Breaking Ground - January 2001

President Clinton Announces More Than $1 Billion in Grants to Help Homeless Individuals and Families

Tax Credit and Bond Cap Get Increase Before Congress Adjourns...

After Delay Housing Trust Fund RFP Released But...

Contacts & COHHIO Staff

Housing Matters...

"Housing Ohio" COHHIO's 2001 Annual Conference

Filing a Consumer Complaint

National Trust for Historic Preservation National Preservation Awards and HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation

COHHIO Membership

Activist Alert

Angry Workers + Innocent Victims

Resources

Ohio Department of Development News

COHHIO News

 

President Clinton Announces More Than $1 Billion in Grants to Help Homeless Individuals and Families
On the eve of Christmas, President Clinton announced the largest amount of homeless assistance in U.S. history. More than $1 billion in both Continuum of Care grants and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program funds will go to states and local governments throughout the country, in an effort to help homeless individuals and families get the housing and receive the support services they need to get off the streets and become self-sufficient. All tolled, this announcement will fund some 2,600 programs helping more than 200,000 individuals.

"Since President Clinton took office in 1993, HUD has invested nearly $6 billion in programs to help the homeless - more than four times as much as was spent from 1987 to 1993," HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo said. "This Administration has made a real difference in the lives of our most vulnerable citizens, those who have not benefited from this nation's great economy. These grants will be a great boost to the organizations dedicated to helping break the cycle of homelessness."

For the Fiscal Year 2000 competition, the State of Ohio received a total of just over $49 million in funding from the Continuum of Care and the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program. The following programs were funded in Ohio:

Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care
Tender Mercies, Inc. SHPR $678,471
Nurses in Advanced Practice SHPR $399,000
Bethany House Services, Inc. SHPR $81,112
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center, Inc. SHPR $357,926
Bethany House Services, Inc. SHPR $76,575
Tender Mercies, Inc. SHPR $175,889
Lighthouse Youth Services, Inc. SHPR $353,171
Lighthouse Youth Services, Inc. SHPR $441,075
Tom Geiger Guest House, Inc. SHPR $221,802
Bethany House Services, Inc. SHP $1,102,237
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center, Inc. SHP $516,000
Nurses in Advanced Practice SHP $167,230
The Salvation Army SHPR $88,933
FreeStore/FoodBank SHP $505,397
Shelterhouse Volunteer Group, Inc. SHP $396,427
Volunteers of America/Ohio River Valley SHP $461,655
  Total: $6,022,900  

The Greater Toledo Continuum of Care
Neighborhood Properties, Inc. SHP $544,766
Aurora Project, Inc. SHPR $310,998
Neighborhood Properties, Inc. SHP $443,027
David's House Compassion, Inc. SHPR $217,431
Neighborhood Health Association, Inc. SHPR $158,709
Family Outreach Community United Services (FOCUS) SHPR $960,113
Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo SHPR $384,325
  Total: $3,019,369  

Youngstown-Mahoning County Continuum of Care
YWCA of Youngstown SHP $403,354
Beatitude House SHPR $213,753
Mahoning County Chemical Dependency Programs, Inc. SHPR $30,912
Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, Inc. SHPR $216,240
Addiction Programs of Mahoning County, Inc. SHPR $143,782
Associate Neighborhood Centers SHPR $116,681
Caritas Communities, Inc. SHP $61,101
  Total: $1,185,823

Cuyahoga County Continuum of Care
EDEN, Inc. SHP $270,900
Cuyahoga County SPC $6,256,260
Mental Health Services for Homeless Persons, Inc. SHPR $459,798
Mental Health Services for Homeless Persons, Inc. SHPR $911,150
AIDS Housing Council SHPR $226,963
Cleveland Housing Network SHPR $58,021
Mental Health Services for Homeless Persons, Inc. SHPR $525,705
Cleveland Housing Network, Inc. SHPR $239,253
Mental Health Services for Homeless Persons, Inc. SHPR $900,536
Family Transitional Housing, Inc. SHPR $92,838
Volunteers of America of Northeast & North Central Ohio, Inc. SHPR $235,206
Family Transitional Housing, Inc. SHPR $118,370
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority SHPR $563,045
Cleveland Women, Inc, dba Templum SHPR $311,588
Volunteers of America of Northeast & North Central Ohio, Inc. SHPR $75,450
Hitchcock Center For Women SHPR $262,288
Care Alliance SHPR $59,344
Continue Life, Inc. SHPR $235,302
Care Alliance SHPR $554,091
Care Alliance SHPR $118,689
  Total: $12,474,797  

Columbus and Franklin County Continuum of Care
National Church Residences SHP $250,000
Community Housing Network, Inc. SHPR $651,756
Community Housing Network, Inc. SHPR $118,120
Community Housing Network, Inc. SHPR $194,585
Huckleberry House, Inc. SHPR $459,078
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority SPCR $496,800
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority SPCR $340,800
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority SPCR $342,000
YWCA of Columbus SHPR $198,030
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio SHPR $112,150
Friends of the Homeless SHPR $210,000
Friends of the Homeless SHPR $131,280
Friends of the Homeless SHPR $135,609
Catholic Social Services, Inc. SHPR $28,637
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority SPCR $99,600
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority SPCR $228,000
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority SPCR $437,400
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority SPCR $189,000
Community Housing Network, Inc. SHPR $325,877
Community Housing Network, Inc. SHPR $59,060
Community Housing Network, Inc. SHPR $97,293
Huckleberry House, Inc. SHPR $229,539
YWCA Of Columbus SHPR $99,015
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio SHPR $231,096
Friends of the Homeless SHPR $420,000
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority SPC $448,500
  Total: $6,533,225  

Akron/Barberton/Summit County Continuum of Care
H.M. Life Opportunity Services SHPR $525,872
Community AIDS Network SHPR $197,400
Legacy III, Inc. SHPR $418,081
H.M. Life Opportunity Services SHPR $286,304
  Total: $1,427,657

Dayton/Kettering/Montgomery County/Shelter Policy Board Continuum of Care
PLACES, Inc. SHPR $213,245
Mercy Manor, Inc. SHP $315,000
City of Dayton SPCR $1,104,600
The Samaritan: A Health Clinic for the Homeless SHP $1,338,750
PLACES, Inc. SHP $997,500
DAYBREAK SHP $315,000
  Total: $4,284,095

Ohio Balance of State Continuum of Care
New Avenues, Inc., Butler SHP $252,528
Greene County Domestic Violence Project SHPR $189,949
Family & Community Services of Portage County SHPR $554,104
Coleman Professional Services, Portage SHPR $212,786
Supporting Council of Preventive Effort, Greene SHPR $168,699
YWCA, Butler SHPR $357,960
Volunteers of America Firelands, Erie SHPR $869,998
Greene County Domestic Violence Project SHP $179,170
Family Abuse Shelter of Miami County, Inc. SHPR $129,718
Elyria YWCA SHPR $362,798
New Sunrise Properties, Inc., Lorain SHPR $486,274
WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. SHPR $166,293
Columbiana County Mental Health Clinic SHPR $110,000
Volunteers of America of Northeast & Northcentral Ohio SHP $1,023,750
Mental Health and Recovery Board of Union County SHPR $220,088
Elyria YWCA SHP $717,622
Beatitude House, Mahoning (project in Trumbull) SHP $445,590
Columbiana Metropolitan Housing Authority SPC $120,900
Columbiana Metropolitan Housing Authority SPC $120,900
Zanesville Metropolitan Housing Authority SPC $140,700
  Total: $6,829,827  

