Ira Gribin Grant Final Report: Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

ONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAW NNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA
NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO LINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHIN IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MIC CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SO T VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CON MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSE H CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON AM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHU XICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO SHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMIN OUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA N MA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE N WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE IPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NOR ESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA W IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MIC YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHOD T VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CON CHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WA CUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LO W JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNS HINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA D MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HA AND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WA CUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LO W JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA AR KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI F I N A L R E P O R T O OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA T ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEO A MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW Y LINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHIN AM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHU YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHOD ON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLO CHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE TA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST V IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MIC CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SO OMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORID NNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO H CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON ORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND XICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO HINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA E MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVAD A PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIR
Tackling Workforce Housing State By State
Tackling Workforce Housing State By State
F I N A L
R E P O R T
May 2011 Copyright 2011 National Association of REALTORS
ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GE GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSE YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHO CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON W WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAIN MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAM JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNS RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VI WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUIS MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAH PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VIRGIN ISLANDS WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALAS COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOW KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOUR NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAK TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCO ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GU IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MIC MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEX NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHIN WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUIS MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAH OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TE VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOM ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESO MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CARO TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIR ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GE HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSE MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEX NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISL SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTO WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE F GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSE NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON W VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONN FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAIN
Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: CONTENTS
Introduction
Executive Summary
Overview
Participation and Outcomes
Chart of Funded Programs by Program Type
17
Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants
20
Grantee Profiles (2009 2010)

ALAbAMA ALASkA ARIzONA ARkANSAS CALIfORNIA COLORAdO CONNECTICuT dELAWARE fLORIdA GEORGIA GuAM HAWAIÌ IdAHO 20 22 24 26 28 31 34 37 39 42 45 47 49 ILLINOIS INdIANA IOWA kANSAS kENTuCky LOuISIANA MAINE MARyLANd MASSACHuSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIppI MISSOuRI 52 54 57 60 62 65 68 70 73 76 79 81 83 MONTANA NEbRASkA NEvAdA NEW HAMpSHIRE NEW JERSEy NEW MExICO NEW yORk NORTH CAROLINA OHIO OkLAHOMA OREGON pENNSyLvANIA puERTO RICO 85 88 91 93 95 98 101 104 106 109 112 115 117 RHOdE ISLANd SOuTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE TEx AS uTAH vERMONT vIRGIN ISLANdS vIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, dC WEST vIRGINIA WISCONSIN WyOMING 119 121 123 126 129 132 134 136 139 142 144 146 148
Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: INTROduCTION
It is critically important to the health of our

communities that working citizens especially critical public servants such as nurses, teachers, police officers, and first responders in communities across the country have access to reasonably priced housing. Homeownership, a staple of American society, has become an increasingly difficult goal to attain and maintain over the past few years. With the downturn in the economy combined with the more tightly restricted credit market, families earning at or below the median income in their communities have found it particularly difficult to find housing.
Of major concern is the increasing inability of Americas workforce to secure a home that is moderately priced, near work and school, and in a desirable community setting. Even with the declining home values of the past few years, in many communities homeownership is still out of reach for much of our workforce; and an affordable rental is often unaffordable. Shortages of affordable housing close to where residents work can lead to longer commutes, sprawl, and traffic congestion, which hurt the environment, increase commuting costs, and reduce quality time with family and loved ones for those unable to live near their workplace. In addition, shortages of workforce housing can hurt local employers ability to attract and keep workers.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS
Tackling Workforce Housing State by State
To support the efforts of REALTORS across the country in addressing these needs the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) launched the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants program in 2009 as a two-year program to provide grants to state and territory REALTOR associations to help tackle the workforce housing needs in their communities. The two-year program allocated $5.2 million for these workforce housing grants, to be dispensed in 2009 2010.
This final Report provides an analysis of the program and its impacts, along with profiles of each of the 52 programs funded. This report builds on the year One Status Report released in April 2010.
As you read the program profiles, you will see the variety of challenges faced by state/ territory REALTOR associations and their partners, the remarkable solutions they have developed, and the insights they gained during the process. While the workforce housing challenges they face vary from state to state, the ingenuity of these approaches can serve as an inspiration and a resource to all who are looking to address workforce housing, or affordable housing, in their community.
We invite you to read about it here, and more importantly, we invite you to call on us in the future to assist you as you work to address these issues in your community.
The NAR Housing Opportunity Team
www.REALTOR.org
Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: ExECuTIvE
SuMMARy
The Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants program was developed

