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Opportunity in Vacancy

Tuesday, November 13, 2018
In This Issue: Election Results—Affordable Housing Was On the Ballot ● Five Ways to Improve Local Housing Policy ● How Teeth Affect Housing Stability ● Opportunity in Vacancy ● Also: Jobs ● Shelter Shorts ● Events ● You Said It! +
Miriam Axel-Lute, Shelterforce
Thinking of abandoned properties as merely problems we wish would go away feeds into some of the less productive ways vacant properties have been handled. Read Full Editor's Note
Dennis Keating, Cleveland State University
Voters nationwide supported funding for affordable housing as state and local governments try to address the problem in the absence of a federal response. Read Full Article
Shelterforce Staff
Midterm Election's Effect on Policy | Renters Are Worse Off | Amazon Splits the Damage | Veteran Homelessness Down | Newark's Water Problem | And More Quick Takes From Our Editors
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Jeffrey Lubell, Abt Associates
Local policies play a role in addressing the growing problem of high housing costs. This guide can help simplify the complex landscape of housing policy. Read Full Article
Stacie Birchett, Better Housing Coalition
Maintaining good health—including good oral health—as long as possible is a critical component of aging in place. Read Full Article
Events

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m. ET | Setting the Table: Developing Partnerships & Shared Values Webinar | How do you set common goals early on and create a shared vision for your creative placemaking project with local partners? Webinar attendees will learn how to define relationships, roles, and responsibilities when embarking on a creative placemaking project. Julie Garreau, executive director of Cheyenne River Youth Project and NEA Our Town Recipient, will share the process she uses. First in a series of six “how to” webinars presented by LISC, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Kresge Foundation.  
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m. ET | Grounded Solutions Network E-learning Series: Building Effective Lending Partnerships with Freddie Mac’s New Mortgage Offering | Effective Nov. 5, Freddie Mac started purchasing Community Land Trust (CLT) mortgages, and lenders now have a simpler option to support CLT programs across the country. Come to learn how you can leverage this new resource to build effective lending partnerships. This intermediate-level session is for municipal and nonprofit practitioners who work with lenders and homebuyers. Participants should have a working knowledge of the mortgage application and approval process.
Request for Comment

Comment Period Ends Soon! | Reforming the Community Reinvestment Act | The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is taking comments on changing CRA rules. The National Community Reinvestment Coalition has compiled resources and information at #TreasureCRA to help your organization weigh in before the comment period ends on Nov. 19.
You Said It!

Frankly, both “sides” here have a piece of the puzzle but are ignoring the forest for the trees. Cohen takes issue with the idea that inclusionary zoning should be done away with and denies that filtering works. The market YIMBY folks like you on the other hand decry that supply is being constrained by both draconian single-family zoning and inclusionary zoning. The reality is a mix. Inclusionary zoning is necessary as without it there wouldn’t be… —Sai Chimata, more

Actually, Zuk and Chapple write [what] seems to be precisely the opposite of what you claim. … I agree that rent control might not create housing shortages if it is combined with a “massive boom in public housing construction.” But since the same progressives who want to spend more money on that also want to spend money on lots of things that are more politically popular, I doubt that this will occur in our lifetimes, EVEN IF… —Michael Lewyn, more

Author Reply
Your work, and others’, has tried to argue that gentrification doesn’t really cause displacement. Many of these studies have been flawed. … What Zuk and Chapple’s study was designed to show — which it does effectively — is that subsidized housing is much more protective than market-rate production. I think… —Amee Chew, more

One of the solutions to the housing crisis is a living wage. That is a very fixable problem. —Kathryn Vast

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Jobs
Equitable Developent Policy Analyst InterIm CDA is seeking an individual to lead the organization’s policy, planning, and advocacy efforts to address displacement and housing issues impacting low-income, Asian and Pacific Islander, immigrant, and refugee communities in Seattle’s International District and beyond. This person will bring technical expertise in planning, policy, housing, and… Read Full Listing
Program Specialist, National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative ● The person in this role will create, strategize, execute, and monitor SAGE’s National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative. This highly qualified individual will deepen SAGE’s relationships with existing housing partners, provide technical assistance to those across the country that are seeking to build/develop their own LGBT-friendly elder housing, and… Read Full Listing
Executive Director, Invest STL ● The chosen candidate will be known for the ability and commitment to advocate for and facilitate community development and revitalization in a challenging urban context involving an economically disadvantaged population. They will have a track record of building and leveraging relationships within and among a diverse group of… Read Full Listing
Homeownership Program Director ● The person in this role will direct all operations of Asheville Area Habitat’s homeownership programs including outreach and selection, homebuyer education, mortgage origination, underwriting, post-closing support, and portfolio management. This position is a member of the staff leadership team and provides collaborative leadership to achieve… Read Full Listing
President ● NCCLF seeks a president who is committed to building financially strong and culturally vibrant communities. The successful candidate—a stellar communicator—will provide strong, credible, innovative leadership both inside and outside the organization, and will engage directly with marginalized communities in accordance with our commitment to… Read Full Listing
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Shelterforce began in 1975 and is the oldest, national, independent, nonprofit community development publication in America. Whether you provide or support affordable housing, economic or workforce development, community organizing, arts and culture, community planning, health, or transportation, Shelterforce will help you do your work better tomorrow than yesterday.