Breaking Ground - March 1999

Governor Taft Releases Budget

Department of Development May Slash Financing for Affordable Rental Housing

Drop Inn Center Threatened With Move

Preservation Legislation Gaining Support

Denied GA Applicants May Get Money

COHHIO Welcomes New Staff

VISTA Positions Available Through NEOCH

Community Reinvestment Act in Danger Act Now to Oppose Financial Modernization & Anti-CRA Bills

SuperNOFA Released

Welfare to Work Voucher NOFA Released

Hunger in Ohio: The State of the State 1999

Keeping the Focus on the Needs of Homeless Children

Rewarding Work

Building Doctor Returns

CDC Training

How to Contact Your Members of Congress

1999 National Advocacy Summit on Homelessness

Ohio Bank Facts

Greater Toledo Housing Coalition Wins City's Commitment to Local Housing Trust

Columbus Realist Association - Black History Month Celebration

Getting the Facts About Welfare Reform

Job Announcement

Finance Professional Certification Programs Scheduled

Cutting Down the Sound of Office Noise

 

 

Governor Taft Releases Budget

Ohio Department of Development - Housing and Homelessness Issues

Program and Funding FY 00/01 FY 00/01 FY 98/99
(In Millions) Gov.’s COHHIO Approved Budget Requests Levels
Transitional Housing (406) $2.8/$2.9 $3.7/$3.7 $2.9/$2.9
Emergency Shelters (440) $2.9/$3.0 $3.7/$3.7 $3.0/$3.0
CDC/CDFF (431) $2.5/$2.6 $3.5/$3.5 $2.5/$2.6
Ohio Housing Trust Fund (441 & 638)
GRF & Rainy Day Fund Interest $20.5/$21 $50/$50 $18.5/$20.5

On March 15th, Governor Taft released his budget proposal for the next two years. As expected primary and secondary education were the big winners. Most other state programs were flat funded or received some reductions. With the exemption of the Housing Trust Fund, which was increased by about 6 percent, housing and homeless assistance programs were flat funded or reduced slightly.

 

Supportive Housing for the Homeless Program - ODOD Line Item 406
This provides grants for operations and supportive services to 53 organizations for projects located in 22 rural and urban counties. With just $2.9 million a year from the state, these projects provide 1,330 units of housing and services to assist homeless people in regaining their independence.

Emergency Shelter Grant Program - ODOD Line Item 440
The $3 million a year Emergency Shelter Grant program provides funding to repair, maintain and operate shelters and provides needed services to homeless families and individuals. The state combines these funds with federal funds to support 76 emergency shelters operating in both urban and rural Ohio counties. Last year these projects served almost 75,000 Ohioans with basic shelter and supportive services.

CDC Grant Program - ODOD Line Item 431
The $2.5 million a year in this program area is used to support a wide range of community development, housing and micro-enterprise projects throughout Ohio operated by local CDC organizations. It is also used to support the Community Development Finance Fund’s linked deposit program which provides low cost financing for affordable housing and economic development projects throughout the state.

ACTION NEEDED NOW
It is critical for all housing and homeless assistance
supporters to call your state Representatives and
Senators to encourage increases in these programs.

 

Department of Development May Slash Financing for Affordable Rental Housing

Under the recently approved Volume Cap Allocation Plan, the Department of Development (ODOD) is proposing to dramatically reduce the amount of financing available for rental housing from the $169 million in 1998 to no more than $56 million in 1999. Instead, the ODOD proposed to substantially raise the Director’s Discretionary Fund. These funds are slated to provide a final $100 million installment of $230 million in taxpayer subsidized financing of an expansion component of a oil refinery outside of Toledo, a joint venture of BP America and FirstEnergy Corporation.

Since this plan was developed under former director Donald Jakeway of the Voinovich administration, the ultimate decision on whether this decision will hold is now up to C. Lee Johnson who took over ODOD about a month ago, under an appointment by Governor Taft.
Director Johnson could decide to use the Director’s Discretionary Fund to substantially restore the multi-family housing allocation.


COHHIO is requesting that supporters of affordable rental housing write to Director Johnson to encourage him to restore the funds. Director C. Lee Johnson
Ohio Department of Development
77 S. High Street, 29th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
FAX - 614-644-0745


COHHIO has also requested that ODOD abolish the lottery system for distribution of the multi-family housing bonds. Currently, the Department simply draws numbers out of hat to determine which projects will receive financing. The projects are only reviewed to make sure they meet basic IRS threshold requirements. Many states review the projects for more direct public benefit such as long-term affordability, lower affordable rents, and to preserve existing rental housing.


Background
Almost 9 years ago Ohio voters approved the Constitutional amendment which made housing a public purpose. Following passage of that amendment, COHHIO focused on establishing and funding for the Housing Trust Fund. However, the housing amendment allowed for the use of another critically important resource to assist in the financing of affordable rental housing. The housing amendment and subsequent implementing legislation (HB 339) in 1991, allow for the issuance of tax-exempt bonds for affordable rental housing.

Every year, under IRS guidelines, the states receive a Volume Cap allocation equal to $50 per capita in authority to use tax-exempt bonds for various public purposes. Ohio receives approximately $560 million annually. In addition to multifamily housing, this authority is used to finance the Ohio Housing Finance Agencies mortgage revenue bond program for homebuyers, a student loan fund, and economic development projects.

In 1996, $129 million was used for rental housing, in 1997 the amount grew to $138 million and last year multi-family housing received $168.9 million. In the early and mid-90s, demand for multi-family housing was generally less than $50 million primary due to factors in the financial markets. Looking ahead, the need for increased financing for multi-family housing will be high, particularly in light of Section 8 expiring contract crisis. Besides California, Ohio has the largest number of expiring contract properties (1,300) with some 83,000 units, providing affordable housing of some of Ohio’s poorest elderly, disabled and low-income families. Multi-family tax-exempt bond financing is a viable resource to finance the rehabilitation costs of these projects as part of a strategy to preserve and improve the stock. Tax-exempt bonds are usually used with 4% low-income housing tax credits to achieve lower rents for the units.