to reflect that the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) has identified workforce housing as a priority housing issue in which REALTORS can play a leading role. The $5.2 million, two-year program ran from 2009 2010, awarding grants to state and territory REALTOR foundations or associations to help address the workforce housing needs in their communities. The programs overarching goals were to encourage state and territory associations to approach the issue of workforce housing availability strategically, and to foster initiatives with the potential for long-term sustainability. Also, the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants were structured to help hone the grant-writing and resource development skills of state and territory REALTOR associations. NAR Housing Opportunity program staff sought to involve all 54 state and territory REALTOR associations in the program and achieved a 96 percent success rate, with 52 grantees at the end of 2010. Grant funds were awarded on a sliding scale based on association membership. Thus, similarly-sized associations received comparable funds. Grants ranged in size from $50,000 to $420,000. The program afforded grantees great flexibility in defining and pursuing their efforts to expand workforce housing. This wide latitude ensured that local needs were addressed and allowed the grantees to work to their strengths, or develop or improve expertise. for example, Each state/territory was able to define workforce in its own way, based on local needs and conditions. Workforce might mean teachers, municipal workers, first responders, medical personnel or, more generally, workers in a certain income range. Each state/territory grantee was able to focus its efforts on what it believed was the most effective program. The resulting emphasis favored advocacy, education, financial assistance, public awareness, and website development. The state/territory determined its target audiences. Some chose to concentrate on providing tools and education to REALTOR members, others focused on consumers, and still others targeted employers and policymakers. The associations were free to create an entirely new program or to expand initiatives already in place.
Many projects were implemented by state and territory associations, while others were undertaken in communities by local REALTOR boards with the support of their state/ territory association. partnerships were a key element of the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants. All grantees established partnerships as key elements of their projects, and many did so with new organizations, which included nonprofits as well as local and state governments. projects all received in-kind contributions from grantees, and many also leveraged additional inkind contributions as well as cash funding from partners. Each grantee was also required to address the longer-term sustainability of the proposed project. Grantees had wide latitude in the types of projects they could initiate and many projects encompassed more than one project type. Analysis of the programs created revealed that there were six categories of programs initiated by the grantees: Community Outreach; financial Assistance; Homebuyer Education; REALTOR professional development; Website development; and Construction, Rehabilitation, Repair, and Redevelopment. Major outcomes generated by the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants for grantees include: Strongly positive outreach and public relations Engagement of new partners for collaborative efforts Improvement in recipients grant writing skills New leadership opportunities for REALTORS at state and local levels in their communities Greater expertise and experience with program planning Increased REALTOR volunteer activity on projects The Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants are helping to strengthen communities and stimulate local economies, as they create more housing opportunities for those who previously had few options.
www.REALTOR.org
Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: OvERvIEW
The program is named for Ira Gribin, former NAR president, who
was a tireless advocate for fair and affordable housing for diverse populations. This grant initiative honors his memory and promotes REALTORS commitment to increase housing opportunities by assisting working families to reach the first rung on the homeownership ladder. All 54 state and territory associations were encouraged to apply for the Ira Gribin Grant funding, either through their state/territory REALTOR housing foundation, or in the absence of a foundation, directly through a state or territory association. NAR also offered
Ira Gribin
technical and financial assistance to associations that wished to create a foundation. To generate the most impact, NAR allocated grants at the state level; states could then implement programs directly, or delegate funds to local REALTOR boards that wanted to promote workforce housing initiatives in their community. Individual REALTORS or firms were not eligible to receive funding under this program. The program allocated one-time grants on a sliding scale based on the size of the applying state association. State or territory associations with 5,000 or fewer members were eligible for a grant of $50,000. Associations with more than 5,000 members were eligible for a grant of $50,000 plus an additional two dollars per member for each member over 5,000. under this formula grants awarded ranged from $50,000 to $420,000. Eligible activities included: Supporting the implementation of a workforce housing program developed by the state foundation/association. Supporting the implementation of an NAR workforce housing program within the state. Initiating or expanding a REALTOR education program related to workforce housing. Creating an umbrella initiative to support workforce housing programs in multiple locations across a state by dispersing funds to selected local foundation/association workforce housing programs within the state. Replicating a local associations model program to address workforce housing issues throughout the state.
The grant guidelines encouraged programs that actively engage REALTORS, leverage partnerships with key stakeholders, and leverage resources to create a sustainable program. To be eligible for funding, the program had to meet the following criteria: Workforce Housing focus: The proposed program had to focus on workforce housing, which could be defined by household income and/or particular job categories (e.g.: teachers or public safety employees). Applicants were also invited to propose their own approach to workforce housing. REALTOR Involvement: REALTORS or the REALTOR foundation/association were required to be active participants in the program. partnership: Applicants were required to have at least one primary partner organization, such as an employer, city or county government, or nonprofit housing organization. funding: The proposed program could not be simply a pass-through of funds from a REALTOR organization to another group.
The Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant has created a positive, proactive campaign to benefit not only first-time homebuyers but also our members business and the state economy as a whole.
Grantee
Leveraging: Applicants were encouraged to use grant funds in partnership with other organizations to increase effectiveness or to leverage more funds for their program. Sustainability: The proposed program could not be a one-time event, but was required to be an ongoing, sustainable program. NAR accepted applications on a rolling basis throughout 2009 and 2010. prospective grantees were required to submit a grant application that consisted of a program description and project plan, a detailed budget showing how NAR funds would be used, a program timeline, an evaluation plan for measuring and reporting outcomes and success, and a sustainability plan to show how the program would be sustained beyond the grant period. Supporting materials relating to the need for the proposed project and the issue to be addressed were also requested. All applications that received funding were reviewed and approved by a five-member grant review committee that evaluated whether the application met the necessary criteria and if the proposed project offered an effective approach to meeting workforce housing needs. The review committee was composed of the chairs and vice chairs of the Housing Opportunity Committee and Housing Opportunity Advisory Subcommittee, along with a state association executive. At the conclusion of the program, NAR had awarded grants to 52 associations totaling $4.93 million. A complete list of grants awarded is included in this report on page 17.
www.REALTOR.org
Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: pARTICIpATION
and OuTCOMES
Project Types
Grantees had wide latitude in the types of projects they could initiate to support workforce housing. Many projects encompassed more than one type. These programs have been sorted into six broad project types, as illustrated in figure 1. A complete list of programs with more detail about program types is included on page 17 (pull out chart). Grantees often paired Homebuyer Education with REALTOR professional development initiatives, as many projects consisted of REALTOR education that trainees could then share with prospective homebuyers. Although most financial Assistance programs were standalone efforts, the most frequent pairing was with Homebuyer Education, perhaps reflecting a natural interest in also offering education to recipients of financial assistance. Community Outreach efforts were somewhat more evenly divided as to whether they were teamed with other categories. However, in cases where Community Outreach efforts were not technically combined with another category, there were often instances of
We are doing a better job of marketing the REALTOR family to the whole state. We are not just about selling homes.
Grantee
several kinds of Community Outreach for a single grantee, indicating the diversity of the category. for instance, Montanas Community Outreach efforts consisted of a speakers bureau, advocacy campaign, and a series of housing summits. Website development was twice as often combined with other efforts. Only three grantees (Alaska, kansas, and Wisconsin) made Website production a primary deliverable. finally, projects grouped under Construction, Rehabilitation, Repair, and Redevelopment were most likely to be standalone projects and not linked to other categories. project types did not seem to have a prevalent trend by association size, but rather were fairly evenly divided amongst small, medium, and large associations. The only exceptions to this were the two smallest project categories: Website development; and Construction, Rehabilitation, Repair, and Redevelopment. Small associations were more likely to undertake projects with these tasks. Many grantees submitted statewide applications, while others submitted umbrella applications representing projects proposed by local REALTOR boards. The umbrella applications were spread fairly evenly among small, medium, and large associations. This would suggest that the nature of the local real estate market or organization of the state/ territory REALTOR boards were perhaps more of a factor in which kind of application was submitted, rather than association size.
figure 1 | pROJECT TypES

27% 22% 18% 18% 8% 7% Community Outreach financial Assistance Homebuyer Education REALTOR professional development Website development Construction, Rehabilitation, Repair, and Redevelopment
COmmunITy OuTrEaCH (27%)
Twenty-seven percent of the funded projects contained a community outreach component. In this category, community outreach includes a wide range of activities that involve contact with the public or certain subgroups to share information about workforce housing needs. In addition to broader community outreach, additional activities grouped in this category include advocacy, policy development, public awareness, research, and a speakers bureau. While these are diverse activities, the shared community outreach thread is one of providing information to the general public about workforce housing needs and/or identifying stakeholders with whom to share this information. Outreach to specific audiences most commonly targeted employers with information about employerassisted housing, while other efforts included outreach and advocacy to legislators and policy makers.
FInanCIal aSSISTanCE (22%)
financial assistance was another common category, included in 22 percent of funded projects. projects that included financial assistance did so in a variety of forms, most typically by awarding some sort of downpayment or closing cost assistance to homebuyers. One unique program, Californias Mortgage protection program, provided mortgage protection insurance to boost buyer confidence and encourage buyers to purchase despite concerns about the current economy. A few projects provided financial assistance to renters, such as a loan for security deposits (Nevada). Some projects did the funding directly, selecting the households to receive assistance, while others funded funders, allocating funds to other agencies or organizations that would be responsible for identifying recipients. Other innovative examples in this category include establishing a new foundation to support housing assistance programs (Nebraska), funding a downpayment assistance subsidy to support shared equity homeownership (Washington, dC), and providing rental assistance to new teachers in a community (virginia).
www.REALTOR.org
and OuTCOMES
HOmEbuyEr EduCaTIOn (18%)
Homebuyer education and counseling are services that REALTORS have traditionally sought to provide clients and prospective clients. Many first-time homebuyer loan programs require homebuyer education, which typically offers instruction on topics such as budgeting and credit, shopping for a home, getting a mortgage loan, keeping the home, and managing finances. Eighteen percent of grantees included homebuyer education as part of their workforce housing initiative. This category also includes homebuyer counseling, which is usually provided by a partner, rather than a REALTOR organization.
rEalTOr PrOFESSIOnal dEvElOPmEnT (18%)
Education for REALTORS is categorized under REALTOR professional development. Eighteen percent of states and local REALTOR boards pursued a wide variety of continuing education initiatives for their members. These included general education about workforce housing needs and financial programs for homebuyers, expanding Workforce Housing Specialist Certification offerings, and developing Employer-Assisted Housing classes. A unique project in New york State involved developing a new military housing specialist training course Housing Our Military with Excellent Service (HOMES) to prepare REALTORS to provide buyer and seller counseling services to military personnel and their families.
WEbSITE dEvElOPmEnT (8%)
We are working with new organizations and partners that we never had before. We also have open lines of communication with state agencies whose doors previously seemed closed.
Grantee
Eight percent of all Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants projects included website development. Website development typically assembled and made accessible online various aspects of homebuyer and REALTOR education and/or homebuyer counseling. In some cases, grant recipients also sought to make available online information of interest to lenders and employers. Some grantees developed a website as part of a larger endeavor (Alabama, Georgia, Hawaiì), while others made a website the primary deliverable (Alaska, kansas, Wisconsin).
COnSTruCTIOn, rEHabIlITaTIOn, rEPaIr, and rEdEvElOPmEnT (7%)
A diverse category that largely shares a common theme of hands on activities, construction, rehabilitation, repair, and redevelopment, comprised seven percent of the funded projects. Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that produces affordable housing, was a favored partner to pursue home construction or rehabilitation for many projects. Home maintenance and repair efforts typically identified households in need of help with expenses for these tasks. pennsylvania pursued a unique redevelopment program to create a statewide database of publicly owned vacant properties that could be assembled and marketed as sites for the construction and rehabilitation of workforce housing.
10
Partnerships and Funding