 

Stark County Ohio Continuum of Care
Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority SPCR $153,600
ICAN SHPR $309,415
Stark County Community Support Consortium dba ICAN SHP $157,500
  Total: $620,515  
 
  State Total: $42,398,208   
 

In addition to the Continuum of Care announcement, President Clinton also announced Fiscal Year 2000 allocations for the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program. The following localities were awarded:

 

Ohio State Program $2,963,000
Montgomery County $88,000
Hamilton County $122,000
Franklin County $76,000
Cuyahoga County $118,000
Youngstown $195,000
Toledo $341,000
Springfield $90,000
Lakewood $90,000
Dayton $293,000
Columbus $303,000
Cleveland $1,062,000
Cincinnati $591,000
Canton $130,000
Akron $297,000

Total ESG: $6,759,000.

 

Tax Credit and Bond Cap Get Increase Before Congress Adjourns...
Nearly two months after their original adjournment date, the 106th Congress has finally ended. In addition to passing the remaining appropriations bills, Congress and the Clinton Administration reached a surprising agreement on increasing both the Private Activity Bond Cap and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, important housing resources in Ohio. Phased in between 2001 and 2002, the Private Activity Bond Cap will increase from $50 per resident to $75 per resident and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit will increase from $1.25 per capita to $1.75 per capita. While it was a long time coming, these increases represent some of the good work that came out of the 106th Congress on the affordable housing front. For 2001, these increases translate to $2.8 million more of housing tax credits projects in Ohio. Of that amount, $2 million will be reserved for Section 8 preservation projects and the remainder will be distributed through the regular pools. The increase in Bond Volume Cap will result in $146 million in bond financing for Ohio on top of the $556 million Ohio normally receives. This will hopefully result in greater financing for multi-family projects and Section 8 preservation projects. However, the Department of Development will add the entire $146 million increase to the Director’s Discretionary Fund, so the use of these funds is yet to be determined. For more information, contact Bill Faith at COHHIO at 614/280-1984.

 

After Delay Housing Trust Fund RFP Released But...

On January 22nd, the State Controlling Board approved by a 5-2 vote, $9.5 million for the Housing Trust Fund - Request for Proposals program to fund 93 projects providing housing and housing related services for thousands of Ohioans across the state.

The vast majority of spending requests that Departments bring before the Controlling Board are agreed to without discussion. This request did not fit that mold. Initially the request came before the Controlling Board in December but was objected to by both Representative Corbin and Senator Ray, the long-time champion of the Housing Trust Fund in the Ohio Senate. Their objections were understandable and were based on the argument that various kinds of housing related services should not be funded by the Housing Trust Fund. They argued that the Trust Fund should be used for bricks and sticks. They continued to object even after it was pointed out that the housing related services were allowed under the statute and in fact, the Housing Trust Fund has been funding projects like this since its inception, nine years ago.

 

With the start of the new legislative session in January, five of the six legislative members of the Controlling Board are first time members. However, when the $9.5 million request was once again raised by the Department of Development at the January 22nd meeting, members objected on the same grounds. Representatives Carey and Calvert both voted against the request. In speaking against the request, Carey as well as Senators White and Harris made it clear that they were very supportive of the Housing Trust Fund. Also, they agreed that housing related services should be provided but should be funded from sources, like the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). In fact, Senator White reported that the Director of ODJFS said most of the projects in question could be funded using surplus TANF funds.

Senator White said, while he wants to limit the eligible activities under the RFP program in the future, to make this change now would be unfair to the applicants since they were playing by the rules described in the RFP last summer. However, he did send a clear message that he wants the advocates and the Administration to work on an alternative approach utilizing TANF or other funds for the services and present it to the Finance Committees during the upcoming state budget process.

Generally the types of uses for the Housing Trust Fund that members of the Controlling Board support are construction, rehab, home repair, rent/mortgage assistance, and down payment assistance. Some of the types of uses of the Housing Trust Fund that members of the Controlling Board wants to more strictly limit are supportive services, educational activities, referrals to social services, transportation, life skills/money management training, child care and parenting support.

COHHIO will be vigorously working with the organizations affected by this to assure that the full range of housing assistance can continue to be provided one way or another. If you want to get involved contact Cathy Johnston or Bill Faith at COHHIO at 614/280-1984.

