Breaking Ground - March 2001

Don't Bust The Trust...Support the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and Key Housing Initiatives

Ohio Department of Development - Housing Trust Fund and Other Key Hosuing Programs

Taft Administration Proposes to Gut the Mission of the Housing Trust Fund in the Language of H.B. 95

Don't Miss COHHIO's 2001 Annual Conference and Lobby Day

TANF Housing Package for Low-Wage Working Families

Provide Matching Resources for the Educational Needs of Homeless Children

How to Contact and COHHIO Staff

Speak Out on Housing Issues; Don't Miss COHHIO's Lego Lobby Day on April 4th

IRS Letter Clarifies Lobbying Rules

Register Now for COHHIO's Annual Conference

Congress Approves FY 2001 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations

Federal Housing Action - Allard to Introduce Housing Bill This Year

HUD Releases SuperNOFA

2001 Poverty Guidelines

Housing Advocates Kick off National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Campaign

COHHIO News

AmeriCorps Welcomes New Members and a New Leader

Resources

 

DON’T BUST THE TRUST
SUPPORT THE OHIO HOUSING TRUST FUND AND KEY HOUSING INITIATIVES
Support increased funding for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. The Taft Administration proposes to reduce the appropriation for the Trust Fund by $7.2 million over the next two years. This is in spite of the fact that housing development assistance was shut down for most of this year due to unprecedented demand. The RFP had twice the demand as funds available. With the 40 percent increase in Housing Tax Credits approved by Congress last year, demand will be even higher over the next two years. Support the $10 million increase for the Housing Trust Fund.

Support the TANF Housing Package. There is growing support to use $50 million of surplus TANF funds for a range of housing initiatives including rental assistance, supportive housing, down payment assistance including for mobile homes, and funding for emergency shelter services. All of these funds would be administered by the Department of Development to nonprofit housing/homelessness organizations.

Defeat the changes to the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. Without prior warning, the Taft Administration has proposed numerous changes to the permanent statute which cuts funds for non-profits, raises income targeting, hurts rural projects and moves assistance from grants to loans. Push to have those changes removed!

For Updated Fact Sheets: visit www.cohhio.org or call us at 614-280-1984

CONTACT HOUSE MEMBERS - IMMEDIATELY: HOUSE BUDGET COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE

1. Send a letter to your state representative about work funded by Housing Trust Fund dollars or talk about your support for the Housing Trust Fund in general. We especially need contact with Ohio House Finance & Appropriations Committee members. Visit COHHIO’s web site to get contact information on your legislators and a list of Finance Committee members.

2. Call your representative to follow up your letter. Does he/she have any questions? Can you count on their support for our position? If you cannot reach them by phone, send an e-mail. There is one e-mail address for the House that can be targeted to your representative by plugging in the district number, e.g. John Carey, Chair of Finance, is rep94@ohr.state.oh.us. Also call House Speaker Larry Householder’s office and speak with Administrative Assistant, Michael Carlton, at 614-466-2501.

3. Commit to contacting three other individuals in your community to do the same thing. Follow up with them to ensure they did it. Let us know what feedback you received from your legislator by contacting Cathy Johnston at 614/280-1984 or cathyjohnston@cohhio.org.

4. Plan to attend COHHIO’s Lego Lobby Day, April 4. For details on your house district delegation or for Lego Lobby Day details, contact Cathy at 614/280-1984 or cathyjohnston@cohhio.org.

 

Updated 3-6-01
Ohio Department of Development

 

Ohio Housing Trust Fund


Line Item/Program Actual FY00/01 * Proposed FY02/03 * Difference * COHHIO Goal

638 - Ohio Housing Trust Fund 20.8/30.1 * 21.5/22.1 * - 7.213 * 26.5/27.1


638 - Ohio Housing Trust Fund - Funding Picture - In the last budget this was funded by $7.76 million a year of General Revenue Funds (GRF) and approximately $12.5 million a year of interest earned from the Budget Stabilization Fund. The Housing Trust Fund received an additional appropriation in FY 01 of $9 million from accumulated interest earned from the Housing Trust Fund account. The Taft Administration is proposing to replace the funding from the interest from the Budget Stabilization Fund with a corresponding increase in funding from GRF. However, the Taft Administration is proposing to reduce the overall appropriation for the Housing Trust Fund by $7.2 million over the next two years. COHHIO is recommending an additional $5 million per year of funding for the Housing Trust Fund.

Why is this increase necessary?

• Housing Development Assistance was Shut Down. Prior to the beginning of this fiscal year, Ohio’s Affordable Housing Development Assistance program was shut down due to the fact that all funds available for the year had already been committed. The extra appropriation of $9 million to the Trust Fund was needed to be able to fund just a portion of the backlog of housing development projects needing assistance.

• With the Tax Credit Increase, Demand Will Sharply Rise in the Next Two Years. Ohio has a real opportunity to expand the supply of affordable housing because Congress approved the first major increase in the Low-income Housing Tax Credit Program. The 40% increase will be phased in during 2001 and 2002. Investor equity from the Housing Credit is combined with conventional private financing and funding from the Housing Trust Fund and other sources to construct or preserve affordable rental and lease-purchase housing opportunities.

