Breaking Ground - May 2001

State Budget Update - Budget Passes out of House, and Work Continues in the Senate

Fiscal Management Training

Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Escalate: National Civil Rights Organizing Project Documents 61 Deaths in 2000

Contacts and COHHIO Staff

Bill to Regulate Mortgage Brokers Passes Ohio Senate

COHHIO Membership

Please Sign on to the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Campaign

NCRC Releases Report on Subprime Lending in Ohio

Be an Ally in BWC's WAR (Workplace Accident Reduction) on Workplace Injuries

COHHIO Newsletter Reader Survey

Resources

COHHIO News

 

State Budget Update - Budget Passes out of House, and Work Continues in the Senate
Housing issues came out of the House with a mixed bag of success and work still to be done. One important victory was that the damaging language related to the Housing Trust Fund proposed by the Ohio Department of Development was removed from the bill. In another win, the House agreed to provide funding of $11.7 from TANF for a range of housing initiatives. The House also added protections under state law to help homeless children better access public education. However, the Housing Trust Fund received cuts of about $9 million and other issues proposed by COHHIO went unaddressed. Below is the details of each issue, as well as what action you can take to help further housing issues.

Funding for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund
The proposed budget for the Housing Trust Fund remains a concern in the budget. There are actually two line items that explain the funding. First is line item 195-638 which is the appropriation authority. Second is the General Fund line item 195-441 which actually provides the funding. We are very concerned that the funding level has dropped, initially reduced in the Governor’s budget from $50.9 million in the current biennium to $43.6 million for 02/03 and now the substitute bill reduces funding by another $2 million over the next two years.

Actual Gov’s House COHHIO Goal
Line Item FY00/01 FY02/03 FY02/03 FY02/03
638 - Low & Moderate Income Housing Trust Fund 50.9 43.6 43.6 53.6
441 - Low & Moderate Income Housing 50.9 (see note) 40.0 38.0 50.0

Note - Ohio Housing Trust Fund - In the last budget, funding came from three sources: $15.5 million of General Funds, $25 million of interest from the Budget Stabilization Fund and about $10.4 in interest that had accumulated in the Trust Fund account to reach the appropriation level of $50.9 million. The Budget Stabilization Fund interest is no longer available for this purpose and the Trust Fund is likely to generate only about $3 to $4 million in interest over the next two years.

COHHIO is requesting $6 million per year above the level in the House passed version of the bill.

Language for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund
COHHIO is supportive of the House version of the bill which removed the numerous changes to the permanent statute of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund that had been proposed in the Governor’s budget. The changes would have totally gutted the fundamental mission and purpose of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund established in the permanent statute by the legislature ten years ago, following passage of the constitutional amendment making housing a public purpose. These changes would have decreased funds for nonprofits, raised the income targets for those served, focused the fund on making loans instead of grants or forgivable loans, and several other administrative changes. The House bill does contain a cap of 20 percent on the amount of funds that can be used for supportive services in housing in order to focus the Housing Trust Fund on development, preservation and rehabilitation of affordable housing. COHHIO was encouraged by key members of the legislature to negotiate with the Department regarding the proposed changes. There was a growing consensus that without an agreement, separate legislation would likely be introduced with an uncertain outcome. The reductions in funding for non-profits, the increases to the income targeting and the loan versus grant language was dropped. However, an agreement was reached on some of the smaller administrative issues which will be included in the budget bill.

This agreement would address several administrative issues:

1.) Changes the definition of small city and rural areas to be consistent with the federal HOME program definition to allow for streamlined administration. An additional 10 smaller cities in the state will now be included.

2.) Change the rural setaside from at least 35 percent to at least 45 percent of the funds to adequately compensate for the change in item #1. This is preferred since under the new rural definition, according to the 2000 Census, 47 percent of the population would live in rural areas and 53 percent would live in urban areas, and rural areas have demonstrated the capacity to use their fair share of resources.

3.) Add two members to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency Board to represent both non-profit and for-profit multifamily housing organizations since the Agency now administers numerous programs and funds for multi-family housing. This will raise the number of board members from nine to eleven.