Housing Trust Fund Awardees
Total Funds
Awardee Category 1 Category 2 Awarded
Ability Center, Lucas 0 $141,000 $141,000
ACCESS, Summit $42,000 0 $42,000
Adams County Shelter $20,000 0 $20,000
AIDS Foundation, Miami Valley $60,000 0 $60,000
AIDS Housing Council of Greater Cleveland $128,500 0 $128,500
Alliance Emergency Residence $65,000 0 $65,000
Area Agency on Aging, Gallia $0 $193,000 $193,000
Ashtabula County CHDO $80,000 0 $80,000
Auglaize-Mercer Community Action Commission $50,000 0 $50,000
Aurora Project, Inc., Lucas $100,000 0 $100,000
Bethany House Services, Hamilton $200,000 0 $200,000
Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Area Agency on Aging, Washington 0 $200,000 $200,000
Better Housing League of Greater Cincinnati $125,000 $100,000 $225,000
COAD, Athens 0 $141,000 $141,000
Community Action Agency of Columbiana County $34,000 $36,000 $70,000
Community Action Commission of Fayette County $42,700 $100,000 $142,700
Community Action Program of Washington/Morgan Counties 0 $73,000 $73,000
Caracole, Hamilton $150,000 0 $150,000
Catholic Charities, Ashtabula $76,000 0 $76,000
Catholic Charities Housing Opportunities, Mahoning 0 $100,000 $100,000
Catholic Charities of Toledo $24,000 $8,700 $32,700
Chabad House, Hamilton $121,500 0 $121,500
Columbus Housing Partnership 0 $100,000 $100,000
Columbus Neighborhood Health Center $175,000 0 $175,000
Community Action Wayne-Medina $65,000 $75,000 $140,000
Community Mental Health and Recovery Board, Licking $75,000 0 $75,000
Community Shelter Board, Franklin $180,000 0 $180,000
Community Services, Stark $115,000 0 $115,000
Council on Aging of Southwest Ohio, Hamilton 0 $141,000 $141,000
Counseling Center, Scioto $103,000 0 $103,000
Daybreak, Montgomery $40,000 0 $40,000
Dayton Fund for Home Rehabilitation 0 $50,000 $50,000
EDEN, Cuyahoga $175,000 0 $175,000
East Akron NDC 0 $58,000 $58,000
Erie-Huron Community Action Commission $55,000 0 $55,000
EVE Inc., Washington $163,000 0 $163,000
FOCUS, Lucas $33,000 0 $33,000
Family and Community Services, Portage $167,200 0 $167,200
Family Abuse Shelter, Miami $46,200 0 $46,200
Friends of the Homeless, Franklin $159,100 0 $159,100
Frontier Community Services, Ross 0 $40,000 $40,000
GMN Tri-County Community Action Commission, Noble 0 $80,000 $80,000
Greene County Domestic Violence Project $155,000 0 $155,000
Greene Metropolitan Housing Authority $21,200 0 $21,200
Harbor House, Tuscawaras $48,000 0 $48,000
Helpline of Delaware and Morrow $35,000 0 $35,000
HHWP Community Action Commission, Hancock $87,000 0 $87,000
Housing Network, Summit 0 $85,000 $85,000
Interfaith Home Maintenance Service, Mahoning 0 $170,000 $170,000
Jefferson Behavioral Health System $120,000 0 $120,000
Kno-Ho-Co Community Action Commission, Coshocton $48,000 0 $48,000
Lagrange Development Corp., Lucas 0 $103,000 $103,000
LEADS Community Action Agency 0 $150,000 $150,000
Licking County Coalition for Housing $56,000 0 $56,000
Lighthouse Youth Services $130,000 0 $130,000
Lima/Allen County Council on Community Affairs 0 $100,000 $100,000
Lutheran Housing Corp., Cuyahoga 0 $84,000 $84,000
M-R-M TOAP, Richland $60,000 0 $60,000
Massillon Urban League $50,000 0 $50,000
Mercy Franciscan, Hamilton $130,000 0 $130,000
MHAD Services Board of Logan and Champaign $21,000 0 $21,000
Neighborhood Properties, Lucas $130,000 0 $130,000
New Avenues, Lancaster 0 $30,000 $30,000
New Home Development Comp., Defiance 0 $43,000 $43,000
New Housing Opportunities, Warren $100,000 0 $100,000
New Life Community, Cuyahoga $73,900 0 $73,900
Ohio District 5, Area Agency on Aging, Richland 0 $141,000 $141,000
Other Place, Montgomery $123,000 0 $123,000
Ottawa County Transitional Housing $100,000 0 $100,000
People Working Cooperatively, Hamilton 0 $141,000 $141,000
Pike County Outreach Council $34,000 0 $34,000
PSA Agency on Aging, Allen 0 $138,000 $138,000
Recovery Centers, Greene $103,000 0 $103,000
Rural Action Development Corp., Athens 0 $150,000 $150,000
Salvation Army - Belmont $65,000 0 $65,000
Salvation Army - Cincinnati $87,000 0 $87,000
Salvation Army - Columbus $76,000 0 $76,000
Salvation Army - Lake County $65,000 0 $65,000
Salvation Army - Wooster $70,000 0 $70,000
Scioto Christian Ministry $36,000 0 $36,000
SCOPE, Greene $193,000 0 $193,000
Sojourner Women Recovery Services, Butler $102,000 0 $102,000
St. Vincent Hotel, Montgomery $167,000 0 $167,000
Stark County Community Support $112,000 0 $112,000
Stark County Out of Poverty 0 $100,000 $100,000
Tom Geiger Guest House, Hamilton $91,000 0 $91,000
Tri-County (HAP) Community Action Agency, Athens 0 $150,000 $150,000
Tri-County Community Action Commission, Logan $20,000 0 $20,000
Volunteers of America Firelands Ohio, Erie $169,000 0 $169,000
Walter G. Nord Community Mental Health Center, Lorain $100,000 0 $100,000
YMCA of Central Ohio, Columbus $150,000 0 $150,000
YWCA of Cincinnati $65,000 0 $65,000
YWCA of Van Wert County $130,000 $85,000 $215,000
Total $6,193,300 $3,306,700 $9,500,000.

 

How to Contact & COHHIO Staff
NATIONAL
National Coalition for the Homeless. Hotline:
202/775-1372 or http://NCH.ari.net.

National Low Income Housing Coalition
http://www.nlihc.org

President Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20500; 202/456-1414; 202/456-2461 (fax)
president@white house.gov

Senators Voinovich & DeWine
United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510
Voinovich - 202/224-3353; 202/228-1382 (f)
Voinovich - voinovich@voinovich.senate.gov
DeWine - 202/224-2315; 202/224-6519 (f)
DeWine - senator_dewine@dewine.senate.gov

Representatives
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515; 202/224-3121

STATE
Governor Taft
77 S. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215
614/466-3555; 614/466-9354 (fax)

Ohio Senate
State House, Columbus, Ohio 43266-0604
614/644-5466 (fax-R); 614/644-1982 (fax - D)

Ohio House of Representatives
77 S. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215
614/644-9494 (fax)

Legislative Directories are available by contacting us: COHHIO - 35 E Gay St, Ste. 210,
Columbus, OH 43215-3138; 614/280-1984; 614/463-1060 (fax); www.cohhio.org.

 

Newsletter of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) January 2001 • Volume 6 • Issue 1. Editor: Susan Francis

COHHIO is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to ending homelessness and to promoting decent, safe, fair, affordable housing for all, with a focus on assisting low-income people and those with special needs.

COHHIO Staff
Bill Faith, Executive Director; Pam Argus, Associate Director; Rebecca Bartholomew, AmeriCorps Program Coordinator; Kevin Cunningham, Youth Empowerment Program VISTA, Susan Francis, Communications Coordinator; Janet Holcomb, Administrative Assistant; Cathy Johnston, Advocacy Coordinator; Angela Lariviere, Youth Empowerment Coordinator; Jill Russ, Section 8 Project Coordinator; Mary Scott, AmeriCorps Program Support Administrator; Rick Taylor, Housing Policy Director; Ande Ucubagabriel, Fiscal Manager; and Spencer Wells, Tenant Outreach Coordinator. 35 E. Gay St., Ste. 210, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3138; 614/280-1984; 614/463-1060 (fax); cohhio@ cohhio.org; http://www.cohhio.org.

 

Housing Matters...
Late last year, the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) published Why Housing Matters: the State of the Nation’s Rural Housing. This report, which takes a detailed look at how housing and communities are the cornerstones for quality of life and economic well-being, highlights the changing landscape of rural America over the past 100 years. The report found that:

• An estimated 22 percent of all occupied housing units in the United States are in non-metropolitan areas;

• The number of mobile homes comprising non-metropolitan housing units has increased by 38 percent since 1987;

• Nearly 10 percent of all non-metropolitan housing units are considered either moderately or severely inadequate;

• Approximately 21 percent of all non-metropolitan households pay more than 30 percent of their monthly income for housing costs and are considered cost-burdened;

• Some 35 percent of all non-metropolitan housing units have children present and nearly one third of these units have problems with cost, crowding, or adequacy;

• While 63 percent of all U.S. households with mortgage loans have an interest rate at or below the national median of eight percent, only 54 percent of non-metropolitan mortgage holders have interest rates at or below the national median;

• An estimated 17 percent of all non-metropolitan mortgage holders have an interest rate of 10 percent or more; and

• Applicants from rural counties are 189 percent more likely to have home purchase mortgage loans denied than applicants from large metropolitan counties.

The report concludes that housing matters. “Our homes and our communities are inextricable linked to nearly everything we do and are, as individuals and as a society. The issues, trends, problems and concerns presented only scratch the surface of the state of housing in rural America.” A full copy of the report can be found at HAC’s web page at www.ruralhome.org.

