Volume 1, Issue 4

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NOVEMBER 2011

Volume 1, Issue 4

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ACHANGE’S

MISSION:

To collectively promote

quality affordable housing

and community economic

development in Arkansas.

IN THIS MONTH’S

ISSUE

3 Time for ACHANGE!

4 Chairman’s Corner

5 Principles of Community

Development

6 “Money, Messaging and

More”

7 Federal & Partner News

8 Member News

9 Words and Pictures

10 2012 Meeting Schedule/

Resources

11 Executive Committee/Poll/

Contact Info

This issue is dedicated to a long-time friend of

ACHANGE, Lyn Haralson. Lyn is now making the world

a safer place for consumers at the Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau. We miss you, Lyn!

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TIME FOR ACHANGE!

Welcome to the new ACHANGE newsletter. I think that this new

format will provide us with the opportunity to share more information,

and in an exciting format.

There are more changes on the horizon designed to allow us to reach

out more efficiently and effectively than ever. ACHANGE is all about

advocacy, training and providing networking opportunities for those who believe that “affordable

housing” is a vital component of the state’s overall economic development.

The work that the members of ACHANGE do is important, and with organizations facing

additional federal funding cuts, having a collective voice becomes even more important to any

organization providing homebuyer education, counseling and any kind of development. If you

know anyone who should be a member of ACHANGE, let’s make it happen!

Lastly, ACHANGE is working with Housing Arkansas to secure funding for the Arkansas

Housing Trust Fund. Use the four messages developed by Housing Arkansas to spread the

word. Children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and hardworking Arkansans all over the state

will benefit from our efforts! If you need more information or training on how to use these

messages, contact me or Housing Arkansas.

Change is all around us, and for those persons who want to really make a difference in the lives

of individuals, communities and the state, it’s “Time for ACHANGE”!

Debra Banks

Program Manager

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! May it be filled with food, family and fun!

Volume 1, Issue 4

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CHAIRMAN’S CORNER

COLLECTIVELY SUPPORTING THE

ARKANSAS HOUSING TRUST FUND

Thousands of children in Arkansas live in extremely substandard

housing conditions. I have personally seen children living in homes

without adequate plumbing, extremely unsafe wiring, without access

to cooling or heating, and unhealthy atmospheres full of mold and/

or lead. Every child deserves a safe place to call home.

The agency I am employed with is currently trying to assist a family of 8 who live in these unsafe

housing conditions. I personally spoke to two teenage girls who are in the home and they talked

about how they are always sick and it "must be" the mold. The youngest boy in the home has

cancer that is currently in remission. The girls spoke about how their baby brother, Brian, gets

so sick at times and has dark circles around his eyes. The thought of this boy having to live his

life in such conditions saddens me. The grandparents have done all they can to improve the

home including overpaying a subcontractor to do work who never completed it and overcharged

them.

It is our job to be the collective voice who tells the story of these who have no podium.

ACHANGE through a grant from Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has been able to help

fund the message development polling activities that Housing Arkansas recently conducted. The

work that Housing Arkansas did tells us the most effective way to tell our stories. The message is

true and worth telling. Join with me to be the collective voice for those who, alone, cannot be

heard.

Karen Phillips

ACHANGE Board President

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

PRINCIPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE:

Pt. 3: Bring Diverse Interests Together

The third component of the Community Development Principles of Good Practice is to

"Incorporate the diverse interests and cultures of the community in the community development

process; and disengage from support of any effort that is likely to adversely affect the disadvan-

taged members of a community."

Many efforts do a great deal to promote the diverse interests of a community - everything from

cultural events to festivals that celebrate an area product (crawfish, anyone?). Those are positive

endeavors that can create goodwill within a community. Housing development can have a

positive effect on a community as well, but the development should not have a negative impact

on the residents of that community. Therefore, developers have to always keep the ‘big picture”

in mind.

The process of gentrification often prices residents with lower incomes out of neighborhoods

that they previously called home. It is doubtful that many affordable housing providers would

support an effort that would negatively impact the persons who receive assistance from those

providers. Embrace the diverse aspects of a community. Build dwellings that reflect the character

of a neighborhood; the nice thing about affordable housing providers is that the residents can

afford to live there.

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“MONEY, MESSAGING AND MORE”

The November General Member’s Meeting was much more than a meeting. Attendees were

treated to a great meal prepared by Two Sisters Catering, two informative training sessions—and

an impromptu photo shoot.

The AEDC Energy Office conducted a presentation that highlighted energy assistance programs

and the new energy code. Thank you to Scott Hamilton, Sara Telano and Evan Brown for an

informative session. If you missed the presentation, you can view a copy of the video by clicking

here.