4.) Include technical changes to the statute to clarify that the Department shall report on a fiscal year basis to the legislature as opposed to calendar year and adds clarifying language to have set asides calculated from the total amount of funds awarded per fiscal year.

5.) Allow the administrative costs to be no more than six percent. The department had initially proposed that no cap be in place. The original statute allowed only five percent. The department made a strong case regarding the need for six percent.

6.) Add a provision to make certain types of small projects eligible, even for projects as small as one unit. This issue is important to certain rural areas of the state.

TANF Housing Package for Low-Wage Working Families
The original proposal for TANF and Housing was to utilize $50 million of surplus TANF funds to address housing issues for low-income families include the following three initiatives:

1. Pilot Rental Assistance Program. TANF reserves and Ohio’s MOE funds can be combined to establish transitional, time limited (two 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.
Funding: $10 M in 2002, $15 M in 2003 - NOT INCLUDED IN THE HOUSE BUDGET.

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 - NOT INCLUDED IN THE HOUSE BUDGET.
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
shelters, homelessness prevention and emergency home repairs. TANF Funding: $5.2 M 2002, $6.5 M in 2003 - INCLUDED IN THE HOUSE BUDGET.

The House included the third component in the bill and added supportive housing services as an eligible use of those funds. We are encouraging the Senate to support the inclusion of the rest of the TANF Housing Package in the budget.

Language to Address the Education of Homeless Children
The House added to the bill language to help address the education of homeless children. We know that mobility of students has a detrimental impact on their education. The language allows for homeless children to attend, free of charge, their school of origin or the school near the emergency shelter, as selected by the parent. This provision was necessary in order to make Ohio law consistent with federal statutes. COHHIO also requested that the state provide a match to the federal funds of $1 million per year to help meet the educational needs of homeless children. This proposal was not included in the substitute bill.

Why are more housing funds needed in this budget?
• 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, to afford the rent.
• Last year the Housing Development Assistance Program was shut down due to the fact that all funds available for the year had already been committed.
• The Housing Trust Fund - Request for Proposals had twice the demand as funds available.
• With the increase in Housing Tax Credits and Bond financing approved by Congress last year, demand for development projects will be even higher over the next two years.
• Affordable housing need outpaces supply. Housing needs for young potential homeowners, elderly Ohioans, those with special needs and homeless people could be better addressed.
• Funding is also needed to help address the expiring Section 8 contract issue that has placed thousands of elderly, disabled and families at risk of losing their affordable housing units.

Housing Assistance means Family, School, and Work Stability
Securing and maintaining housing remains one of the most serious issues facing low-income families, one of the most serious threats to a successful transition from welfare to work and one of the most serious threats to educational success for children in our public schools.
• 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;
• a recent study shows that 4th graders who changed schools one or more times during the year scored lower than their stable classmates on all five sections of the proficiency test;
• research shows that families with housing assistance keep jobs longer and make more money: these families are on their way to self sufficiency;
• 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.

What can you do? Call your Senator and urge him/her to be supportive of these housing issues. Not sure how to find your Senator or his/her contact information? Visit the COHHIO web page at www.cohhio.org and click on Legislative Directory. If you have questions, call Cathy Johnston at COHHIO at 614-280-1984 or email her at cathyjohnston@cohhio.org.

FISCAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING
TRAINING LOCATION: CATERING BY DESIGN, COLUMBUS
JUNE 6, 2001 - 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM - $25
With assistance from the Ohio Department of Development, COHHIO is sponsoring a Fiscal Management Training. The training will focus on issues related to fund accounting, grant monitoring and reporting, fiscal policies and procedures, updates regarding federal fiscal regulations and other applicable issues. A special focus, which will be presented by the Ohio Department of Development's Audit Chief, will be on correctly accounting for grant funds, so that your organization doesn't end up having to return money because it was accounted for incorrectly. This training will present the essentials of fiscal accountability strategies and is intended for fiscal managers and administrators of non-profits who receive public funds. Registration is $25 and includes materials, continental breakfast, lunch and a soda break. Approximately 6.5 hours of CPE's will be available. If you'd like additional information or need directions, call COHHIO at 614-280-1984 or visit our web page at www.cohhio.org. Please complete the registration form and return with a check made out to COHHIO by June 1.


