“SB 235 opens the doors of housing opportunity for South Dakotans priced out of the market,” said Melanie Bliss, Coordinator of the Sioux Empire Homeless Coalition. “A stable place to call home is a key to success for all of us: Kids do better in school, parents are better participants in the workforce, seniors can age in place with dignity. Our communities thrive when there is a wide variety of affordable housing available.”

The Housing Opportunity Fund will provide financing for the construction or rehabilitation of rental or homeowner housing, the preservation of existing affordable homes, home repair to increase accessibility and efficiency, homelessness prevention activities, as well as investing in community land trusts.  The Housing Opportunity Fund is targeted to low and moderate income families and individuals with a maximum income at or below 115% of the area median income.  There is a set aside that designates 30% of the funding to municipalities with populations of more than fifty thousand, and 70% to the remainder of the state.  Fund revenues may be used to provide grants, loans, loans guarantees, loan subsidies and other financial assistance to eligible applicants.  Eligible applicants include any for-profit entity, non-profit entity, tribal government, housing authority, political subdivision of the state or its agencies, or any agency of the state; individuals are prohibited from applying for funding.

Backed by strong bi-partisan support, Building South Dakota (SB235) is intended to build and reinvest in the state economy in a manner that will both grow the tax base and provide resources for needed development in rural and urban communities.  In addition to establishing and funding the Housing Opportunity Fund, Building South Dakota will fund infrastructure and transportation development, local economic development, English as a Second Language (ESL) and technical education and recapitalize the Revolving Economic Development and Initiative (REDI) fund. Building South Dakota includes dedicated funding generated from the Contractor’s Excise Tax on large scale projects that will exceed $20 million.  Additionally, beginning in FY 2015, 25% of the Unclaimed Property Fund will be deposited to the Building South Dakota Fund; and increasing to 50% of the Unclaimed Property Fund in FY 2016 and beyond. No caps will be placed on any of the funds. The legislature allocated $7million to Building South Dakota for FY2014, of which the Housing Opportunity Fund will receive $1.75 million.

“South Dakota is very fortunate to have leaders like Senator Corey Brown, who understand the benefit of investing in the economic growth and well-being of the state.  The leadership and vision from both legislative parties enabled all voices to be heard,” said Lori Moen, Chief Operating Officer of GROW South Dakota.  “State investment in the Housing Opportunity Fund will also leverage additional financial resources that will help close the gap for affordable housing, especially to our rural communities.  Affordable housing advocates have won a great victory for the people in South Dakota!”

The Housing Opportunity Fund will receive 25% of Building South Dakota Fund resources, which will generate between $3.5 -$5.5 million annually in the next few years. The legislation allows for the Housing Opportunity Fund to also accept funds from other sources.  On April 23, a little more than a month after it was established, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that the Housing Opportunity Fund will receive an additional $344,000 from the state proceeds from a nationwide settlement with Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS).  The LPS settlement was an offshoot from investigations into fraudulent mortgage practices that resulted in a $25 billion nationwide mortgage settlement agreement.

The South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) will administer the Housing Opportunity Fund.  SDHDA will make funding awards through an annual application cycle with a competitive process based on criteria that will be developed by SDHDA in the next few months. There is a 10% cap on administrative costs attributable to fund awards.

“Having the resources available from the Housing Opportunity Fund will be an additional tool to help Sioux Falls respond to our current housing market,” said Shireen Ranschau, executive director of the Sioux Falls Housing & Redevelopment Commission.  Sioux Falls is one of several South Dakota communities with very low vacancy rates, meaning the cost of housing is accelerating because demand significantly exceeds supply. “We want Sioux Falls to be a place where young people can move to start a family and working families can afford to live but right now the lack of housing is a serious barrier.  The Housing Opportunity Fund will help us provide needed homes and rental apartments that are affordable to young families.”

Lori Moen speaks on a panel promoting the Housing Opportunity Fund at the state housing conference in November 2012.