• Affordable Housing Need Out Paces Supply. There is no county in the state where a full time minimum wage job pays enough to afford an average two-bedroom apartment. In fact, Ohio workers must earn at least twice the federal minimum wage or $10.30 per hour, if they are to afford the rent for this same apartment. Housing needs for young potential homeowners, elderly Ohioans, those with special needs and homeless people could also be better addressed with increased funding.


Other Key Housing Programs
Ohio Department of Development

Line Item/Program Actual FY00/01 * Proposed FY02/03 * Difference * COHHIO Goal

406 - Transitional/Supportive Housing 2.8/2.8 * 2.8/2.8 * - 0.002 * 4.0/4.0

440 - Emergency Shelter Grants 3.2/3.0 * 2.8/2.9 * - 0.428 * 3.5/3.7

431 - CDC Grant Program 2.7/2.6 * 2.6/2.6 * - 0.1 * 4.0/4.0


Funding for Other Key Housing Programs


406 - Transitional and Supportive Housing - Funded with General Revenue Funds these resources are used to help provide critical matching grants for operating and service costs in supportive housing for homeless people and others with special needs. This program could be supplemented with surplus TANF funds to assist families. An increase would help cover a portion of the service costs currently funded by the Housing Trust Fund. An increase to the Governor’s budget of $2.4 million over the next two years in GRF is needed to assure that supportive housing projects serving single adults continue to receive support.

440 - Emergency Shelter Grants - Funded with GRF, these resources are used to help provide matching grants to operate basic Emergency Shelters for homeless families and adults. This program has not seen increases for many years. The Taft Administration is proposing a cut of $428,000 in appropriations for the Emergency Shelters despite rising demand and costs. This program could be supplemented with surplus TANF funds to assist homeless families. An increase to the Governor’s budget of $1.5 million over the next two years is needed to keep pace with current demand.

431 - Community Development Corporations Grant Program - Funded with GRF, these resources are used to provide funds for pre-development assistance and linked deposits for affordable housing projects, grants for microenterprise and economic development projects and training and technical assistance for nonprofit housing developers. An increase to the Governor’s budget of $2.8 over the next two years is needed due to the demand for these resources.

 

Taft Administration Proposes to Gut the Mission of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund in the Language of H.B. 95
In 1991, following the passage by the voters a year earlier of State Issue One, the constitutional amendment for affordable housing, the state legislature carefully worked on passing bipartisan implementing legislation (H.B. 339) which included the creation of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. In the proposed budget bill, H.B. 95, the Taft Administration is proposing numerous unwarranted changes to the PERMANENT STATUTE which created the Housing Trust Fund in 1991.

The Ohio Department of Development officials did not bring these changes before the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee, created by the legislature or the Ohio Housing Finance Agency Board. These major changes were not even discussed with any of the organized housing constituency groups at the state level.

COHHIO is recommending that all of the Administration’s proposed changes to the Housing Trust Fund be removed from H.B. 95. There are nine major PROPOSED changes to the permanent law:

1.) Reduces the amount of grants or loans for nonprofit organizations from 45% to 30% of total awards.

COMMENT: This is unwarranted and is a clear signal that ODOD intends to shift to funding for-profit developers, including out of state corporations. Historically, HTF resources have gone primarily to joint-ventures between for-profits and non-profits or non-profit project sponsors. However, in the end, the vast majority of HTF resources are going to for-profit businesses (contractors, developers, property managers, architects, engineers and investors) for housing development projects, which is the primary use of HTF dollars. Most for-profit developers have found real advantages in joint venture projects in partnership with nonprofits. Since the creation of the HTF the Department of Development has never had a problem in meeting the 45% minimum requirement. The proposed change could cripple non-profit and faith-based organizations who serve Ohio’s neediest households. If anything, the percentage should be increased not decreased.

2.) Changes the definition of rural areas from the current law that award recipients be in communities eligible for CDBG funds through the balance of state program to those not located in HOME entitlements areas.

COMMENT: This means that 9 more cities, including Elyria (population 49,498), Newark (population 47,612), Lancaster (population 36,714) and Fairborn (population 33,775) would now be considered rural. This will have a negative impact on the truly rural areas of the state which have the fewest resources for affordable housing development.

3.) Increases the amount awarded to rural areas and small cities from not less than 35% to not less than 40% of funds awarded.

COMMENT: Don't be fooled with this change. This doesn't come close to making up for the change in number 2. Rural and small city areas should compete for funding on equal footing with other similarly situated communities. Truly rural and small city areas are hurt by this change.

4.) Eliminates the requirement that not more than 5% of funds be used for administration costs. Allows that direct and indirect costs, including third-party contractor costs, be allowed as a cost of administration.

COMMENT: This is in reference to state administration costs and under this change there would be no limit on ODOD on using the HTF for administration costs. Clearly ODOD wants more than $1,100,000 a year to distribute about $22 million. The 5% limitation should be maintained.

5.) Adds the provision that, to the greatest extent practicable, the funds allocated from the Housing Trust Fund be used for construction activities that will result in a repayment to the Fund.

