| Maryland Asset Building and Community Development Network Newsletter March 14, 2008 |
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Thank You, Testifiers!
Many, many thanks to:
Denise Budnitz, Habitat for Humanity Maryland
Kelly Cartales, Enterprise Community Partners
Barbara Hallowell, Interfaith Housing Alliance
Kelly Little, Druid Heights Community Development Corporation
Duane Yoder and Cherie Ross, Garrett County Community Action Committee
You did a masterful job of testifying along with Karen on behalf of all nonprofits building affordable housing. Through your efforts, we hope the requirement to hire outside real estate agents working under a broker in order to sell new homes will be waived for such nonprofits. Thank you for taking two days of your time - so far - and helping advocate on behalf of the Network! |
The Poor Amid Plenty
From an article in this past Sunday's Sun
The statistics are eye-opening - if not startling.
In Maryland, one of the most affluent states in the nation, significant swaths of poverty endure in urban and rural areas, among families and children. In Baltimore, 22.2 percent of residents live in poverty, new Census Bureau estimates show. To the east in Somerset County, the figure is 20.1 percent. And to the west in Alleganty County, 15 percent of the residents live in poverty.
In a state where life for most residents has improved, those on the lowest rungs remain stuck. Their situation is made more difficult by Maryland's high cost of living, as well as by a lack of adequate programs for job training and adult education, those who advocate for the poor say.
"There are very troubling, persistent pocket of poverty, and it's not just Baltimore City, which is the common stereotype," said Sean Dobson, executive director of Porgressive Maryland. "If you look at Maryland over time, we stack up well compared to other states, but compared to 1999 or 2000, the average person is definately worse off and the poorest among us are significantly worse so. We can certainly do more."
For the complete article click here.
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FINRA Investor Education Foundation Invites Applications for Financial Education Programs
Deadline: April 11, 2008; and July 12, 2008 (Project Concept Forms)
Through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and its grant program, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (formerly the NASD Investor Education Foundation) funds research and/or educational projects that support its mission of providing underserved Americans with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary for financial success throughout life.
In 2008, the foundation is especially interested in applications
that focus on the following areas: new marketing and distrib-
ution channels for financial and investor education; helping
Americans manage their finances and investments in retirement;
meeting the financial and investor education needs of underserved audiences; and using behavioral finance to improve saving and investing.
The FINRA Foundation places a high priority on reaching and
engaging a well-defined target audience, and encourages collaboration and partnerships that facilitate effective marketing and distribution efforts. Successful education projects will have
measurable impact and reach large audiences in a cost-effective
manner. Preference will be given to projects that can be repli-
cated and sustained beyond the term of grant funding. For
research projects, the foundation is especially interested in
work that has practical applications in the financial and
investor education field.
There is no set minimum or maximum grant amount. In considering grant requests, the merits of the proposed work are the primary focus.For complete grant application guidelines and summaries of funded projects, see the foundation's Web site.
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Enterprise Community Partners Accepting Applications for Jim
and Patty Rouse Award
Deadline: April 18, 2008
Established in 2002 to honor Enterprise Community Partners' founders, the Jim and Patty Rouse Award celebrates the important work being done by community-based and regional nonprofit organizations and eligible Tribal entities that engage in affordable housing development and comprehensive community revitalization.
An award of $10,000 (in unrestricted funds) will be presented to
a member of the Enterprise Network who develops and provides quality affordable housing and has a strong record of strategic planning and community building and excellent resident and community services. The winner also receives publicity via a press release and case study, and a free registration to the Enterprise Community Conference this November in Baltimore, Maryland.
Applying organizations must be a member of the Enterprise Net-
work, must be financially sound, and must have a proven track
record of housing development and other community services.
Visit the Enterprise Community Partners Web site for application
guidelines and information on joining the Enterprise Network.
RFP Link |
Celebrating Forty Years of Fair Housing:
A Response to the Foreclosoure Crisis
When: Friday, April 18m 2008
9 am to 12:30 pm
Where: War Memorial Building
101 N. Gay Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
To register: HUD Registration Link
For more information, email Lorraine Richardson, or call 410-209-6636
Presented by the Baltimore Regional Fair Housing Workgroup
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Baltimore Office
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
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HAND Housing Achievment Awards
MARCH
21: *DEADLINE* Applications for the 2008 HAND Housing Achievement
Awards are due. There are ten award categories, including two new
awards for Best Government Project or Program and Best Community
Development Program. The application is a simple, one page narrative;
there is no cost to enter, but only current HAND members may apply.
Make time to nominate yourself on a job well done. For the complete
guidelines and entry form, please visit HAND Award Guidelines |
Montgomery County Affordable Housing Conference
"Affordable Housing in Crisis: Revitalizing the Mission, Seeking Solutions"
April 4, 2008
8 am to 2:30 pm
Bethesda North Marriott
Registration is $70 per person before March 31, $75 after the 31st, and
covers conference materials, access to all panels and the exhibit
gallery, and lunch.
To register click here.
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Montgomery County Housing Task Force Draft Report Circulating According to The Washington Post, a draft report has been circulated by an affordable housing task force. The report recommends sweeping changes in the county's approach, including new loans for homebuyers, subsidies for county employees, more apartments in private homes and taller buildings with more units. It also recommends speeding up regulatory review of new affordable housing, and eliminating some fees. It raises fees on non-affordable commercial buildings. The county has depended on the MPDU program in the past, but it has fallen short of its goals. Top read the full article, link to article.
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Meyer Foundation Exponent Award
The Meyer Foundation's Exponent Award recognizes strong and effective nonprofit leaders with a track record of accomplishment who have the potential for future growth and development. Intended for mid-career executives who may be in danger of burnout or who would benefit from a leadership development grant to take their skills and organization to a new level, the Exponent Award will honor up to five leaders each year. Organizations of award recipients receive a grant of $100,000 over two years to be used for leadership development.
NOMINATION PROCESS FOR 2008 EXPONENT AWARD
Eligibility: To qualify for the exponent award, nominees must:
· Be the chief executive officer (executive director or president) of an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has received at least two grants from the Meyer Foundation since January 1, 2004
· Have served in their current position for a minimum of three years but not more than 10 years.
Process: Candidates must be nominated by a letter from a board member, colleague, grantmaker, or other community leader. Meyer Foundation staff will review nominations and the Foundation's Board of Directors will select the award recipients.
Deadline: April 7, 2008
For more information, go to the Meyer Foundation website.
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"Section Eight Voucher Reform Act of 2008" Introduced in the Senate
On March 3, 2008, Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), Chair of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, with four co-sponsors, introduced the "Section Eight Voucher Reform Act of 2008 as S. 2684. The bill is directed primarily to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, but also modifies 1937 Housing Act provisions relating to household rents and recertifications that are applicable as well to Section 8 project-based programs and to public housing.
The four original cosponsors are Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). During introduction of the bill, Senator Dodd said, "While housing vouchers are a critical tool, the program needs to be updated so that additional families can benefit, and so that taxpayer dollars are spent more efficiently. The voucher reform bill that I am introducing today will help attract additional private landlords, reduce administrative burdens, and help more families achieve self-sufficiency." |
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The Maryland Asset Building and Community Development Network
Ensuring strong and stable asset building & community development organizations
through education, networking, and advocacy.
P.O. Box 1853, Sykesville, MD 21784 Karen Blandford, Network Coordinator
karen@theblandfordgroup.com
410-795-1633
To subscribe to this newsletter email Karen here
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