officials want to create about 3,000 new permanent supportive homes for the chronically homeless, reported the Los Angeles Times.
KnowledgePlex January 25
NOT SO GOLDEN; RETIREES SLEEP IN TRUCK, UNABLE TO AFFORD HOME
According to experts, an increasing number of homeless people in California 's Inland region and across the nation are senior citizens, reported The Press Enterprise. KnowledgePlex January 25
SURVEY IS COUNTING GAY YOUTHS WHO ARE HOMELESS
This summer, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community Center of Greater Cleveland will survey the sexual identities of young homeless people in Northeast Ohio , reported the Plain Dealer.
KnowledgePlex January 25
MORE YOUNG ADULTS STRUGGLING IN SHELTER SYSTEM
According to Philip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, more people across the country are talking about homelessness among young adults, reported The Boston Globe.
KnowledgePlex January 25
Katrina Related Articles
WANING DAYS OF GRACE FOR NEW ORLEANS HOMEOWNERS
Although most home lenders have granted victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita 180 days to resume mortgage payments, "strains are showing," reported the Los Angeles Times.
KnowledgePlex January 5
STATES WITH EVACUEES TRY TO ADD UP THE COSTS
Officials in Texas , Georgia , Arkansas , and other states are trying to factor the costs of providing support to hurricane evacuees in their 2006 budgets, reported the Los Angeles Times.
KnowledgePlex January 11
NEW ORLEANS: IT'S WAR
The debate over the redevelopment of New Orleans is now being framed as a "war", a "battle" and a even "guerilla struggle", with community organizations pitched against developers and politicians over policies and plans for rebuilding. Jan 13 2006 -- TomPaine Common Sense
Planetizen January 17
NAGIN PANEL SAYS HARDEST HIT AREAS MUST PROVE VIABILITY
The rebuilding commission appointed by New Orleans ' Mayor Ray Nagin recommends a moratorium on building permits in the areas most damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Under the plan by the commission's land-use panel, residents in hard-hit areas would have four months to prove that their neighborhoods can recover.
KnowledgePlex January 18
REBUILDING PLAN HARSHLY CRITICIZED
Under the plan, 80 percent of the city would be subject to planning processes potentially leading to buyouts or redevelopment, reported The Advocate. Four city council members harshly criticized the rebuilding plan, saying it violates private property rights while forestalling the hopes of those planning to return and rebuild. The New Orleans branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has also rejected the plan.
KnowledgePlex January 18
A RESPONSIBLE PLAN
According to an editorial in the Times-Picayune, "residents shouldn't let controversial issues turn them off to the plan," which represents a responsible approach to "redeveloping a great city." If the moratorium is scrapped, residents could end up sinking money into dying neighborhoods, the article said. Given that some neighborhoods are bound to fail, it would be better to make investment decisions within four months rather than letting homeowners remain in limbo for years, the article said.
KnowledgePlex January 18
MANUFACTURED HOUSING: BLESSING OR CURSE FOR KATRINA SURVIVORS?
The pieces may be falling into place for a green transformation of the manufactured housing market.- Healthy Building Network
ArchNewsNow January 24
HOME DEPOT LEASE OPENS DEBATE ON AGENCY PRIORITIES
Home Depot will build a temporary store on vacant land in a now-unoccupied public housing complex in New Orleans , reported the Times-Picayune. The Housing Authority of New Orleans approved the 364-day lease to generate
KnowledgePlex January 25
KATRINA DEVASTATION LURES NATIONAL HOMEBUILDING FIRMS
National homebuilders seeking a share of post-Katrina residential development activity in Louisiana are wooing local builders to partner on projects, reported The Advocate. Renaissance Development Group LLC is among the companies fielding offers from national builders to help construct projects that have already obtained development approvals.