The advocacy effort for the South Dakota Housing Opportunity Fund was lead by a core group of advocacy organizations: Affordable Housing Solutions; Cheyenne River Housing Authority; Grow South Dakota; Habitat for Humanity – South Dakota; Interlakes Community Action; NeighborWorks  Dakota Home Resources; Sioux Empire Homeless Coalition; Sioux Falls Housing & Redevelopment Commission; South Dakota Voices for Children.  Under the banner of the South Dakota Housing Opportunity Fund steering committee, these core groups worked with the SDHDA and the local office of Housing and Urban Development to draft the Housing Opportunity Fund proposal in early 2012.  Members of the steering committee developed communication materials and executed a strategy for mobilizing supporters across the state in the Fall of 2012. Beginning in December, the steering committee activated their respective networks to visit with legislators in their home districts. Particularly active were affiliate members of Habitat for Humanity – South Dakota.

“I could not have been more impressed by the engagement of Habitat members around the state,” said Patty Bacon, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity – South Dakota.  “Once legislators heard first hand stories about the impact of having a safe, stable home, a buzz began that investing in the Housing Opportunity Fund needed to happen this legislative session. Well, that buzz kept growing and we won.”

Contact: Mark Lauseng South Dakota Housing Development Authority 221 S Central Ave  Pierre, SD 57501  (605) 773-3181

Governor Mike Beebe signed SB 728 in early April after moving through the House and Senate in the weeks prior.  The legislation was introduced by Senator Joyce Elliot, a long time housing champion who led the effort in the Arkansas General Assembly to create the state housing trust fund.

With funding, the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund will provide assistance to households earning no more than 80% of the area median income.  The Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) will disburse funds as grants or loans for new construction, rehabilitation, rental assistance, land acquisition, predevelopment costs, infrastructure, transitional housing, down payment assistance, housing and foreclosure counseling, and technical assistance. Providing oversight and guidance to ADFA is the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee, an appointed body established in Act 661. In 2009, Housing Arkansas and Senator Elliot successfully moved legislation to enact Act 611, creating the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund.  Unfortunately, Act 661 did not include any funding.

“We are enthusiastic about Housing Trust Fund’s flexibility to respond to Arkansas specific needs and opportunities,” said Lou Tobian, Chair of the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee.  “We look forward for the opportunity to work with the Arkansas Development Finance Authority to determine the best way to use these pilot funds to demonstrate the potential impact of the Housing Trust Fund.  By investing in the Housing Trust Fund, not only are we going to provide safe and healthy homes, we are going to create construction jobs and we are going to attract Federal funds and private investment that would not have otherwise come to Arkansas.”

Housing Arkansas is building a campaign to pass legislation with a dedicated revenue source in the 2015 General Assembly (the Arkansas General Assembly convenes every other year).  Housing Arkansas estimates that in order to make significant advances towards providing needed housing, the state should be investing at least $15 million into the Housing Trust Fund annually.

In addition to its strategy in the 2013 General Assembly, Housing Arkansas is engaging in several other activities to build the support for dedicated funding.  With a steering committee that has doubled in the past year, Housing Arkansas has formed four working committees to advance the campaign: Legislative, Grassroots Development, Communications, and Fundraising. With the 2013 General Assembly adjourned, the Legislative Committee will shift its focus to identifying a revenue source. The Grassroots Development committee is planning a listening tour that will travel to 5-6 locations around the state to gather information about local housing needs, to educate on the potential positive impact of dedicating state revenue to the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund, and to recruit and train supporters to be effective advocates.

For more on Housing Arkansas collaboration with Children’s HealthWatch, click here.

In August 2012, Housing Arkansas partnered with pediatric researchers at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Children’s HealthWatch on the release of the policy action brief A Safe, Stable Place to Call Home Supports Young Children’s Health in Arkansas. In late 2012, Housing Arkansas launched a new website www.housingar.org.  Housing Arkansas is also utilizing public opinion research it commissioned to test public attitudes towards affordable housing and state investment in the housing trust fund.

