11:58 PM
Julio Barreto
The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) is hosting a gathering of housing and community development professionals, academics, policy experts and government officials from the United Kingdom and the United States to discuss ideas and experiences on common housing and community development issues.
Dubbed the Tri-Country Conference, the bi-annual event is an invitation only forum where 25 representatives from the CHRA, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) from the United States and the Charter Institute of Housing (CIH) from the United Kingdom which allows individuals to discuss pressing issues facing housing and community development professionals in each country. This year’s conference will be held in Toronto October 15-17.
This year’s theme, “Creating a Modern Housing Policy: A Legacy for Tomorrow’s Leaders, will explore the demographic changes taking place in each country and the political and economic uncertainty affordable housing is experiencing in each country.
For the first time, the conference will include a one-day symposium on October 14 which is open to any one interested in attending. Dr. Anne Golden, President and CEO of the Conference Board of Canada, and Michael Geller, President of Michael Geller & Associates Limited, are the featured speakers of the one-day event.
The one day symposium will include a discussion on the state of housing in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New England. An afternoon session will follow which will explore how professionals can affect policy in their respective country to meet future housing needs and create greater opportunities for the populations in need. The symposium sessions will end with small group discussions.
The conference itself will include sessions which will explore issues such as the following:
• How governments have been able to engage other sectors of a community in building and managing affordable housing;
• How to engage youth into leadership positions in the housing profession;
• How innovative policy and financial tools can influence housing policy in a positive way; and,
• How to take what as been discussed and move forward.
The event will also feature various tours to various sites in Toronto which reflect the discussions and conference theme.
San Buenaventura Housing Authority Receives Standard and Poors Rating
Standard and Poor’s Ratings Service recently assigned an “A” issuer credit rating (ICR) to the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura in California.
The rating reflects S&P’s analysis of the agency’s strong operational performance, portfolio quality and financial management. The Housing Authority has 1,189 housing choice vouchers, 716 conventional public housing units and 59 non-public housing units.
The agency’s overall strengths included:
Interesting Reads
Housing and Community Development
Three Years after Hurricane, The Back Up is a Fixture
By Dan Barry, New York Times
From the Ground Up
With bank loans scarcer, a handful of Web sites help borrowers tap individuals for cash.
By Kim Hart
Washington Post Staff Writer
In Abandoned Homes, the Remnants of a Life
Firm Finds Bittersweet Niche in Cleaning Up After Foreclosures
By Ben Hubbard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Future Uncertain for Fannie, Freddie
Fox Business
U.S. Says Many Apartments Violate Law on Disabled
By Charles V. Bagli, New York Times
Breezy does it: Bloomberg Eyes Green Energy for NYC
By David Seifmen, New York Post
Campaign 2008
Blacks Debate Civil Rights Risk in Obama’s Rise
By Rachel L. Swarns, New York Times
With Vast Agenda, Obama Must Say What Priorities Are
By Mort Kondracke, Roll Call
If Obama Loses Racism is the only reason McCain might beat him.
By Jacob Weisberg, Slate
The Hill-Bill Show
They could make the convention in Denver a nightmare for Obama—but here’s why they probably won’t.
By John Heilmann, New York Magazine
How Obama Reconciles Dueling Views on Economy
By David Leonhardt, New York Times Magazine
Obama and McCain both say they want to usher in a new, less divisive brand of politics. Which of them has the better chance? Is bipartisanship still possible?
by Ronald Brownstein, September 2008 Atlantic Monthly
NOTE: AVIEWROMDC WILL BE ON HIATUS FOR TWO WEEKS AND WILL RETURN SEPTEMBER 8. PLEASE SEND ANY COMMENTS OR SUGESTIONS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THE BLOG BY WRITING US AT VIEWFROMDC@GMAIL.COM.
Dubbed the Tri-Country Conference, the bi-annual event is an invitation only forum where 25 representatives from the CHRA, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) from the United States and the Charter Institute of Housing (CIH) from the United Kingdom which allows individuals to discuss pressing issues facing housing and community development professionals in each country. This year’s conference will be held in Toronto October 15-17.
This year’s theme, “Creating a Modern Housing Policy: A Legacy for Tomorrow’s Leaders, will explore the demographic changes taking place in each country and the political and economic uncertainty affordable housing is experiencing in each country.
For the first time, the conference will include a one-day symposium on October 14 which is open to any one interested in attending. Dr. Anne Golden, President and CEO of the Conference Board of Canada, and Michael Geller, President of Michael Geller & Associates Limited, are the featured speakers of the one-day event.
The one day symposium will include a discussion on the state of housing in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New England. An afternoon session will follow which will explore how professionals can affect policy in their respective country to meet future housing needs and create greater opportunities for the populations in need. The symposium sessions will end with small group discussions.
The conference itself will include sessions which will explore issues such as the following:
• How governments have been able to engage other sectors of a community in building and managing affordable housing;
• How to engage youth into leadership positions in the housing profession;
• How innovative policy and financial tools can influence housing policy in a positive way; and,
• How to take what as been discussed and move forward.
The event will also feature various tours to various sites in Toronto which reflect the discussions and conference theme.
San Buenaventura Housing Authority Receives Standard and Poors Rating
Standard and Poor’s Ratings Service recently assigned an “A” issuer credit rating (ICR) to the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura in California.
The rating reflects S&P’s analysis of the agency’s strong operational performance, portfolio quality and financial management. The Housing Authority has 1,189 housing choice vouchers, 716 conventional public housing units and 59 non-public housing units.
The agency’s overall strengths included:
- A strong overall management and strategic plan which supports the agency’s mission;
- Strong support from the city government and other local stakeholders;
- The housing authority has strong portfolio quality which blends well within its market;
- There is a strong need for the authority’s services as evidenced by a waiting list of more than 3,500 families for public housing units and housing choice vouchers;
- Implementation of new business strategies which will increase opportunities for the housing authority; and,
- Low debt obligations.
Interesting Reads
Housing and Community Development
Three Years after Hurricane, The Back Up is a Fixture
By Dan Barry, New York Times
From the Ground Up
With bank loans scarcer, a handful of Web sites help borrowers tap individuals for cash.
By Kim Hart
Washington Post Staff Writer
In Abandoned Homes, the Remnants of a Life
Firm Finds Bittersweet Niche in Cleaning Up After Foreclosures
By Ben Hubbard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Future Uncertain for Fannie, Freddie
Fox Business
U.S. Says Many Apartments Violate Law on Disabled
By Charles V. Bagli, New York Times
Breezy does it: Bloomberg Eyes Green Energy for NYC
By David Seifmen, New York Post
Campaign 2008
Blacks Debate Civil Rights Risk in Obama’s Rise
By Rachel L. Swarns, New York Times
With Vast Agenda, Obama Must Say What Priorities Are
By Mort Kondracke, Roll Call
If Obama Loses Racism is the only reason McCain might beat him.
By Jacob Weisberg, Slate
The Hill-Bill Show
They could make the convention in Denver a nightmare for Obama—but here’s why they probably won’t.
By John Heilmann, New York Magazine
How Obama Reconciles Dueling Views on Economy
By David Leonhardt, New York Times Magazine
Obama and McCain both say they want to usher in a new, less divisive brand of politics. Which of them has the better chance? Is bipartisanship still possible?
by Ronald Brownstein, September 2008 Atlantic Monthly
NOTE: AVIEWROMDC WILL BE ON HIATUS FOR TWO WEEKS AND WILL RETURN SEPTEMBER 8. PLEASE SEND ANY COMMENTS OR SUGESTIONS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THE BLOG BY WRITING US AT VIEWFROMDC@GMAIL.COM.