COMMENT: Using forgivable loans may help protect the state’s investment but the language would require actual repayment. Actual repayment means that rents and mortgages must rise and push the housing community to serve residents with higher incomes, which is contrary to the fundamental mission and purpose of the HTF. The HTF would function in the role of a private lender if repayment was required. Fewer projects would be done if the HTF focused on revolving loans. In order to help everyone in Ohio with a housing need, the state would have to provide hundreds of millions of dollars per year. With limited resources the HTF has focused on those working families with the greatest needs and this should not change.

6.) Increases the income level of families in programs and projects that will receive funding preference from an income equal to or less than 35% of the median income in the county to or less than 50% of the median income in the county.

COMMENT: The 35% preference has encouraged the Department to look for reasonable opportunities to help those with the greatest housing needs with some of the HTF but it is only a preference and there is no set percentage that must be spent on projects serving those below 35% of median, which is above the poverty level in most counties. For the past four years, between 54% and 77% of those served by HTF funded projects have had incomes below 35% of median income. The proposed language means that the state won't even try to give any advantage to those projects who manage to target the assistance to the poorest people. This proposal would allow the Department to abandon homeless people, poor elderly people, families working at or near the minimum wages, most families trying to transition from welfare to work, most mentally ill people and others with special needs.

7.) Requires that 75% of the funds must go to projects serving those at or below 60% of the county median income, a change from the current 50% of the median income.

COMMENT: For the past four years, ODOD has used from 80% in 1997 to 88% in 2000 of the HTF to fund projects serving those below 50% of the county median income. The proposal means that the focus of the HTF would shift from a family of four earning $28,650 or less to income levels of $34,380 for a family of four in Columbus, for example. Median income figures are adjusted annually. The targeting has been met every year and should not be changed.

Let's not forget to allow for some flexibility, the HTF currently allows ODOD to fund projects serving those up to 80% of the county median income, which is up to $45,850 for a family of four in Columbus for example.

8.) Establishes that not more than 20% of the current appropriation authority be awarded in any fiscal year for activities not directly related to the acquisition, financing, construction, rehabilitation, remodeling, improvement or equipping of housing.

COMMENT: Numerous forms of housing assistance are excluded in this definition including down payment assistance projects, homelessness prevention programs, rent and mortgage assistance projects, and home repair projects which currently utilize over 30% of the HTF each year. All housing related services projects and supportive housing operations projects are also excluded. However, members of the State Controlling Board recently made it clear that they wanted a new plan for funding housing related services from sources outside of the HTF, but no objection was raised by the Controlling Board about the other types of projects that are hurt by the proposal. With the support of the legislature, COHHIO has developed a new funding plan for housing related services using TANF and other ODOD resources but this process is far from complete. The change in language here is very narrow, premature and not necessary.

9.) Requires that the percentage of total funds that may be awarded for specified purposes be calculated on the basis of the amount of funds awarded during any fiscal year instead of on the basis of the amount of money in the Fund.

COMMENT: It is unclear what the consequences are of this change. It could simply be intended to control the flow of funds more closely. It could restrict the future use of interest earnings and recaptures.

CONCLUSION: The fundamental issue with all of these changes is will the Housing Trust Fund continue to serve those with greatest need to the maximum extent practicable or is it going to be a revolving loan program for for-profit developers serving more moderate income people to the maximum extent practicable? Are we going to allow the action of the Administration, without any input, be the final word on these issues or are we going to overturn their proposals?


Don’t Miss COHHIO’s 2001 Annual Conference and Lobby Day
It’s not too late to register for COHHIO’s 2001 Annual Conference! For the past several months now, we have been encouraging you to attend our Annual Conference and speak out about or advocate for a variety of housing related issues at the state level. Whether it’s been pushing for an increase in funding for the Housing Trust Fund, advocating for the creation of a pilot TANF/housing subsidy program, or supporting the passage of comprehensive anti-predatory lending legislation, we have been urging you to get involved and make your voice heard.

NOW IS THE TIME. Register for the COHHIO conference and lobby day today! Registration information is available on our web page at www.cohhio.org, or by calling our office at 614/280-1984. Come help us make a difference.

 

TANF HOUSING PACKAGE FOR LOW-WAGE WORKING FAMILIES
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has been successful with the flexibility created through Ohio Works First in programs for child care, transportation, training for work, nutrition and health care. Housing is the missing transitional support in assisting families move from welfare to stable work.
Securing and maintaining housing remains one of the most serious issues facing low-income families and one of the most serious threats to a successful transition from welfare to work. Ohio is now in a unique position to provide transitional housing assistance to fill this gap in the range of supports being provided.

Housing assistance makes sense for family, school, and work stability:
- research shows that families with housing assistance keep jobs longer and make more money: these families are on their way to self sufficiency;
- elementary school students who move frequently or are homeless are easily a full year behind in school by 5th grade: housing stability means school stability;
- one fourth of the families involved with child welfare experience severe housing problems: the majority of children involved with child welfare are typically two years behind in school;
- research done by Case Western Reserve University of Ohio’s successful families (those who graduated from cash assistance to work) find housing stability out of reach: forty-two percent of these families are paying more than half their income in housing and move at least once in a six month period.

