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RCAC Network News October 2012
Volume XXX, Number 5
In this issue:
Housing
National Association of Realtors: Homes selling more quickly, time on market down with tighter supplies
www.realtor.org
A new measure shows the typical amount of time it takes to sell a home is shrinking, and for traditional sellers is now in the range of historic norms for a balanced market, well below the cyclical peak reached in 2009, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Read more>>
California Housing Finance Agency
www.ncsha.org
Keep Your Home California has added 14 housing counseling agencies statewide, giving distressed homeowners a personal connection to the $2 billion mortgage payment assistance program.The nonprofit agencies offer face-to-face intake sessions for financially strapped homeowners interested in Keep Your Home California. Housing counselors can detail the four programs, determine eligibility and help with the application process – all for free. Read more>>
GAO Answers Questions on Older Manufactured Homes and LIHEAP
www.gao.gov
Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Jon Tester (D-MT) asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to determine whether improving the energy efficiency of older manufactured housing or replacing it with newer, more energy-efficient models would save the federal government money by reducing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payments. Approximately 2 million manufactured homes were built before 1976, when new energy efficiency standards were implemented. Read more>>
The economic impact of home building in Washington State
National Association of Home Builders
When residential construction occurs, it generates substantial economic activity in the state where it takes place. The economic activity generated includes income and jobs for state residents, as well as revenue for state and local governments. It also typically imposes costs on state and local governments—such as the costs of providing primary and secondary education, police and fire protection, and water and sewer service. Not only do these services require annual expenditures for items such as teacher salaries, they typically also require capital investment in buildings, other structures, and equipment that state and local governments within the state own and maintain. Read more>>
Grantee Profile -Housing Kitsap
By Billie Heath, RCAC self-help housing coordinator
Since 1973, Housing Kitsap, formerly known as Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority, has helped more than 1,400 families become homeowners through the self-help housing program. Building in the western counties of Kitsap, Jefferson and Mason counties of Washington State, this grantee is the second oldest consecutive producer for the program in the state. Access the complete grantee profile here>>
To learn more about Housing Kitsap, visit HousingKitsap.org.
Loan Fund
Charter school sees more stability in students, faculty as school matures
Editor’s Note: RCAC provided financing for the school to purchase its building and then a subsequent loan to add capacity for 60 more students.
www.tooeletranscript.com
After a tumultuous start four years ago, Tooele County’s only charter school is finding stability. Read more>>
Environmental
California WARN Water Sector Mutual Aid
www.calwarn.org
If you would like to become a member of the California Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network to assist in supporting and promoting statewide emergency preparedness, disaster response and mutual assistance matters for public and private water and wastewater utilities. Check out the California Warn website and learn how to join here>>
RCAC pilot project responds to water and wastewater utility operator shortage
Baby boomers make up more than one quarter of the United States’ population. According to Pew Research Center, on Jan. 1, 2011, America’s first baby boomer reached 65 years old. By 2030, 18 percent of the nation’s population will have reached at least 65 years old. Our nation’s water and wastewater utility operators are included in those numbers; and as these operators retire, the industry is challenged to find new operators to replace them. Read more>>
Federal Water Mandates Blowing a Hole in Municipal Budgets, Local Leaders Say
By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue
If not for a few well-placed bolts, segments of the Washington, D.C., sewer system would have blown apart at the seams recently during fierce rainstorms and subsequent flooding in the nation's capitol. For obvious safety reasons, city workers locked down the manhole covers — but doing so caused sewer lines to back up into homes and businesses, reversing the flow of the fetid blend into basements and stockrooms. Read more>>
Eye on policy
Housing counseling groups convene in Washington DC
Housing Counseling Manager, Judy Hunter and other housing counseling groups traveled to Washington DC to meet with the administration and key members of the senate to discuss the role of housing counseling agencies in the ongoing housing crisis. Read more about the trip here>>
House Passes FY13 Continuing Resolution
Low Income Housing Coalition
The House of Representatives voted to pass a continuing resolution (CR) on September 13 that would fund the federal government for the first six months of FY13 (October 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013). H.J.Res. 117, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013, would provide FY12 funding levels to federal agencies for “continuing projects or activities… that were conducted in fiscal year 2012.” The resolution would also require federal agencies, including HUD, to submit a spending or operating plan to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 30 days of the CR’s passage. Read more>>
General
Smallwatersupply.org and RCAP Partnership
September 1st, SmallWaterSupply.org began partnering with RCAP to further expand resources for tribal utility operators. They will continue to share newsletter content and blog posts pertinent to all small systems, and provide more specific information for tribes.If you are an operator for a tribal water or wastewater utility or you serve these communities in any way, you can join the new tribal interest group. Simply visit this link and enter your name and email address.
Oddz N Ends
Smallwatersupply.org is a great resource for people interested in a career in water or wastewater operations. For more information on how to get your career started check out their career page here>>