REGISTRATION
(one form per person, form can be copied, print clearly and complete the entire form)

Name
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone, Fax, Email
_____ Please check for vegetarian lunch

REGISTRATION FEE = $25

____ Total Enclosed (COHHIO Federal ID. #31-1189029)

Checks can be made out to COHHIO and registrations with payment can be sent to COHHIO, 35 East Gay Street, Suite 210, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3138 by June 1. Questions? Call COHHIO at 614-280-1984.


Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Escalate: National Civil Rights Organizing Project Documents 61 Deaths in 2000
The National Civil Rights Organizing Project is working to make homelessness a protected status under Constitutional Amendment 14, which forbids discrimination based upon race, gender or disability. The homeless are discriminated against on a daily basis. They are asked to leave establishments, are arrested for using public areas to sleep or rest and in many areas are forbidden to panhandle. There are no laws protecting the homeless from police sweeps or harassment. The homeless must conduct their daily lives in a public setting. Incarceration, harassment, legal fear and intimidation are part of a homeless person’s life and overcoming such discrimination in order to obtain what they need to get out of homelessness is difficult. Often times, this discrimination severely hinders an individual’s ability to leave homelessness.

The violent component of discrimination continues to be present. Although we generally associate hate crimes with issues of race, gender or sexual orientation, the basis for these reported hate crimes against the homeless, is economic status.

Of crimes committed against the homeless that have been solved (many are not solved), we are finding that young men are very often the perpetrators. Predominantly older men are the victims. In 2000, 61 deaths have been documented, either killed by the police when they were not armed, or the victims of a violent homicide. Among those documented, burnings were not uncommon; several men and one woman were burned to death in their encampments. Beatings of homeless people were also prevalent. Of the 61 homicide victims, 23 were beaten to death.

Locally, we are experiencing similar trends. A year and a half ago, a gang of teenagers attacked a Northern Kentucky homeless encampment, breaking the ribs and nose of one of the residents. It is difficult to guess why so many of our homeless fall victim to such crimes, most of which never go reported. We can speculate that the homeless are victims with no voice. Many of these crimes are never solved. However, the issue of discrimination is complex and can manifest itself in horrific ways. These crimes may also be the end result of countless civil rights violations that never culminate in physical violence. But instead, render the homeless with insurmountable obstacles to finding stability and hope.

The National Civil Rights Organizing Project is working to counter this discrimination and to offer the homeless a voice that can speak on these hate crimes, police brutality, unconstitutional laws, and rights that are to be granted to all U.S. citizens. The initial Civil Rights Organizing Report, compiling 50 cities’ findings is due out this year.

Reprinted with permission from HomeFront, Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, March 2001. For more information, contact GCCH at 513-421-7803.

 

Contacts and COHHIO Staff

How to Contact...
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) May 2001 • Volume 6 • Issue 5. 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; Jowana Jenkins, OCRP VISTA; 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.

 

Bill to Regulate Mortgage Brokers Passes Ohio Senate...
After falling off of what can best be described as the “fast track,” a bill to more highly regulate mortgage brokers within the State of Ohio was passed by the Ohio Senate late last month. The bill, which modifies the Mortgage Brokers Law, was introduced in late March by Senator Harris and was intended to establish more parameters for the mortgage broker industry within the state. Senate Bill 76, which was largely crafted by the Ohio Department of Commerce and the Ohio Association of Mortgage Brokers, did have some positive provisions as introduced. These provisions included:

• the licensing of all loan officers working for mortgage brokers;
• requiring continuing education classes for mortgage loan officers;
• increasing the mortgage broker surety bond from $25,000 to $50,000;
• requiring a written agreement between mortgage brokers and their customers; and
• prohibiting kickbacks or referral fees to or from a bona fide third party with a related interest in the transaction (i.e. home improvement builders, real estate developers, real estate broker or agent).

Unfortunately, the bill also contained some rather problematic provisions and sizable loop holes. The Ohio Coalition for Responsible Lending (OCRL) discussed these issues with the Department of Commerce, and for the most part, our suggestions were included as amendments and ultimately passed as part of the substitute bill. These amendments included:

• closing a loophole relating to independent contractors;
• clarifying that certain mortgage brokers who are also licensed under the mortgage lenders law are not exempt from this act;
• removing any reference to the Consumer Sales Practices Act, which would limit the Attorney General’s ability to bring actions against mortgage brokers and create different standards for liability for mortgage brokers; and
• including information in the written agreement about the loan officer’s name and license number, as well as contact information about the mortgage broker.

