May-June 2020…………………………………………………………………………………………………..Volume 8, Issue 3

In the

News

‘Shake that tree’ Housing Summit speaker suggests towns innovate

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

Tri-State Housing Summit keynote speaker Deb Brown, right, offers tips on how smaller communities can distinguish themselves and create eco-nomic opportunities. The 15th annual event was held June 11th at the Y Men’s Pavilion in Hannibal.

Deb Brown believes an avoidance of pessimism and a wealth of creative passion can help restore vibrancy to small towns. The nationally-known speaker delivered the keynote address to 50 business people, government leaders and community representatives during the June 11th Tri-State Housing Summit in Hannibal. The 15th annual event was hosted by NECAC, Two Rivers Regional Council of Quincy, Ill., the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission of Burlington, Tri-State Development Summit and NeighborWorks America of Wash-ington, D.C. Audience size was limited due to COVID-19. Brown says the days of waiting for a big company to come in and provide an abundance of jobs are long gone. She urges towns to gather ideas, think of unconventional opportunities, bring aboard local people and move forward slowly but surely with efforts that have broad appeal. “Focus relentlessly on being such a great place for your own people that others can’t help wanting to be part of it,” Brown said. “Shake that tree.”

Please see Summit, Page 2

Rural housing assessment will catalogue area needs

NECAC is doing a housing assessment of cities and towns in nine counties with the goal of providing a road map communi-ties can use to identify and address needs. The Rural Housing Readiness Assessment will target commu-nities that want to address current housing issues and ensure residents have access to safe, affordable and quality homes. NECAC is sending packets with information to leaders in each community in Lewis, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Montgom-ery, Pike, Ralls, Randolph and Shelby counties. The assessment is free. “Studies like this usually cost communities a lot of money,” said NECAC Deputy Director for Housing Development Pro-grams Carla Potts. “So, what we’re going to do is provide them with information on where they are now, identify any gaps and highlight public and private programs that can bridge those gaps.” The assessment is funded by a $25,000 grant from Neighbor-Works America, a Congressionally-chartered and funded not-for-profit organization that helps communities with develop-

Please see Assessment, Page 2

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

Back to ‘normal’ NECAC Administrative Assistant Heather Burnett staffs the front desk at the Lincoln County Service Center in Troy. The agency re-opened its facilities to the public in early May using federal and state precautions following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summit offers review of innovations in Tri-States Continued from Page 1

Two groups that Brown urges commu-nities to focus upon are the elderly and millennials. She cited statistics that show many seniors and young families are escaping the cities for a slower-paced life. “Seniors over 65 are not just moving to your town to die,” Brown said. “They want something to do.” The uncomplicated approach usually works best, Brown advises. Improve-ments can be as simple as decorating the windows of abandoned storefronts, planting a community garden or creating an outdoor museum of antique machin-ery. “It’s always about what your customer, your community or co-workers are inter-ested in,” she said. Obstacles such as financial resources, ordinance guidelines and indifference can be overcome, Brown assured. She says that if a proposed project “goes against the city code, change the city code” and that “when you don’t have enough money, you take your time and do it, anyway.” As for the naysayers, Brown offered a reminder of an old truth. “You can’t lose people who were nev-er yours,” she said. “Ignore them. Pay them no nevermind.” One additional tip in the digital age focuses upon what Brown calls “selfie-worthy.” She pointed to Brandon, Iowa, a town of 300 people which attracts tour-ists with a nine-foot-three-inch frying pan that was built in 2004 to promote a community breakfast. NECAC President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick told the crowd that the regional approach to housing and