 

"Housing Ohio"
COHHIO’s 2001 Annual Conference
April 2, 3 & 4

Tentative Conference Agenda

 

Monday, April 2
9:30 - 10:30 Registration and Coffee
10:30 - 10:45 Welcome
10:45 - 11:30 Plenary Session
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch and Keynote Speaker
1:00 - 5:00 Institutes

Tuesday, April 3
8:00 - 9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 Keynote Speaker
10:15 - 12:00 Workshop Set A
12:00 - 1:30 Lunch and Keynote Speaker
1:45 - 3:15 Workshop Set B
3:30 - 5:00 Panel Discussion
5:00 - 7:00 Reception

Wednesday, April 4
7:30 - 9:00 Breakfast Buffet at Statehouse Atrium
9:00 - 4:00 Lobby Day Activities, including meetings with your legislators

COHHIO’s 2001 Annual Conference, “Housing Ohio" is guaranteed to provide an arena to...learn about innovative housing programs and successful service delivery models; exchange information and ideas with other professionals in your field; and get updates on federal and state legislative issues related to your work. Workshop topics will be focused around the eight identified conference tracks listed on the following pages.

Plenary Sessions/Panel Presentation
The 2001 conference will have something for everyone! Hear from seasoned professionals, as they speak about issues relevant to the “housing business,” including:
- federal housing policy in a new administration;
- welfare reform and the corresponding burden on housing affordability;
- the economic disconnect and corresponding disparity between this country’s rich and poor; and
- the continued funding for homeless assistance programs.

In addition to the individual workshops and plenary sessions, the 2001 conference will feature a panel presentation entitled “Faces.” On Tuesday, April 3rd, you will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from people that have either experienced homelessness, received assistance from the Housing Trust Fund, been victimized by a predatory lender, or are struggling to pay rent as they transition from Welfare to work.
Institutes
This year’s conference kicks off with a series of Institutes, which will offer attendees the opportunity for an in-depth examination of some of today’s “hot” topics. Topics for the Institutes include:

Preserving Ohio’s Affordable Housing: More Information for Non-Profit Housing Developers and Tenants. This Institute will provide non-profit housing developers, tenants, and other interested stakeholders with information about acquiring and preserving project-based Section 8 housing in Ohio. The discussion will focus on state resources and local HUD initiatives to preserve the housing stock, and provide examples of success stories in Ohio. State and national experts in the field will provide updates on the laws and regulations governing project-based Section 8 properties and the Mark-to-Market program.

Housing Subsidy/Welfare Reform Funding. Support has grown for COHHIO’s pilot housing subsidy for low-income and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) families. This Institute will provide you with in-depth information about this important housing subsidy proposal and how it could benefit your clients and your community. Learn the latest on where this proposal stands and what you can do to help make it a reality for families in need of a housing subsidy. We will explore the federal, state, and local requirements for implementing this subsidy.

Employment, Housing and Mental Health Recovery. This by invitation only Institute will move teams of mental health system local collaborators to understand and plan for the "desired state" in assisting consumers to achieve both permanency in community and employment. Developing the ability to simultaneously and effectively assist consumers to choose, get and keep both jobs and housing is important both for individual recovery from serious mental illness and for mental health consumers to have the opportunity to contribute in terms of economic prosperity in our communities and state. Participants will develop an understanding of how to overcome barriers and seize opportunities based on employment and housing best practice elements. The training will enhance the teams’ abilities to develop specific local priorities and plans towards meeting the desired state for housing and employment in their community. This Institute is made possible by Projects For Assistance in Transition From Homelessness.

Strategies to End Homelessness. Can homelessness ever be eliminated? Does the Continuum of Care in and of itself really end homelessness, or does it merely “manage” the problem? In a new administration, will the Continuum of Care change dramatically? Should the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs be dismantled and emphasis be put on other “mainstream” programs? Would this approach open the door to additional resources? Who should be paying for supportive services for the homeless...the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)? Does the notion of “direct housing” end homelessness? Are we doing enough at the front end, by trying to prevent people from becoming homeless? These are some of the questions likely to be asked and answered during this Institute.

Predatory Lending...Who, What, When, Where, and Why? There has been a tremendous increase in the number of mortgage loans made by lenders specializing in lending to borrowers with sub-par credit histories. Between 1993 to 1998, refinance loans made by prime lenders rose by roughly 2.5 percent, while refinance loans made by subprime lenders increased by nearly 900 percent. This increase in subprime lending activity has opened the door for abusive or “predatory” lending practices. Lending practices become predatory when lenders target specific populations (usually low-income, minority, and/or elderly homeowners) with high pressure marketing techniques, charge excessive fees, frequently refinance or “flip” the loan, and often times mislead the borrower. Ohio is not immune to this practice. Learn more about predatory lending practices, who is being targeted, and what is being done to stop it.

Workshop Tracks

Affordable Housing Preservation
- Housing 101: An Overview of Affordable Housing Programs. Learn about the wide-range of affordable housing programs in use today, from Low Income Housing Tax Credits to Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers, and everything in between. The discussion will focus on who these programs intend to serve, the demographics of tenants that actually utilize the programs, and what we need to do as affordable housing developers and managers to enhance and best utilize the housing that we are providing. Next steps and future needs in affordable housing will also be covered.
- Strategies for Preservation of Affordable Housing. Real, live, and working local, state, and national strategies to preserve affordable housing will be discussed, with a focus on Project-based Section 8 housing. Experts in the preservation field will provide information on what is and what is not working throughout the country and in individual states to preserve affordable housing. How these strategies came about, and what you can do to get involved in saving at-risk affordable housing will also be covered.

Welfare Reform & Housing
- Creative Uses of PRC Funds for Housing Related Expenses. Hear from urban and rural project developers about their creative experience in using welfare reform resources to meet the needs of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and other low-income families in their communities. Funding opportunities continue to be available in most communities for homelessness prevention and short-term housing needs such as funding for eligible families in shelter, emergency rent and utility payments of up to four months, and funding for necessary supportive services to assist families through crisis to stability. You will learn what it takes to access and implement this important family support in your community.
- Expanding Affordable Housing Options. With a number of rental markets across the country becoming “tighter,” it is no wonder that families receiving rental assistance are having a difficult time finding a place to call home. Resources such as PRC funds or Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers that provide much needed rental assistance are only half of the solution. What good is rental assistance if there is no place to rent? Learn about successful techniques that have been used to expand the number of affordable housing options available for families receiving rental assistance.

Mental Health Housing & Employment
- Access to Benefits. This workshop offers benefits training as it relates to Social Security Benefits and Medicaid used by mental health and other consumers, particularly as they relate to employment and housing. Participants will learn opportunities for advocacy for mental health consumers; gain an understanding of complex Medicaid spend-down guidelines, and learn about work incentives, buy in strategies, medical expense strategies and others to maximize a consumers positive experience utilizing public benefits to secure permanency in community and jobs. The workshop is open to those invited to the mental health institute on day one as well as others who may find this useful in assisting consumers.
- Employment, Housing and Mental Health Recovery. During this invitation only workshop, the teams of mental health system local collaborators which participated in the day one mental health institute will work in facilitated individual teams to develop specific local plans and priorities for assisting mental health consumers in achieving permanency in community and jobs. Agenda topics include Building a Firm Foundation; Principles of Role Recovery; Identifying Skills and Support Needs; Goal Retention and Contingency Planning; Identifying and Utilizing Natural Supports; and Exploring New Partnerships.