If this bill were to become law today, Ohio would have one of the strongest mortgage broker bills in the country. This is not so much a testament to Ohio’s proactive stance on consumer protection issues, but rather a commentary on just how little regulatory oversight there is on the mortgage broker industry in this country. This is not to say that S.B. 76 is a “bad” bill. Quite the contrary. While it is not the comprehensive legislative remedy that fair housing advocates would like to see, it does raise the proverbial bar with respect to issues associated with predatory lending. While the bill was working its way through the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, Republicans and Democrats alike conceded that the broker bill would not be “spun” as addressing predatory lending and committed to craft a comprehensive and bipartisan solution to curbing predatory lending.

Again, this bill is a good first step, but there is much more to be done. From here, the matter will be taken up in the Ohio House. Please watch for additional information in future issues of Breaking Ground, or contact Rick Taylor at 614- 280-1984 or via e-mail at ricktaylor@cohhio.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!

 

 

Please Sign on to the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Campaign
The National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Campaign is working for the establishment of a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund to build and preserve 1.5 million housing units for the neediest households over the next 10 years.

It is time for the federal government to once again invest in housing for poor people. Congress is considering a tax cut that will surely amount to more than 1 TRILLION dollars. NOW is the time to tell Congress that affordable housing matters.

Please sign on to the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Campaign. The more support we get, the more likely we are to WIN! We are asking any organization to sign on if you support the following:

dedicating billions of dollars in new federal resources to
establish a DEDICATED source of revenue (a Trust Fund)
to BUILD and PRESERVE affordable RENTAL housing
mostly for the lowest income Americans.

Please help us by adding your organization’s name to our list of supporters. We can only succeed with your help.

A full policy proposal is available at www.nhtf.org



SIGN ON SHEET

Name of Organization
Name of Primary Contact
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip
Email, Phone


_____ Check here if you would like to be contacted to help out with the campaign.

Please mail, fax or email to:
National Low Income Housing Coalition
1012 14th Street, NW, Suite 610, Washington, DC 20005
email: kim@nlihc.org fax: (202) 393-1973 phone: (202) 662-1530.

 

NCRC Releases Report on Subprime Lending in Ohio...
According to a report released by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) earlier this year, subprime lending activity increased by an astounding 241 percent within the State of Ohio between 1995 and 1999. More importantly, this increase was targeted specifically at substantially minority census tracts throughout the state. Subprime lenders made two thirds of all refinance loans in minority tracts in 1999, up from half of all loans in 1995. Of the five metropolitan areas examined, subprime refinance lenders were most dominant in Cleveland. By 1999, Cleveland’s minority neighborhoods received half of the subprime loans made in minority census tracts in the entire state. Cleveland’s minority neighborhoods also received more than four times the number of loans of the next highest total in Dayton.

Rural counties also experienced disparities among prime and subprime lenders. In Washington County, subprime refinance lenders had twice as large a market share of low and moderate-income borrowers compared to middle and upper-income borrowers. They made nearly 17 percent of all refinance loans to low and moderate-income borrowers but only 8 percent of the loans to middle and upper-income borrowers in 1999.

In terms of the demographics of the borrowers, the picture is not much better. According to the 1990 census, African-Americans constituted 10 percent of Ohio’s households. In 1995, the share of originations by prime lenders going to African-American applicants was less than half of the statewide demographic share, but the share of originations by subprime lenders going to African-American applicants was almost double the statewide demographic share. African-American borrowers received nearly 20 percent of the loans originated by subprime lenders, but just over 4 percent of the loans originated by prime lenders. In 1999, the over-representation of African-Americans in the subprime lending market had apparently lessened, but this was not accompanied by an increase in representation in the prime lending market. In 1999, African-American borrowers received nearly 13 percent of the loans originated by subprime lenders, but still only 4 percent of the loans originated by prime lenders.