partnerships were a key element of the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants. Of particular interest was fostering relationships and partnerships with organizations outside of local REALTOR boards and industry allies. All grantees established partnerships as key elements of their projects, and many did so with new organizations, which included nonprofits, as well as local and state governments and agencies with interest in housing supply or finance. Arrangements ranged from teaming with one or two primary partners to focus on the project, to ambitious plans for partnering with a wide array of organizations and agencies. Examples of grantees partners are listed in figure 2, below.
figure 2 | GRANTEES pROJECT pARTNERS

REALTOR Organizations Industry Allies Government Other
tate and Local S REALTOR boards/Associations, foundations, and Committees
inancial service F providers ousing counseling H agencies ousing resource H organizations and title companies L enders L tate homebuilders S association tate mortgage S brokers association tate or regional S Multiple Listing Service
ousing authorities H ocal or county L governments unicipal, M metropolitan, or regional planning organizations eighborhood N housing organizations ocial service S agencies tate department S of economic and community affairs tate department S of housing tate housing S finance authority .S. Department of U Housing and urban development .S. Department of U Agriculture Rural development
olleges and C universities, including community colleges ommunity C development corporations abitat for Humanity H edia with advertising M space onprofit housing N providers and agencies tate retail association/ S chamber of commerce
www.REALTOR.org
11
and OuTCOMES
partners played a variety of roles in grantees activities. Roles included public relations and marketing, training and instruction, and program development and management. partners were also valuable in leveraging additional funding. Other funds came from grants, fundraising efforts, and sponsorships. for many grantees, project partners were an important source of in-kind support as well. In-kind support included staff time, services, materials, and other resources, while financial support was sometimes in the form of a sponsorship of an event or activity. Some different examples of leveraged funding: Michigans $74,500 placemaking for prosperity initiative was also funded in part through a $50,000 placemaking grant from the W.k. kellogg foundations people and Land Initiative and a $5,000 NAR Smart Growth Grant. Washington, dCs $50,000 Workforce Housing Land Trust program was funded in collaboration with $141,000 from other partners participating in the shared equity program and a $50,000 in-kind contribution from the Washington, dC Association of REALTORS. floridas $91,628 Sadowski Education Effort garnered over $64,000 of in-kind support from project partners.
Project Impacts and Outcomes

The Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants helped grantees pursue a variety of projects that clearly had, or stand to have, a significant impact on the availability of workforce housing in many different ways. below are examples of some of the more common outcomes and innovative initiatives, broken out by project type. A profile of each program funded by the Ira Gribin Grants is included in this report starting on page 20.
COMMuNITy OuTREACH
Homeownership for Single-parent Households: Moving to the future program to help single parents transition to homeownership (kentucky) Legislative Advocacy: Efforts to marshal support for existing legislation or funding that supports workforce housing (Sadowski Education Effort, florida; Save the Affordable Housing Law (40b) Campaign, Massachusetts) Market Study: A new market study of post-recessionary housing needs, to provide local developers with data to support the need for new workforce housing (Connecticut)
12
permanent Supportive Housing: Creation of a model for affordable housing, encompassing support services to foster sustainability and stability for homeowners (Indiana) placemaking and Workforce Housing: Research to help determine the costs and benefits of combining placemaking-based development with workforce and affordable housing projects (Michigan) public Infrastructure to Support Workforce Housing: An initiative for a sustainable structure of regional and town-by-town teams to support workforce housing (Connecticut) Speakers bureau, Local Housing Summits: part of a public awareness campaign (Montana)
fINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
After a terrible year for the housing market and our members, the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant breathed a new sense of mission and purpose into our staff and our organization.
Grantee
Establishing a funding Structure: developing an Affordable Housing foundation (Nebraska) downpayment Assistance: Several innovative examples of how to finance and administer a downpayment assistance program (Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico Santa fe, Oregon, South Carolina) Energy Efficient Homes: Closing cost assistance for purchases of energy-efficient homes, which can also lower the long-term cost of homeownership (Louisiana) Mortgage protection: A REALTOR foundations first successful statewide initiative, that provides a mortgage insurance protection program model for future efforts in other states (California) Rental Assistance: Rental Security deposit Loan program (Nevada, New Mexico Las Cruces, virginia) Shared-Appreciation Model: fostering REALTOR participation in promoting and supporting a shared-appreciation model for creating workforce housing at an affordable price point (Washington, dC)
HOMEbuyER EduCATION ANd REALTOR pROfESSIONAL dEvELOpMENT
Employer-Assisted Housing: A comprehensive training, website, and public relations campaign on Employer-Assisted Housing (Alabama) Educating Specialized Markets: Create and promote a Military Housing Specialist Training Course to equip REALTORS to meet the specialized housing needs of military personnel and their families (New york) REALTOR and Consumer Education: Area of strength for many associations; grantees were able to successfully build programs in these areas (Multiple Grantees)
www.REALTOR.org
13
and OuTCOMES
WEbSITE
Website development: More than a third (37 percent) of grantees responding to the March 2011 Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants survey indicated that they had
added to their organizations website or constructed a new website as part of their grant-funded activities. Ten grantees included website development in their projects, with smaller associations more likely to undertake this category.
CONSTRuCTION, REHAbILITATION, REpAIR, ANd REdEvELOpMENT
Habitat for Humanity: Several state associations and local boards participating in homebuilding projects to benefit Habitat for Humanity (Multiple Grantees) Home Repair and Maintenance: provide Home Repairs and Maintenance to families in Need (Maryland, florida, Oklahoma) Redevelopment and Revitalization: Redevelop vacant publicly Owned properties
We are now writing competitive grants to non-REALTOR funders.