KnowledgePlex January 25
'DREAM TEAM' TO SHAPE KATRINA REBUILDING
Peter Calthorpe and Andres Duany are among those involved in shaping the rebuilding efforts after hurricane Katrina. Jan 23 2006 -- Associated Press
Planetizen January 26
NEW ORLEANS RECOVERY IS MODEL CITY PLANNING
Neal Peirce argues that despite negative reports in the press, the Katrina rebuilding process is shaping up to be a superlative planning effort, a unique opportunity to rid New Orleans of corruption and involve more citizens. Jan 23 2006 -- National Academy of Public Administration
Planetizen January 26
LEGISLATION, FUNDING AND OTHER ARTICLES
REGULATORS TARGET MORTGAGE BANKERS
Addressing concerns that loose lending practices could lead to an economy-damaging rash of defaults, top federal regulators directed banks to disclose the risky terms of interest-only loans and other nontraditional mortgages, reported The Washington Times. KnowledgePlex January 5
WISCONSIN STOPS LOANS TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed legislation halting state-sponsored mortgage loans to undocumented immigrants with tax identification numbers, reported The Capital Times. KnowledgePlex January 5
HOUSING SALES HIT EIGHT-MONTH LOW
Sales of previously owned homes in the United States dropped to an eight-month low in November, buttressing predictions of continued softening in the housing market, reported The Record.
KnowledgePlex January 5
PEOPLE FLEEING PRICEY COASTAL STATES FOR SOUTH, WEST
According to an analysis of recent Census population estimates, Americans are leaving expensive coastal states for jobs and affordable homes in the nation's more moderately priced areas, reported USA TODAY .
KnowledgePlex January 5
PROGRAM WORKS WITH BUILDERS TO PUT HOMES ON DERELICT LOTS
Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo has launched a program to build affordable single-family homes on blighted lots, reported the Los Angeles Times.
KnowledgePlex January 5
AREA COLLEGES SAY FEDERAL FUNDS WILL BENEFIT COMMUNITIES
Three schools in Western New York are among 13 U.S. colleges that recently won grants from a federal program to help revitalize struggling neighborhoods, reported the Buffalo News.
KnowledgePlex January 5
CAL STATE PROFESSORS ELIGIBLE FOR CITY HOUSING AID
A month after deadlocking on the issue, the San Bernardino , Calif. , City Council voted to allow home purchase assistance grants of up to $70,000 to qualifying Cal State San Bernardino professors, reported The Press Enterprise.
KnowledgePlex January 5
GROUPS ASSAIL HOUSING LAWSUIT
Attorneys representing a coalition of low-income people and affordable housing advocates have asked the Sacramento Superior Court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Sacramento County 's inclusionary zoning law, reported the Sacramento Bee.
KnowledgePlex January 5
COUNTY GREENLIGHTS ATLANTA 'S MASSIVE RENEWAL PROJECT
The Fulton County, Ga., Commission recently approved a special 6,545-acre taxing district, a decision that allows work to begin on Atlanta's largest-ever urban renewal program, reported The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
KnowledgePlex January 5
HOMELINK BRINGS HELP TO SENIORS
According to a Hillsborough County, Fla., nonprofit executive, his organization may be the only one in the country matching seniors who need help with yard work and other chores with developmentally disabled people seeking job skills. Through its HomeLink program, the Hillsborough Association for Retarded Citizens dispatches 10 HARC clients working on three teams to the homes of elderly citizens in the Tampa Bay area, reported the St. Petersburg Times.
KnowledgePlex January 5
LAND USE REGULATIONS AND HOUSING PRICES
A new report from Harvard shows that Boston's housing affordability crisis is created fundamentally by regulation. Jan 02 2006 Boston Globe
Planetizen January 5
WTC REDEVELOPMENT TO HAVE RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT
With a decisive win in his re-election, Mayor Bloomberg spoke to his priorities for his final term as chief of the the US's largest city in his second inaugural address on New Year's Day: Affordable housing and the World Trade Center. Jan 03 2006 -- The New York Times
Planetizen January 5
'CHEAP MORTGAGES' START TO COME DUE
Homeowners who gambled on risky mortgage products could find themselves paying hundreds of dollars more per month in the coming year as these products are reset to real-world interest rates. Jan 06 2006 -- Herald-Tribune
Planetizen January 9
Critics Say California Plan Shortchanges Housing, Transit
Housing and transportation advocates in California are criticizing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 10-year public works construction plan for failing to include affordable housing and greater mass-transit funds, according to an analysis in The San Francisco Chronicle.