The pattern for all minority borrowers almost exactly parallels the pattern for African-American borrowers. Although 11 percent of the state’s households are minority, in 1995, subprime lenders made nearly 23 percent of their loans to minorities, but minorities only received 6 percent of prime loans. By 1999, subprime lenders made a lower share of their loans to minorities, nearly 15 percent, but the prime share was unchanged at 6 percent.

With respect to neighborhood income, it is more of the same. Low and moderate income neighborhoods captured a share of subprime loans twice as high as their share of owner occupied housing units, but a share of prime loans that was only one half of their share of owner occupied units. In 1995, over 34 percent of subprime loans were originated in low and moderate income neighborhoods, while only 9 percent of prime loans were. By 1999, the subprime share was similar to the share in 1995, holding at 34 percent, but the prime share had risen slightly to 13 percent.

Even in home purchase lending, the subprime share surged dramatically from 10 percent of the loans in 1995 to 53 percent of the loans in 1999. More specifically, in 1999, black borrowers, all minority borrowers, low and moderate income borrowers, female borrowers, minority neighborhoods and low and moderate income neighborhoods all received a smaller share of prime loans for home purchase than in 1995. All of these groups except black borrowers and female borrowers also received a larger share of subprime loans in 1999 than in 1995.

Minority and low and moderate income borrowers were the hardest hit by the shifts in loan share. In 1995, 10 percent of all prime loans and 19 percent of all subprime loans went to minority borrowers. By 1999, minority borrowers received only 7 percent of all prime loans, but 34 percent of all subprime loans. For low and moderate income borrowers, the decrease in prime loan share was not as steep, from 28 percent in 1995 to 27 percent in 1999, but the increase in subprime loan share was much more dramatic, surging from 36 percent in 1995 to 66 percent in 1999.

Unlike the trends in refinance lending, the minority share of subprime home purchase loans diverges from the black share. In subprime refinance lending, Blacks received 12 percent of the loans in the state while all minorities received 14 percent of the loans in 1999. In other words, Blacks received the great majority of subprime refinance loans going to minorities. In contrast, Native Americans received 14 percent of the subprime home purchase loans in 1999 while Blacks received 15 percent. The jump in subprime home purchase lending to Native Americans was dramatic; Native Americans received less than 1 percent of the subprime home purchase loans statewide in 1995.

NCRC conducted market share and loan share analyses for the five largest metropolitan areas and two rural counties in the state. The major difference between the statewide analysis and the metropolitan and rural analyses is that NCRC selected refinance lending for the metropolitan and rural analyses because for this type of lending, subprime lenders had the largest presence or market share. For the market share analysis on the metropolitan and rural level, they compared prime, subprime, and manufactured home lenders in the top 50 institutions as was done for the statewide analysis. For the loan share analysis in the metropolitan and rural areas, they identified prime, subprime, and manufactured home lenders among the top 50, and examined them as separate groups.

The metropolitan areas for the report included:
Cincinnati (Brown, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties)
Cleveland (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina Counties)
Columbus (Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, and Pickaway Counties)
Dayton (Clark, Greene, Miami, and Montgomery Counties)
Toledo (Fulton, Lucas, and Wood Counties)

The rural areas for the report included: Washington County and Jackson County

Because the rural areas do not have many minorities or low- and moderate-income tracts, they conducted market share analyses comparing subprime, manufactured home, and prime lender penetration of the markets for low- and moderate-income borrowers against middle- and upper-income borrowers.

For each metropolitan area, NCRC produced four CRA Wiz maps showing the distribution of refinance loans by the top prime and subprime lenders in census tracts of different minority levels. The maps show: 1) all prime lenders among the top 50 lenders in 1995, 2) all subprime lenders among the top 50 lenders in 1995, 3) all prime lenders among the top 50 lenders in 1999, and 4) all subprime lenders among the top 50 lenders 1999. For the two rural counties, the maps reveal the distribution of loans by census tract income categories.

To obtain a copy of the report or for additional information, please contact Rick Taylor at COHHIO at 614-280-1984 or via e-mail at ricktaylor@cohhio.org.