Grantee
for building/Rehabbing Workforce Housing (pennsylvania)
MuLTIpLE CATEGORIES
State Support for Local Initiatives: Several state umbrella programs delegated funding to local REALTOR boards for specific projects with a local impact (delaware, florida, Iowa, kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, virginia)
lessons learned
Grantees described their experiences implementing the programs funded under the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants in status reports to NAR and through a March 2011 grantee survey. below is a summary of the principal areas describing where grantees felt they gained the most valuable experience.
GRANTWRITING
Over three-quarters (76 percent) of respondents to the March 2011 survey of Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants grantees indicated they had acquired grantwriting skills as a result of their participation, and expect to continue to use these skills for other efforts.
14
LEAdERSHIp
The Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants offered grantees new leadership opportunities in their communities. Others enhanced relationships between state and local REALTOR associations. One grantee recommended ensuring that the leadership team of the REALTOR Association/board fully supports the program and allocation of additional resources. Some recognized that they would need to maintain good communication with association leadership as they moved ahead with funded projects.
OuTREACH ANd pubLIC RELATIONS
The Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants clearly provided a useful outlet for REALTORS to promote a positive image in their communities. Additional visibility and recognition for REALTOR organizations was a common outcome described by many grantees.
pARTNERS
Over three quarters (78 percent) of respondents to the survey indicated that partnering with new organizations was a significant outcome from their participation in the program. Most respondents indicated that they expected these new relationships to be valuable in the future, as well.
pROGRAM pLANNING
for many grantees, developing and implementing a program under the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants was a significant endeavor, requiring the employment of a sophisticated approach to a complex task. Comments from many grantees reflected the learning curve associated with this effort.
vOLuNTEERS
volunteers were key to the success of many funded projects, particularly in smaller associations. Some grantees indicted that they were seeing increased REALTOR volunteerism and activism in communities across the state as a result of grant-funded activity. forty-one percent of respondents to the survey indicated that more volunteer involvement would help to sustain their funded project.
www.REALTOR.org
15
and OuTCOMES
Conclusions
This report seeks to explore the impact of the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants program based on its ability to support state and territory association/foundation efforts to serve populations in need of workforce housing. It also examines what the grant funding helped recipients to accomplish that they would not have otherwise. The generous size of the grants, coupled with the staff commitment to guiding grantees through the process, created a strong foundation for fostering REALTOR association initiatives to promote workforce housing. The structure of the grant application process particularly requiring partnerships and sustainable projects encouraged grantees to explore new territory and build their capacity. The programs created with this grant funding are likely to have an impact beyond the measure of the individual projects. This impact may be calculated not only by the sum total of individual projects, but as part of a broader effect that magnifies the contributions of REALTOR associations and fosters a favorable public impression of members.
16
Co Re nst ha ruc b, tio & n, Re Re vit pa ali ir, za t io n Co Co nsu mm me un r & it y O utr ea ch Co ns um er Ed uc ati on
M em be rs
Em Ho plo us yer ing -A ssi s
Fu Fin ndin an g & cia lA ssi s
ca cy &
Aw ar en es
mb er
AL TO
Alabama Association of REALTORS Alaska Association of REALTORS Arizona REALTORS Foundation for Housing and Community Outreach Arkansas REALTORS Association California Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability Fund Colorado Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity Foundation Connecticut Association of REALTORS Delaware Association of REALTORS Florida Realtors Georgia Association of REALTORS Guam Association of REALTORS Hawaiì Association of REALTORS Idaho Association of REALTORS Partnership for Home Ownership/Illinois Association of REALTORS Indiana Association of REALTORS REALTOR Foundation of Iowa/Iowa Association of REALTORS Kansas Association of REALTORS Kentucky Association of REALTORS Louisiana REALTORS Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation Partnership for Housing Foundation/Maryland Real Estate Education Foundation, Inc. Massachusetts Association of REALTORS Michigan Association of REALTORS Minnesota Association of REALTORS Mississippi Association of REALTORS Missouri Association of REALTORS Montana Association of REALTORS Nebraska REALTORS Association Nevada Association of REALTORS New Hampshire REALTORS Housing Foundation New Jersey Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity Foundation, Inc. REALTORS Association of New Mexico New York State Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunities Foundation, Inc. North Carolina Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity Foundation Ohio Association of REALTORS Oklahoma Housing Foundation Oregon Association of REALTORS HOME Foundation Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS Puerto Rico Association of REALTORS Rhode Island Association of REALTORS South Carolina REALTORS Tennessee Association of REALTORS Texas Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity Foundation Utah Association of REALTORS Vermont Association of REALTORS Virgin Islands Territorial Association of REALTORS Virginia Association of REALTORS Washington REALTORS Washington, DC Association of REALTORS West Virginia Association of REALTORS Wisconsin REALTORS Association Wyoming Association of REALTORS
* Membership number provided by Associations on grant applications.
13,000 1,350 43,764 7,334 183,885 23,500 17,196 3,800 115,000 28,115 404 9,037 7,500 50,000 15,737 6,764 8,900 10,381 11,000 4,000 29,000 20,500+ 24,000 17,500 5,700 20,546 3,600 4,200 16,474 5,500 50,000 6,500 54,000 32,415 30,039 9,043 14,500 32,367 600 900 4,600 17,270 23,000 84,692 13,000 1,875 320 33,500 17,000 2,438 3,200 14,000 2,100
W eb sit e
Pu bli c
Ad vo
FUNDED PROGR AMS BY PROGR AM TYPE
Nu
RE
of
Ed uc ati o
t ed
tan ce
cy
Po li
Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: FUNDED
PROGR AMS BY PROGR AM TYPE
Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: GR ANTEE
PROFILES
Alabama Association of REALTORS Alaska Association of REALTORS Arizona REALTORS Foundation for Housing and Community Outreach Arkansas REALTORS Association California Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability Fund Colorado Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity Foundation Connecticut Association of REALTORS Delaware Association of REALTORS Florida Realtors

20 22 24 26 28 31 34 37 39 42 45
Partnership for Home Ownership/ Illinois Association of REALTORS Indiana Association of REALTORS REALTOR Foundation of Iowa/ Iowa Association of REALTORS Kansas Association of REALTORS Kentucky Association of REALTORS Louisiana REALTORS Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation Partnership for Housing Foundation (Maryland) Massachusetts Association of REALTORS Michigan Association of REALTORS Minnesota Association of REALTORS Mississippi Association of REALTORS Missouri Association of REALTORS Montana Association of REALTORS
52 54 57 60 62 65 68 70 73 76 79 81 83 85
Georgia Association of REALTORS Guam Association of REALTORS

Hawaiì Association of REALTORS Idaho Association of REALTORS
47 49
Nebraska REALTORS Association Nevada Association of REALTORS New Hampshire REALTORS Housing foundation New Jersey Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation, Inc.

