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Loaves and Fishes
HFHC eNewsletter |
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Housing Rescue and Forclosure Act of 2008 Develops New Funding for Affordable Housing
On July 30, 2008, President Bush signed into law the American Housing Rescue and Forclosure Prevention Act. This sweeping housing reform and rescue bill stands to help Habitat for Humanity and other low-income housing developers access permanent public funding sources, among many other provisions addressing the current housing market crisis.
The first provision of the new law which stands to benefit Habitat for Humanity, is the creation of a pemanent national housing trust fund. According to HFHI's Government Relations and Advocacy Office, this fund will allow community development financial institutions and other affordable housing developers access to competitive grants. Annual contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be used to create the fund.
Access to emergency CDBG grants for land acquisition are the second portion of the bill beneficial to Habitat. These funds, according to HFHI's Government Relations and Advocacy Office, are intended to help raise community property values and tax bases by providing dollars for developers to purchase and rehabilitate vacant properties.
Visit Habitat International's government relations website, or call Kim Cooke, HFHC's Advocacy Field Organizer, at 303-525-7707 or 303-454-8965 x6 to learn more. | |
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Board of Directors Training
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Does Your Affiliate Need Board Training? The Answer Is Yes!
Board training provides a great opportunity to communicate the knowledge and understanding needed to serve as an effective member of any board of directors. Training provides clarity in terms of the mission, legal responsibilities, programs, as well as the differences between staff and board roles. Affiliates ought to possess a strong commitment to developing a well-informed board, one with the knowledge required to lead an effective organization. A key component of any affiliate's training program is board orientation. As new board members are selected to serve the organization, board orientation introduces them to the organization, explains their roles and responsibilities, and promotes teamwork. However, board education should not just be limited to an orientation. Ongoing board training maintains a high-level of board involvement throughout the year. It ensures that board members will continue to develop the necessary skills to help the affiliate accomplish the mission.
Ongoing board training helps to: -Increase board knowledge -Build a cohesive team -Promote the use of resources -Ensure effectively run meetings -Encourage board member participation -Demonstrate commitment to board governance -Reduce potential conflict of interests and risk -Recruit new board members Looking for opportunities for training for your board of directors? Habitat for Humanity of Colorado is hosting board training for the HFHC board and affiliates' boards of directors in the month of September (September 6 in Lakewood and September 13 in Durango). By attending the training board members will gain a better understanding of Habitat history, HFHC resources, board roles and responsibilities, and how to stay motivated as a board member. In addition, board members will have the opportunity to network and share best practices with other affiliates. To receive a registration form for this event please email karen@habitatcolorado.org or ryan@habitatcolorado.org. Registration forms are due August 22. |
Flatirons Habitat Thrift Store Featured in Westword blog!
The Flatirons Habitat Thrift Store was featured on Westword magazine's website on July 25th as the first installment of Westword blogger TaRosa Jacobs' "You Should Thrift Here" blog.
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Want to Pay Less for Fuel for Your Affiliate Vehicles?
ConocoPhilips has two payment options that stand to help non-profits save money on fuel purchases. The first option is to apply for a fleet card for your affiliate vehicle(s). With your sales tax-exempt status, your affiliate will be credited on a monthly basis all sales taxes charged on fuel purchased with the fleet card. According to Coloradogasprices.com your affiliate could save $.40/gallon on regular and almost $.45/gallon on diesel. Click here for the fleet card application page. The other option is to purchase gasoline certificates at a 2% discount. These work like gift certificates and regular shipping is free. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page for the application form. |
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 August Building Block for Success:
Building Blocks for Success are adapted from HFHI's Quality Assurance Checklist and are intended to help your affiliate meet organizational development standards.
Section 3: Governance
Habitat affiliates are governed by a board of locally elected volunteers who are committed to the affiliate's mission, determine policies and procedures, and monitor the affiliate's financial and programmatic performance.
Board and Committees
C. Affiliate has functional board committees (such as Executive, Personnel, Finance and Nominating).
Rationale:
Good governance is necessary for a sustainable healthy affiliate. Functional board committees ensure consistency and proper oversight in key areas of affiliate governance.
Supporting Resource(s):
Board Committees Explained
Self-Evaluation: (if your answer is yes, you meet the standard)
1). Does your affiliate have operating Board committees? |
Fun Fund and Friendraising Ideas
Raise Money by Working Concessions at Invesco Field
Centerplate, Invesco Field's general concessionaire, can help your affiliate raise money while enjoying the atmosphere of professional sporting events, concerts, and other events. They have a concession stand operations program where non-profits can recruit volunteers to work concession stands for their organization.
Your affiliate will receive a portion of the gross sales, less sales tax, of the stand you or your volunteers work. The current commission rate is 12%. Each stand requires a minimum of 10 people to operate and the larger stand you operate with more volunteers, the more your affiliate can make (average of $500-$2500 per event).