Strategies to End Homelessness
- What About Homeless Youth? With independent youth representing one of the fastest growing segments of this country’s homeless population, what is being done to meet their unique needs? In the Fall of 2000, COHHIO launched its Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), in an effort to first better understand the distinctive needs of homeless youth and secondly, to offer real and practical solutions to meet these needs. Learn more about the YEP project and ways that your agency can get involved.
- Can Homelessness ever be Eliminated? At a time when this country is sitting on an estimated $200 billion budget surplus, why is it that more and more Americans are finding themselves homeless? Have we as a society resigned ourselves to the fact that homelessness is an intractable social issue that will forever exist? Do the resources exist to actually end homelessness? What is the future of the Continuum of Care? These are just some of the questions that will be answered by experts at the national, state, and local levels regarding new as well as existing strategies to end homelessness.

Predatory Lending
- Beyond the Anecdotal Evidence. A questionable loan practice designed to literally strip away the equity that borrowers have built-up in their homes over a period of years, has emerged. Lending practices become predatory when lenders target specific populations (usually low-income, minority, and/or elderly homeowners) with high pressure marketing techniques, charge excessive fees, frequently refinance or “flip” the loan, and often times mislead the borrower. Ohio is not immune. In low-and moderate-income and minority communities throughout the state, one or two predatory lenders often dominate the market, while prime lenders are nowhere to be found. Learn more about the devastating impact predatory lending is having on Ohio’s communities.
- Now What? The statewide anti-predatory lending campaign, recently dubbed the Ohio Coalition for Responsible Lending, is designed to literally put an end to predatory mortgage lending practices within the state. A three-pronged approach consisting of legislation, litigation, and education will form the foundation of this campaign. Learn more about the work of the Coalition and find out how your organization can get involved.

Lobbying/Advocacy
- Coalition Building: How to Win on Statewide Issues. Can one person make a difference? Maybe. Can 50 or 100 people all working toward a common goal make a difference. Absolutely. Over the past few months, we have found ourselves fighting battles that had already been fought and won. Nothing is to be taken for granted. Today, perhaps more so than in recent memory, the stakes are at an all-time high. Find out the fundamentals to building successful coalitions around statewide housing related issues. Learn the basics and figure out how your organization can get involved.
- Local Housing Trust Funds. Housing trust funds are public funds established by legislation, ordinance or resolution to receive specific revenues, which can only be spent on housing.  The key characteristic of a housing trust fund is that it receives on-going revenues from dedicated sources of funding such as taxes, fees or loan repayments.  Having funds that are committed to housing over time is crucial because housing advocates have long had to compete with numerous social causes to secure dwindling public resources for affordable housing. Learn the specifics about the City of Columbus’ efforts to create a local Housing Trust Fund as well as other state and local models.

Affordable Housing Development
- Resources for Affordable Housing Development. Hear the specifics about programs that offer much needed resources for affordable housing development. Get the proverbial scoop on recent changes to the Housing Development Assistance Program (HDAP)...find out when to apply and how much to ask for. Learn about the FHA insured mortgage product administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development...find out what impact this resource could have on your affordable housing development.
- Obstacles to Affordable Housing Development. Have you ever tried to site “affordable” housing? If so, then you’ve probably heard the acronyms that usually get tossed around: NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard); BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Never Anytime); NOPE (Not On Planet Earth), and the list goes on. Has your community adopted exclusionary zoning ordinances designed to preclude affordable housing development? Find out what communities are really concerned about, and how, with a little work, they can become partners in the development of affordable housing.

Practical Matters in Supportive Housing
- Does the Harm Reduction Model Really Work? While programs that require participants to be “clean” or “sober” tend to alienate hard core users, harm reduction programs appeal to hard-to-reach clients by offering varying levels of basic assistance. Like it or not, both legal and illegal drug use is part of our world. Harm reduction strategies understand and accept this reality by working to minimize the effects of drug use rather than ignoring or condemning them. Learn more about the harm reduction model and whether or not it makes sense for your program.
- Legal Issues in Supportive Housing. Because it is difficult to balance all the seemingly competing interests involved in developing and operating supportive housing and to identify what must be done to actually meet the requirements of the various laws and implementing regulations, it is important for providers to make the most informed decisions they can. Learn more about a framework that can be used to analyze specific issues and situations, thereby helping providers to make the best decisions possible in light of all of the applicable laws, regulations, and interpretations, while keeping the goal of providing stable housing to those with the greatest barriers firmly in mind.


Lobby Day

Please plan on attending the legislative breakfast the morning of Wednesday, April 4th, from 7:30am to 9:00am at the Capital Atrium at the Statehouse. Shuttle buses will begin leaving the hotel as early as 7:00am and will continue throughout the day until 4:00pm. Following the breakfast, we will hear from a brief yet inspirational keynote speaker, who will set the tone for the rest of the day and get folks fired up for their legislative visits.

This lobby day, perhaps more so than any in the past, is critically important. With a governor and an administration that has yet to view housing as anything more than a distraction, with a record number of state legislators feeling the pinch of term limits, and with a new administration in the White House, the world in which we operate is changing. It is important that you call now to make an appointment to meet with your state legislators on Wednesday, April 4th. If you can do only one thing to help on the next state budget - this should be it.

Take the opportunity to share the successes of your organization with your state legislators and the impact you have had on their district. Let them know that you are concerned about issues like the future of the Housing Trust Fund and the increasing prevalence of predatory lending practices within the state. Briefing materials on these as well as other issues will be provided at the conference. If you need information on how to contact your state legislators, please call your county board of elections or COHHIO at 614/280-1984.

In an effort to make a real impact on state legislators with respect to housing related issues, we are asking each agency and/or individual to participate in our “Lego Lobby Day” campaign. We are asking lobby day participants to encourage children in their community to build Lego houses that can be presented to state legislators.

If you are interested in coordinating the house building activities in your community, please contact Cathy Johnston at COHHIO at 614/280-1984 or via e-mail at cathyjohnston@cohhio.org.



*Please note that the agenda, keynote speakers and workshop topics are subject to change. As we make changes to the agenda, we will post the revised agenda on our web page at http://www.cohhio.org. Or, you may call us starting on March 26 and request an agenda be faxed or mailed to you prior to the conference.

Who Should Attend?
Housing & homeless advocates, social service providers, shelter & transitional housing operators, clients & program participants, nonprofit housing developers, welfare advocates, community development officials, fair housing advocates, supportive housing providers, federal, state & local government personnel, mental health & substance abuse professionals & anyone else concerned with the provision of decent, safe and affordable housing and services for low-income people.

Hotel Accommodations
The Radisson Airport Hotel is offering a discounted room rate of $89 per night! Conference participants are responsible for making reservations by calling the Radisson at 614/475-7551. Be sure to tell the hotel operator you are part of the COHHIO conference. To get the special rate, you must make your reservations by March 16. There are a limited number of rooms available.

Continuing Education Units
COHHIO will apply for approximately 12.5 CEU’s for Social Workers and Counselors.

Registration
Registration fee includes conference materials, coffee breaks and soda breaks, two lunches, a reception, a continental breakfast and a breakfast buffet at the Statehouse Atrium.