In 2010 and 2011, Housing Arkansas contracted with Opinion Research Associates to conduct a focus group and a statewide poll.  The public opinion research identified messages that elicit strong support for increasing the availability of affordable housing. Particularly resonant to Arkansans polled were messages that emphasized the importance of home and that reflect the values of opportunity, reward for work, and a responsibility to take care of the most vulnerable.  The poll also revealed that Arkansans care deeply that veterans, children, seniors, people with serious disabilities and people earning low wages have a place to call home.

From this research, Housing Arkansas adopted four lead message frames for the revenue campaign:

Every child deserves a safe place to call home                                

A place to call home offers seniors (or people with disabilities) an opportunity to live and grow with independence and dignity

Our veterans should have access to safe, affordable housing

Hardworking Arkansans should be able to afford a home and still have enough money for groceries and child care

With momentum from the passage of SB 728, active working committees, tested messages and an outreach plan intended to build support around the state, Housing Arkansas is poised to significantly elevate the support for dedicating state revenue to the Trust Fund.  “To pass revenue legislation in 2015 is going to require serious work,” said Rick Pierce, chair of Housing Arkansas’ Legislative Committee.  “Our success this session shows that members of the General Assembly are willing to invest in housing opportunity.  Our job now is activating supportive Arkansans across the state to reach out to their legislators to say ‘Home is priority for Arkansas: We need a dedicated revenue source for the Housing Trust Fund.’”

Contact:  Lou Tobian, Arkansas Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee, (501) 217-1638

“Our proposal to fund the National Housing Trust Fund with revenue from modifications to the mortgage interest deduction is a common sense proposal that has garnered support from every corner of the country,” said Sheila Crowley, President and CEO of NLIHC . “Now is the time to end homelessness and to help communities across America to provide affordable homes for those who need it most. With United for Homes, we can achieve this together.”

The United for Homes proposal would limit the mortgage interest deduction (MID) to the first $500,000 of mortgage debt and convert it to a 15 percent non-refundable tax credit. The change would carefully target the tax benefit to where it is needed the most—low and middle income Americans—especially  those who cannot itemize deductions and thus fail to benefit from the current tax law. Under this proposal, taxes will be reduced for 16 million American households with incomes of $100,000 or less per year. The proposed change to the MID would generate approximately $200 billion in savings in the first ten years, which the NLIHC proposal would invest into the National Housing Trust Fund.

NLIHC commissioned a poll in February 2013 which found that 74 percent of respondents believe the nation is not doing enough to end homelessness, and 76 percent support funding a federal government program to make more affordable rental housing available to low-income families. Proposals to modify the mortgage interest deduction also received broad support among respondents, with 60 percent supporting a cap, limiting the tax break or converting the deduction to a tax credit.

On April 12, the campaign launched the United for Homes website as a resource to advocates to help start conversations in communities across America about the urgency to invest in housing for people with the lowest incomes.  Available on the website are:

• Tools that will help build support for the campaign, like a model resolution for a local government, and endorsement forms.
• Resources to help educate Members of Congress effectively.
• The latest research on the need for affordable housing and information on the impact of the housing tax reform proposal.

In addition to the website, the NLIHC outreach team is available to assist advocates advance the campaign, including sample social media posts and email templates.  Please contact the Outreach Team at outreach@nlihc.org.

United for Homes is continuing to look at the obligation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to direct profits to the National Housing Trust Fund, as was stipulated in the 2008 legislation creating the National Housing Trust Fund.  The potential funding generated by the GSE’s would result is less than $500 million annually, which is wholly inadequate for meeting the housing challenges in American communities. The campaign is also following the $1 billion proposed in the Administration’s  FY 2014 budget. The Administration has proposed $1 billion in mandatory spending for the Housing Trust Fund in each of the past four years.

United for Homes is asking for supporters to take to three action steps:  (1) Endorse United for Homes: To join more than 1000 national, state and local organizational endorsers, click here; (2) Tell your Member of Congress about the United for Homes campaign and ask him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 1213: To contact your legislator, click here; and (3) Become an informed and active advocate for the United for Homes campaign: For United for Homes materials and resources, click here.