Three ways Ohio can use TANF to address housing issues for low-income families:

1. Pilot Rental Assistance Program
TANF reserves and Ohio’s MOE funds can be combined to establish transitional, time limited (2 years) rental assistance for low income families struggling to stabilize in work and for families who are vulnerable to lose children to children’s services due to a lack of affordable, safe housing. TANF Funding: $10 M in 2002, $15 M in 2003

2. TANF for Supportive Housing Services
TANF reserves can be used to supplement the Housing Trust Fund for social services accompanying transitional and supportive housing for low-income and homeless families. Federal law prohibits supplanting GRF, but adding to existing levels is allowable. TANF Funding: $5.8 M in 20002, $7.5 M in 2003

3. TANF Down Payment Assistance and Family Shelter Program
TANF funds can assist in down payment for affordable home ownership, including purchase of mobile homes. It can also supplement current funds for emergency homeless shelter and emergency home repairs. TANF Funding: $5.2 M 2002, $6.5 M in 2003.

For more information, visit the COHHIO web page at www.cohhio.org.

 

Provide Matching Resources for the Educational Needs of Homeless Children Ohio has the opportunity to help break the cycle of homelessness by recognizing the importance of access to public education for homeless children. By providing funding for the education of our most at risk children we can prevent homeless children from becoming homeless adults.

Need:
According to data received from the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, HUD and national organizations that serve the homeless, we estimate that there are more than 35,000 children that experience homelessness in Ohio in any given year.  The Ohio Department of Education currently provides assistance to less than 9,000 of those students. There are only 11 districts that receive funding for homeless education programs under current federal Education for Homeless Children program. Districts that do not receive federal funds are unable to provide the special services needed to assist this population to return and thrive in school.

Homeless children suffer a great number of set backs. While school is a safe place for those that are actually in school, many homeless children spend weeks or months out of school, either trying to remain in their school of origin or attempting to enroll in a new school. Some are even denied transportation to schools, which would otherwise be willing to educate them. Homeless children change schools an average of 7 to 8 times due to homelessness. They are usually 2 to 3 years behind their grade level.

In many cases school officials unknowingly violate federal law by not allowing homeless children to attend their schools. School officials, service providers, and homeless families need to become aware of the rights of homeless children, but due to a lack of funds, there is little effort put into public awareness about the needs of this at risk population.

Currently the state of Ohio receives only $997,0404 in federal Homeless Education funding. This funding fluctuates from year to year based on poverty levels of the state. However, while poverty levels may decrease, homelessness is rising. The U.S. Conference of Mayors report found that there was a 17% increase in shelter request, by families during the year 2000. This report also showed that 36% of the homeless population is families and 7% unaccompanied youth.

Recommendations:

1.) Update Ohio’s Law - The responsibility for the education of homeless children and youth must be share at all levels - local, state and federal. We must inform our schools on meeting the needs of these children by approving an amendment which would bring Ohio into compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento homeless education law.

2.) Match the Federal Funds with State Resources - We are requesting that the State of Ohio recognize the value of education in preventing future homelessness by providing the Ohio Department of Education with matching funds of $997,404 for each of the next two years. By matching federal funds, Ohio’s homeless education programs could serve three times as many children in a year. These funds will also ensure that the state can provide more training for non-funded school district administrators on these issues. These recommendations will go far to ensure that all children in Ohio receive fair access to education. We must give the State Department of Education the funds necessary to fund a full-time state coordinator to support the educational rights of these children. This initiative can be funded with an increase in the DPIA funding of $997,404 for each fiscal year of the budget.

 

(Please call the COHHIO office at 614/280-1984 or email Angela Lariviere, for a copy of the "Homeless Child Population and the Number of Children Served Under Federal Homeless Education Programs in Ohio" chart).

 

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) March 2001 • Volume 6 • Issue 3. 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 Blackledge, Youth Empowerment VISTA, Susan Francis, Communications Coordinator; Janet Holcomb, Administrative Assistant; Cathy Johnston, Advocacy Coordinator; Angela Lariviere, Youth Empowerment Coordinator; Warren Perkins, OTAG VISTA; Jill Russ, Section 8 Project Coordinator; Mary Scott, AmeriCorps Program Support Administrator; Rick Taylor, Housing Policy Director; Ande Ucubagabriel, Fiscal Manager; Kurt Weidner, AmeriCorps Leader and Spencer Wells, Tenant Outreach Coordinator. 35 E. Gay St., Suite 210, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3138; 614/280-1984; 614/463-1060 (fax); cohhio@cohhio.org; http://www.cohhio.org.

 

Speak Out on Housing Issues - Don’t miss COHHIO’s Lego Lobby Day on April 4th


Who: Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO)

What: Lego Lobby Day

When: April 4th, 2001

Where: Statehouse Atrium

Why: To Save Ohio’s Housing Programs


Lego Lobby Day will begin with a breakfast buffet at the Statehouse Atrium from 7:30 am until 9:00 am. COHHIO will be inviting every Legislator to attend this breakfast...please plan on joining him or her there! Two short programs will be held, one at 8:30 am to recognize key Legislators and one at 9:00 am to brief advocates for meeting with their legislators.

Now is the time to get involved. Advocates in many areas of the state are already getting organized. Make an appointment to meet with your Legislators as part of Lego Lobby Day! Call now to get your appointments set up for Wednesday, April 4th.

Meeting with your legislator doesn’t have to be overwhelming. COHHIO will provide you with talking points and help you link up with others in your community who might be interested in getting involved.