Scholarships
A limited number will be available to those who demonstrate a financial burden and would not otherwise be able to attend the conference. Please submit your written request, via fax or mail, to Rick Taylor at COHHIO. The deadline is March 2, 2001.

How to Become a COHHIO Member
You can become a member by attaching a check for your membership with your conference registration form. If you have questions, please call Janet Holcomb at COHHIO. Membership fees for organizations are based on your organization's budget. They are: $35 ($100,000 or less); $75 ($100,000-$250,000); $125 ($250,000 - $500,000); $200 ($500,000 - $1 million); $250 ( $1 million-$1.5 million); and $300 (over $1.5 million). An individual regular membership is $35.

Registration
(1 person per form, form can be copied, please print clearly)

Name
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone, Fax, E-Mail
Counties Served

_____ Please check for vegetarian lunch

Conference Registration: $150 (COHHIO member) and $200 (non-member), regardless of how many days you plan on attending the conference. Membership fee: ________ (optional)

TOTAL ENCLOSED: _____________ (COHHIO Federal Id. #31-1189029)
Payment Amount: Check # ____________ OR Purchase Order #__________________

Checks can be made out to COHHIO and registrations may be sent to 35 East Gay Street, Suite 210, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3138. Credit cards are not accepted. Payment must accompany registration. No phone or fax registrations. Registrations not guaranteed after March 26. Questions? Call 614/280-1984.

Filing a Consumer Complaint
If you believe a financial institution has been unfair or deceptive in its dealings with you or have violated a law or regulation, as a consumer you have the right to file a complaint. The Federal Reserve System or another regulatory agency may be able to help you. The regulatory agencies are responsible for enforcing federal laws and regulations that protect consumers in their dealings with financial institutions.

Several pieces of information will help you determine which agency to contact to file a complaint. Although any agency can forward your complaint to the appropriate regulator, having this information may speed the resolution of your complaint.

First, what type of financial institution are you dealing with? Common types of institutions are commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, and finance companies. The Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation share responsibility for supervising commercial banks. The Office of Thrift Supervision supervises savings banks and the National Credit Union Association supervises credit unions. Mortgage companies and finance companies are primarily regulated by the Federal Trade Commission.

Second, is the institution chartered by the state or by the national government? This will determine who supervises the institution. Nationally chartered banks are supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and they will have the word “National” or “NA” in their name. State-chartered banks are supervised by the Federal Reserve or by the FDIC.

Finally, is the institution a member of the Federal Reserve? Complaints about Federal Reserve member banks should be filed with one of the 12 regional Reserve Banks, depending on the financial institution’s location. Complaints about non-member banks should be directed to the FDIC. The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland investigates complaints against state member banks in Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia.

Before you write or call, first try to settle the problem with the financial institution by talking to a senior manager or a customer service representative.

If you wish to file a complaint, it is important to include the following information.
- Your name, address, and phone number.
- The financial institution’s name and address.
- Your account number, if applicable.
- The name of any person at the financial institution you have contacted concerning your complaint and the date of your conversations.
- A description of the complaint. In order to serve you better, please describe what happened and provide applicable dates. Include copies of any supporting documentation.
- Don’t forget to sign and date your letter.

Within 15 days of receiving your complaint, an acknowledgment letter will be sent and an investigation will follow. We will review the complaint and contact the state member bank regarding your concern. The bank will be asked to provide information and records in response to your complaint. Once the bank’s response has been received, a determination will be made as to whether any consumer protection laws were violated. If additional information is necessary, you or employees of the financial institution may be interviewed. Once all facts have been reviewed, you will receive a letter summarizing the findings. If it is found that a federal law or regulation has been violated, you will be informed of the violation and the corrective action that the bank has been required to take. The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland tries to address all complaints within 30 days of receipt. If it is found that the complaint will take more than 30 days, you will be contacted by telephone or letter to report the status of your complaint. Other regulatory agencies follow similar procedures.

Although the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland investigates all complaints received against their state member banks, the Federal Reserve does not have the authority to resolve all problems. For example, they are unable to resolve contractual disputes, factual disputes, disagreements about policies and procedures, or complaints that involve litigation. However, banks normally want to work with you to resolve your concern once you have filed a complaint.

Where to Send Complaints
• Federal Reserve member banks in Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky and north Western Virginia. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Banking Supervision and Regulation Department, Attention: Resident Examiner, PO Box 6387, Cleveland, Ohio 44101-6387, 800/537-5990.

Financial institutions supervised by other regulatory agencies:
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Consumer Affairs, 550 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20420, 800/934-3342.
• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Customer Assistance Group, 1301 McKinney Street, Suite 3710, Houston, Texas 77010, 800/613-6743.
• National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, 703/518-6300.
• Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552, 800/842-6929.
• Federal Trade Commission, 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, 877/382-4357.

Reprinted from the Community Reinvestment Forum, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Fall 2000. Author - Janice Magee, Consumer Affairs Examiner.

National Trust for Historic Preservation National Preservation Awards and HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation presents the National Preservation Awards to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate outstanding achievements in historic preservation. The HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation recognizes organizations and agencies for their success in advancing the goals of historic preservation while providing affordable housing and/or expanded economic opportunities, particularly for low- and moderate-income families and individuals. Deadline for submission is March 1 to: National Preservation Awards Coordinator, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1785 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036. For more information, call HUD USER at 800/245-2691 and select "Secretary's Awards" or download the application at http://www.huduser.org.

Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio Membership
Name
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone, Fax, County
Individual: _____ $35 (Regular)_____ $75 (Benefactor) _____ $250 (Sustainer)
_____ $10 (Low-Income) _____ Fee Waiver Requested
Agency (according to budget):
_____ $35 ($100,000 or less) _____ $75 ($100,001 - $250,000)
_____ $125 ($250,001 - $500,000) _____ $200 ($500,001 - $1 million)
_____ $250 ($1 million-$1.5 million) _____ $300 (over $1.5 million)
Please send your tax deductible check to COHHIO at 35 E. Gay St, Ste. 210, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Thank you for your support!

 

Activist Alert
COHHIO has an activist alert network. Those wanting to be added to the network may be contacted by mail, phone, fax or email.

Please check below the topics you would be interested in receiving alerts about and add your contact information to the form below. We would only be contacting you if you select a topic that has a pressing need for some action.

 

Topics:

__ Welfare Reform

__ CRA/OCRP

__ Section 8/Housing Preservation

__ Homeless Youth

__ Federal/State Budget Issues

__ Housing Trust Fund

__ Supportive Housing

 

__ Criminalization/Violence Against Homeless

__ Housing Development

__ NIMBY

__ General Housing Issues

__ General Homeless Issues

__ Other _________________________

 

Name:

Organization:

Address:
City, State, Zip

County, Email:

Phone, Fax:


Please return this survey to Susan Francis, COHHIO, 35 East Gay Street, Suite 210, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3138 or fax to 614/463-1060. For questions, call Janet Holcomb at COHHIO at 614/280-1984. If you have already completed this form, you do not need to fill out another form.

 

Angry Workers + Innocent Victims
Is your workplace a safe environment? Everyone wants to feel safe when they are at work. Unfortunately, statistics show that many violent crimes occur during a typical workday.