The basis for all of its work is the research and planning activities of the Housing Trust Fund.  Partnering with local university faculty and students, the Trust Fund has assembled a significant body of local housing information and provides that data to the community.  The Polk County Housing Trust Fund website provides funders and government officials access to local and national best practices consistent with the strategic funding plan of the Trust Fund.

The Polk County Housing Trust Fund annually receives $1.5 million from the County, a portion of which supports administrative costs of the fund.  In addition, Polk County is eligible for funds from the state housing trust fund. The State Housing Trust Fund is funded with an annual appropriation from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund and an increasing portion of the proceeds of the real estate transfer tax. These funds are allocated by the Iowa Finance Authority to 25 local Housing Trust Funds in Iowa. Last year, Polk County’s allocation was $525,640.

Managing more than $2 million of state and local funds each year is the major activity of the Housing Trust Fund. Through its various committees, the PCHTF establishes an annual Housing Allocation Plan and invites local non- and for-profit developers to make application. A competitive application process, along with strict post-award oversight, guarantee the most worthy projects receive funding and promised results are achieved. During 2011-2012, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund created or preserved 545 homes.  Funds from the Trust Fund leveraged more than $10 for every $1 dollar invested in affordable housing activities.

April 15-20, 2013 was Affordable Housing Week in Polk County—a first for the county—and  spearheaded by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. The Housing Trust Fund created an interesting cross-section of activities and initiatives to educate and advocate for the benefits affordable housing brings to the community.

The first was a Mayors’ Honor Roll where the mayor of each city in Polk County read and signed a Proclamation recognizing the importance of affordable housing.  All seven mayors participated.  Click here to view the Proclamation and its signatories.

Additionally more than 50 metro leaders participated in a community bus tour that explored the critical relationship between affordable housing and public transportation.  The tour was co-sponsored by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund and the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority. Click here for a trip Itinerary.

Des Moines students strategize over their design submissions for an affordable home.

Finally, more than 50 area high school students competed for scholarships by designing an affordable home for a low-income family of six on an in-fill lot in central Des Moines.  Working within the parameters of a narrative created by local architects, the students drew floor plans and elevations of a house that they thought best served the needs of the family.  Each student was helped along the way by architects from local firms who were able to give guidance to the young planners.  On the last day of Affordable Housing Week, creators of the six best entries were challenged to present and defend their work to a panel of judges made up of local affordable housing professionals.  The winner received a $2,000 scholarship provided by the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines Professional Women in Building. And two additional $500 awards were provided.

During Affordable Housing week, PCHTF launched a major campaign with advocacy and education at its heart.  The campaign was developed in response to research indicating increasing neighborhood resistance to the creation of more affordable housing.  The metro-wide media and promotion campaign is called “Can I Be Your Neighbor.”  The campaign is directed at helping all cities and neighborhoods understand the importance of affordable housing for a region that works. Its focus is on the people who are critical to the metro’s economy and need affordable housing.  The campaign is supported by local business sponsors and has its own website. The campaign has distributed posters and billboards, newspaper ads and flyers.

“Over the past 2 ½ years the PCHTF has engaged in a detailed and deliberate process of self-evaluation of its mission and activities.  From that the Board has realized the full potential of the Housing Trust Fund to shape the community agenda for affordable housing.  By embracing a strategic vision for Polk County and targeting that vision with both funds and advocacy, the PCHTF aims to make sure all community housing dollars are deployed to best meet recognized needs,” says the Trust Fund’s Executive Director, Eric Burmeister.

The Polk County Housing Trust Fund strives to be the “go to” organization for affordable housing in the Des Moines metro area.  Its Staff, Board of Directors and Committees are committed to its vision, that “all Polk County citizens have access to safe, stable and affordable housing.”

