Policy Update
TAKE ACTION — To Protect Federal Funding for Homes and Communities
As Congress goes decides what slice of the budget pie to appropriate for HUD, USDA and other government agencies, it's an important time to demonstrate strong support for an equitable federal budget and programs that support affordable homes and thriving communities. A host of critical sign-on letters are posted on our website. The headline letter asks Congress to lift the spending caps and fund HUD — sign on deadline today. NACEDA will regularly update this page with sign-on and 'Dear Colleague' opportunities as they become available. Check back weekly.
Congress Takes Up Tax Reform and Mortgage Interest Deduction
The Mortgage Interest Deduction costs the taxpayers $70 billion and disproportionately benefits higher income households. As Congress debates ways to reform the Mortgage Interest Deduction, we'll be advocating for all savings to be reinvested into affordable homes and community development through Low Income Housing Tax Credits, New Market Tax Credits, and the Housing Trust Fund, among other programs.
Thriving Networks
Housing CA Conference Features Resident Advocacy and Election Wins
More than 1,450 professionals from sectors of affordable housing, finance, homeless services, health, community development and more converged in Sacramento on March 8-10 for the Housing California Annual Conference. The event took a celebratory tone when Amie Fishman of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California announced "We put three affordable housing measures on the ballot in 2016 and voters said 'yes' and we won $2 billion" speaking about three Bay area counties.
Lisa Hershey of Housing California emphasized the role of grassroots organizing and the Residents United Network (RUN) in California's electoral wins. RUN is a first-of-its-kind, affordable home resident base of power in California that advocates for housing and healthy communities statewide. More than 200 members of RUN and Housing California advocated for funding for affordable home development and preservation, and for rental assistance during the March 8, 2017 Lobby Day at the Capitol. RUN leader Janny Castillo gave perhaps the most powerful speech of the conference. Lisa Hershey will talk about how RUN builds power for lasting change at People & Places 2017 with organizers Kristina Nielander of the Resident Action Project (RAP) in Washington state and Katy Heins of the Center for Community Change.
Partner With Housing Action IL To Offer Housing Counseling Course
Home Counselor Online (HCO) is Fannie Mae's free client management system that can make required reporting to HUD and other funders easier. Housing Action Illinois developed the first comprehensive, hands-on training to teach housing counselors how to use HCO effectively. Contact David Young if you're interested in partnering Housing Action to host Housing Counselor Online Made Easy trainings inside or outside Illinois.
NACEDA Launches Peer Group on Membership Services
NACEDA has started a peer group for voting members on membership-related topics. The group is a forum for staff from housing and community development networks to learn from each other about member engagement and member services. The peer group met for the first time in March, with participation from over 20% of the NACEDA membership. Voting members interested in joining should contact NACEDA Membership Director Jeremy Brownlee.
Healthy Places
Failure to Repeal the Affordable Care Act Is Good News for CDCs
It looks likely that the Affordable Care Act will govern America's health system for the foreseeable future. This is good news for community development organizations because the ACA provides incentives for healthcare providers to invest in making places healthier. With payments linked to patient outcomes and not just procedures, healthcare providers have reason to treat the neighborhood and not just the patient. And, nonprofit hospitals are required to conduct Community Health Needs Assessments and address the most pressing health challenges facing the community they serve, which provides opportunity for partnerships with place-based nonprofits. For information and case studies on successful partnerships, go to the Build Healthy Places Network. Their executive director, Dr. Doug Jutte, keynoted NACEDA's Community Development & the Social Determinants of Health Symposium and will address People & Places 2017.
People & Places 2017 Focuses On Community Development and Health
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is sponsoring three sessions on the intersection of community development and health at People & Places 2017. In the plenary session "Health Equity and the Zip Code Improvement Business," national thought leaders including Dr. Doug Jutte will make the case for community investment by the health industry, discuss levers for engagement, and explore successful partnerships. Other sessions include: "Leveraging New Resources from the Health System" and "Social Determinants of Health Through a Cultural Lens."
NACEDA is a co-hosting this national peer-learning event with the National Urban League, the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, and the Network for Developing Conscious Communities. People & Places 2017 will be held on May 31-June 2 in Arlington, Virginia (minutes from DC) and include Capitol Hill visits. Early-bird registration ends April 14. Learn more and register.
Aetna Foundation Invites Community Partners to Apply for Grants
The Aetna Foundation 2017 plans to award $2 million through their Cultivating Healthy Communities Grant Program to increase opportunities for people to make healthy choices in their communities. The deadline is April 14.
Creative Places
NACEDA Joins Calls to #SavetheNEA
President Trump's budget plan calls for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA's Our Town grant program supports creative placemaking projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. We encourage you to add support for the NEA to your advocacy efforts. The Americans for the Arts Mobilization Center provides tools to take action. Thanks to support from the NEA Our Town program, NACEDA partners with Americans for the Arts to advance creative placemaking knowledge and practice.
Job Postings
Executive Director
Alternatives for Community and Environment
Roxbury, MA
To post a job opportunity, contact Suzanne Gunther. A $25 donation is suggested.
Funding Opportunities
Go to our website for current grant opportunities. They're updated throughout the month.
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