KnowledgePlex January 11
NEW NEIGHBORHOOD WITH SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES FILLS VACANT LOT
In partnership with a local nonprofit developer, the Twin Cities , Minn. , Habitat for Humanity is creating a 30-home community next to a public housing project in St. Paul , reported the Star Tribune.
KnowledgePlex January 11
HABITAT SUBDIVISIONS GIVE HOMES A COMMUNITY FEEL
Cobb County , Ga. , Habitat for Humanity began building subdivisions similar to those developed by for-profits "after a bruising rezoning battle" before county commissioners, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
KnowledgePlex January 11
HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY LAUNCHES LOAN PROGRAM WITH HABITAT
The California Housing Finance Agency has created a new homeownership assistance program specifically for California Habitat for Humanity affiliates, according to a press release from CalHFA and Habitat for Humanity International.
KnowledgePlex January 11
CROWDING ORDINANCE SUSPENDED
After the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia threatened to sue Manassas , Va. , city officials suspended a zoning ordinance prohibiting members of an extended family from sharing a home, reported The Washington Times.
KnowledgePlex January 11
STUCK BETWEEN NIMBYISM AND ANTI-GENTRIFICATION
Neighbors don't want public housing, public housing residents don't want their homes gentrified -- not quite a win-win situation. Jan 14 2006 -- San Francisco Weekly
Planetizen January 17
OXFORD BUILDS AFFORDABLE HOMES TO MAINTAIN STANDING IN ACADEMEShortage of affordable housing causes problems recruiting new faculty at one of the world's top higher education institutions. Jan 12 2006 -- Guardian Unlimited
Planetizen January 17
FROM HELLHOLE TO SAFE HAVEN?
How did a Seattle non-profit raise $27 million and reinvent one of the most notorious public housing complexes in the city? Jan 14 2006 -- Seattle Weekly
Planetizen January 17
DEBATE OVERSIGHT OF DELAWARE 'S MANUFACTURED HOME INDUSTRY
At the behest of manufactured home park tenants, Delaware lawmakers are considering bills imposing park rent controls and other tenant protections, reported the Delaware State News.
KnowledgePlex January 18
HIGHER HIGH-RISE FEE PROPOSED
According to a new study, profits from a proposed increase in allowable building heights downtown would allow Seattle developers to contribute more to affordable housing, reported The Seattle Times. Mayor Greg Nickels wants to allow taller buildings to help curb sprawl and reduce traffic.
KnowledgePlex January 18
ATLANTA MAYOR CREDITS BRIDGE TO PRIVATE SECTOR
Newly reelected Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin credits her partnership with the city's business elite for progress toward eliminating homelessness and other goals, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Regional Commission on Homelessness, an organization of business and civic leaders, raised about half of the $40 million that Franklin plans to spend on the drive to eliminate homelessness, the article said.
KnowledgePlex January 18
UTILITY RULES CRITICIZED FOR LIMITING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
Austin , Texas , social service providers say rules enacted last year by Austin Energy are making it harder for some low-income families to find safe, permanent housing, reported the Austin American-Statesman.
KnowledgePlex January 18
IS THE FIRST WAVE OF GENTRIFICATION HITTING THE SOUTH BRONX?