Contact:  Eric Burmeister, Polk County Housing Trust Fund, 108 Third Street, Suite 350, Des Moines, IA 50309 (515-282-3233) EBurmeister@pchtf.org

The first round of competitive applications consists of two pools of funding:  the Competitive Loan Pool ($5,400,000) and the Homeless Reduction Grant Program ($930,000).  The Virginia Housing Coalition is partnering with the Department to offer technical assistance on applying for funding this year.  The Competitive Loan Pool provides low interest loans for specific affordable housing projects with a maximum loan of $750,000 per project. Priority is given to projects that address one or more state housing policy goals.  The Grant Program provides a maximum of $100,000 per program and is available for temporary rental assistance, housing stabilization services in supportive housing for homeless individuals and families, and pre-development assistance to support long-term housing opportunities for the homeless.

Housing and homeless advocates from throughout the state came to Capitol for Housing Day 2013. Photo by Housing Opportunity Made Equal.

Robin Gahan of the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness says: “VCEH is proud to have been a part of the campaign to create a Virginia Housing Trust Fund. Specifically, the inclusion of grant funding targeted to solutions to reduce and end homelessness was a major victory and aligns our trust fund with best practices. Over the past two legislative sessions, we have increased awareness of the link between affordable housing, jobs, and the importance of flexible funds for services and rental assistance to address homelessness. However, our work is far from over as we continue our efforts to secure a dedicated source of revenue.”

The bill codifying the Housing Trust Fund states that at least 80% of the funds available to the Trust Fund are to provide flexible financing for low-interest loans, maximizing opportunities for leverage.  Loans may be provided for:

• Affordable rental housing to include new construction, rehabilitation, repair, or acquisition of housing to assist low or moderate income households, including land and land improvements;
• Down payment and closing cost assistance for homebuyers; and
• Loans to reduce the cost of homeownership and rental housing.

The bill also allows up to 20% of the funds for grants to eligible organizations for targeted efforts to reduce homelessness, including temporary rental assistance for no more than one year; housing stabilization services in permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and homeless families; mortgage foreclosure counseling targeted in localities with the highest incidence of foreclosure activity; and predevelopment assistance for permanent supportive housing and other long-term housing options for the homeless.

Organizations eligible for funding from the Trust Fund include: localities; local government housing authorities; regional or state-wide housing assistance organizations that provide assistance to low and moderate income or low-income citizens of Virginia, and limited liability companies expressly created for the purpose of owning and operating affordable housing.

Advocates from the Virginia Housing Coalition and the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness celebrated passage of HB2005, which writes the housing trust fund into state code, and praised the allocation of initial funds to enable the fund to begin operations.  Bob Newman , the President Elect of the Virginia Housing Coalition, noted that “advocates in Virginia are pleased that the Governor and the General Assembly have started down the road to recognizing  the significant housing needs faced by low and moderate income Virginians, as well as the importance that housing plays in our  state and local economies”.  He further explained that both Coalitions will be redoubling efforts next year to secure a stable, sustainable source of funding for the Housing Trust Fund.

Contact:  Bob Adams, Housing and Development Advisors, 205 N. Robinson Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220 (804)915-6729

Mayor Slay, Dr. Lynne M. Cooper, President Emeritus of Doorways, and the late Alderman Gregory J. Carter announce the upcoming construction of Partridge Place, an 18-unit, new-construction, rental housing facility dedicated to serving extremely low-income residents. In 2005, AHC provided $296,800 in construction funding for the housing facility serving residents with HIV/AIDS.

The St. Louis Housing Trust Fund has been operating for ten years awarding grants and loans to nonprofits, faith-based agencies, for-profit developers with housing partners and neighborhood organizations.  More than $65 million has been awarded to partner agencies and leveraged by an additional $420 million in investments, producing some 2,400 homes statewide.

Voters approved a special Use Tax on major purchases by individuals and corporations based outside the city limits in 2001.  The Trust Fund is administered by the Affordable Housing Commission.  All funds must benefit families and individuals with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income.  A minimum of 40% of the funds must benefit families earning 20% and below the area median income.  Funds are provided for the creation of new affordable homes, accessibility modifications, homeless services and home repair, among other activities.

Mayor Francis Slay introduces the report by stating, “Thanks to the voters of St. Louis, we are one of only a handful of local governments with a dedicated source of revenue to create more affordable housing and expand supportive services. It shows our commitment to giving thousands of low income and disadvantaged citizens a hand up to self-sufficiency and prosperity and to making important investments to improve our impoverished neighborhoods.  We will see a payoff for years to come.” 