As part of Lego Lobby Day, COHHIO is sponsoring a Lego House display to help illustrate the need for safe, decent, and affordable housing for all Ohioans, especially our children. COHHIO along with help from you, will gather Lego houses from across the state, which will then be delivered to each Legislator throughout the day.

If you are interested in learning more about Lego Lobby Day, please contact Cathy Johnston at COHHIO at 614/280-1984 or cathyjohnston@cohhio.org. Now is the time to get involved and save Ohio’s housing programs.

Co-sponsored by the Ohio CDC Association.

 

IRS Letter Clarifies Lobbying Rules
Earlier this year, the Washington-based organization Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest asked the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) to answer a list of questions related to lobbying by 501 (c)(3) nonprofits. The IRS answers, reproduced below, dispel some common misconceptions.

Q. Is lobbying by section 501 (c)(3) organizations permissible under federal tax laws?
A. Yes (except for private foundations under most circumstances).

Q. How much lobbying may a “public charity” (a section 501 (c)(3) organization other than a private foundation of an organization testing for public safety) conduct?
A. There are two sets of rules, and with the exception of churches, public charities can choose which set to follow. One rule is that no substantial part of the organization’s activities can be lobbying. The alternative rule, that an organization must affirmatively elect, provides for sliding scales (up to $1,000,000 on total lobbying and up to $250,000 on grassroots lobbying) that can be spent on lobbying. (The scales are based on a percentage of the organization’s exempt purpose expenditures.)

Q. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the two options?
A. Organizations covered by the “no substantial part” rule are not subject to any specific dollar-based limitation. However, few definitions exist under this standard as to what activities constitute lobbying, and difficult-to-value factors, such as volunteer time, are involved.

Organizations seeking clear and more definite rules covering this area may wish to avail themselves of the election. By electing the optional sliding scale, an organization can take advantage of specific, narrow definitions of lobbying and clear, dollar-based safe harbors that generally permit significantly more lobbying that the “no substantial part” rule. However, as noted above, there are ceilings (unadjusted for inflation) on the amount of funds that can be spent on lobbying. Thus, these dollar limits should be considered when making the election.

Q. How does a public charity elect? May an election by revoked?
A. The organization files a simple, one page Form 5768 with the IRS. The election only needs to be made once. It can be revoked by filing a second Form 5768, noting the revocation.

Q. Does making the election expose the organization to an increased risk of an audit.
A. No. The Internal Revenue Manual specifically informs our examination personnel that making the election will not be a basis for initiating an examination.

Q. Does the Internal Revenue Code allow public charities that receive federal grant funds and contracts to lobby with their private funds?
A. Yes. However, while it is not a matter of federal tax law, it should be noted that charities should be careful not to use federal grant funds for lobbying except where authorized to do so.

Q. May private foundations make grants to public charities that lobby?
A. Yes, so long as the grants are not earmarked for lobbying and are either (1) general purpose grants, or (2) specific project grants that meet the requirements of section 53.4945-2(d)(6) of the Foundation Excise Tax Regulations.

Q. May section 501 (c)(3) organizations educate voters during a political campaign?
A. Yes. However, organizations should be careful that their voter education efforts do not constitute support or opposition to any candidate.

Q. May public charities continue to lobby incumbent legislators even though the legislators are running for reelection?
A. Yes. Charities should be careful, however, to avoid any reference to the reelection campaign in their lobbying efforts.

Reprinted from Ohio Nonprofits, newsletter of the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations, First Quarter 2001.

 

Register Now for COHHIO's Annual 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.

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.

Continuing Education Units
COHHIO has been approved for 12.5 CEU’s for Social Workers and Counselors.

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.

Additional registration information is available by visiting our web page at www.cohhio.org or by calling us at 614/280-1984.

 

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.

 

Congress Approves FY 2001 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations
Before the 106th Congress adjourned and President Clinton left office, they reached an agreement on FY 2001 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations legislation as well as Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) improvements and protections bill. Both measures were incorporated into the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4577/H. Rept. 106-1033), which cleared Congress on December 15. Within this legislation are several health provisions important to people experiencing homelessness:

$13 Million Increase for Health Care for the Homeless (HCH). H.R. 4577 increases appropriations for HCH and other consolidated health center programs to $1.169 billion, a $150 million increase over the FY 2000 level. HCH typically received 8.6 percent of the total appropriation, meaning that HCH will surpass the $100 million mark this fiscal year, to $105 million.

$10 million for New Homeless Addictions Services Initiative. In the report to accompany H.R. 4577, Congress has instructed the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to spend $10 million from its addiction treatment “programs of regional and national significance” account “to initiate grants to local nonprofit and public entities for the purpose of developing and expanding substance abuse services for homeless persons.” This directive culminates a multi-year effort by homeless advocates to secure targeted treatment resources for homeless people with addictions and sets the stage for program expansion next year. Approximately 30 to 40 groups will receive the funding. Notices are to be sent out in March.

$6 Million Increase for Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH). H.R. 4577 increases appropriations for PATH to $37 million, a $6 million increase over the FY 2000 level. Additional funds will enable states to serve thousands additional homeless people with serious mental illnesses.