88 91 93 95 98 101 104 106 109 112
The Rhode Island Association of REALTORS South Carolina REALTORS Tennessee Association of REALTORS Texas Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation utah Association of REALTORS vermont Association of REALTORS virgin Islands Territorial Association of REALTORS virginia Association of REALTORS Washington REALTORS Washington, dC Association of REALTORS West virginia Association of REALTORS Wisconsin REALTORS Association
119 121 123 126 129 132 134 136 139 142 144 146 148
REALTORS Association of New Mexico New york State Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunities foundation, Inc. North Carolina Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation Ohio Association of REALTORS Oklahoma Housing foundation Oregon Association of REALTORS HOME foundation pennsylvania Association of REALTORS puerto Rico Association of REALTORS
115 117
Wyoming Association of REALTORS
ALABAMA ALABAMA ALABAMA AL

aSSOCIaTIOn/FOundaTIOn PrOGr a m dESCrIPTIOn KEy ParTnErS
Alabama Association of REALTORS (AAR) 13,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Alabama Workforce Housing Initiative

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education and Outreach (REALTORS/ Consumers), Website
AAR will educate its membership and assist prospective homebuyers by increasing the number of instructors who can teach NARs Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) Class, offering the EAH Class to an additional 250 REALTORS within the first two years of the program who can conduct outreach to employers on EAH benefits, and developing an on-line resource center for consumers and REALTORS.
TarGET m arKET
Alabama department of Economic and Community Affairs, Alabama Retail Association, Alabama Housing finance Authority, local REALTOR boards
aWard
$80,000
COnTaCT
REALTORS, potential homebuyers earning below the median income, employers
Carl Clark Governmental Affairs director Alabama Association of REALTORS 522 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 334.262.3808 334.263.9650 fax carl@alabamarealtors.com www.alabamarealtors.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
With the recent opening of new automotive

plants and other manufacturing facilities, the median income in Alabama has risen, despite the overall economic downturn. At the same time, median home prices in the state have fluctuated. yet more and more Alabamians are taking on longer commutes to work simply because they cannot afford to live in the cities in which the manufacturers have located.
The Alabama Association of REALTORS (AAR) is using its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to address this situation, primarily through education and outreach to both the public and REALTORS. AARs Alabama Workforce Housing Initiative will use the grant funds for three related purposes. The first task is to assist four Alabama REALTORS in becoming authorized instructors for NARs Employer-Assisted Housing Class. prior to the Initiative, Alabama had only one such instructor. AAR has divided the state into five regions. With only one authorized instructor for NARs EAH Class, that leaves four regions with no one nearby who can teach the course. AAR will identify instructor candidates in each of the four regions that are without a member who is authorized to instruct the course. AAR will use part of the grant funds for these members to attend the Train-the-Trainer Class at the Midyear 2011 Meeting and at the 2011 Annual Conference and Expo.
20
ALABAMA ALABAMA ALABAMA AL

The instructors will be pivotal in meeting the Initiatives second goal, training 250 Alabama REALTORS in EAH within the first two years of the program. The REALTORS who complete the EAH Class will be equipped with the necessary tools and resources to reach out to employers in their communities and assist them in developing EAH benefits program for their employees. Each class will discuss the definitions of workforce housing and EAH, workforce housing trends and challenges, finance options for lower income workers, and use of the resources available on the new AAR website. The new website will offer a One-Stop Shop for consumers and REALTORS alike, as well as AARs housing partners. The website will provide consumers with general housing information, an overview of EAH, and information on how a REALTOR can assist them. REALTORS will be able to see information about EAH education opportunities as well as a calendar of events throughout the state that may be of interest. At a minimum, the website will address: The homebuying process finding a home Mortgage rates financing options for Alabamians finding a real estate agent federal and state housing programs Mortgage calculators What EAH is and how REALTORS can help A calendar of events (fairs, education opportunities) The site will also post the names and contact information of AAR members who have completed the EAH Class. Additional outreach strategies include e-mails, facebook, Twitter, and collateral materials and gifts for those who attend various housing fairs and workshops across the state. AAR brochures will be made available at the Alabama department of Economic and Community Affairs 48 local career centers.
The Employer-Assisted Housing Class: Effective Initiatives Require Good Partners

AAR realized early on that to be effective in its outreach and promotion efforts it would need to involve other community partners to ensure that the message of the benefits of EAH was widely received. As AAR pulled together its rollout strategy, it looked for partners who were interested in helping workforce families who also had broad networks for outreach. The Alabama Housing finance Authority agreed to provide affordable housing information for AARs new website and to promote EAH at its housing fairs throughout the state. The Alabama Homebuilders Association and the Alabama Retail Association agreed to promote EAH to their members at their meetings. The Alabama department of Economic and Community Affairs offered to provide information about EAH at its job fairs and distribute collateral AAR was developing for this program at its 48 career centers across the state. AAR is continuing to engage other community partners in its efforts to get the word out about the need for viable solutions like EAH to address the housing needs of working families and their employers. The long-term goal is to have a REALTOR-led coalition of Alabama organizations dedicated to the goals of workforce housing.
REALTOR Involvement
In anticipation of these new instructors being able to train their REALTOR peers by June 2011, AAR has obtained accreditation for the EAH Class from the Alabama Real Estate Commission. This will be presented in the form of a three-hour continuing education course. Once the new instructors are in place, AAR will provide them with the resources they need in order to teach the class and will offer the course on a regular basis across the state. The Initiative will empower REALTORS, with their new awareness of workforce housing opportunities, to help their clients meet the challenges of locating affordable housing near their employment. AAR is excited about the prospect of educating REALTORS to have firsthand knowledge of the benefits of EAH. The vision is for those REALTORS to reach out to their local communities and local employers.
www.REALTOR.org
21
ALASKA ALASKA ALASKA ALASKA

aSSOCIaTIOn/FOundaTIOn PrOGr a m dESCrIPTIOn
Alaska Association of REALTORS (AAR) 1,350 members

PrOGr a m na mE
www.yourAlaskaHome.org
PrOGr a m T yPE
Website (Consumers, REALTORS, Industry partners)
AAR is developing a website that provides a comprehensive tool for REALTORS, lenders, credit counselors, and consumers, offering information about the resources available to potential homebuyers. An advertising campaign will make the public aware of the website.
TarGET m arKET
Housing Office, Anchorage Daily News, Homebuilders Association

aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
REALTORS; lenders; credit counselors; homebuyers seasonal, self-employed, and first-time buyers
KEy ParTnErS
Sandy Eherenman CEO Alaska Association of REALTORS 4205 Minnesota drive Anchorage, Ak 99503 907.563.7133 907.561.1779 fax seherenman@alaskarealtors.com www.alaskarealtors.com www.yourAlaskaHome.org
Alaska Housing finance Corporation, Cook Inlet Housing, Consumer Credit Counseling in Alaska, university of Alaska, Housing first, Housing Opportunity program, Alaska Land Title Association, Mortgage bankers, Military
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Alaska has unique geographic and economic

challenges when it comes to homebuying. While, on a national level, manufacturing is one of the most stable industries for workforce homebuyers, Alaska has very few employers in manufacturing. What does exist in this sector is often seasonal, as in seafood processing, which accounts for as much as 75 percent of the states total manufacturing industry. Without the standard employment frameworks that are common in the other 49 states, Alaskas would-be homebuyers also have difficulty fitting into the standard home mortgage structures that have been established in this country.
The Alaska Association of REALTORS (AAR) has taken on this challenge by using its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to focus on the resources available to Alaskas workforce homebuyers. AAR is developing www.yourAlaskaHome.org as an online resource guide for future homebuyers. This resource guide will include specific information for Alaskas unique workforce audience breaking down the process of what buyers need to do before they purchase a home and providing ample information about resources. The website will include links to the websites of local boards, partners, affiliates, and existing programs, as well as articles and videos. Advertising will consist of a statewide online and radio campaign. The online campaign will consist of online display advertising on the Alaska real estate pages, as well as geo-targeted and behaviorally targeted online display ads based on user interests. Such targeted web-based advertising emphasizes getting the right
22
ALASKA ALASKA ALASKA ALASKA