St. Louis World Changers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free and necessary home repairs to low-income residents of the City of St. Louis. Our team of coordinators volunteer throughout the year to gather applications for construction projects, procure funding for materials and prepare for an annual summer project. During this project, approximately 300 volunteers flood into St. Louis for one week to repair the homes of some of our city’s neediest residents.

In FY2012, $4 million in awards were made in these categories:

• Accessibility Modifications — $86,400
• Construction/Major Rehab — $762,500
• Education & Counseling — $190,000
• Education/Training & Rent/Mortgage Subsidies — $168,000
• Neighborhood Stabilization — $64,000
• Home Repairs — $140,400
• Homeless Prevention/Shelter — $976,000
• Lead Abatement — $500,000
• Rent/Mortgage/Utility Subsidy — $278,700
• Transitional Housing — $658,000
• Foreclosure Prevention — $176,000

Sullivan Modular–The Affordable Housing Commission assisted with the funding of the Sullivan Place Homes, a single-family, for-sale development built with sustainable practices and materials in the 5th Ward.

“The people, the programs and the stories in this report illustrate the value of affordable housing to the health and vitality of our City.  Affordable and stable housing has a profound effect on childhood development, educational performance, and the economic outcomes for families and individuals.  Families and neighborhoods thrive when everyone can live and enjoy life free from deprivation of basic human needs,”  says Mayor Francis Shay in his continued support of the St. Louis Housing Trust Fund.

Contact:  Angela Conley, Affordable Housing Commission, 1520 Market Street, Suite 2080, St. Louis, MO 63103 (314-657-3880)

Commissioned by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Hart Research Associates conducted telephone interviews of 1,433 adults between February 27 and March 10. In addition to the changing attitudes about home ownership and rental housing, nearly 8 in 10 (77%) survey respondents believe we are still in the middle of the housing crisis, or that the worst is yet to come.

“While the desire to own a home remains a bedrock principle in American life, this survey demonstrates that the American public’s views about housing are changing, in part due to the hangover from the housing crisis, but importantly, also because of changes in our lifestyles. The dynamic is no longer simply ‘renting versus owning’ – perspectives are more complex, and people are viewing housing in a more holistic way,” said Peter D. Hart of Hart Research Associates. “Many of the positive attributes that have long been associated with homeownership are fading, and on the flip side of the coin, it is remarkable that nearly half of all homeowners can picture themselves one day becoming a renter.

The support for a more balanced national housing policy was fairly consistent across political and social demographics.  Democrats (69%), Republicans (62%), and Independents (65%) all believe that the “focus of our housing policy should be fairly equally split on rental housing and housing for people to own.” This balanced approach toward government policies supporting both rental housing and homeownership shows similar support among all races, ages, regions, and income levels.

“The How Housing Matters national survey shows us that whether one owns or rents, the American public understands the benefits of decent, stable housing in people’s lives – and the consequences for individuals and communities when that stability is lost through events like foreclosure, eviction, increasing costs or unemployment,” said Julia M. Stasch, Vice President of U.S. Programs at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. “We are pleased to support and release this important national survey, as it complements the Foundation’s efforts to address the nation’s housing challenges through empirical research and organizations focused on improving housing opportunities for all Americans.”

To read more about the survey, go to www.macfound.org.

In 2011, Housing Arkansas began conversations with Children’s HealthWatch about the report, and the potential for collaboration around its release.  Housing Arkansas was very interested in promoting the report because the public opinion research indicated that Arkansans overwhelmingly support healthy and safe homes for children.  Children’s HealthWatch was interested in connecting the report to state-level policy solutions that improve health outcomes for children.

“As soon as we started talking, we realized we had common interests,” said Steve Copley, Chair of Housing Arkansas.

Children’s HealthWatch welcomed Housing Arkansas’ input on the message frames, incorporating the tested language in the title and throughout the report.  On July 30, 2012, Copley and Dr. Patrick Casey were interviewed by the press after the report was announced in a press release.  Copley  proposed state investment in the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund as a policy solution for Arkansas children facing housing insecurity.