Multi-family bond financing is also important given the fierce competition for the regular 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit which is the largest source for the development of new affordable rental housing.

The Sunday, March 7th, Cleveland Plain Dealer ran a front page story resulting from an ongoing investigation into the volume cap allocation by the new Plain Dealer Bureau Chief, Sandy Theis. The story revealed that the refinery project is being actively promoted by some powerful lobbyists and consultants.

Director Johnson is expected to make a final decision on this issue within the next month or so, therefore it is very important for him to hear from rental housing supporters as soon as possible.

 

Drop Inn Center Threatened With Move

Recently, a group of arts and business supporters declared that the Drop Inn Center must relocate to make way for a new $99.2 million arts complex connected to Music Hall in Cincinnati. The Drop Inn Center has been serving the homeless for 26 years. It is a grassroots response to the crisis of homelessness in their community. They provide food, clothing, shelter, chemical addiction treatment, counseling, medical and mental health care and transitional housing to over 16,000 people each year. It was buddy gray's dream and vision that they create a center so that people would not have to live and die on the streets.

The corner of Twelfth and Elm has been their home for 21 years. They have rehabilitated their dormitories and treatment areas bit by bit, grant by grant so that they would have a secure home designed to provide quality services. They also have five transitional buildings close by to help people in their transition to permanent housing. It has taken them many years of blood, sweat and tears to get this far. It is wrong to displace and jeopardize the home of the most vulnerable in our society.

Development in their neighborhood should benefit current low-income residents, not displace them. It is unfair to force them to defend their right to stay in their home because others have negative stereotypes of the homeless. They feel it is an injustice to pit one public service against another. Debating whether helping the arts or the homeless is more important seems pointless. Unfortunately, fighting this forced relocation will drain our energy from where it needs to be---helping people survive on the streets.

The Drop Inn Center is an anchor in their neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine and is critically linked with many other programs and services. Disruption of the shelter would impact the web that exists to shelter and protect the rights of the homeless and low-income people who live in Over-the-Rhine.

Relocation is not a solution. The same prejudice which is trying to move them out of their own neighborhood would prevent them from entering other neighborhoods. They would become a homeless homeless shelter.

To help in the fight or to get more information, call The Drop Inn Center at 513/721-0643.

 

Preservation Legislation Gaining Support

The Housing Preservation Matching Grant Act, H.R. 425, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Vento (D-MN) and Ramstad (R-MN), would help states save federally subsidized housing when the owners may be prepaying and opting out. This can result in the substantial loss of affordable housing. The bill authorizes federal funds to be matched with state and locally controlled resources to be used to finance the acquisition, rehabilitation and debt restructuring of federally assisted rental property so that the properties can remain affordable housing.

This bill has gotten the attention of the leadership of the housing authorization committee in the House and is gaining co-sponsors. The only Ohio Congressperson to co-sponsor this important bill is Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Cleveland). Besides California, Ohio has the largest number of expiring contract properties (1,300) with some 83,000 units, providing affordable housing of some of Ohio’s poorest elderly, disabled and low-income families. Please contact your memof Congress to encourage them to co-sponsor this bill. The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

 

Denied GA Applicants May Get Money

Thousands of Ohio poor people may be eligible for a one time payment of up to $750.00 or more. Under the Court's decision in Taber v. ODHS, a statewide class action originally filed in 1993, the Court found that the State Welfare Department, ODHS, misinterpreted state law and thereby improperly denied general assistance ("GA") or disability ("DA") applications in 1992 and 1993.

The people who might be eligible for a Taber payment are those who applied for and were denied GA or DA benefits for one or more months during the period July 1, 1992 through June 30, 1993. Among them, the people most likely to receive money are those who had a part-time job during that year. The actual amount of the payment for a person whose Taber application is approved will depend on the amount of other income that he or she had during the month or months that she or he was denied benefits during the one year period, and other factors.

County Welfare Departments mailed thousands of Taber notices at the beginning of February, but hundreds of the notices had been returned as undeliverable. Deborah Coleman, who currently represents the Plaintiff class in the Taber lawsuit, encourages those who work with persons who might be eligible for the Taber payments because they were denied GA or DA benefits in 1992-1993 to make them aware of this opportunity. Such persons should be told to go to their County Welfare Department to apply for a payment by asking for and completing the special Taber "Retroactive GA Application (ODHS 7123)." All applications for Taber payments must be filed by June 10, 1999. For more information, you may call Gene King at Ohio State Legal Services Association at 614/299-2114, ext. 125.

COHHIO Welcomes New Staff

COHHIO is happy to welcome two new staff mem Jill Russ and Mary Brubaker. Jill Russ has recently joined COHHIO as the Section 8 Project Coordinator, and will be working on our OTAG (Mark-to-Market) project. Jill is a licensed attorney in the State of Ohio, and has been working for five years in the affordable housing arena for Consoc Housing Consultants in Columbus. She brings with her experience in working with and organizing residents of public and affordable housing, housing counseling, low- and moderate-income homeownership programs and grant writing.

Mary Brubaker, is our third AmeriCorps Leader to join COHHIO's AmeriCorps Houses the Homeless Project. She was an AmeriCorps Houses the Homeless Member for two years prior to the AmeriCorps Leader position. Her site placement for the last two years was in Wooster, Ohio at Wooster Interfaith Housing Corporation, where she was a transitional housing and rehab specialist, working with community volunteers and program participants. After attending a two week Leader Training, Mary is looking forward to developing her leadership skills and assisting in memdevelopment in the upcoming year.

VISTA Positions Available Through NEOCH

The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless is searching for VISTAs for the Canton, Akron, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinati areas. Each participant will be responsible for establishing and/or implementing programs that address a variety of the needs of children and youth in homeless and transitional shelters, including education and support services. VISTAs receive $662 a month and free health care, as well as a $4,725 award for educational purposes. For more information, call Danny Stephens at NEOCH at 216/241-1104.

 

Community Reinvestment Act in Danger
Act Now to Oppose Financial Modernization and Anti-CRA Bills

Small business, affordable housing, and economic development lending and investing will decline if Congress enacts so-called financial modernization legislation without major changes recommended by COHHIO and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). Please use the talking points below to start visiting and calling your Senators and Representatives to oppose this legislation.