Please contact Centerplate at 720-258-3574 for more information or Ryan at HFHC at 303-454-8965 x3 for an application. | |
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Homeowners Insurance Transfer Notice From CHFA
As some affiliates have expressed concern about their exposure to property loss during the mortgage purchase process with CHFA, we would like to notify affiliates involved in the program of the typical procedures for transferring hazard insurance.
First, at closing, the hazard insurance certificate should have a clause in the name of the Affiliate and its successors and assignees. This helps protect CHFA in the event of a loss to the property during the mortgage sale process.
Second, most lenders transfer the insurance to CHFA prior to sending it to CHFA. If you are worried about your affiliate's exposure during the time between sending the mortgage and approval of the sale if you transferred the policy prior to approval, you are protected by HFHC's mortgage purchase agreement with CHFA. The agreement states that should a loss occur during the time between sending the mortgage and approval, CHFA must send the proceeds of an insurance claim directly to the affiliate.
Make sure to transfer hazard insurance to CHFA's new insurance servicing address:
CHFA ISAOA
PO Box 391125
Solon, OH 44139
If you choose, you can transfer the insurance policy after approval of the sale from CHFA by including the current declaration page in your affiliate's name and successors and assignees with a copy of the transfer letter you will send to the insurance company. This requires an extra step, however, as you must contact the insurance company after the sale to transfer the policy and send a copy to CHFA of the new declarations page. | |
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HFHC Recruiting for Board Committees
A part of HFHC's recent board restructuring is a commitment to enhance board committees. HFHC is currently seeking interested individuals willing to serve on one or multiple volunteer board committees. We encourage affiliate staff and volunteers, HFHC partners, and community members at large interested in combating sub-standard housing to join our committees.
Here are brief descriptions of the committees we are recruiting for:
Finance Committee - Reviews and oversees of HFHC's yearly budget, as well as implement and administer financial policies.
Government Relations Committee - Guides HFHC's government relations and advocacy programs.
Resource Development Committee - Guides HFHC's fundraising, capacity building, and resource allocation to affiliates. Also charged with responsibility for public and media relations programs.
Strategic Planning Committee - Coordinates the organization's strategic plan and future goals.
If you are interested in serving on a committee, please contact Karen Kallenberg at 303-454-8965 x4 or karen@habitatcolorado.org for more information. |
 Join JVA for a Development Director Intensive and Executive Director Academy
By Shane Hager, JVA
The Development Director Intensive is the perfect professional development opportunity for the new development director as well as for someone in grantwriting or events who wants to move up. This new three-day series will cover core resource development concepts and strategies as well as tackle critical details needed to help both you and your organization raise more money.
JVA is also back with its third seven-week Executive Director Academy. The Academy-an intensive course for prospective, new and learning executive directors-includes sessions on management, governance, fundraising, finances, marketing, grantwriting, evaluation and more, all tailored to executive directors.
For additional details, visit www.jvaconsulting.com. The Development Director Intensive begins September 17, and the Executive Director Academy launches September 18. Enrollment is limited, so don't miss either one of these great opportunities! | |
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Training Calendar
For a complete list of training opportunities available across the state visit our website www.habitatcolorado.org
 NEW!!! Board of Directors Training
September 6 Lakewood 10 am- 5 pm
September 13 Durango 10 am- 5 pm
Registration was sent to each affiliate. For more information email karen@habitatcolorado.org.
Cost $25 per board member (scholarships available).
Habitat of Colorado is partnering with Rich Male & Associates to bring high quality training to Affiliates' Board of Directors. The training will not replace local affiliate orientation and training, but will supplement the training and will help to further emphasize the importance of the role of Board of Directors. This training is specifically geared towards boards.
Get Comfortable with Public Speaking
August 14
Denver
1- 4 pm
Hosted by Community Resource Center
Click here for more information.
Is Creating Sustainable Revenue Right for your NP?
August 19
Westminster
1-5 pm
Hosted by Community Resource Center
Click here for more information.
Development Director Intensive
Starts September 17
Denver
Hosted by JVA Consulting
Click here for more information.
Executive Director Academy
Starts September 18
Denver
Hosted by JVA Consulting
Click here for more information.
Community Engagement: Foundations of Advocacy
Positive relationships with reporters, neighborhoods and business associations don't just make for a smooth transition for homeowners, but for effective channels for advocacy as well. Learn how other organizations are engaging their community and share what you have found to be effective.
October 2008
Possible locations: Gunnison or Western Slope
Hosted by HFHC
Upcoming Networking Opportunities
ReStore Networking Meeting- Northern Colorado
August 26 at 2 pm
HFH of St.Vrain's ReStore
For more information contact ryan@habitatcolorado.org
Interested in hosting a networking event in your local area? Contact Karen at karen@habitatcolorado.org. | | |
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