As real estate prices continue to skyrocket, the South Bronx is experiencing a sudden influx of new residents. Jan 18 2006 -- New York Times
Planetizen January 19
THE BATTLE IN BROOKLYN
New York ACORN's deal with a major private developer to incorporate a higher-than-average number of affordable housing units could provide an unprecedented strategy for collaboration and partnership. Jan 18 2006 -- Shelterforce Magazine
Planetizen January 19
HOMEOWNERSHIP WILL REMAIN 'STRONG ENGINE' FOR WEALTH CREATION
In the current issue of Shelterforce, Ken Wade, NeighborWorks CEO, said while home prices or interest rates rise or fall over the short term, homeownership is likely to remain the strongest engine for creating wealth. "Blacks are more than twice as likely as whites to use their home equity to increase future wealth through investment in business or education," says Wade. "In short, homeownership creates traction for accumulating future wealth, and we must do all we can to keep this hope for the future alive."
NeighborWorks Alert January
WEST PALM MOVES ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
A new temporary policy approved by West Palm Beach city commissioners would require downtown residential developers to support affordable housing, reported the Palm Beach Post.
KnowledgePlex January 25
COUNTY LOOKS TO OTHER REGIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING LESSONS
In Palm Beach County , Fla. , efforts to require builders to include reduced-price homes in their projects have met resistance, reported the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Local builders recently blocked a proposed ordinance mandating that 20 percent of new neighborhoods be affordable, saying it would encourage developers to build elsewhere.
KnowledgePlex January 25
DEKALB IS ALREADY AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE
According to an opinion article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a proposed inclusionary zoning ordinance in DeKalb County would be "a gross violation of property rights" and "encourage builders to move elsewhere." The measure would require residential developers to set aside 15 percent of their projects as affordable homes. According to the commissioner who wrote the article, the DeKalb County Commission is wrongly assuming that the county is undergoing a housing crisis. Housing prices are not beyond the reach of such workers as teachers or police officers, the article says.
KnowledgePlex January 25
DELRAY GROUP AIMS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
According to an official with the Delray Beach , Fla. , Community Redevelopment Agency, the city's new Community Land Trust will help lower- and middle-income workers become homeowners, reported the Palm Beach Post. The trust will acquire existing homes as well as properties for mixed-use and housing developments and sell homes on trust lands to families making between $10,000 and $70,000 a year, he said.
KnowledgePlex January 25
NEW YORK LOTTERIES AID ASPIRING HOMEOWNERS
Since its founding 18 years ago, the Long Island , N.Y., Housing Partnership has held 30 lotteries through which more than 1,000 families have bought homes, reported Newsday. KnowledgePlex January 25
STATE PRESENTS AWARD TO LOCAL HOUSING GROUP
A Brattleboro , Vt. , housing nonprofit was among the 14 winners of a new awards program recognizing individuals, groups, and projects that assist in the state's human services delivery, reported the Brattleboro Reformer.
KnowledgePlex January 25
LEAST AFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKETS IN SIX COUNTRIES
This second annual survey by Demographia rates and compares the affordability of the one hundred major urban property markets in the six nations covered. Jan 24 2006 -- Demographia
Planetizen January 26
LEAVING NEW JERSEY: THE HUNT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Residents of New Jersey are migrating to Atlanta, Florida, and even the Bronx in search of affordable housing choices. Jan 26 2006 -- The New York Times
Planetizen January 30
THE EMERGENCE OF THE CDC NETWORK
Grassroots groups, developers, bankers and others are sharing knowledge and collaborating on campaigns to change state and local community development policies. Jan 26 2006 -- Shelterforce Magazine
Planetizen January 30
CLEANUP OF TIMES SQUARE A MODEL FOR DOWNTOWN LA?
Can downtown Los Angeles' problem with homelessness on skid row be
solved by the same principles that changed the image of Times Square? Jan 28 2006 -- Los Angeles Times
Planetizen January 30
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FANNIE MAE FOUNDATION NAMES JAMES A. JOHNSON FELLOWS
The Fannie Mae Foundation has named its four 2005 James A. Johnson Community Fellows. The program recognizes innovative affordable housing practitioners who exemplify the leadership demonstrated by James A. Johnson, former chairman of both Fannie Mae and the Fannie Mae Foundation. Each Fellow will receive a grant of up to $115,000 to pursue one-year professional development plans to enhance their skills and explore new solutions to challenges in affordable housing and community development. KnowledgePlex January 5
AWARDS FOR HIGHEST-QUALITY MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING:
The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2005 Communities of Quality Awards™ program. Now in its 13th year, the COQ awards honor the achievements of affordable housing providers who utilize cutting-edge and increasingly effective methods of developing and maintaining outstanding properties that are home to families of modest means.