The House and Senate are considering different versions of financial modernization legislation. The House’s version is called HR 10, while the Senate’s bill does not yet have a number. The House Banking Committee did a mark-up and approved HR 10 on March 11(during a mark-up, a committee considers amendments to a bill). The next stop for HR 10 is the House Commerce Committee. On the House side, it is particularly important to contact Representatives on the Commerce Committee and the House Leadership.

The Senate Banking Committee did a mark-up and approved a bill on Thursday, March 4. Action on the Senate bill is expected in early to mid-April. The Senate bill is much worse than the House bill; it would cripple CRA if it was passed. The President has pledged to veto the bill, but we will need your help in defeating this destructive bill. It would be dangerous for the Senate to pass the bill and then have a House-Senate conference committee consider it.

Who to Contact in the House and Senate

•Senate: DeWine (202-224-2315/fax-202-224-6519) and Voinovich (202-224-3353/fax-202-224-7983)

•House: The Commerce Committee is the next stop for HR 10. Ohio memof the Commerce Committee include: Democrats - Sherrod Brown (202-225-3401/fax-202-225-2266), Thomas Sawyer (202-225-5231/fax-202-225-5278), Ted Strickland (202-225-5705/fax-202-225-5907). Republicans - Michael Oxley (202-225-2676/fax-202-226-0577), Paul Gillmor (202-225-6405/fax-202-225-1985).

Talking points on Senate Bill

Senate Bill Worse than the House Bill: Attacks Core of CRA
The Senate Banking Committee approved a bill, the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, on March 4 (bill does not yet have a number). Below are the major provisions of the Senate bill that attack CRA:

• Safe Harbor Provision: A bank or thrift is designated as complying with CRA if its ratings during the last three years are Satisfactory and above. A community group commenting on a merger application or any other bank application bears the burden of proof in demonstrating that CRA performance is below Satisfactory. If the community group is unable to do so, its comments on the pending merger would not be considered valid by the federal banking agency considering the merger.

• This version of safe harbors makes it nearly impossible to comment on pending mergers. For example, if a large bank has an overall Satisfactory or Outstanding rating, its performance across states or metropolitan areas is still likely to be uneven.

It may have received a “low Satisfactory” as its rating in a particular state or it may have a failing rating on one of the tests in the CRA exam (large banks have separate tests looking at their record in lending, making investments, and offering services to low-and moderate-income borrowers and neighborhoods). An overall grade of Satisfactory or Outstanding hides these areas of weaknesses. Community groups should have every right to request that regulatory agencies address areas of weakness, and should not be prevented from doing so by an overall grade of Satisfactory or Outstanding.

• Small Bank CRA Exemption: The bill exempts all banks under $100 million in assets from CRA. More than 6,300 banks and thrifts would be exempted, equaling 60 percent of all depository institutions in the country. Low-and moderate-income populations in small towns and rural areas would be particularly hard hit. Many rural small banks enjoy a near monopoly in their service areas. They will have little incentive to serve minorities and working class customers if CRA obligations are removed.

• The Senate bill also removes the modest requirement now in the House bill that a bank must have at least a Satisfactory rating in order to engage in insurance and securities activities. Less than two percent of banks and thrifts evaluated under CRA in the last few years have received failing ratings. These banks are truly not performing. It is not fair to communities nor to banks with passing ratings to let the failing banks
enjoy new powers and enter new markets.

Talking Points on HR 10 (the bill on the House Side)

• Financial modernization legislation such as HR 10 would allow banks, insurance companies, and securities firms to own each other. Currently, there are limits on cross-industry ownership. HR 10 would wipe out the limits.

• HR 10 weakens CRA since it does not expand CRA-like obligations to insurance companies, securities firms, mortgage companies, and other financial companies allowed to affiliate with banks. Holding companies can shift their assets from banks and thrifts to the CRA-exempt affiliates and subsidiaries. Banks will have fewer resources with which to make home and small business loans to minority and working class borrowers.

• HR 10 does expand CRA to wholesale financial institutions (known as woofies). A woofie is a new type of investment bank that would not be federally-insured and could only accept deposits greater than $100,000.
This is positive, but rememthat wholesale financial institutions are only one of the financial companies that would be allowed to affiliate with banks under HR 10.

• Holding companies are now shifting bank products, as well as assets to non-depository institutions. Over the next few years, State Farm’s 16,000 insurance agents throughout the country will make loans on behalf of State Farm’s new thrift. The Office of Thrift Supervision claims that it does not have the statutory authority to apply CRA beyond the headquarters office of State Farm’s thrift in Bloomington, Illinois. If financial modernization does not expand CRA to cover the banking activities of insurance companies and other non-depository institutions, HR 10 will result in CRA covering a shrinking amount of traditional banking activities.

• HR 10 would permit most mergers (under $40 billion in assets) between banks and non-depository institutions to occur without an application requirement to federal banking agencies. Federal banking agencies would be unable to review the safety and soundness or CRA issues of these mergers. Community groups would not be able to comment to federal agencies at all on these mergers.
What a Pro-CRA Bill Would Include

• Expand CRA to all companies allowed to affiliate with banks: CRA and community reinvestment obligations must be expanded to all financial companies allowed to affiliate with banks, including mortgage companies, insurance firms, and securities firms. This would prevent the shifting of assets and products from banks into firms exempt from CRA. Also, access to insurance policies, mutual funds, and other capital accumulation tools will be increased for low- and moderate-income people and communities if CRA-like obligations are expanded broadly to all segments of the financial industry.

• Expand CRA to all non-bank affiliates that offer loans and other bank services: CRA will cover a much smaller portion of the lending activity in the country if it remains confined to banks while insurance agents,
mortgage companies, and other financial companies continue to expand their lending business. It is feasible for federal regulatory agencies to construct CRA exams covering the lending, investing, and service activities of mortgage companies and other non-depository institutions engaged in banking.