Karen Phillips and George Holcomb trained members on “Building Support for Housing:

Tools to Reframe the Debate”. This presentation highlighted how best to use Housing Arkan-

sas’ four messages to advocate for funding the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund. If you missed this

training, there will be more sessions conducted. You may also request a session by contacting

ACHANGE at 501-766-3941.

Finally, ACHANGE members and friends gathered to take part in the “Thanks in Three

Words” promotion being conducted by KATV Channel 7. On Monday, November 14, 2011,

ACHANGE was one of three photos featured in that segment. To view the segment, click here.

ACHANGE’s “Thanks in Three Words”: Safe, Affordable Housing

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FEDERAL NEWS

On November 17, the House passed H.R.

2112, a HUD Appropriations Bill. Under the

final version of the bill, the FY 2012 Transpor-

tation, Housing and Urban Development

Appropriations Bill, the following funding levels

are included:

3.4% increase for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance contract renewals

1% increase in Project-Based Rental Assistance

38% decrease in the HOME Investment Partnerships Program

11.6% decrease for the Community Development Block Grant Program

8% decrease in the Public Housing Capital Fund

14% decrease for the Public Housing Operating fund

For a more detailed view of the specific numbers, visit these sites:

National Low Income Housing Coalition

Enterprise Community Partners

PARTNER NEWS

NACEDA forms Southern Caucus. NACEDA, the National

Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations has

formed two caucuses recently as a way of establishing closer relation-

ships among state housing associations. ACHANGE is a member of the Southern Caucus.

The caucus will meet periodically to discuss issues like the Housing Trust Fund.

ACE’s Executive Director, Hunter Goodman, is

leaving to pursue a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies.

The ACE Executive Director Search Committee is

looking for a candidate to fill this vital position.

Interested applicants can read the job description

and application information at www.acenonprofit.org.

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MEMBER NEWS!!!

DUES INCREASE!

Beginning January 1, 2012, ACHANGE membership

dues will increase from $50 annually to $100 annually.

This is the first increase in dues since ACHANGE

began in 2004. The dues increase will assist with

funding the work of ACHANGE.

NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS

NEW MEMBERS

Mississippi County Economic Opportunity Commission, Inc., Blytheville

Arvest Bank, Little Rock

Delta Community Development and Law Center, Inc., Little Rock

RENEWING MEMBERS

Housing Harrison, Harrison

Urban Impact Affiliated Ministries, Little Rock

ARGENTA CDC NAMES NEW DIRECTOR

Argenta CDC has named Mary Beth Bowen, as the new

Executive Director. Before taking this position, Ms.

Bowen was Director of the Community Development

Agency of the City of North Little Rock. Welcome to

the ACHANGE family!

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ACHANGE IN WORDS & PICTURES

Lyn Haralson receives a Leadership Award from

ACHANGE Board members Martie North and

Barrett Allen.

ACHANGE’s “Keep Arkansas Home”

foreclosure prevention events were made

possible with the assistance of GMAC and

Bank of America.

Education and Training Committee Chair

Roma Isom presents Ruth Jones of Better

Community Developers with a Loss Mitigation

award.

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2012 MEETING SCHEDULE

MEMBER RESOURCES

Legal Guide for Arkansas Nonprofit and Volunteer Associations –

great resource for training of boards, directors and staff. Covers

liability, financial management, joint ventures, conflict of interest,

bylaws, and Arkansas statutes.

For more resources, visit the ACHANGE Resource page by clicking

here.

__________________

Visited the Member’s Forum lately? Now, you can post topics for

discussion. Get a discussion started today! If you need password

assistance, just email Debra at dbanks@achange.org.

GENERAL MEMBERS MEETINGS

2/14/2012

4/10/2012

6/12/2012

8/14/2012

10/9/2012

12/11/2012

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ACHANGE Executive Committee

Board Chairman—Karen Phillips

1st Vice Chairman—Barrett Allen

2nd Vice Chairman—George Holcomb

Secretary— Frances Newsome

Treasurer—Cathy Carlock

Associate At-Large Board Member—Martie North

At-Large Board Member—Darryl Swinton

Committee Chairs

Education and Training Committee Chairman—Roma Isom

Finance Committee Chairman—Cathy Carlock

Membership & Marketing Committee Chairman—George Holcomb

Public Policy Committee Chairman—Darryl Swinton

Resource Development Chairman—Charles Vann

Ad-hoc Committee Chairman—Martie North

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short poll and cast your vote today! Click here!

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401 Main Street, Suite 206

North Little Rock, AR 72114