NAHMA Newsrelease
THE NATIONAL URBAN FELLOWS PROGRAM (NUF) IS SEEKING APPLICANTS
Interested in becoming leaders in government, nonprofit, and private-sector businesses to sustain and enhance urban communities? The rigorous, full-time graduate program of two semesters, a nine month mentorship, and a three-day professional/leadership development conference, leads to a Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch College School of Public Affairs. The application deadline is Feb. 24.
LISC eNewsletter January 17
SECOND ANNUAL ROBERT L. WOODSON, JR. AWARD.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is now seeking nominations from states and localities for the second annual Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Award. The Award is intended to recognize local communities for their outstanding leadership in reducing regulations that discourage affordable housing production. The nomination deadline is March 15.
LISC eNewsletter January 17
FANNIE MAE FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN AFFORDABLE HOUSINGIn partnership with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, is now accepting applications. The program is offered to support the professional development of senior state and local government officials and nonprofit leaders committed to affordable housing in the United States. The three-week fellowship program, taking place in June and July, is intended to enhance the management and decision-making skills of accomplished leaders experienced in managing housing and community development programs. The application deadline is March 31.
LISC eNewsletter January 17
FEMA REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR KDHAP EXTENDED TO MARCH 11
The FEMA registration deadline for potentially eligible Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP) families is extended from December 31, 2005 to March 11, 2006. KDHAP is a HUD/FEMA initiative to aid households that are affected by hurricane damage in the Gulf Coast.
NeighborWorks Alert January
STUDIES RELEASED
HUD TRACKS WORST-CASE HOUSING NEEDS
According to a new report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of very low-income households that pay more than half of their income for housing or that live in substandard conditions remains essentially unchanged from the mid-1990s.
KnowledgePlex January 5
REPORT COVERS HOUSING VOUCHER MOBILITY ISSUES
A new report from the Poverty & Race Research Action Council seeks to capture the insights and information shared during the Third National Conference on Housing Mobility, hosted by PRRAC in December 2004. The report includes new research summaries on housing mobility and guidelines for improved housing voucher policy and program management to promote choice and mobility.
KnowledgePlex January 11
RECOVERY, REBUILDING, AND RENEWAL REPORT PUBLISHED
The Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal'sfinal report to Governor Haley Barbour is published on the web. Jan 11 2006 -- Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal
Planetizen January 12
KATRINA INDEX: TRACKING VARIABLES OF POST-KATRINA RECONSTRUCTION.
From the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program, indexes nearly 50 economic and social indicators that measure the impact of the rebuilding efforts. The index will be updated monthly through Dec. 2006.
LISC eNewsletter January 17
FAIR HOUSING
HUD Needs Better Assurance that Intake and Investigation Processes Are Consistently Thorough is a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The study is an examination of HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and related state and local Fair Housing Assistance Program agencies that receive and investigate several thousand complaints of housing discrimination annually.
LISC eNewsletter January 17
PRACTICES IN REVENUE GENERATION FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
The Center for Community Change study on how organizing is funded and how to generate revenue for community organizing. The authors interviewed more than 100 community organizers, funders, and experienced observers to identify useful practices. The study describes dozens of examples of successful fundraisers and includes a comprehensive annotated bibliography.
LISC eNewsletter January 17
ANALYSIS LOOKS AT HOUSING THE HOMELESS MENTALLY ILL
A new report from the Corporation for Supportive Housing describes some of the housing strategies used by pilot mental health programs funded by the state of California. Forty-three of the state's 53 mental health programs responded to the researchers' survey. According to the report, the responding programs have succeeded in helping their constituents -- even those with the greatest mental health challenges -- become stably housed. The programs use a variety of strategies to find housing for consumers, including developing new units, securing dedicated Section 8 vouchers, and using program funds for rental subsidies.