• Require insurance companies to disclose data: The HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) data has been instrumental in helping banks and community groups identify missed market opportunities in minority and working class neighborhoods. Like banks, insurance companies must be required to publicly disclose data on the characteristics of their customers including race, income, and the neighborhoods in which they reside. Data disclosure will tremendously increase access to home, automobile, and small business insurance products for traditionally underserved people.

• Merger Application Requirement: A key time for CRA enforcement occurs when banks seek permission from federal regulatory agencies to merge. The agencies must consider community group comments on the CRA records of banks. The comment process has been instrumental in securing CRA agreements and bank commitments to make specific dollar amounts of loans and investments in minority and working class neighborhoods in future time periods. The financial modernization bills currently exempt most mergers between banks and non-depository institutions (such as insurance companies) from application requirements that involve reviews of CRA performance. Any bill must have application requirements for all types of mergers.

Proof that CRA Works

• CRA has led to dramatic gains in reinvestment. In the last twenty years, community organizations and banks have negotiated more than 360 agreements totaling more than $1 trillion of loans and investments for minority and working class neighborhoods. Most of these agreements were in the last five years, or during the most profitable era of banking in the United States. CRA loans are profitable, and are now being sold on Wall Street. CRA is a win-win for banks and neighborhoods.

• Home purchase lending has increased dramatically. Low- and moderate-income borrowers received 28 percent of all home purchase loans in 1997 - up from 18 percent in 1990. Blacks and Hispanics received 14 percent of home mortgage loans - up from 10 percent in 1990.

• Add some data and information you have about local CRA success stories.

Help stop the demise of CRA.
Contact Ohio Senators and Ohio Representatives of the Commerce Committee immediately.

 

SuperNOFA Released

On Friday, February 26, 1999, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Super Notice of Funding Availability (SuperNOFA) for Housing, Community Development, and Empowerment Programs, announcing the availability of approximately $2.4 billion. This year, HUD has taken the notion of the SuperNOFA a step further. In 1998, there were three (3) SuperNOFAs. This year, thirty-two (32) programs have been included in the SuperNOFA. Under the Targeted Housing and Homeless Assistance component of this notice, there are funding opportunities for the following programs:

Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs (approximately $975 million)
Due date for all programs: June 2, 1999
• Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
• Shelter Plus Care (S+C)
• Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy for Homeless Individuals (SRO)

Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) (approximately $22.3 million)
Due date: June 2, 1999

Supportive Housing for the Elderly (approximately $434.8 million)
Due date for all programs: May 27, 1999
• Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities (approximately $87.2 million)
Due date for all programs: May 27, 1999
• Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

For more information about these programs or for an application kit, please call 800-483-8929. You can also obtain information via the internet. The HUD page can be accessed at http://www.hud.gov.

In 1998, through the Continuum of Care alone, the State of Ohio was awarded $27,936,880. This amount includes both the consolidated applications submitted by the entitlement communities and the Balance of State Application submitted by the Ohio Department of Development. As evidenced by the overall amount of funding secured last year, the Continuum of Care is an invaluable resource in our effort to end homelessness and promote decent, safe, fair, and affordable housing in the State of Ohio.

The release of this year’s NOFA comes earlier than usual. As mentioned in our previous newsletter, two (2) training sessions regarding the Continuum of Care were held in early February. The first day was for entitlement communities, and the second was for non-entitlement communities included in the Balance of State.

For those non-entitlement communities interested in applying for funding through this year’s Balance of State Application training session was held on Friday, March 12th, 1999. Contact Bob Johnson at the Ohio Department of Development at 614/752-8096 for an application package, or for more information contact Bob Johnson at ODOD at 614/752-8096 or Pam Argus or Rick Taylor at COHHIO at 614/280-1984. There will be an interactive Satellite Broadcast regarding the Continuum of Care portion of the NOFA, on Wednesday, March 31, 1999. If you are interested in attending and would like more information, please contact Vicki Miller at the Columbus HUD Office at 614/469-5737, extension 8251.

 

Welfare to Work Voucher NOFA Released

HUD released the notice of funding availability for the welfare to work rental assistance vouchers appropriated in the FY99 HUD budget. The FY99 budget made available $283 million to fund these Section 8 rental assistance vouchers. This NOFA represents approximately 50,000 vouchers, the first new Section 8 tenant-based assistance since 1996. Set-asides totaling $32 million were included in the authorization; the remaining funds will be administered via a national competition.

Housing authorities, Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities are eligible to apply for these vouchers in the national competition. The application deadline is April 28, 1999. State-wide housing agencies may apply for the lesser of 2000 vouchers or half of their current year's vouchers and certificates; all other housing authorities may apply for the lesser of 700 vouchers or half of their current year's vouchers and certificates.

The purpose of the Section 8 Welfare to Work Rental Voucher program is to provide vouchers to families for whom that voucher is critical to them obtaining or retaining employment (and who meet all normal Section 8 program requirements). The NOFA applicant must prove their coordination with other welfare to work and welfare reform initiatives within its application to HUD. Minimally, every applicant must develop their own welfare to work rental voucher program in consultation with the state entity administering the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program and the entity, if any, administering any welfare to work funds from the Department of Labor.

Participating families: 1) must be eligible to receive, be currently receiving, or have received within the preceding two years, assistance or services funded under the TANF program; 2) must not be already receiving Section 8 rental assistance; 3) must be on the housing authority's waiting list for its Section 8 tenant-based program.

The NOFA makes clear that a threshold requirement is in compliance with fair housing and civil rights laws. Also, applicants for the vouchers must include in their application the specific steps they will take to affirmatively further fair housing by addressing their jurisdiction's analysis of impediments, describing how to remedy these impediments and how they will promote fair housing rights and fair housing choice.

The national competition's scoring of applications (to determine the distribution of vouchers) will be based on five rating factors: 1) the need for a welfare to work voucher program; 2) the soundness of the applicant's approach, including coordination with the TANF program and other welfare to work programs; 3) the capacity of the applicant to administer the number of vouchers they are seeking and their relevant organizational experience; 4) the commitment of public and private resources that will support the applicant's welfare to work voucher program; and, 5) the comprehensiveness and overall coordination of the program (this includes the role that families, community leaders and organizations and government and private entities in the program's community have served in planning the activities described in the application and what role they will have in carrying out the application).