Medicaid Prospective Payment System for Federally-Qualified Health Centers. H.R. 4577 establishes a prospective payment system for compensating Federally-Qualified Health Centers, including Health Care for the Homeless projects, for their services to Medicaid beneficiaries. The PPS system ensures FQHCs a minimum Medicaid per visit payment, thus providing HCH projects and other FQHCs stable and predictable compensation from state Medicaid agencies. The significance of this victory is magnified in that the provision was strongly opposed by the National Governors’ Association and other associations of state government.

Homeless Shelters Named Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility Sites. H.R. 4577 authorizes states to consider using federally-funded emergency food and shelter providers to “presumptively” (i.e., temporarily) determine children and pregnant women eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP. Homeless advocates pressed for this addition with the confidence that homeless children and families, who have difficulty enrolling in Medicaid at traditional locations, will now be having the opportunity to do so quickly at the same time as seek emergency food or shelter assistance.

For more information, contact Bob Reeg at the National Coalition for the Homeless at 202/737-6444 or by email at nch@ari.net.

Federal Housing Action - Allard to Introduce Housing Bill This Year
Despite reluctance on the part of the Senate Banking Committee Chairman Phil Gramm to consider major housing legislation this year, Senate Housing Subcommittee Chairman Wayne Allard (R-CO) will follow through on an omnibus bill he introduced last year. S. 2968 proposed converting McKinney homeless aid to state block grants, consolidating HUD programs, and allowing states with HUD-approved plans to take control of federal assistance.

Senator Allard is expected to introduce a bill in the spring. The legislation will most likely include HUD continuum of care homeless aid in the city, and urban/county and state consolidated planning process for affordable housing, the Community Development Block Grant program, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.

For more information, contact the National Low Income Housing Coalition at 202/662-1530 or the National Coalition for the Homeless at 202/737-6444.

HUD Releases SuperNOFA
Late last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Fiscal Year 2001 Super Notice of Funding Availability (SuperNOFA), which announced the availability of approximately $2.75 billion in HUD funds covering some 45 different program areas. This year marks the fourth straight year that HUD has issued a SuperNOFA for almost all of its competitive grant programs. The SuperNOFA approach is one designed to simplify the application process and increase the ability of applicants to consider and apply for funding under a wide variety of HUD programs. Non-profit organizations, public housing agencies, state and local governments, veterans service organizations, faith-based organizations, and others can identify the programs for which they are eligible for funding. Beyond that, the SuperNOFA approach places a heavy emphasis on the coordination of activities assisted by HUD funds to provide greater flexibility and responsiveness in meeting local housing and community development needs.

The Fiscal Year 2001 SuperNOFA includes more grant assistance funding than in previous years. Funding availability announcements that were added to this SuperNOFA include:
• Assisted Living Conversion Program (ALCP) for Eligible Multi-family Projects;
• Community Development Block Grants for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages;
• Early Doctoral Research Program;
• Doctoral Research Program;
• HUD Urban Scholars Fellowship Program;
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Coordinators Program;
• Healthy Homes Demonstration and Education Program;
• Healthy Homes Research Program;
• Indian Housing Drug Elimination Program; and
• Service Coordinators in Multi-family Housing.

Funding availability announcements that were part of last year’s SuperNOFA, but were not included in this year’s notice include:
Public Housing Drug Elimination Technical Assistance for Safety and Security; and
Outreach and Assistance Training Grants.

The following table lists each of the program areas, the approximate amount of funding available, and the application due date. Additional information can be obtained directly from HUD. A guidebook to HUD programs entitled Connecting with Communities: A User’s Guide to the HUD Programs and the 2001 SuperNOFA Process is available from the SuperNOFA Information Center (1-800-HUD-8929) and the HUD website (www.hud.gov/grants). Application kits for each of the program areas can also be ordered through either the SuperNOFA Information Center or the HUD website.

Approximate Amount
Program Area of Funding Application Due Date
Community Housing Development Organization TA $7.6 million May 22
HOME TA $8 million May 22
McKinney-Vento Act Homeless Assistance TA $3 million May 22
HOPWA TA $2.6 million May 22
CDBG for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages $71.3 million May 23
Community Outreach Partnership Centers $8 million June 11
Historically Black Colleges and Universities $10 million June 1
Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities $6.5 million June 1
Approximate Amount
Program Area of Funding Application Due Date
Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities $3 million June 1
Fair Housing - Private Enforcement Initiative $10.5 million May 2
Fair Housing - Education and Outreach Initiative $3.9 million May 2
Fair Housing Organizations Initiative $2.1 million May 2
Housing Counseling - Local Housing Counseling Agencies $6.6 million May 3
Housing Counseling - National, Regional, and $9.9 million May 3
Multi-State Intermediaries Housing Counseling - $1 million May 3
State Housing Finance Agencies
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program $59 million May 17
Healthy Home Research $1.5 million May 17
Healthy Homes Demonstration and Education Program $5.5 million May 17
HOPE VI Revitalization Grants $490 million June 22
HOPE VI Demolition Grants $75 million July 10
Public Housing Drug Elimination - TA $.9 million July 27
Indian Housing Drug Elimination Program $12 million April 24
Drug Elimination New Approach Anti-Drug Program $20 million June 19
Drug Elimination Grants for Multi-family Low Income Housing $16.25 million May 23
Economic Development Initiative $10.7 million July 6
Brownfields Economic Development Initiative $25 million May 22
Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program $20 million May 29
Youthbuild $52.9 million May 30
ROSS for Resident Management and Business Dev't. $6 million May 24
ROSS for Capacity Building and Conflict Resolution $5 million May 24
ROSS for Resident Service Delivery Models $24 million June 26
ROSS for Service Coordinator Renewals $20 million June 28
Rural Housing and Economic Development Program $24 million April 6
Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance $850 million May 31
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS $25.5 million April 24
Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly $495.9 million May 25
Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities $121.2 million May 25
Assisted Living Conversion Program for Eligible Multi-family Projs. $75 million June 21
Service Coordinators in Multi-family Housing $24.2 million June 21
Section 8 Housing Vouchers for Persons with Disabilities $139.1 million date not available
Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities $54.1 million July 20
Rental Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons w/ Disabilities $20 million June 15
Rental Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons w/ Disabilities (Hsg. Plans) $20 million May 16
Rental Certificate Housing Choice Voucher FSS Program Coordinators $45 million April 25.