message to the right people, based on their other online interests. AAR will also distribute approximately 500 brochures to members to kick off the promotion of www.yourAlaskaHome.org, and offer the brochure as a download on the Associations website. The radio campaign will run for two weeks, then break for a few weeks and resume again for two weeks. AAR expects to reach up to 200,000 potential homebuyers through a combination of radio advertising, brochure distribution, ads in newspapers throughout the state, ads on cable television, partners promoting the website, and REALTOR members educating the public about the site. finally, AAR will target the top ten percent or 200 producing licensees by doing demonstrations of the site for them. The goal is to have 50 licensees actively using the website and promoting it in the first year. After the first year, the goal is to have an additional 20 REALTORS a year actively using the website and promoting its use. In addition, home prices are relatively high compared to income. The Consumer price Index places Alaskas average housing cost at 41.3 percent of the average income. Affordability issues are compounded by a high cost of living, 123 percent of the national average in 2010. It is no surprise that some Alaskans have trouble getting started in the homebuying process, often thinking that there is no way they can qualify for a new home. The new website will help dispel this misperception so that more working Alaskans can enjoy the benefits of homeownership. potential homebuyers visiting www.yourAlaskaHome.org will be directed to contact AAR and its partner organizations, who provide services beneficial to first-time homebuyers.
REALTOR Involvement
The new website will provide a starting place to educate consumers on all aspects of purchasing a home. This will result in having a higher percentage of educated consumers, which will help stimulate more workforce housing opportunities. This will, in turn, benefit REALTORS. by providing this service to the public, AAR will help increase awareness of the state and local REALTOR organizations throughout Alaska. It will also be a great resource for REALTORS to refer consumers as well as a place where REALTORS can find a variety of information in one comprehensive site.
Homeownership Challenges for a Unique Workforce

Many of Alaskas industries rely heavily on entry level workers whose incomes may fluctuate dramatically as they are seasonally employed. for example, in the seafood industrys most stable region of Alaska, kodiak borough, seafood processing sector jobs range from a low of 680 jobs in december to a high of 2,100 during the height of the midsummer fishing season. The highest wages often go to nonresidents, however. Add in self-employed construction workers, fishing and hunting guides, and others whose work opportunities fluctuate by season, and the result is a large segment of the population that perceives itself as unable to qualify for conventional loans, whether or not that is actually the case.
www.REALTOR.org
23
ARIZONA ARIZONA ARIZONA ARIZ

Arizona REALTORS foundation for Housing and Community Outreach 43,764 members
PrOGr a m na mE
Arizona REALTORS Workforce Housing Outreach

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTOR/Consumer), financial Assistance, EmployerAssisted Housing benefit, Website
The Arizona REALTORS Workforce Housing Outreach program has multiple components, including: Educating REALTORS about the housing needs of Arizonas workforce and the programs available to workforce buyers, educating workforce homebuyers about the programs available to them, and how to maintain long-term homeownership a grant of $1,000 to workforce buyers who use a Workforce Housing Specialist, continuing the Employer-Assisted Housing benefit the Arizona Association of REALTORS (AAR) offers its own employees and those of local REALTOR associations, and developing and maintaining a workforce housing website.
TarGET m arKET
Arizona Association of REALTORS (AAR), Arizona department of Commerce, Arizona department of Housing, Arizona Mortgage brokers Association
aWard
$140,000
COnTaCT
Monica Schulik, RCE, Secretary Arizona REALTORS foundation for Housing and Community Outreach 255 E. Osborn, Suite 200 phoenix, Az 85012 602.248.7787 602.351.2474 fax monicaschulik@aaronline.com www.AARonline.com www.Azworkforcehousing.com
REALTORS, employers, workers with incomes from $38,200 $71,625
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
The Arizona REALTORS foundation for Housing and Community Outreach (the foundation) came
to the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants armed with data. Research from the Arizona department of Commerce (AdOC) spelled out very precisely the income required to buy a median-priced home in each of 30 Arizona communities, then compared the average income of police officers, teachers, firefighters, nurses, restaurant staff, and retail workers in those same communities. The results were discouraging; clearly demonstrating that these workers are priced out of homeownership in many Arizona communities. for example, in the fourth quarter of 2008, the median home price in phoenix was $161,000, requiring a homebuyer to have a minimum annual income of $52,310. However, the typical elementary school teacher earned $49,193, a police officer earned $48,121, and a nurse (LpN) earned $38,482. Clearly, Arizonas potential workforce homebuyers were in need of assistance. The foundation therefore developed a diverse outreach program with a number of different elements ranging from REALTOR education to financial assistance for first-time homebuyers to a new website that addresses workforce needs.
24
ARIZONA ARIZONA ARIZONA ARIZ

Specific elements of the Arizona REALTORS Workforce Housing Outreach program include: developing a Workforce Housing Specialist certification program for Arizona REALTORS with classes to educate them about workforce housing and the programs available to workforce buyers; Offering classes to workforce homebuyers about what programs are available to them, and how to maintain long-term homeownership; providing grants of $1,000 to workforce buyers who use a Workforce Housing Specialist; funding the Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) benefit that the foundation offers to AAR employees and employees of the local REALTOR associations throughout the state; and, developing, marketing, and maintaining a workforce housing website. Much of the program is still in development, but some elements have been implemented. for example, an Arizona Workforce Housing Specialist certification course has been approved, with the first class set to be offered on May 5, 2011 at the Lake Havasu Association of REALTORS. This class is based on NARs EAH Class. A second class, on financing, is in development and will likely be presented as a webinar. both courses will be required for REALTORS seeking the certification. The foundation is structuring another arm of the program, the workforce homebuyer financial assistance program, to be self-sustaining. The foundation will ask each certified Arizona Workforce Housing Specialist to commit to donating $1,000 to the foundation whenever the Specialist helps a workforce buyer successfully close on a property. Those contributions will ensure that each workforce homebuyer who works with a certified Workforce Housing specialist receives $1,000 to put toward downpayment and closing costs. In addressing another program element, the foundation obtained the license for the new website, www.Azworkforcehousing.com, which it launched in early 2011. The new website features a list of programs available to assist workforce buyers, foreclosure avoidance help, and a list of Arizonas Workforce Housing Specialists. After three months, the site has had 50 visits without the benefit of advertising. The foundation also sponsored a regional conference of real estate leaders from the Southwestern states, promoting an exchange of ideas.
Workforce Housing Starts at Home

Since 2005, AAR has assisted a very special group of workers: its own. AARs Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) benefit plan offers employees of AAR and employees of local REALTOR associations in Arizona up to $5,000 toward the purchase of a new home, provided they have worked for the association a minimum of 180 days, have an annual salary that does not exceed 115 percent of the county median, do not already own residential property, and work with a REALTOR to find and purchase their new home. According to AARs Monica Schulik, this benefit is not used frequently, but the organization has made nine forgivable loan contributions since the programs inception. Of the nine loans, seven were to AAR employees, and two were to employees of local associations. AAR used $50,000 from its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to replenish the fund from which these loans are drawn, anticipating that this amount will enable AAR to continue offering the benefit for at least three additional years.
REALTOR Involvement
As the foundations Outreach program has progressed, the local associations have shared their excitement with AAR. REALTORS across Arizona are eager for more information about certification as Arizona Workforce Housing Specialists. These REALTORS see the program as opening up greater opportunities for those who want to grow their business by tapping into the market potential of workforce housing.
www.REALTOR.org
25
ARKANSAS ARKANSAS ARKANSAS

