A Letter From Your President, Cupid Alexander |
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Greetings Housers,
The month of November brings many things for us to be thankful for, and as we continue to navigate reduced convening opportunities, a limit to the working hours of many of our neighbors and friends, please take care of yourself-especially during these cold months.
Additionally, I would like to extend an opportunity for those of you who would like to be apart of the PNRC- NAHRO regional conference planning committee to let us know! We are beginning the planning conversation and would love your energy and ideas.
Thank you for all you do and have a productive month
Cupid S. Alexander
PNRC Regional
President
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Three Reasons to Get Excited About Next Week's #NAHRONavigates Conference |
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Here are just three reasons you won't want to miss out!
1. Hear our latest Washington Report: What does the 2020 Election mean for housing and community development?
2. Listen in on several panels on HUD programs, MTW, and repositioning.
3. We'll be revealing this year's What Home Means To Me contest winners!
Join us from your home, your office – or from anywhere you like!
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Mainstream Voucher Leasing Success |
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The Everett Housing Authority is proud to share our success in leasing Mainstream Vouchers. We received our first award of 60 vouchers on March 1 and have 43 leased as of November 1. Of the first 26 vouchers we’ve issued, 25 have leased up or 96%! The remaining voucher ported out, so we are hopeful to achieve 100% leasing from our first issuances.
We attribute our success to a number of key factors. First is our talented eligibility team. Certification Specialists Paula Fish and Shauna Garza and HCV Manager, Vanessa Figueroa, are finding creative ways to communicate with clients and provide additional supports. They are using technology to brief clients in whatever way they can to connect. They have implemented housing search supports such as bi-weekly phone check-ins, providing active listings and warm referrals to the YWCA for deposit assistance.
A second is our partnership with Snohomish County. We are collaborating and to identify Mainstream applicants who are currently served by Snohomish County service providers. Applicants are then able to receive support from service providers with whom they already have a relationship.
A third factor is our early adoption of on-line workflow using our Yardi software. We were able to update our waiting list in preparation of our selection using their Save My Spot functionality. Using Yardi has reduced the time between notifying applicants of selection and having them start the on-line workflow. We see applications started within minutes of sending the notification. We are grateful that we made this transition before being impacted by the pandemic.
These factors have reduced our average time from issuance to lease-up from 80 days to 62. This would be an amazing accomplishment during normal times but is even more remarkable that all of this happened during the pandemic!
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Yes! A Carwash. Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships, in Pocatello, recently closed on the purchase of a carwash. There have been plenty of jokes and suggestions! The best was “folks could get a free carwash as an incentive for completing their annual paperwork”. But we have bigger plans for that carwash!
The property is just across the alley from the HACP main office building as well as a public housing property. With a huge parking lot, the public housing residents will appreciate some extra parking spaces and part of the building will be converted to offices to be an annex for our HCV program. But wait! There’s more! The carwash bay will be converted to a workforce development center. This project was already in process when the agency learned that we may qualify for MTW status and it will go nicely with our plans going forward.
We are so excited for the opportunity this purchase will provide to our residents and to our community!
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During the pandemic, YHA staff wondered how they could still be of service to the community. They decided on a plan to create "PPE Bags", containing donated masks, gloves, small bottles of hand sanitizer, and flyers with lists of available resources and distributed them (hanging them on door knobs) to YHA residents. Yakima County at that time had a high number of COVID cases, and PPE supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer, were scarce. Their thought was, if YHA could reach 1,000 people, it could make a small dent in the number of overall cases in Yakima County, while keeping YHA residents safe. |
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We're looking for an asset-management leader!
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The Washington State Housing Finance Commission is hiring a new Director of Asset Management and Compliance to manage and direct the statewide strategic development and implementation of our affordable-housing portfolio. Learn more about the job and how to apply here: http://www.wshfc.org/admin/AMCDirectorNov2020.pdf
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The coronavirus has derailed the usual fundraising efforts for NAHRO's Merit College Scholarship Program. Now, NAHRO looks to host an event we would have never thought possible before.
In 2017, The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) established the NAHRO Merit College Scholarship Program. Eight scholarships are awarded nationwide to candidates, one from each NAHRO region, who are pursuing a post-secondary degree.
Mark your calendar for November 30th - December 10th to ensure you won’t miss this incredible “NAHRO Dollars for Scholars Online Auction.”
By participating in the NAHRO Dollars for Scholars Online Auction benefitting the NAHRO Merit College Scholarship Program, you will be making a direct investment and empower the future of children in communities we serve.
The Auction will be online! You will receive a link to access the online auction prior to the start date. Once the Auction starts on November 30th you will have the opportunity to place bids using the online Auction platform on baskets from across the country until it closes on December 10th. At the close of the Auction, the highest bidder on each item is the winner!
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The Gift of Winter Essentials |
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Nampa Housing Authority decided to go a different route this winter. In past years we would giveaway coats to our residents and community members. Being that this year has been rough for everyone especially the families we serve, the NHA team took things in another direction and decided to give away winter essentials. We know that this season calls for other items besides a warm coat.
With the help from Ross Dress for Less and their generous donation we were able to provide warm hats, gloves, socks, and undergarments for children 10 and under. Being that these items are always necessary, and they are the ones that children tend to go through the most. We held this event in a drive-thru fashion to continue to follow guidelines for covid-19 and to keep everyone safe. We also put together several hygiene kits and gave them to families along with the essentials.
The NHA team is always thinking of new and unique ways to serve our residents and their needs.
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PNRC NAHRO Members Save $$ and the Region Earns $$
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PNRC NAHRO has partnered with NAHRO Professional Development on their "Distance Learning" trainings that will directly benefit members and our Region!
Members will receive a discount of $10 on every NAHRO "Distance Learning" training and Southwest NAHRO will also receive a revenue share for each participant from our region through December 31 2020!
How does it work?
When registering, please use code: PNRC2020 (All CAPS)
and your discount will automatically be applied, it’s that simple!
Please note: this code must be used when registering! It cannot be retroactively applied.
What is Distance learning?
Multi-day training delivered in a modular and a web-based format. Participants register individually and access the sessions with a direct email. Sessions are typically 3 hours (1:30-4:30pm ET) and spread out. This allows participants to balance learning with other work responsibilities. Attendance is recorded and upon successful completion, CEUs are applied towards certification requirements. Distance learnings are meant to be interactive. Participants will engage with the faculty member by discussions, polls and utilizing a chat feature.
Note: Electronic copy of training manual included in pricing below. Certification Exam must be purchased separately.
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Commissioners Guide to Monitoring and Oversight Distance Learning
December 1 - 9, 2020
Description: For commissioners who have completed NAHRO’s Commissioners’ Fundamentals or for those looking for recertification opportunities, then you will want to register for NAHRO’s Commissioners’ Guide to Monitoring & Oversight. This seminar is intended to enhance an agency’s governing body’s members with a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities in assuring their agency’s viability and health. This program is appropriate for board chairs and other commissioners, and for executive leaders and staff members.
Recommended Pre-requisite: NAHRO’s Commissioners Fundamentals
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For more information, contact NAHRO Professional Development at
(877) 866-2476 or
OR;
PNRC NAHRO Regional Service Officer 202.580.7203
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YOU COULD HAVE FEATURED YOUR AGENCY HERE!!!
We want to fill this newsletter with articles and pictures about you, but we can't do that unless you send them in. Send your pictures and articles to pnrc@nahro.org by December 9th to be featured in next month's newsletter!!
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