 

2001 Poverty Guidelines
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued the 2001 Poverty Guidelines.

 

Size of Family Unit
1 $8,590
2 $11,610
3 $14, 630
4 $17,650
5 $20,670
6 $23,690
7 $26.710
8 $29,730

 

For each additional person, add $3,020. Source: Federal Register. The full text of the Federal Register notice is available at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/01fedreg.htm.

 

Housing Advocates Kick Off National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Campaign
As the 107th Congress gets underway, we have a real opportunity to add significant new funds to solving the affordable housing crisis in America. Thanks to the hard work of housing advocates across the country, there is an emerging consensus among Washington insiders that it is time to once again invest in housing that the lowest-income households can afford. This investment, which takes the form of a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund, would create a source of revenue for the production of 1.5 million units of affordable rental housing by 2010.

The proposal is both bold and realistic. Thanks to unprecedented budget surpluses and substantial bipartisan support in Congress, we are at a moment when real new housing investment is possible.  Within the next few weeks, we expect that Senator Kerry (D-MA) will introduce a bill to create a housing trust fund similar to the one he introduced in the 106th Congress.  Senator Bond (R-MO) will also likely introduce a billion or multi-billion dollar bill in support of the production and preservation of affordable housing, which may or may not have a trust fund provision. 

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is asking for your support as the Trust Fund Campaign moves forward. You will find information on the Trust Fund proposal, developed by NLIHC and its partners, as well as a declaration of support to sign and return on their website (www.nhtf.org). If you have not yet signed on as a supporter of the trust fund campaign, please do so today. At the minimum, they are asking for the endorsement of your organization, which will allow you to participate in ongoing policy discussions surrounding the trust fund. They are also requesting assistance for the campaign in other ways. They need organizations to commit time to grassroots organizing of potential campaign allies and to the public relations effort that will accompany the campaign.

The dimensions of the affordable housing crisis are well known:
• Millions of low income households spend precariously high percentages of their income for their housing and that the lowest income households have the most acute housing affordability problems.
• The housing problems of low income people are exacerbated, not relieved, by the extraordinary prosperity from which most people have benefited, as the cost of housing accelerates faster than wages and the private housing market concentrates on meeting the housing expectations of higher income people.
• The federal investment in new rental housing production that the lowest income households can afford has declined precipitously in the last 20 years.
• The supply of existing federally assisted housing is eroding as more and more public housing units are taken out of operation and owners of the private, assisted stock are opting out of their contracts and renting their properties to unsubsidized tenants.
• Although there have been modest increases in the number of federal housing voucher program in recent years, many communities are unable to use all the housing vouchers they are allocated because there are insufficient units available for voucher holders to rent.

We are at a moment in time when real new investment is possible. Unprecedented federal budget surpluses mute the longstanding argument that the United States cannot afford to solve housing problems. We have learned a great deal about how to best design homes and communities that afford dignity and opportunity to the people who live in them, including those with the lowest incomes. We have a cadre of community-based entities that stand ready to develop and operate new and preserved housing. Proposals for production of new rental housing and preservation of the existing assisted rental housing stock received substantial bipartisan support in the last Congress. Housing leaders on both sides of the aisle have pledged to work together to achieve legislative success in the upcoming Congress.

 

(Please call the COHHIO office at 614/280-1984 or email Rick Taylor, to get a copy of the National Housing Trust Fund National Campaign Declaration of Support form)

 

COHHIO News
Finding Your Legislators on the COHHIO Web Page...
You can find your state and federal legislators and their contact information by visiting the COHHIO web page. It's easy. Just click on the Legislative Directory, and then click on the county you represent. Legislators are divided by the county or counties they represent. You will find their names and contact information. You can use this helpful resource as you contact your legislators for Lobby Day! If there additional items you would like to see on the web page, please contact Susan Francis at COHHIO at 614/280-1984 or susanfrancis@cohhio.org.

COHHIO Email
Just a reminder that COHHIO staff are no longer using the old AOL accounts. To email staff, use the staff person's first and last name (no space) @cohhio.org. For example, to email COHHIO's Executive Director, you would use billfaith@cohhio.org. General emails should go to the general email account at cohhio@cohhio.org. Please be sure to update your records as the AOL addresses will no longer work. Thanks!