Arkansas REALTORS Association (ARA) 7,334 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Workforce Housing Opportunities program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTOR /Consumer), Outreach Campaign
ARAs program seeks to: Educate REALTORS on the resources available to potential workforce homebuyers, develop an education program and resources to guide workers through the process of becoming homeowners, and develop and implement a communications and outreach plan that informs both REALTORS and consumers about resources available and the benefits of first-time homeownership through the Arkansas development finance Authority.
TarGET m arKET
Arkansas development finance Authority, 37 Local REALTOR boards from throughout Arkansas, 27 Homebuyer Counseling Agencies throughout Arkansas
aWard
$60,000
COnTaCT
REALTORS, first-time homebuyers
Amy Glover bryant director of Media Relations Arkansas REALTORS Association (ARA) 11224 Executive Center drive Little Rock, AR 72211 501.225.2020 501.225.7131 fax amy@arkansasrealtors.com www.ArkansasRealtors.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
despite historically low mortgage rates

and an outstanding inventory of homes, potential workforce and first-time homebuyers in Arkansas often still hesitate due to uncertainty about the process and lack of information regarding what resources are available to them. To help address this hesitancy, the Arkansas REALTORS Association (ARA) is using its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to extend a hand to both REALTORS and would-be first-time homebuyers through education and outreach.
Even with the downturn, housing prices in Arkansas are still beyond the reach of many middle-income families. In 2008, for example, Arkansass median household income was $38,820, insufficient for the purchase of a home with the average price of $150,846. yet low- and moderateincome workers in Arkansas do have options through the Arkansas development finance Authority. ARAs Workforce Housing Opportunities program focuses on making those options known. The program aims to provide education and resources to improve understanding of the homebuying process, inform consumers on how to obtain and maintain good credit, and share information on opportunities to help them afford a home of their own. Another goal of the program is to boost REALTOR knowledge of workforce housing issues, programs, and resources by providing continuing education on workforce housing. prior to receiving the Ira Gribin Grant funds, ARA did not offer its members any type of ongoing education on workforce housing issues, consumer needs for workforce
26
ARKANSAS ARKANSAS ARKANSAS

housing, or the first-time buyer programs available for Arkansans. Therefore, the courses developed under this program will meet a longstanding educational need. finally, ARA has been developing an overall communications strategy targeting both REALTORS and consumers. ARA is writing a resource guide for homebuyers that will lead them through the process of homebuying and list resources that are available for downpayment and loan assistance. The guide will be published both in hard copy and online. Another communications element in process is the dedicated consumer website, which will provide information, articles, and resource information for firsttime homebuyers. A media campaign will promote the guide and the website, while also repeating the message of the value of homeownership and the crucial role that REALTORS can play in making homeownership a reality. The Arkansas REALTORS Association, along with AdfA, developed a brochure outlining Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program, a financial incentive for firsttime homebuyers to purchase homes they otherwise might not be able to afford. In addition to this brochure, the ARA is developing a brochure with AdfA on the HomeToOwn program and delivering slide presentations for both lenders and REALTORS describing the various programs offered by the Arkansas development finance Authority (AdfA).
Opportunities program, ARA seeks to benefit the first-time homebuyer sector of the workforce that wants to enter the housing market but may feel that their opportunities are lost now that the tax credit has expired. This program will reassure them that resources are still available to help them purchase a home and secure a mortgage. ultimately, ARA anticipates a three percent increase in the number of firsttime homebuyers as a result of the program. In order to assist even more homebuyers over the longterm, ARA has developed courses for REALTORS on the use of housing resources and the tools available to homebuyers. The goal is to train over 1,000 Arkansas REALTORS through this continuing education courses on workforce housing. Among other things, the course content will cover: Why affordable housing is important Identifying problems Issues, strategies, and actions including attracting young people, families, and seniors Identifying resources and Monitoring progress Ongoing, informal education and information-sharing will occur through ARAs existing communications tools. These include the ARA website, blog (www.TheArkansasRealtor. blogspot.com), facebook pages (www.facebook.com/ ArkansasRealtors), Twitter feeds (http://twitter.com/ ARRealtorsAssoc), The Arkansas REALTOR monthly magazine, Quarterly ARA board of directors and zone meetings, and ARAs Annual State Convention.
In addition, ARA included information on the Ira Gribin Grant in its April 2011 newsletter and an advertisement outlining the MCC program for the newsletters REALTOR audience. In early April 2011, ARA planned to issue a news release regarding the program, along with an article written by Amy Glover bryant on the work of the taskforce. The article will be part of the Association House to House series, which is syndicated in more than 25 newspapers throughout Arkansas.
REALTOR Involvement
Once the program is launched and active, ARA expects to promote consumer understanding of the role the REALTOR plays in affordable workforce housing opportunities. The organization also hopes to expand REALTOR partnerships with consumers, housing counselors, lenders, community organization, and local officials. by bringing greater attention to workforce housing from both the REALTOR and consumer perspectives, ARA anticipates growth in both Arkansas homeownership and the businesses of individual REALTORS.
Growing Consumer Confidence and REALTOR Knowledge

With the end of the first-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, potential buyers need to be reassured that there are still programs and resources that will help them purchase a home. Of the approximate 24,000 homes sold each year in Arkansas, approximately 10,800 are purchased by first-time homebuyers. Through the Workforce Housing
www.REALTOR.org
27
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFOR

aSSOCIaTIOn/FOundaTIOn PrOGr a m dESCrIPTIOn aWard
California Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability fund (CARHAf) 183,885 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Mortgage protection program

PrOGr a m T yPE
CARHAf created a Mortgage protection program (Mpp) to provide protection for working families to cover mortgage payments in the event of involuntary loss of employment. This free product is available to qualified first-time homebuyers at the close of escrow.
TarGET m arKET
$420,000
COnTaCT
financial Assistance
Monica Rodriguez Housing Opportunity program Manager California Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability fund 525 South virgil Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90020-1403 213.739.8380 213.739.8200 main 213.480.7724 fax monicar@car.org www.car.org
first-time homebuyers with W-2 (no self-employed borrowers).

KEy ParTnErS
Nonprofits, including Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing, Orange County NHS, San Louis Obispo County Housing Trust fund, Tri-valley Housing Opportunity Council
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
In difficult economic times, even those with the funds to purchase a home may hesitate because of uncertainty
about the possibility of being laid off from work. In response to this, the California Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability fund (CARHAf) created the Mortgage protection program (Mpp) to help first-time homebuyers overcome this apprehension. The response from first-time homebuyers was positive and strong. under the Mpp, qualifying buyers could receive up to $1,500 a month for up to six months in the event of job loss, and a qualified co-buyer could also receive a $750 benefit for up to six months to help pay the mortgage. CARHAf launched the program in April 2009 and used the funds from the Ira Gribin Grant to expand funding for the program beyond the initial $1 million allocated by CARHAf. Since its initial launch, Mpp has issued policies to more than 5,000 new homebuyers, over 1,000 more than the program expected.
28
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFO

ultimately, the program was designed to provide first-time homebuyers greater peace of mind, confidence, and security in the first year of transitioning to homeownership, while simultaneously taking advantage of the fact that home prices in California were at an eight-year low. CARHAf had long been interested in developing a program that would address Californias high cost of living and also benefit the states diverse workforce. This was clearly the time to do it, as the housing affordability index (HAI) rose from an all-time low of 24 percent in 2007 to 59 percent by the fourth quarter of 2008, thus reflecting a prime time for homebuying. yet the economic downturn that caused the shift in the housing market also created instability in the labor force, necessitating a new approach for households wishing to purchase a home. Indeed, apprehension on the part of todays potential first-time homebuyers, even as market conditions have produced unprecedented low-cost entry level housing opportunities, is the biggest challenge that Californias workforce faces. The Mpp is unique in that it is offered to buyers regardless of brokerage, development, or housing type, providing the most flexibility of any program offered to date. Since the unveiling of the program, CARHAf has been approached by several state associations eager to offer similar programs. CARHAf partnered with several local nonprofits throughout the state to promote the use of the program and encourage first-time homebuyers to use the program through a California REALTOR. The nonprofit partners helped to prepare potential homebuyers with the necessary tools, such as pre-purchase homebuyer education and counseling, financial education, building credit or credit repair, and other services. The number of claims filed by consumers reflects the value of the program, not just to consumers, but to assisting in the prevention of additional foreclosures. To date, more than $350,000 in claims have been paid. Several program participants provided testimony that this program allowed them to pay their mortgage for the period of their unemployment, and helped them stay current on their mortgage. Many buyers indicated that this program offered them the peace of mind to pursue homeownership during these unstable economic times.
A Popular and Replicable Program