According to a survey by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), 48 percent of employees experienced violence in the workplace in the last two years. These incidents included verbal threats - 39 percent, pushing and shoving - 22 percent, fist fights - 14 percent, and shootings, knifings and sexual assaults - 3 percent.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Department of Justice classify workplace violence victims in the following groups:
• Type I. No business relationship with the criminal. Victims can include cab drivers, sales clerks, gas station attendants and police officers. The motive in most cases is robbery and results in about 80 percent of workplace homicides.
• Type II. Victimized by a current or former client, customer, or patient. Some common settings for this type of violence are hospitals, mental health clinics, prisons and schools.
• Type III. Victims include current or former employers, spouses or significant others. According to the SHRM survey, 57 percent of type III violence is employee on employee, 17 percent is employee on supervisor, and 9 percent is spouse or significant other on employee.

The perpetrators of type III violence can be placed in three groups:
1. Predisposed to violent behavior due to mental illness.
2. Not usually prone to violence but may have been pushed over the edge because of events in their lives.
3. Cannot handle daily stress. Triggers may include marital problems, financial issues and substance abuse.

Expensive Exposures
Victims of workplace violence may experience physical problems, stress, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, exhaustion, insecurity, shame, embarrassment, nightmares and poor concentration.

These problems can lead to increased workers’ compensation costs. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance, the average cost of a workers’ comp claim is about $12,000 and the average cost of a violence-related workers’ comp claim is about $21,000.

Other expensive results include loss of good employees, lost productivity, negative public and investor relations, OSHA fines, and civil or criminal lawsuits.

How Do You Stop the Violence?
Employers should realize that no business is completely safe. In order to reduce the potential for workplace violence and hostility, it is important to create a workplace violence policy.

Also, screen and hire new employees carefully. Ask questions such as “What would you do if a fellow employee told you off?” and “What would you do if a co-worker embarrassed you in front of others?”

Elect a staff member to train all employees on how to resolve conflict, manage stress, solve problems and find non-threatening ways to express anger. Train front line employees on how to recognize possible signs of violence, how to reduce hostility, and how to deal with violence in the early stages.

Introduce a formal route for employees to report violence or aggression and encourage them to use it. You may want to create a response team to investigate and respond appropriately.

If the disruptive employee’s action or continued failure to follow policy rules requires termination, then proceed according to your company’s process. Be prepared for the possibility of continued violence from the ex-employee or a “wrongful termination” lawsuit. Taken from the Frank Gates newsletter, Spring 2000.

 

Resources
TRAININGS
February 8-10 - Service-Enriched Housing: Models and Methodologies, Beyond Shelter, Washington, DC. Geared to for-profit and non-profit developers and owners, property managers, policymakers, funding agencies, and community-based service providers who currently operate or would like to operate service-enriched housing. $200. For more information, contact Beyond Shelter at 213/252-0772, ext. 249 or institute@beyondshelter.org.

February 16 - From Theory to Practice: Current Research on Masculinity and Violence, Ohio Domestic Violence Network, Columbus. Designed for professionals who work with violent male offenders and who work to end men's violence. $60 (ODVN member), $90 (non-member). For more information, call 800/934-9840.

February 21 - 23 - An Introduction to Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Ohio CDC Association, Columbus. $120-180. For more information, contact the Ohio CDC Association at 614/461-6392.

March 26-27 - National Low Income Housing Coalition Annual Housing Policy Conference and Lobby Day, Washington DC. Join housing advocates from all over the country. More than 50 workshops and institutes on: 2002 HUD Budget, Public Housing, Housing Vouchers, Affordable Housing Production, Affordable Housing Preservation, Housing Plus Services, and Housing Policy in the New Administration and Congress. For more information, contact NLIHC at 202/662-1530 or visit their web page at www.nlihc.org.

April 2-4 - Housing Ohio, COHHIO's 2001 Annual Conference, Radisson Airport Hotel, Columbus. For more information, call COHHIO at 614/280-1984 or visit the COHHIO web site at www.cohhio.org.

April 2 - 5 - Ohio Safety Congress and Expo, Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Columbus Convention Center. This free training is the largest regional safety and health convention in the United States. It offers keynote speakers, educational sessions and exhibits of the most up-to-date safety products and services. For more information, please call the BWC at 800-OHIOBWC, press 22, then 3 or visit their web site at www.ohiobwc.com under the employer section.

April 5-6 - Changing Financial Markets & Community Development, The Federal Reserve System's Second Community Affairs Research Conference, Washington, DC. Keynote speaker: Chairman Alan Greenspan. Papers presented and topics discussed: Evaluating CRA, Predatory Lending, Credit Scoring versus Judgment, Wealth Creation/Asset Building, and Unbanked & Alternative Financial Services. For more information, contact Heidi Furse at 617/973-3457.

PUBLICATIONS
U.S. Housing Market Conditions, 3rd Quarter 2000 - Demonstrates that a new homeownership record of 67.7 percent was set in the third quarter. Housing sales figures continue to show increases and are at near-record levels, although affordability of homeownership has decreased slightly. Housing market trends were mixed. To download this report, visit HUD USERs Web site at: http://www.huduser.org/periodicals/ushmc/fall00/index.html.

HUD User Publications. Cityscape: A Journal of Policy Development examines how the Office of University Partnerships' Community Outreach Partnerships Centers are connecting communities and institutions of higher education with the goal of moving college faculty, staff and students out of their ivory towers and into distressed neighborhoods in cities and towns nationwide. (ACCN-HUD11069) $5. Residential Rehabilitation Inspection Guide is designed to help evaluate the rehabilitation potential of small buildings and structures. (ACCN-PTH11061) $5. Case Studies of the Conversion of Project-Based Assistance to Tenant-Based Assistance, Final Report presents case studies documenting conversions from project-based to tenant-based assistance in privately owner developments funded under several HUD programs. (ACCN-HUD11065) $5. Assessment of the Economic and Social Characteristics of LIHTC Residents and Neighborhoods, Final Report provides new information on LIHTC tenant and project characteristics in relation to the neighborhoods where the properties are developed. (ACCN-HUD11060) $5. Consolidation Report: HQS Section 8 Mail Survey Study reports on the research findings into the effectiveness of Section 8 resident mail surveys to evaluate Public Housing Authority compliance with Housing Quality Standards. (ACCN-HUD11064) $5. Resident Assessment of Housing Quality: Lessons from Pilot Survey reports on the results of a test that examined a mail survey to obtain assessments of housing quality and customer satisfaction from residents of public housing and those receiving assistance from the Federal Housing Administration. (ACCN-HUD11063) $5. Fire Ratings of Archaic Materials and Assemblies is a compilation of fire ratings from earlier sources for a wide variety of materials and assemblies found in buildings from the 19th to the mid-20th centuries. (ACCN-HUD11056) $5. Electrical/Electronics is the eighth of nine guide books, known collectively as the Rehab Guide. This guide includes a general overview and covers the following topics: service panels, wiring and receptacles, lighting and controls, electric baseboard heating, phone/computer/TV cabling, and security systems. (ACCN-HUD11055) $5. Previously released guides in this series include: Foundations; Exterior Walls; Roofs; Windows & Doors; Partitions, Ceilings, Floors & Stairs; Kitchens & Baths; and HVAC/Plumbing. Success in the New Welfare Environment: An Assessment of Approaches in HUD's Employment and Training Initiatives is a preliminary assessment of the employment and training components of 13 HUD programs. (ACCN-HUD11059) $5. Fiscal Year 2001 Annual Performance Plan corresponds to the budget resources in HUD's FY 2001 budget request. It documents how HUD is measuring progress toward achieving its critical mission: to promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity, and a suitable living environment free from discrimination. (ACCN-HUD11043) Free. Characteristics of New Housing 1999 is the latest report in the Current Construction Reports series. This report provides annual estimates on selected physical and financial characteristics of new single-family and multi-family housing completed in 1999. (ACCN-HUD11058) $5.