KnowledgePlex January 17
STUDY EXAMINES MANUFACTURED HOMES IN RURAL AMERICA
Dramatic improvements in the structure and appearance of manufactured homes -- along with a growing need for cost-efficient, readily available housing -- have given new life to manufactured housing investment. Yet financing problems and poor business practices continue to dog the industry. And debate continues about whether manufactured units can serve as a sustainable source of affordable homeownership. To inform this debate, a new study by the Housing Assistance Council takes a comprehensive look at manufactured housing in rural America.
KnowledgePlex January 17
AN EVALUATION OF METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION BOARDS
Is there an inherent bias in the geographic and racial-ethnic patterns of Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) boards? Jan 24 2006 -- The Brookings Institution
Planetizen January 26
EVENTS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING LENDERS MEETING, FEB. 9-10
The National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders will hold its 2006 Washington, D.C., Meeting Feb. 9-10. Members and nonmembers are invited to hear firsthand from Washington insiders and experts about the critical legislative and regulatory issues that will affect community investment in the next 12 months. Register by Jan. 13 to qualify for the early registration fee.
KnowledgePlex January 5
INFORMATION AND URBAN MARKETS FORUM, FEB. 16-17
The Urban Markets Initiative of the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program will host its inaugural conference Feb. 16-17 in Washington , D.C. The forum will focus on how to effectively use information to create healthy urban markets.
KnowledgePlex January 5
NLIHC POLICY CONFERENCE AND LOBBY DAY, FEB. 27-28
The National Low Income Housing Coalition will hold its annual housing policy conference and lobby day Feb. 27-28 in Washington , D.C. The opening plenary session will focus on post-hurricane affordable housing policies. National Public Radio Senior Correspondent Juan Williams will deliver a keynote address on the role of affordable housing in the civil rights movement.
KnowledgePlex January 11
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CHILD CARE:
The Nuts and Bolts of Successful Development, a training institute consisting of four sequential 2-day modules, will be in Northern California in Feb. 2006, New York City in March 2006, and in Southern California in April 2006. The Institute is designed specifically for housing developers considering child care operators as development partners and tenants in their projects.LISC eNewsletter January 17
REINVENTING OLDER COMMUNITIES: PEOPLE, PLACES, MARKETS APRIL 5-7
This national conference brings together community developers, planners, government leaders, bankers, researchers, and funders to examine topics such as schools, the arts, parks, brownfields, displacement, foreclosures, community organizing, eminent domain, and waterfront development.
LISC eNewsletter January 17
NEIGHBORWORKS TRAINING INSTITUTE ~ ATLANTA ~ FEBRUARY 20-24
This event — an ideal venue for building your skills and enhancing your career — promises to be an exciting and educational experience, with a fantastic line-up of cutting-edge course offerings and plenty of opportunities to network with your colleagues and peers. Learn more about our featured courses in the following subject areas and enroll today
NeighborWorks Alert January
"EXPANDING DESIGN" EXPLORES ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED WORK Structures for Inclusion 6 Conference (SFI6): March 24-26, San Francisco- Design Corps ArchNewsNow January 25
CONFERENCE ON ENDING HOMELESSNESS, FEB. 23-24
The American Bar Association's Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law and St. Louis University Public Law Review will host a conference on creating healthy communities by ending homelessness Feb. 23-24 in St. Louis . KnowledgePlex January 25
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The Center for Innovation in Affordable Housing Design, is a partnership between Penn Design at the University of Pennsylvania and the Peoples Emergency Center Community Development Corporation (PECCDC).
The target="_blank"Center for Innovation in Affordable Housing is funded by a Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) futures grant from the Office of University Partnerships of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. You can find out more about the OUP here, and more about the current COPC grants here.
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