“Working with Housing Arkansas was ideal,” said Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Research and Policy Director for Children’s HealthWatch.  “Research that is not presented in a way that resonates with people, especially decision-makers,  or seem relevant in their world is impractical.  We want our research to be used to advance policies to improve the lives of children.  Increasing the supply of healthy, affordable homes is absolutely one of those policies.”

Children’s HealthWatch provided Housing Arkansas with hard copy versions of A Safe, Stable Place to Call Home, which Housing Arkansas members have used in legislative visits and communication trainings. “What is great about the report is that it is succinct and easy to read—which is what you want when you are trying to catch the attention of a legislator,” said Copley. “Having hard data also reinforces the message frames about children, which helps builds confidence for the advocates as they use these messages.”

Ettinger de Cuba emphasized the benefits of being in dialogue with Housing Arkansas while Children’s HealthWatch was in the process of writing the report. The message frames helped ensure the report would resonate with the public and media.  Housing Arkansas was able to review drafts and provide feedback. As a practice, Children’s HealthWatch seeks out input from advocates who are expert in their field to ‘ground test’ reports before they are released.

“I think most public health researchers are thrilled when they can connect to advocates working on their issue,” said Ettinger de Cuba.  “I would encourage advocates to pay attention to research that is happening at local universities and to reach out to researchers when you see a potential opportunity.”

The Housing Incentive Fund, passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2011, provides dollar-for-dollar tax credits to those contributing to the Fund. A total of 203 contributions from indi­viduals have been received during this initial phase and an additional nineteen contributions were received from busi­nesses and financial institutions. The tax credits can be used in the year of the contribution or carried forward for up to ten years.

Contributions into the HIF are held at the Bank of North Dakota. Eligible contributors into the HIF include any taxpayer with a North Dakota state in­come or financial institution tax liability. The aggregate amount of tax credits allowed to all eligible contributors is $15 million for the biennium of the 2011 special legislative session.

The Housing Incentive Fund is in­tended to finance the development of affordable multifamily housing. Contri­butions may be made on a project-specific basis or on a general pool basis to be used to fund projects statewide. Funds can be used for multifamily projects through new construction, substantial rehabilitation, or adaptive reuse of non-residential buildings. In addition, funds can be used for gap as­sistance, matching funds or accessibility improvements as well as for rental assistance, emergency assistance, or targeted supportive services designed to prevent homelessness.

Eligible applicants for the funds include: local, state and tribal governments; housing authorities; community action agencies; regional planning councils; local EDCs or JDAs; for-profit develop­ers and nonprofit developers.

In each funding round, at least 25% of the funds must be used in difficult to develop areas where the population is less than 10,000 and there are unmet housing needs. At least half of the funds must support housing for very low income households. In addition, 90% of the funds must be used in the seventeen oil and gas impacted Counties and federally-declared disaster counties receiving FEMA individual assistance.

Applications will be solicited and evalu­ated for possible funding on a quarterly basis by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency. Each application will be scored based on these characteristics:

• serving extremely low income households,
• serving very low income house­holds,
• addressing housing needs of mod­erate income households,
• addressing housing shortages in developing communities with a popula­tion less than 10,000,
• the need for public funds,
• readiness to proceed,
• generation of private capital con­tributions,
• providing new construction,
• rehabilitating existing uninhabit­able structures,
• providing special needs housing, and
• serving flood-related housing needs in Ward County.

The North Dakota Housing Incentive Fund was created as a result of the campaign spear-headed by the Housing Alliance of North Dakota with 29 state­wide members. HAND’s mission is to ensure every North Dakotan has access to a decent, safe, affordable, accessible place to live.