REMINDER - New Newsletter Look. Just a reminder, that COHHIO is now publishing 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 are printing all issues on this pastel green, so please keep a look out in your mail pile for our 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.

Become a COHHIO member
If you aren't already a member of COHHIO, please consider joining our efforts. COHHIO is a coalition of organizations and individuals that works on all aspects of homelessness and housing. We can not do this work without the support of others. And by being a member, you will be guaranteed of receiving vital information from COHHIO, including all the issues of our newsletter, action alerts, funding alerts, and discounts to our conference.

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!

 

AmeriCorps Welcomes New Members and a New Leader
Welcome to Kurt, the new AmeriCorps Leader.
We would like to welcome our new AmeriCorps Staying Home Program Leader, Kurt Weidner. Kurt comes to us from Akron. He served one year as an AmeriCorps Member at Access, Inc. In January he attended the Leader Training in Baltimore, MD. He has already incorporated the skills that he learned at the training by giving leadership at the Member Orientation and at the Mediation Training. His job will be to provide leadership to the 39 new Members as well as to the eight second year Members. We look forward to a great year with Kurt on board here at COHHIO.

Welcome to COHHIO's 2001 AmeriCorps Members.
We have gotten off to a great start with 47 AmeriCorps Members. We would like to take this opportunity to WELCOME them! Their names and the agencies in which they work are as follows:

 

Access, Inc., Akron
Angela Grywalsky; Emily Duhaime ; Pamela Harris

Bridgehaven, Waverly
Phyllis Walker

Bridging the Gap, Cleveland
Deloach Walker; Eugene Platts; Carol Bevier; Mark Sowden

Central City Economic Development Council, Mansfield
Angela Hyatt; Claudia Patters

Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland
Carmen Hawkins

Cleveland Mediation Center
Elizabeth Dargan

Community Action Commission of Fayette County
Jason Kidder; Daniel Dunn

Community Action Program of Mansfield
Pamela Avery; Stacie Ridley

Safe Place, Daybreak, Dayton
Elanamarie RadFord

Lutheran Social Services
Sheila Prillerman, Columbus
Melissa Corral, Lancaster

FOCUS, Toledo
Melissa Yurashus; Helena Riley; Sandra Goree
Good Works, Inc., Athens
Jonathan Mullins

Harbor Light, Cleveland
Christana Diaz; Delmeda Edmonds

Mahoning Co. Community Development Program
Debra Debozy

Ottawa County Transitional Housing
Wendy Stinebaugh; Elizabeth Mincer; Patricia Bowling

Portage Area Transitional Housing
Lori Hinkle; Emily Cowan

RESTOC, Cincinnati
James Garner ; Calvin Prince ; Robert Woods; Tyrone Hardy

Rural Action Development Corporation, Athens
John Losey; Robert Thompson; Richard Stump; James McCombs; Arthur Parks

The Other Place, Dayton
Joanna Cochran

Tri-County Community Action Agency, Athens
Daniel Baughman

WSOS Community Action Commission, Fremont
Tonya Couture-Grubb; Melissa Tag ; Crystal Johnson; Barbara Faber

YWCA - IHN of Columbus
James Page

 

Resources
TRAININGS
CDC Trainings. Introduction to Micro-enterprise Development - April 3-5 and May 2-3; and Basic Skills in Affordable Housing Development Workshop Series - starting April 17. For more information, contact the Ohio CDC Association at 614/461-6392 or ohiocdc@ohiocdc.org.

ODOD Trainings.
Finance Professional Certification Program. Questions - Mary Dupler, OHCP Publications Specialist, 614/466-2285. 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.
2001 Lead Abatement Training. Questions - Tom Sherman, OHCP, 614/466-2285 or Mike Keyes, COAD, 740/594-8499. Lead Inspector Training - April 2-4 (Akron); Lead Risk Assessor Training - April 5-6 (Athens); Lead Inspector Refresher Course - April 11 (Columbus); and Lead Risk Assessor Refresher Course - April 18 (Columbus).
Residential Rehabilitation Standards Trainings. Questions - Les Warner, OHCP Assistant Manager, 614/466-2285. Plumbing Systems Training - April 3-4 (Caldwell), April 16-17 (Circleville); and Electrical Systems Training - April 10-12 (Smithville), April 25-27 (Chillicothe).

April 2-5 - Ohio Safety Congress and Expo, Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, Columbus. The largest regional safety and health convention in the country offers dynamic speakers, educational sessions and exhibits of the most up-to-date safety products and services. Registration is free. For more information, call the BWC at 800-OHIOBWC, press 22, then 3 or visit their web site at www.ohiobwc.com.

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.

Building Doctors, Ohio Historical Society. Will teach old-building owners how to recognize and solve some of the most common sources of problems in maintaining older buildings. Also will make rounds of ailing buildings within five miles of the host community to examine problems and prescribe cures. The clinics and consultations are free. Clinics will be held in Eaton on April 26 & 27; Medina on May 17 &18; Zanesville on May 31 & June 1; London/Plain City on June 14 & 15; Chardon on July 19 & 20; Bellevue on August 16 & 17; Tiffin on September 13 & 14 and Chagrin Falls on October 11 & 12. To register, call 800/499-2470.

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

cohhio@cohhio.org