You can find the NOFA at http://www.hudclips.org under "Current NOFAs". It is also in the January 28, 1999 Federal Register [Docket No. FR-4448-N-01]. For an application kit or to ask questions and seek additional information, call HUD at 800/955-2232. Kits are also available on the HUD website at http://www.hud.gov.

 

Hunger in Ohio: The State of the State 1999
The Ohio Hunger Task Force has released this report which contains comprehensive information about hungry Ohio children, adults and older adults. You will find descriptions of existing anti-hunger and nutrition programs, current funding levels, data on program utilization or underutilization, and facts about the harm of hunger on Ohio and its population. The report concludes with six recommendations to eliminate hunger in Ohio. The executive summary is free, the full report is $5. To order call 800/227-6446.

“Keeping the Focus on the Needs of Homeless Children”
This year’s State of Ohio Homeless Education Conference, “Keeping the Focus on Needs of Homeless Children”, will be held April 28 - 30, at the Trueman Club in Columbus. Barbara Duffield from the National Coalition for the Homeless will be coming to Ohio to address the convention. The conference is targeted to those working directly with educational issues of homeless children. For further information, contact Pam Argus at COHHIO at 614/280-1984.

 

Rewarding Work

For many people, leaving public assistance means working for wages which do not meet their needs. Some of these people are the ones who must turn to food pantries to obtain food to put on the table.

In 1975, Congress enacted a program designed to help working people-the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The program serves to offset regressive social security, local and state taxes for those least able to lose that part of their pay. The federal program includes a refundable provision, meaning that if a working family's income is so low that they do not pay a federal income tax, they still benefit via a refund. This is a critical component, allowing the poorest families some relief.

Ohio is now talking about supplementing the federal program. HB 10 has been introduced and would provide an additional 15 percent over the amount of the federal tax credit. Although the bill may not get very far in this session of the General Assembly, at least the idea is again on the table.

The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Dale Miller (D-Cleveland), is suggesting that the anticipated budget surplus which would trigger an automatic tax cut be reconfigured to support the state EITC program. In other words, he suggests targeting the surplus to those who need it the most.

Ohio starts taxing workers at a very low level. A two-parent family of four begins to pay state income taxes when their earnings reach $12,000 annually, more than $4000 less than the federal poverty rate for that family which is $16,405. Of the 42 states with an income tax, half of them do not tax families until their income rises above the poverty line.

The EITC program has enjoyed bi-partisan support over the years, including the support of Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton. Six states now provide a refundable earned income tax credit ranging from 10 to 43 percent of the federal EITC.

If we expect families to work we must provide the support necessary to sustain them and keep them from needing to return to public assistance. We are building a Catch 22 situation if public policy says families can not receive public assistance for more than three years on the one hand and, on the other, the marketplace will not pay them a living wage.

Taken from the Ohio Hunger Network.

 

Building Doctor Returns
The Ohio Historical Society’s Building Doctor program is back for another year. It will stop in eight communities from April through the end of October. Each stop is a two day training, with a seminar being held on the first day and visits to a handful of local structures on the second day to talk about specific preservation techniques. Dates and locations are as follows: Sidney - April 29 & 30, Deersville - May 20 & 21, Magnolia - June 10 & 11, Kellys Island - July 29 & 30, Salem - August 19 & 20, Peninsula - September 16 & 17, Defiance - September 30 & October 1 and Milford - October 21 & 22. Call 800/499-2470 to register for any of the seminars.

CDC Training
Intro to Microenterprise Development: April 20-22, May 18-20 and June 17-18. Call the Ohio CDC Association at 614/461-6392 for more information.

 

How to Contact Your Member of Congress

Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Email: senatordewine@dewine.senate.gov
Web: www.senate.gov/-dewine/
Phone: (202) 224-2315
Fax: (202) 224-6519
Address:
140 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
District Office: Columbus
District Phone: (614) 469-6697

Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)
Email: voinovich@voinovich.senate.gov
Web: www.senate.gov/-voinvoch
Phone: (202) 224-3353
Fax: (202) 228-1382
Address:
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
District Office: Columbus
District Phone: (614) 469-6774

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH-1st)
Email: No Public E-Mail Address*
Web:www.house.gov/chabot
Phone: (202) 225-2216
Fax: (202) 225-3012
Address:
129 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Cincinnati
District Phone: (513) 684-2723

Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH-2nd)
Email: portmail@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/portman/
Phone: (202) 225-3164
Fax: (202) 225-1992
Address:
238 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Batavia
District Phone: (513) 732-2948

Rep Tony Hall (D-OH-3rd)
Email: No Public E-Mail Address*
Web: www.house.gov/tonyhall
Phone: (202) 225-6465
Fax: None listed
Address:
1432 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Dayton
District Phone: (937) 225-2843

 

Rep. Michael Oxley (R-OH-4th)
Email: mike.oxley@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/oxley/
Phone: (202) 225-2676
Fax: None listed
Address:
2233 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Lima
District Phone: (419) 999-6455

Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH-5th)
Email: No Public E-Mail Address*
Web: www.house.gov/gillmor/
Phone: (202) 225-6405
Fax: (202) 225-1985
Address:
1203 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Port Clinton
District Phone: (419) 734-1999

Rep. Ted Strickland (D-OH-6th)
Email: ted.strickland@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/strickland/
Phone: (202) 225-5705
Fax: (202) 225-5907
Address:
336 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Portsmouth
District Phone: (740) 353-5171

Rep. David Hobson (R-OH-7th)
Email: No Public E-Mail Address*
Web: www.house/gov/hobson/
Phone: (202) 225-4324
Fax: (202) 225-1984
Address:
1514 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Lancaster
District Phone: (614) 654-5149

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH-8th)
Email: john.boehner@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/boehner/
Phone: (202) 225-6205
Fax: (202) 225-0704
Address:
1011 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Hamilton
District Phone: (513) 870-030

 

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9th)
Email: rep.kaptur@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/kaptur/
Phone: (202) 225-4146
Fax: (202) 225-7711
Address:
2366 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Toledo
District Phone: (419) 259-7500

