Take Action – Tax Bill Hurts Communities
The tax bill currently being considered by the House of Representatives poses a huge threat to low- and moderate-income people and places. Call or email your Representatives. Urge them to:
- Vote against tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy.
- Protect New Market Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, and Bond Financing for Housing.
Policy Update
Tax Bull Cuts Investment In Communities and Affordable Homes
The tax reform legislation currently being considered by the House of Representatives would eliminate tax incentives that spur investment in community revitalization and affordable housing. Substantial tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans would cause the deficit to skyrocket, creating enormous pressure to cut domestic programs of all kinds. The bill would:
- Eliminate the New Market Tax Credit, which incentives public-private partnership, attracting private capital to some of the nation’s most distressed communities;
- Eliminate the Historic Tax Credit, a redevelopment tool for abandoned and underutilized properties;
- Eliminate the tax exemption on private activity bonds, including multifamily Housing Bonds, which effectively ends the 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit. The legislation would cause the loss of nearly 1 million affordable rental homes produced over 10 years.
WEBINAR TODAY - "The Hugely Important Upcoming Tax Battle". Learn how the trillions in tax cuts pose a direct threat to services for low- and moderate-income people – and how to fight back. The webinar begins at 10:00 am Pacific / 1:00 pm Eastern. Registration is required.
Disaster Aid Package Omits CDBG-DR Funding
The $36.5 billion disaster aid package signed by the President on October 26 does not not include Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding requested by the Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico congressional delegations. These flexible HUD grants help cities, counties, and states recover from disasters — especially in low-income areas.
There is significant concern that disaster funding will favor more affluent people and home owners. NACEDA members are working in their states to make sure that low- and moderate-income people and places get a fair share of disaster recovery funds. NACEDA members are meeting virtually to learn from members' experiences after Hurricaine Sandy other and other natural disasters.
Thriving Networks
$6 Billion Affordable Housing Package Passed in California
 California Governor Jerry Brown signed a historic 15 bill affordable housing package into law on September 29. “This moment – in which the state has taken a significant first step toward housing solutions – has been years in the making and we have learned that collaboration among advocates, residents, multi-sector allies and our legislative champions works,” said Housing California Executive Director Lisa Hershey. “We know more still needs to get done but our lawmakers can no longer ignore California’s 1.7 million rent-burdened households. We thank our legislators on both sides of the aisle for voting to secure investments in affordable homes, enforcement of planning obligations, and tools for local governments to build and preserve inclusive communities.”
All seven of NACEDA's California members engaged in a coordinated advocacy campaign, mobilizing their members, visiting key legislators, and promoting a unified message through social media, earned media and op-eds. Congratulations to Housing California, Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, East Bay Housing Organizations, Sacramento Housing Alliance, Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing on this major legislative victory to ensure that California residents have safe, healthy and affordable places to live. Shown: Lisa Hershey of Housing California represented affordable housing advocates at the bill signing ceremony.
$82 Million Public Benefits Package Negotiated In Seattle
A $1.6 billion addition to the Washington State Convention Center is set to improve the quality of life in adjacent Seattle neighborhoods thanks to a public benefits package negotiated by local nonprofits. The Community Package Coalition — a group of affordable housing, public land and active transportation nonprofits — negotiated for funding to address the neighborhood's primary needs: affordable homes, public open spaces, and safe transportation routes for pedestrians and bikers. The deal requires $29 million for affordable housing, nearly six times the initial allocation.
"The Housing Development Consortium was invited to the table via our member Capitol Hill Housing," said HDC Executive Director Marty Kooistra. "We offered support and advocacy to ensure there was an adequate component of the package that focused on affordable housing. We also offered counsel on how to navigate a very complex political environment." Kooistra emphasized the effectiveness of uniting diverse interests around a single, straightforward request. "Maintaining trust was a challenge but the important glue that carried the work through," he noted.
Healthy Places
New Jersey Network Focuses On “Housing as Health”
 The relationship between health and community development took center stage at the annual conference of the Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey. Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Network, stated, “This year’s Under One Roof conference put the spotlight on housing as a social determinant of health, and ways the community developers and health practitioners can work together to achieve better health outcomes for all of our residents in the future.” TitledHousing As Health, the event featured event featured remarks by Dr. Megan Sandel of Children's HealthWatch.
NACEDA Executive Director Frank Woodruff participated in two panel discussions, including the “Housing As Health” plenary session with with Abigail Baum of Health Impact Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts, Michellene Davis of RWJBarnabas Health, Jennifer Goudy of Horizon NJ Health, and Marco Navarro of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Frank reflected on the conference and the journey that he and the Network took to get there in his blog Healthy Places Gather Under One Roof.
Planning a Conference On Community Development and Health?
View NACEDA’s listing of Member Health-Related Events to see sessions and speakers featured at community development association conferences around the country. NACEDA provides assistance to members who are planning health-related events.
Creative Places
Ohio Connects Creative People and Places
The Ohio CDC Association and Ohio Citizens for the Arts — through NACEDA's Creative Placemaking Immersion Program — partnered to host two creative placemaking learning workshops. These events brought 118 placemakers from community development, the arts sector, city governments, and more to build the audience for conversations and collaborations.
“Our networks and members have put in significant time at these events to explore the relationship-building and openness to creativity that are vital to incorporating arts and culture into equitable development work,” remarked Lisa Much, Communications and Development Director at the Ohio CDC Association," and this video shows the first fruits of those efforts.”
Artists and Placemakers Look To the Future In Massachusetts
 The Massachusetts Association of CDCs' Mel King Institute and MassCreative capped off a summer of creative placemaking workshops with an Innovation Forum in October. The Boston forum engaged community stakeholders from across the state to envision how creative placemaking in Massachusetts will advance their four core objectives: building social capital; spurring neighborhood revitalization; enhancing public safety; preserving and promoting the heritage.
The partnership between the Massachusetts Association of CDCs' Mel King Institute and MassCreative was one of three partnerships nationwide to participate in NACEDA’s Creative Placemaking Immersion Program to build creative placemaking relationships and knowledge. The Massachusetts partnership worked with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to develop workshops in Holyoke, Worcester, and Salem, as well as the Boston forum.
Job Postings
MassNAHRO — Boston, MA
Executive Director
Center for Community Change — Washington, DC preferred
Senior Organizer
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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