economic development issues continues to produce success. “Our Tri-State work and efforts are recognized across the country for being on the forefront of housing opportunity,” Patrick said. Other speakers echoed the sentiment. “Look at all the great things we’ve done,” said Mayor James Hark. “Look at all of the great things that have hap-pened. But there’s still more work to do. We’ve always got to strive to keep im-proving, strive to better ourselves and better the lives of those people in our community.” “It takes a real regional partnership,” said Marcel Wagner, executive director of the Great River Economic Develop-ment Foundation of Quincy and a partner with the Tri-State Development Summit. “I think one of the things that’s most impressive is that there are very, very few places in the United States that have 36 counties in three states that come to-gether for mutual benefit.” Mike Norris, executive director of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Com-mission, could not attend due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, but sent along comments to be read. “Housing is truly an area of our lives that elicits powerful emotions, none more so than the feeling of home – a home that gives a family safety, shelter, a respite from the outside world, and the chance to express their own creativity and individuality. It’s a cornerstone of our existence.” Other speakers included Garry Preston, a formerly homeless man who was as-sisted by NECAC and now has an apart-ment; Jerry Gille, executive director of

the Quincy Housing Authority, who dis-cussed the agency’s $17 million effort to renovate and build new apartments; City of Quincy Director of Planning and De-velopment Chuck Bevelheimer, who provided information on the construction of five tiny homes as part of the Tri-State Veterans Community Village project; Elaine Davis, coordinator of the rental housing support program at Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials, who updated the agency’s housing ef-forts; and Lincoln County Economic Development Director Julie Rodgers on the Connections to Success program and the effort with NECAC to build small homes at the Lincoln County Jail in Troy.

-opment efforts. NECAC has been a chartered member of NeighborWorks since 2004. NECAC will tally the assessment answers. The project could take six months. Communities will be asked about recent housing studies, existing codes and ordinances, vacant lots and buildings, new home construction, rehabilitation of existing houses, ownership programs that are offered lo-cally, infrastructure support, civic participation and programs for special needs populations such as seniors and veterans. “Once we’re done, we’ll have a picture of every community in Northeast Missouri,” Potts said. “We’ll have a better handle on what the housing needs are. We will provide that information to our cities and towns and let them decide how they want to proceed. NECAC will be there to offer support and information about how communities can apply for funding.”

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

Garry Preston of Lewis County told his story at the Tri-State Housing Summit. After working all his life, circumstances led to the disabled man and his six children becoming homeless. NECAC was able to find the family an apart-ment. “They helped me,” Preston said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for NECAC..”

Assessment will help identify housing needs

Continued from Page 1

Homeownership efforts proceed even during COVID-19 pandemic

Homeownership Programs Director Cheryl–Ann Phillips

Despite COVID-19, NECAC is still getting calls and working with people who want to become homeowners. The pandemic hasn’t seemed to slow applications. The agency offers a variety of homeownership and rehabilitation programs through partnerships with public and private partners. “Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases people will ever make and with the coronavirus adding stress to the decision, we want people to know they can count on NECAC to help them through the process,” said NECAC Homeownership Programs Director Cheryl-Ann Phillips. “Our trained staff will helps clients avoid potential prob-lems. We walk people through the pro-cess and make sure they understand it.”

Scaled-back Community Action Month receptions held Due to the coronavirus pandemic, NECAC held abbreviated Community Action Month receptions at its service centers during May.

Lewis County Board Member Travis Fleer, Lewis County Service Coordinator Judy Eaton, Board Member Paul Kinney, Chief Deputy Direc-tor Dan Page, Board Member Kim Darnell, President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick and County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz.

Lincoln County Deputy Director for County Services Programs Janie Rob-inson, Board Member Jere Burkemper, Lincoln County Service Coordinator Janice Allan, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, Board Member Curtissa Kerr-Hunter, Adminis-trative Assistant Heather Burnett, and President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick.

Macon County President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick, Board Member Jean Jones, Macon County Service Coordinator Terri Laughlin, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, Board Member Mickey Shipp and Deputy Director for Community Services Programs Janice Robinson.

Marion County County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, County Service Coordinator Gwen Koch, Board Member Roy Hark and Board Member Larry Welch.