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH-10th)
Email: None currently*
Web: None currently
Phone: (202) 225-5871
Fax: (202) 225-5745
Address:
1730 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Lakewood
District Phone: (216) 228-8850

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH-11th)
Email: None currently*
Web: None currently
Phone: (202) 225-7032
Fax: (202) 225-1339
Address:
1516 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Cleveland
District Phone: (216) 522-4900

Rep. John Kasich (R-OH-12th)
Email: No Public E-Mail Address*
Web: www.house.gov/kasich/
Phone: (202) 225-5355
Fax: (202) 225-8190
Address:
1111 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Columbus
District Phone: (614) 523-2555

Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH-13th)
Email: sherrod@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/sherrodbrown/
Phone: (202) 225-3401
Fax: (202) 225-2266
Address:
201 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Elyria
District Phone: (440) 934-5100

Rep. Thomas Sawyer (D-OH-14th)
Email: None currently*
Web: None currently
Phone: (202) 225-5231
Fax: (202) 225-5278
Address:
1414 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Akron
District Phone: (330) 375-5710

Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH-15th)
Email: pryce.oh15@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/pryce/
Phone: (202) 225-2015
Fax: None listed
Address:
221 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Columbus
District Phone: (614) 469-5614

Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH-16th)
Email: No Public E-Mail Address*
Web: www.house.gov/regula/
Phone: (202) 225-3876
Fax: (202) 225-3059
Address:
2309 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Canton
District Phone: (330) 489-4414

Rep. James Traficant (D-OH-17th)
Email: tellim@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/traficant/
Phone: (202) 225-5261
Fax: (202) 225-3719
Address:
2446 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Youngstown
District Phone: (330) 743-1914

Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH-18th)
Email: bobney@mail.house.gov
Web: www.house.gov/ney/
Phone: (202) 225-6265
Fax: (202) 225-3394
Address:
1024 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Bellaire
District Phone: (740) 676-1960

Profile: Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH-19th)
Email: No Public E-Mail Address*
Web: www.house.gov/latourette
Phone: (202) 225-5731
Fax: (202) 225-3307
Address:
1224 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
District Office: Painesville
District Phone: (440) 352-3939

*NOTE: Some memwithout public e-mail do accept messages from their web sites.

 

1999 National Advocacy Summit on Homelessness

The National Coalition for the Homeless is gathering state and local advocates from across the country on May 1 - 4 for an advocacy summit. Issues to be covered include housing, health, civil rights and income. Visits to Capital Hill will also occur. For more information, call NCH at 202/737-6444.

 

Ohio Bank Facts

Deposit Market Share for FDIC-Insured banks in Ohio, as of June 30, 1998

Bank Branches Deposits (Thousands)
KeyBank 240 $16,015,969
National City 383 $15,803,787
Bank One 313 $14,475,782
Fifth Third 343 $14,008,228
Star 287 $8,548,313
Huntington 208 $8,001,498
Charter One 104 $5,067,123
FirstMerit 165 $4,891,352
Third Federal 27 $4,582,283
Provident 64 $4,500,087
Ohio Total 3,910 $151,911,788

Ohio's Deposit Leaders
Ohio Market Share 1998

KeyBank 10.54%
National City 10.40
Bank One 9.52
Fifth Third 9.22
Star 5.63
Huntington 5.27
Charter One 3.34
FirstMerit 3.22
Third Federal 3.02
Provident 2.96
All Other Banks 36.88
Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Reprinted with Permission of Business First © Business First of Columbus, Inc.

 

Greater Toledo Housing Coalition Wins City's Commitment to Local Trust Fund

Toledo’s housing trust fund has just won on-going funds from the City’s development of a downtown garage. The City of Toledo created a housing trust fund in 1991. Called the Toledo-Lucas County Housing Trust Fund, in hopes that the County would join in the effort, the fund began with a donation of $283,000 from taxes on the estate of a former publisher of the newspaper, the Toledo Blade.

In 1990, the Toledo City Council passed a resolution that “all future profits” from the downtown parking garage would be spent on projects aimed at neighborhood revitalization. But nothing happened. The Greater Toledo Housing Coalition began asking questions, trying to find out how much money had been collected and why it had not been spent as promised.

The issue centered around the fact that the City received approval from HUD to switch $3 million in Urban Development Action Grant funds from the Summit Center itself to the adjoining garage. The amendment was approved on the condition of the City’s commitment to use the parking garage’s profits for “activities in the community.”

In 1996, when the Coalition began its investigation, it developed a proposal on how the city should spend the funds. A finance department report said the garage’s accumulated profit at the end of 1995 was $409,000. As the issue gained momentum, the city refuted this, but failed to provide any substitute amounts, in spite of the Coalition’s efforts to uncover how much was available.

The Summit Street Parking Garage, now known as the Superior Street Garage, was transferred to the Toledo Downtown Parking Authority, complicating the issue. But several city council memfelt obligated to honor their commitment to the neighborhoods. As the City considered a $7.8 million expanded downtown parking garage, the issue was finally settled.

The City agreed to transfer $268,000 in past profits to the Toledo-Lucas County Housing Trust Fund and committed at least $50,000 a year in parking garage profits to the fund. If revenues fall short or construction costs exceed projections, the city has promised to cover the shortfall.
The trust fund is governed by a Board of 15 mem including the County Administrator, the Auditor and the Director of the City’s Department of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, as non-voting memOther board memrepresent four groups: low income community residents, community-based organizations, the private sector including banks and business groups, and philanthropic organizations. The Board, appointed by the Mayor, with concurrence from the City Council, has full responsibility for administering and operating the fund. The housing trust fund is administered by Toledo’s Department of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization.

The purpose of the fund is to provide a method to address the housing needs of low and moderate income households in the Toledo/Lucas County area, by using private and public donations for projects. Maximum loans of $100,000 are available to nonprofit housing development organizations, governmental agencies, private for-profit developers, and financial institutions. Funds are distributed through a request for proposals process.