 

Be an Ally in BWC’s WAR (Workplace Accident Reduction) on Workplace Injuries
1) To encourage your employees to become allies in the BWC's war on workplace injuries, BWC has created a free paycheck stuffer you can order for your employees’ payroll checks. The stuffer comes in two sizes: 8 1/2" by 3 2/3" (#10 envelopes) and 7 1/2" by 3 2/3" (warrent envelope). To order, call 800-OHIOBWC, press 32 and specify the quantity and size you need.

2) Transitional Work Grants. The BWC is offering Transitional Work Grants that will give you money to implement a transitional work program and should lower your workers’ compensation disability costs. A transitional work program uses real job duties for a specified time period - generally not exceeding two or three months - to gradually return the injured worker to the worker’s original job. To be eligible for the program, employers must use a BWC-accredited transitional work developer to design an on-site transitional work program for its injured workers. To get more information, visit the BWC website at www.ohiobwc.com and look under Ohio employers or call 800-OHIOBWC.

 

READER SURVEY - We Want Your Input! and by taking just a few minutes to give us your thoughts, you could win a prize!!!
COHHIO is considering revamping the format of the newsletter, as well as, how it’s distributed, and we’d like you, our readers, to tell us what you prefer. And by providing us with your thoughts, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free night’s stay at one of the following Ohio state parks lodge: Burr Oak, Maumee Bay, Mohican, Salt Fork or Shawnee.

1. Do you read the newsletter? ____ YES _____ NO
If yes, do you read: _____ all ____ most or _____ few of the articles

2. Format of the newsletter.
____ Keep the same format. Keep the newsletter as it is
____ Create a shorter newsletter with less detail, but with more contacts on how to find the information myself.

3. How would you like to receive the newsletter:
____ Mail ____ Fax ____ Email

4. Please check the categories that you’d like to see in the COHHIO newsletter.
____ Project/Staff Updates _____ Model Programs
____ State Updates _____ Federal Updates
____ Staff Point of View _____ Resources
____ Funding Updates _____ Research Updates
____ Other:

5. What do you like about the newsletter?

6. What don’t you like about the newsletter?

7. What is most useful or helpful in the newsletter?

8. Other comments/suggestions:

Name, Phone Number:

Please return to Susan Francis at COHHIO at 35 East Gay Street, Suite 210, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3138; 614-463-1060 - fax; susanfrancis@cohhio.org by June 15 to be eligible for the raffle.

 

Resources
TRAININGS
ODOD Trainings
Finance Professional Certification Program. OHCP is sponsoring 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:
• 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.
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. 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 if $100. For more information, contact Tom Sherman, OHCP, at 614/466-2285 or Mike Keyes, COAD, at 740/594-8499.
Lead Inspector Training - June 25-27 (Xenia), Sept. 10-12 (Findlay)
Lead Risk Assessor Training - June 28-29 (Xenia), Sept. 13-14 (Findlay)
Residential Lead Abatement for Supervisors/Contractors - 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 - June 12-15 (Findlay), Aug. 7-10 (Xenia), Oct. 30-Nov. 2 (Athens)
Residential Lead Hazard Abatement for Workers Refresher Course - Sept. 5 (Columbus)

CDC Trainings. Basic Skills in Affordable Housing Development Workshop Series: Multi-family Rental Housing and Tax Credits - June 18-21; Compliance Issues and Construction Management - July 16-18; Codes and Standards, Methods and Materials - Aug. 21-23; Board Training, Project Presentation, Review and Exam - Sept. 19-21. For more information, contact the Ohio CDC Association at 614/461-6392 or ohiocdc@ohiocdc.org.

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 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.

June 6-8 - Developing & Operating A Community Development Lending Program Workshop, Credit Institute for Economic Development. Provides participants with the tools and skills necessary to design and run an effective community development lending program. Topics include determining the best loan products and services for the target community. October 2-4 - Developing Financial Projections, Credit Institute for Economic Development. Covers the concepts and tools used in projecting the financial statements of CDFIs, as well as issues related to preparing and assessing financial projects. Both trainings will be held at the Federal Reserve Bank, Cleveland. For more information, call 718/624-4596 or go to www.thinkdkg.com.