Monroe County Deputy Director for Community Services Pro-grams Janice Robinson, Board Member Mike Whelan, Board Member Maxine Jones, County Service Coordinator Maggie Middleton, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, Board Member Peggy Hultz and President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick.

Montgomery County MIS Administrator Kathy Block, County Service Coordinator Patsy Cox, Board Member Jane Dorlac, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz and President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick.

Pike County Deputy Director for Community Services Programs Janice Robinson, Board Member D. Randall Cone, County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, Board Member Curt Mitch-ell and President and Chief Executive Officer Don Pat-rick.

Ralls County Board Member John Lake, Board Member Ja-net Hoyt, County Service Coordinator Miranda Anderson, County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz and Chief Deputy Director Dan Page.

Randolph County Deputy Director for Community Ser-vices Programs Janice Robinson, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, County Service Coordinator Patsy Redding, Board Member Lorna Miles and Presi-dent and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick.

Shelby County Board Member Glenn Eagan, County Service Coor-dinator Lisa Blickhan, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz, Board Member Troy Dawkins, Board Mem-ber Mary Kraichely and President and Chief Execu-tive Officer Don Patrick.

St. Charles County Board Member Mary Hutchison, Board Member Mike Bridgins, Board Member Diane Hileman, County Service Coordinator Cheryl Clerkley, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page and Deputy Director for Community Services Programs Janice Robison.

Warren County President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick, Chairman of the Board Fred Vahle, Chief Deputy Director Dan Page, County Service Coordinator Desiree Antoniou, Board Member Cheryl Wisdom and Deputy Director for Community Services Programs Janice Robinson.

Fred Vahle, Chairman of

the Board Return Service Requested

Don Patrick, President &

CEO

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

NECAC is contractually required to publish the following: “This program is funded 100% at $100 by $1,084,234 with federal funds received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Community Services Block Grant, as provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division. The funds received from the Family Support Division are all federally funded.”

Cheryl-Ann Phillips Promoted to Homeownership

Programs Director

Moratorium put on rent-assistance apps

NECAC has stopped taking applica-tions for the Section 8 Housing Rent-Assistance Program. The moratorium could last a few months or even longer. The corona-virus pandemic has caused an increase in the number of voucher holders who have lost their jobs or been fur-loughed. That has triggered a decrease in amount participants pay and a rise in costs for the agency. “What this means is our cost per unit to administer the program goes up and we would eventually end up spending all or in excess of our fund-ing for the program,” said NECAC Section 8 Rent-Assistance Program Director Dianna Clair. “We were pro-jecting to call in applicants to receive vouchers every month this year and to not have to close the waiting lists. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we stopped calling in clients due to safety concerns for both them and staff. Our main focus is to help as many families as possible and affordable housing becomes scarcer every day.” People who already have rent-assistance vouchers through the agen-cy are not affected. NECAC contracts with the federal Department of Hous-ing and Urban Development to pro-vide about 2,400 vouchers in 12 Mis-souri counties. The agency’s budget for the program this year is almost $14.5 million. NECAC hopes to start taking applications again in the fall.

Della Yoder Promoted to Senior Compliance Officer

Chandra Roberts Returns as Pike County

Service Coordinator

John Sapp Returns as Emergency Services Coordinator

NECAC and its partners have teamed up on a couple of cool summer initia-tives. Ameren Missouri and Heat Up/Cool Down St. Louis donated a limited sup-ply of air conditioners for distribution to qualifying elderly and disabled cli-ents in NECAC’s 12 counties. In addition, NECAC is working with Ameren on the $3 million Clean Slate program to pay off outstanding utility bills of disadvantaged people affected by COVID-19. The one-time assistance is for income-qualifying Ameren customers. Clients must pay at least 25 percent of the bill before the rest is paid by Clean Slate and no funds will be allocated until a client receipt of payment has been re-ceived.

Chills and bills NECAC and partners team up for air conditioners and Clean Slate

By Brent Engel, Public Relations Officer

Emergency Services Coordinator John Sapp unloads donated air conditioners.