One-fourth of the funds are set aside to fund projects sponsored by community-based nonprofit development corporations. Eligible projects must involve the rehabilitation of substandard or construction of new low or moderate income units. At least 75 percent of the applicant project must benefit households with 60 percent or less of the median income of the Toledo area. Total project costs must reflect a minimum ratio of $2.00 of other funds for every $1.00 of trust fund award. The award must be necessary for the financial feasibility of the project. Rental projects must benefit the targeted population for fifteen years and homeowners must remain in the property for five years.

The Greater Toledo Housing Coalition intends to build off this victory and ask Lucas county to match the $50,000 annual commitment by the City.

Taken from News From The Housing Trust Fund Project - Winter 1998-1999.

 

Columbus Realist Association - Black History Month Celebration

February 6, 1999; Remarks by Dawn Tyler

Introduction
Every year, during the month of February, we celebrate the numerous accomplishments of Africans and African-Americans. Hopefully we can all agree that black people have made valuable contributions to all facets of our culture- music, science, mathematics, literature, finance, economics, sports and many, many more. However, in the midst of our celebration, we must stop and think... we have come a long way but we still have a long way to go.

In 1999, we may be able to sit at the same lunch counters, drink from the same water fountains, go to the same schools but can we live in the same neighborhoods? Do we receive equal treatment in the homebuying process? Despite what we would like to think, words like “steering” and “redlining” do still exist in some vocabularies.

Columbus MSA Stats
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (or HMDA data) shows that in 1996, out of 26,868 conventional home purchase applications taken for the entire Columbus MSA, only 4.7 percent (1,266) were from blacks, while 86.3 percent (23,278) were from whites.

Of these 26,868 conventional home purchase applications, Columbus’ eight largest lenders (which make up 40% of the market) only took 421 (1.6 percent) from blacks. Of the conventional home purchase applications, 19.8 percent were from whites. White applicants were 12 times more likely to get in the door than black applicants. We have come a long way but we still have a long way to go.

Four of the eight largest lenders had over 10 times more white applications than black applications. Three of the eight largest lenders were 20 times more likely to receive white applications than black. One lender, in particular, was 106 times more likely to receive a white application than a black application. Overall, in the entire Columbus MSA, lenders were 19 times more likely to receive white applications than black applications

I have intentionally focused my comments on applications received and not originations and denials. Often times we hear about people being denied loans because the are not credit worthy. But, how can a person get a loan if they don’t even apply? This says to me that, for some reason, blacks are not even walking through the doors of the Ohio’s financial institutions to initiate the homebuying process. WHY? We have come a long way but we still have a long way to go.

These findings I have just shared are a result of research conducted through the Ohio Community Reinvestment Project. OCRP is a project of COHHIO. I will explain COHHIO in greater detail in a moment.

It is not my intent to come here to point fingers or to paint a picture of gloom, doom and despair. I am not here to minimize the accomplishments and the efforts of those gathered in this room. I might even be doing, as they say, “preaching to the choir.” I am simply here to remind you that we must not get too comfortable nor shall we become complacent. There is still work to do to help people of color access credit. We must recognize that we have come a long way but we still have a long way to go.

OCRP Background
OCRP began in 1995. Its mission is to promote the investment in Ohio’s low-income communities and communities of color. In 1997, OCRP issued a statewide report analyzing HMDA data for the 20 largest lenders for 1993, 1994, and 1995. Phase II of the project is an analysis of HMDA data for the largest lenders in each of Ohio’s 15 metropolitan statistical areas.

Some other accomplishments of OCRP include comprehensive, multi-year, statewide agreements with Charter One Bank, Star Bank and Fifth Third Bank.

COHHIO Background
As I mentioned, OCRP is a project of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio commonly referred to as COHHIO. COHHIO is a statewide advocacy organization with over 500 individual and organizational memwho are 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.

In addition to our work with community reinvestment we are in involved in a wide range of issues including supportive housing, housing for the mentally ill, fair housing, public housing, homelessness, welfare reform, preservation of Ohio’s affordable housing stock, particularly those projects with expiring Section 8 contracts.

We also administer an AmeriCorps Program that consists of 50 AmeriCorps memworking in 22 partner agencies around the state. Members are responsible for placing homeless families into permanent housing, In addition, in 1997, COHHIO AmeriCorps Members performed over 77,000 hours of community service.

Housing Trust Fund
Another major project of COHHIO's is the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. The Trust Fund has proven to be a practical, cost effective and flexible way to help Ohioans meet affordable housing needs. The Ohio Department of Development distributes funds to:

-Help young families with a downpayment for their first home
-Build and rehabilitate apartments for working families
-Modify homes for accessibility for handicapped or elderly Ohioans
-Prevent homelessness through short term rent and mortgage assistance
-Provide housing counseling and other services to help Ohioans maintain housing or achieve homeownership

Over 64,000 families have received critical housing assistance through trust fund programs. Nearly 2,700 first time homebuyers received down payment assistance since the program's inception.

Last biennium the General Assembly approved $39 million for the Housing Trust Fund for FY 98 and FY 99. COHHIO will be working diligently to increase the pool in the upcoming budget cycle.

Next Steps
So, you’re probably thinking, “what does all of this stuff she’s talking about have to do with me ?” I’m glad you asked. As realtists, bankers and advocates it has a lot to do with you and I’m here to suggest some action steps that you can take. Even though we have CRA agreements, programs like the Housing Trust Fund and projects like OCRP, as you might rememme saying earlier, we have come a long way but we have a long way to go.

1. If you are not already, become a memof COHHIO. Stay involved in and informed about issues related to housing for low and moderate income people, people of color and people with special needs. A great way to do that is by subscribing to our monthly newsletter and attending our annual conference March 8-10 at the Hyatt on Capitol Square.

2. Secondly, contact the Ohio Housing Finance Agency to find out what lenders in your community are participating in the HTF downpayment assistance program. If you’re not doing so already, get linked with those lenders and work cooperatively with them to move people into homeownership.