 

Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) News
C. Lee Johnson, Ohio Department of Development Director, retired on December 31. Joseph Robinson, ODOD Assistant Director, will be in charge of the Department while a search for Johnson's replacement is conducted.

Outcomes Management Framework Manual (OMF) Distributed. The Outcomes Management Framework Manual for the Supportive Housing for the Homeless Program was distributed during the 2000 Office of Housing and Community Partnerships Summit. The 42-page manual provides award recipients with a step-by-step approach to understanding and completing the OMF reporting forms that must be submitted to OHCP on a quarterly basis. The purpose of the OMF is to: 1) clearly determine the long-term, permanent, life changing impacts that supportive housing programs have on the customers' lives; and 2) provide the program's administering agencies with better tools and methodologies to evaluate their programs. Questions regarding the OMF Manual should be directed to Laverne Burt, OHCP Outcomes Management Coordinator, at 614/466-2285.

Finance Professional Certification Program Scheduled. OHCP will sponsor the National Development Council's four week Economic Development Finance Professional Certification Program. The program explores the following skills that are essential to be successful at stimulating job creation:
April 2-6 - ED 101: Economic Development Finance. Explores the financial skills required for the successful practice of economic development within the context of an overall economic development finance system.
July 9-13 - ED 201: Business Credit Analysis. Builds upon the skills taught in ED 101 and acquaints students with the most financially sophisticated techniques available to analyze the credit-worthiness of operating a business.
Sept. 13-17 - ED 202: Real Estate Finance. Presents a step-by-step overview of the real estate development process from the perspective of the market investor.
Dec. 3 - 7 - ED 300: The Art of Deal Structuring. Integrates the business credit and real estate finance skills learned in the previous weeks with the creative demands of deal structuring.

Individuals completing the program and passing the comprehensive examination will be certified as economic development finance professionals. Each training session includes text readings, short lectures and case studies. Registration fee - $500 per participant per week. All training sessions will be held in Columbus. The registration deadline for each session is approximately six weeks prior to the start of each session. Questions should be directed to Mary Dupler, OHCP Publications Specialist, at 614/466-2285.

2001 Lead Abatement Training Scheduled. The training is designed to provide lead abatement contractors/supervisors, lead abatement workers, lead inspectors and lead risk assessors with practical, lead-based paint abatement information and with the opportunity to participate in hands-on skill-based lead-abatement activities. The registration fee for each of the courses is $100. For more information, contact Tom Sherman, OHCP, at 614/466-2285 or Mike Keyes, COAD, at 740/594-8499.
Lead Inspector Training - April 2-4 (Akron), June 25-27 (Xenia), Sept. 10-12 ( Findlay)
Lead Risk Assessor Training - April 5-6 (Athens), June 28-29 (Xenia), Sept. 13-14 (Findlay)
Residential Lead Abatement for Supervisors/Contractors - Feb. 12-16 (Athens), July 9-13 (Xenia), Oct. 15-19 (Akron), Nov. 5-9 (Findlay)
Lead-Based Paint Maintenance Worker Training - May 30 (Columbus), July 31 (Columbus)
Residential Lead Hazard Abatement for Workers - May 15-18 (Akron), June 12-15 (Findlay), Aug. 7-10 (Xenia), Oct. 30-Nov. 2 (Athens)
Lead Inspector Refresher Course - April 11 (Columbus)
Lead Risk Assessor Refresher Course - April 18 (Columbus)
Residential Lead Abatement for Supervisors/Contractors Refresher Course - May 8 (Columbus)
Residential Lead Hazard Abatement for Workers Refresher Course - Sept. 5 (Columbus)

Residential Rehabilitation Standards Trainings Repeated.
Rehabilitation and Program Management Training - Feb. 27-28 (Findlay) and March 7-8 (Xenia)
Electrical Systems Training - March 6-8 (Perrysburg), March 20-22 (Zanesville), April 10-12 (Smithville), April 25-27 (Chillicothe)
Plumbing Systems Training - April 3-4 (Caldwell), April 16-17 (Circleville), May 1-2 (New Philadelphia), May 16-17 (Findlay)
Structural Requirements Training - May 9-10 (Xenia) and June 5-6 (Findlay)

Questions should be directed to Les Warner, OHCP Assistant Manager, at 614/466-2285.


COHHIO News
COHHIO Web Page Feature. Visit the COHHIO web page this month to get the most recent information on the COHHIO annual conference. The conference brochure is available on the web page, as is directions to the Radisson Airport Hotel. The conference agenda and program will be going up on the web page shortly and will be updated with any new information as soon as it is available. So if you have any questions about the conference, visit the COHHIO web page at www.cohhio.org. If there is additional information you'd like to see on the web page or if you have suggestions or questions, please contact Susan Francis at COHHIO at 614/280-1984 or susanfrancis@cohhio.org.

New Newsletter Look. COHHIO is making a few adjustments to our newsletter. Historically, we have published two newsletters. Notes From and For the Field was published monthly and Breaking Ground was published quarterly. We had envisioned that the monthly newsletter would be a shorter, quick update on COHHIO's work. But we have found out that as our projects and work has expanded, our monthly newsletter has grown longer and longer, equalling the length of our quarterly newsletter. As a result, we will no longer be publishing Notes From and For the Field. Instead, we will begin to publish Breaking Ground on a monthly basis. If you are member of COHHIO, you will receive Breaking Ground every month. For those of you that aren't members and only received Breaking Ground every quarter, you will continue to receive Breaking Ground four times a year. Consider becoming a COHHIO member so that you may receive each issue of Breaking Ground. In addition, we will also be printing all issues on this pastel green, so please keep a look out in your mail pile for our hopefully more recognizable newsletter. We always welcome input, articles, questions, concerns, etc. about the newsletter. Please forward any correspondence to Susan Francis, COHHIO, at 614/280-1984, 614/463-1060 (fax) or susanfrancis@cohhio.org.

Sad Goodbyes...
It is with deep sorrow that we say goodbye to two former COHHIO board members and homeless advocates. Sr. Margaret Scheetz helped to found and direct the Beatitude House in Youngstown and Earlene Jeffries was the founding Director at the Holy Rosary Family Shelter of Catholic Social Services in Columbus, where she worked for 13 years. Both Sr. Margaret and Earlene were early and long time COHHIO board members. Both women provided a great deal of leadership on homeless issues and served people with tremendous compassion and strength. They will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends.

(614) 280-1984 Voice
(614) 463-1060 Fax

cohhio@cohhio.org