Contact: Jolene Kline, Director of Planning and Housing Development, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, 2624 Vermont Avenue, P.O. Box 1535, Bismarck, ND 58502-1535 (701-328­8080) www.ndhousingincentivefund.org

Housing and homeless advocates ran a strong campaign that began with a core group of committed advocates meeting sporadically in the fall of 2011.  By March 2012, the coalition of more than a dozen organizations had formed to champion the Bellingham Home Fund, including Opportunity Council, Catholic Housing Services, Whatcom Peace and Justice Center, and Whatcom Volunteer Center.  Ninety people representing 77 organizations attended the campaign launch in April, and the momentum of the campaign grew steadily leading up to the election, including an impressive field campaign that had supporters knocking on doors for the 8 weeks prior to Whatcom County mailing out the ballots to registered voters.

“The campaign was so successful because we built an impressive coalition of endorsers that included the local hospital, builders, churches, and other organizations that had never before endorsed a political campaign. We also stayed relentlessly on message, which was focused on people who need help, and that’s what motivated voters”, said Greg Winter, the director of the Whatcom Homeless Service Center. “This will be the most important and strategic homeless prevention initiative our community has conceived.”

In addition to committed, organized group advocates, the Bellingham Home Fund also benefited from strong support from members of the Bellingham City Council.  In June 2012, the City Council voted unanimously to place the levy on the November ballot. City Councilman Seth Fleetwood led the effort to gain Council support. He was joined by Councilman Terry Borneman as a co-sponsor of the ordinance. Significantly, all seven Council members also lent their names to the campaign as endorsers.

The Bellingham levy imposes a tax of thirty-six cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value, generating $21 million over 7 years for the Bellingham Home Fund.  In 1995, the Washington Legislature enacted RCW 84.52.105, which authorizes cities, counties and towns to impose an additional regular property tax levy up to fifty cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of property for up to ten consecutive years.  The ability to impose a levy is contingent on a city, county or town declaring an emergency in respect to the availability of affordable housing. Since the passage of RCW 84.52.105, the City of Seattle has passed 3 housing levies (1995, 2002 and 2009).  In November 2009, an astonishing 65.8% of Seattle voters approved the Seattle Housing Levy, which will generate $145 million for housing.  Prior to the state law, Seattle had passed a levy (1986) and a housing bond in (1981).

The Bellingham Home Fund used the Seattle levy as a model as they developed their proposal and throughout the campaign. Back in 2008, a Whatcom County Housing Affordability Taskforce identified a levy as a key action to meet local housing need, citing the success of the Seattle levy.  Once the Bellingham Home Fund campaign was underway, advocates from Seattle offered a range of support and encouragement.

“Our Seattle friends really helped us get started on the right foot: with money, with campaign advice, and with technical assistance to flesh out the details of our implementation plan”, said Winter. “We sincerely hope that many other communities will be inspired to take action toward their own local housing fund. That sends a strong signal to our state and federal elected officials that housing affordability deserves their active support and leadership”

After voters approved the levy, the Bellingham City Council adopted the 2012 Bellingham Housing Levy Administrative & Financial Plan.  The plan identifies how the funds will be used over a seven year period to support affordable housing in Bellingham, as well as low-income tenants.  The Bellingham Home Fund is targeted for people at or below 80% of area median income, with at least 2/3 of the funding earmarked for housing for people at or below 50% of area median income. Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department plans to begin awarding Housing Levy funds through a competitive process beginning in 2013 and has allocated funds to these initiatives:

• Production and Preservation of Homes:  $15,947,445 to fund the development and preservation of affordable rental housing, as well as the preservation or rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing.  The seven year goal is 429 units.
• Rental Assistance and Support Services:  $1,876,710 to serve vulnerable families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk for homelessness. The first priority of this program is to provide the necessary supportive services and rental assistance for the housing units produced by the levy. The seven year goal is 800 households.
• Low-income Homebuyer Assistance: $938,085 to assist low-income homebuyers to purchase homes through homebuyer assistance and other activities.  The seven year goal is 50  homebuyers.
• Acquisition and Opportunity Loans: $938,085 to provide short-term funding to permit strategic acquisition of sites for low-income housing development.

Contact: Greg Winter, Whatcom Homeless Service Center, Opportunity Council, 1111 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 255-2091 x131 greg_winter@whatcomhsc.org