3. Work with nonprofit organizations in your community that offer programs for first time homebuyers.

4. Communicate with COHHIO both positive and negative experiences you have had with financial institutions. If a creditworthy potential homebuyer can’t get a loan from the bank, the entire homebuying process is delayed. On the flip side, we also want to hear about those lenders who offer enticing products to low and moderate income and minority applicants. We want to take advantage of opportunities to highlight programs that are working well.

5. Finally, support the Housing Trust Fund. Meet with your legislators and let them know the accomplishments the Trust Fund has made and can continue to make in your community with increased funding.

Conclusion
You may be familiar with Luke 12:48 which says, “To whom much is given, much is required.” As realtors, bankers, advocates and memof the Columbus community, we must all work together to ensure that no one is left behind. What we do as a collective will either help or hurt our communities and its up to us to decide which one it will be. We have come a long but we have a long way to go. But I also believe there is strength in numbers and what better time than during this celebration of black history to focus on what you can do to move us closer towards reaching the goal.

(For more information about getting copies of the MSA HMDA reports or how you can help advocate for more funding for the Housing Trust Fund please call Dawn Tyler at COHHIO at 614/280-1984.)

 

Getting the Facts about Welfare Reform

If you’ve been frustrated by the lack of substantive information about welfare reform and hearing only that the “roles are down”, here’s your chance to help develop and use documentation to work together for positive change. COHHIO is working with a national group, National Welfare Monitoring and Advocacy Partnership (NWMAP), which is dedicated to understanding and responding to the impact of welfare reform on America’s children and families. Documenting the impact is the first step and we need your help.

If you are serving a population which includes low-income people and are concerned with the impact of welfare reform on their lives, including their housing/homelessness status, and would be able to administer the NWMAP survey to your clients/participants, contact Pam Argus at COHHIO, 614/280-1984, for more information and access to the survey materials.

Organizations which participate in the survey process and share results will receive regular data on their organization, their state’s collective data and national data. This data, so universally unavailable to date, can be used to work together at the local, state and national level for positive change.

NWMAP partners include but are not limited to: ACORN, Catholic Charities, USA, Children’s Defense Fund, Homes for the Homeless/ Institute for Child Poverty, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Interfaith Community Ministry Network, Jobs with Justice, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Coalition for the Homeless, NETWORK, National Employment Law Project, National Center on Homelessness & Poverty, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the Welfare Law Center.

 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT. Ohio State Legal Services Association is seeking an attorney for its state support unit located in Columbus. State Support provides assistance to Ohio Legal Services program in numerous ways. Salary is $32,645+, with benefits. Send resume, references and writing sample to: State Support Attorney Position, Ohio State Legal Services Association, 861 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

 

Finance Professional Certification Programs Scheduled

In 1999, ODOD’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships (OHCP) will sponsor the National Development Council’s (NDC’s) three-week Housing Development Finance Professional Certification Program and the four-week Economic Development Finance Professional Certification Program.

The housing program focuses on the financing of affordable housing projects, as described below:
• HD 410, scheduled for April 12 -16, explores the skills required to successfully develop affordable, owner-occupied, single family housing.
• HD 420, scheduled for June 21 -25, presents a detailed look at the financing and development of multi-family rental housing.
• HD 430, scheduled for September 13 -17, blends the financial analysis techniques covered in the first two courses with the problem solving and negotiating skills needed to successfully close complex housing deals.

The economic development program explores the skills that are essential to be successful at stimulating job creation, as described below:
• ED 101, scheduled for April 12 -15, explores the financial skills required for the successful practice of economic development within the context of an overall economic development finance system.
• ED 201, scheduled for June 21 -25, builds upon the skills taught in ED 101 and acquaints students with the most financially sophisticated techniques available to analyze the creditworthiness of operating a business.
• ED 202, scheduled for September 13 -17, presents a step-by-step overview of the real estate development process from the perspective of the market investor.
• ED 300, scheduled for November 15 -19, integrates the business credit and real estate finance skills learned in the previous weeks with the creative demands of deal structuring.

Individuals completing either of these programs and passing the comprehensive examination will be certified as development finance professionals. Each training session includes text readings, short lectures and case studies. The cases are completed either during or after class and are designed to train participants to screen, analyze and package housing/economic development deals. The registration fee for the housing development program is $285 per week per participant. The economic development program registration fee is $500 per participant per week. Due to ODOD’s co-sponsorship, registration costs for these sessions are substantially lower than normal. All training sessions will be held in Columbus.

Questions regarding the NDC Finance Professional Certification Programs being sponsored by ODOD should be directed to Rick Knapp, of OHCP, at 614/466-2285.

 

Cutting Down the Sound of Office Noise
“How do you expect me to get anything done with all this noise?” So goes the too-common complaint of too many office workers. Seldom loud enough to damage your hearing, office noise still can interfere with concentration and productivity. OSHA doesn’t step in and regulate noise levels until they exceed 85 decibels (dBA), about the noise level when you have to raise your voice to hold a conversation with someone standing beside you.
For an “open office,” a noise criterion range of 40-50 that corresponds to 49-58 dBA is acceptable, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Open offices are large, open areas with many employees working at individual workstations.
Some characteristics of noise are frequency, loudness, duration, predictability and necessity.
The most common noise sources are people-generated. Talking, laughing and walking contribute to noise buildup. Office equipment noises include computers and fax machines, copying machines and printers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and humidifiers, piped-in music or personal radios and fans.
Noise control strategies include: investigate complaint, identify noise, characterize noise objection and abate problem.
Management can go a long way in quieting the noise problem by responding quickly to employee complaints and following through with a noise control plan. Numerous solutions are available, including
– Absorb the noise with fiberglass or paint acoustical ceilings;
– Isolating the noise with enclosures;
– Add complementary sounds (white noise or music) to reduce or cancel out overall noise.

Steps to take to be added to the BWC Focus mailing list
Every quarter BWC Focus provides Ohio’s employers with the information they need to keep their employees safe and their workers’ compensations costs low. If you do not receive BWC Focus and want to, please call Butler Mail Services at 800-237-7914 or send a fax to 513/870-5062 or send an e-mail to info@butlermail.com. That’s all you have to do to start receiving the BWC Focus. All information taken from the BWC Magazine.

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

cohhio@cohhio.org