Since our last edition of Housing Matters we’ve had another snowfall and have more expected tonight here in the Triangle! It has been quite a real winter, though still nothing like they are experiencing in the Mid Atlantic and New England areas. Still, I know I will be glad when spring finally gets here, as will all of the families struggling with energy bills and poorly insulated housing.
Last week, we held our quarterly Board Meeting and I am excited to announce that we have added two new Board Members and elected new officers for the Coalition. Cindy Weeks, Mountain Housing Opportunities, and Robin Merrell, Pisgah Legal Services (both of Asheville), have joined our Board. Both bring a significant amount of experience in development and advocacy across the spectrum from homelessness to homeownership and we are looking forward to having them on the Board.
Ben Collins who has been serving as Treasurer for the Coalition has been elected Board Chair. Helen McInnis who had served as Chair for four years is stepping down, but will serve as Vice Chair until the fall to help Ben with the transition. Tony Portal, Reznick Group, joined the Board in November has been elected Treasurer. Other members of our Executive Committee include Ned Fowler, director of Northwest Regional Housing in Boone, Stephanie Workman of the Employment Security Commission in Lenoir, Jabrina Robinson of the Banks Law Firm in Durham, and Antoinette Kerr, director of the Lexington CDC in Lexington.
NC Housing News
Last week, we held our third Assets Policy Forum in partnership with the NC Assets Alliance. This event was hosted at the Winston-Salem Urban League and was led by former NCHC Board Member Dan Kornelis of the Forsyth County Housing Department. It was the best Forum yet with more than 40 folks in attendance and great energy and enthusiasm by everyone. Thanks to Dan for his great leadership and to our interns Jessica Parker and Alex Bidot for all of their work in making this such a successful event.
The Housing Coalition has been partnering with the Alliance to use these Forums as a way for us to hear from folks across the state about what is happening in their communities as well as to engage them in our state and federal advocacy efforts. I am proud to announce that I was elected to the Executive Committee of the Assets Alliance and look forward to even more work together in the future.
Our next event is tomorrow in Fayetteville (click here for more info) with another planned for next Friday in Asheville (click here for more information).
Thanks to Cindy Wiggins-Tiede of CICCAR for letting me carpool with her to the Palmetto State Affordable Housing Conference in Columbia. It was great to see so many folks who live in NC attend and to get to spend some time with staff and Board leaders from the SC Affordable Housing Coalition. As we are the largest Housing Coalition in our area, I am hopeful we can work more closely with our counterparts in SC, VA, and GA on housing advocacy. I also got some great ideas for our Annual Housing Conference that we have already started planning for September in Raleigh.
National Housing News
National Low Income Housing Coalition Policy Conference
Register Now for NLIHC’s Housing Policy Conference to be held April 11-14th at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC. Registration and hotel details are here.
HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan is confirmed as the keynote speaker. The conference will also feature many additional opportunities to engage with senior HUD officials. In addition, more than 30 plenary sessions and workshops are designed to bring you up-to-date on federal housing policy issues.
Please note that there are special rates available for residents of public and assisted housing, for members of resident groups, and for other people with low incomes. Please email outreach(at)nlihc.org for more information.
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Thanks for all that you do and your continued support.
Sincerely,
Chris Estes
Executive Director
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