June 14 - Current Affordable Housing Issues: Management and Compliance, Asset Managers Prospective, and Special Situations Marketing, Ohio Housing Council, Columbus. 9:30 am - 2:30 pm. For more information, contact Jeff Longstreth at 614/486-8551 (phone); 614/575-3065 (fax); or by email at jlongstreth@ohiohousingcouncil.org.

PUBLICATIONS
HUD reports. A Report on the Feasibility of Deconstruction: an Investigation of Deconstruction Activity in Four Cities, released April 2001. Deconstruction is the selective dismantling or removal of materials from buildings before or instead of demolition. This report is intended for public housing authorities and community leaders who may want to consider deconstruction as a way to enhance and improve community revitalization efforts. To order the report, go to HUD USER's web site at: www.huduser.org/publications/destech/deconstruct.html. Welfare to Work Housing Voucher Program: Early Implementation Assessment, Final Report. In 1999, the HUD competitively awarded $280 million in Welfare to Work vouchers to 121 housing agencies in 35 states to assist families making the transition from welfare to work. This program attempted to coordinate housing assistance with welfare reform efforts by connecting local welfare and workforce development systems with a federal housing assistance system. This report examines the voucher programs as part of a longer term study that will compare families who received welfare to work vouchers with families who received traditional housing-choice vouchers. To order the report, visit HUD USER's website at: www.huduser.org/publications/pubasst/wtwrpt.html.

FOUNDATIONS & AWARDS
Ohio Historic Preservation Office Awards. Recognizes outstanding achievements in preservation, rehabilitation and adaptive use of historic properties, as well as publications and educational programs that promote the preservation of historic places in Ohio. The awards are presented in two categories: Preservation Merit and Public Education and Awareness. Submission deadline is July 1. For a nomination form with full details, contact that Ohio Historic Preservation Office at 614-297-2000 or visit www.ohiohistory.org/resource/histpres/programs/awardscoverpage.html.

The Bayer Foundation provides grants for civic and community programs and cultural activities that are accessible to a majority of community residents. An applicant must be a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation will not provide funding for general operating support for United Way affiliates and religious organizations. The Bayer Foundation supports states it has offices in. In Ohio, Bayer has sites in Addyston and Hebron. Visit their website at www.bayerus.com for more information.


OTHER RESOURCES
Fannie Mae's True Cost Calculator, available online, helps consumers calculate all the costs of getting a mortgage, including interest rates and points, mortgage insurance costs, appraisal fees, title insurance fees and other settlement charges. Additional calculators include: How Much House Can You Afford? What Monthly Payment is Needed for a House With a Specific Sales Price? How Much Can You Afford With a Specific Monthly Payment? How Much is Your Monthly Payment? and Is Now a Good Time to Refinance? The calculators can be accessed by going to the Fannie Mae website at www.fanniemae.com, clicking on Consumers and then clicking on Calculators.

Community Organizing Toolbox: A Funder's Guide to Community Organizing, Neighborhood Funders Group. Learn how and why different foundations become involved in community-organizing funding; and how they choose groups to fund. Case studies describe how community-organizing strategies work in communities and the ways that foundations are supporting those strategies. The guide is available free online at www.nfg.org or you may order it by calling NFG at 202/833-4690.


COHHIO NEWS
COHHIO Welcomes New VISTA.
Jowana Jenkins has recently joined COHHIO as an AmeriCorps*VISTA, through the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). While at COHHIO, Jowana will educate community groups about the work of the Ohio Community Reinvestment Project (OCRP), the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). She will also research the lending practices of financial institutions within the State of Ohio.

COHHIO Web Page Links.
You can use the COHHIO web page to link with several local, state, and national organizations and government agencies. The web page lists nearly 20 national agencies including the federal and local HUD offices, the National Coalition for the Homeless, National Low Income Housing Coalition and many others, as well as links for Congressional Members and the President. At the state level, nearly 15 agencies are listed including the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Department of Mental Health, Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, several statewide organizations, and contact information for Ohio House and Senate members and the Governor. The web page also lists local organizations. The web page links is a very helpful way to find what you're looking for. If you'd like to see a link added, or if your agency has a web page and would like to be linked to the COHHIO web page, please call Susan Francis at COHHIO at 614-280-1984 or email her at susanfrancis@cohhio.org.

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

cohhio@cohhio.org