At the time of enrollment, program participants received a call from CARHAfs insurance broker, welcoming the new homebuyers into the program and reviewing the program terms and conditions. They were asked during that call whether, given a choice, they would have preferred this program benefit or closing cost assistance. Overwhelmingly, with the exception of just two respondents, the first-time homebuyers all felt the Mpp provided the most tangible benefit and were appreciative of the program. The initial expectation was for 3,000 participants and the program instead approved 4,406 applications issuing more than 5,500 individual policies. These numbers alone speak to the programs success. As the Mpp caught on throughout the state, a significant amount of in-kind media support was received from local television and radio broadcasting to support the program. As noted, CARHAf has been approached by other state associations eager to develop similar programs for their members. And CARHAf is moving ahead. The original anticipated program close date was december 31, 2009, however due to available funds, popularity and demand for the program, the Housing Affordability fund Committee extended the Mortgage protection program through June 30, 2010 and allocated up to an additional $300,000 to cover further direct program costs. The allocation of additional program dollars allowed CARHAf to extend the program beyond the initial grant period. However, with the evolving market demands, the need to provide this program has concluded and CARHAf has since released a new statewide program. The launch of the Mpp provided CARHAf with its first successful statewide initiative, which will now provide the foundation for these new efforts. based on lessons learned and new housing and economic developments, the program is examining opportunities to enhance the current insurance product and seek competitive product costs, so that future fund investment into the program has a greater reach to cover more policies and households on an ongoing basis.
www.REALTOR.org
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CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFOR

REALTOR Involvement
California REALTORS found it easy to promote the Mpp to their clients due to its straightforward qualifying criteria, which had no income or purchase price caps. In fact, representation by a REALTOR was one of the few requirements new homebuyers had to meet. participating REALTORS submitted completed applications to CARHAf on the homebuyers behalf. REALTORS played a key role in promoting the availability of the Mpp. While CARHAf communicated extensively with REALTORS about the program, the REALTORS themselves were crucial to informing potential buyers of its availability. The majority of individuals served through the program reported in a survey conducted by CARHOf that they learned about the program through their REALTOR. In addition, the largest support came from local associations that bought ad space touting the program in their local newspapers. Ongoing post-program surveys are gauging the Mpps influence in getting buyers to seek the representation of a REALTOR. At the same time, CARHAf is surveying REALTORS to determine if the Mpp was a deciding factor in their decision to join or renew their membership in the California Association of REALTORS. Members are also being asked if they felt the program was a factor in increasing sales activity.
30
COLORADO COLORADO COLOR

Colorado Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation (CARHOf) 23,500 members

PrOGr a m na mE
CARHOf Workforce Housing Initiative

PrOGr a m T yPE
financial Assistance, funding Resource
CARHOfs Workforce Housing initiative supports existing and new downpayment assistance programs being offered to workforce families by nonprofit organizations, public housing agencies, and employers in Colorado. CARHOfs goal in the first year of this initiative was to assist 20 workforce families in becoming homeowners. The program uses repaid loans to help future buyers.
TarGET m arKET
funding partners for Housing Solutions, Colorado Association of REALTORS

aWard
$100,000
COnTaCT
buyer is employed a minimum of 30 hours per week with a household income is less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Julie bramer CAR foundations director CARHOf 309 Inverness Way South Englewood, CO 80112 303.790.7099 303.790.7299 fax jbramer@coloradorealtors.com www.carhof.org
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Colorados rugged geography plays a big role in shaping the states housing market. The mountainous
resort areas are dominated by second homes, for example. yet most workers in these communities are in the low-wage service sector ski resort employees, retail clerks, and restaurant employees who often cant afford to live nearby and must make lengthy drives over mountain roads in order to work. Since the 2008 median home prices in these areas easily exceeded $400,000, even those earning higher wages in professions like teaching and health care must have assistance in order to purchase a home. In the states large urban center of denver, up to 33 percent of the jobs pay less than $40,000 per year, preventing many from buying a home in a market where median home prices are close to $252,000 and even condos have a median price of $162,500. Across the state, from the plains in the east to the Rockies in the west, skyrocketing single-family home prices have far outpaced increases in wages.
www.REALTOR.org
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COLORADO COLORADO COLORA

In order to address this situation and expand homeownership opportunities for working families in Colorado, the Colorado Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation (CARHOf) established the Workforce Housing Initiative to help workers who need assistance with a downpayment and closing costs. This Initiative provides a funding program for housing organizations, including nonprofits, public housing agencies, and employers concerned about workforce housing. CARHOf sought programs providing subordinate mortgages at interest rates and terms that helped renters in moving to homeownership. The programs also had to meet a matching fund requirement.
Lessons Learned
CARHOf funds the entire continuum of affordable housing within Colorado, including homeless shelters, transitional housing programs, subsidized rental housing, shelters for victims of domestic violence, mortgage/rental assistance for families threatened with losing their homes, homebuyer counseling, downpayment assistance for firsttime homebuyers, foreclosure prevention, temporary shelter for victims of natural disasters, and more. One unexpected challenge was that no employers applied for funding, despite the request for grant applications from 12 employers that currently offer workforce housing. According to funding partners for Housing Solutions, CARHOfs partner in the Initiative, the economic downturn has made retention of employees a lower priority among some employers, who also appear reluctant to encourage their workers to purchase a home when faced with a declining market. The result was that while CARHOf was able to fund seven excellent programs, none of them originated with employers. Any future efforts will likely incorporate outreach and technical assistance so that more employers will be eligible for funding. CARHOf also found that the economic downturn prevented many of its previous partners from providing funds. In the course of the project, CARHOf learned that downpayment assistance programs are attractive to government funders, and there may be additional collaboration possibilities with cities, counties, housing authorities, and the Colorado division of Housing. This observation will be useful to CARHOf in identifying likely partners for future efforts. finally, CARHOf had hoped for greater volunteer involvement in the fundraising efforts, but only one local REALTOR association became involved in fundraising for the match the Estes park board of REALTORS, which held several fundraisers and raised more than $5,600 in matching funds. The other grant recipients received funding from government sources and first bank. In the future, CARHOf will address ways to increase REALTOR involvement in the process.
CARHOf granted $25,000 to start a new program offered by the Garfield County Housing Authority. CARHOf will monitor their success long-term, as well as the success of the relatively new La plata Home fund, which also received $25,000. The other five programs are: the Eagle County Loan fund, Loveland Housing development Corp., the City of Longmont, Summit Combined Housing Authority, and the Estes park Housing Authority, each of which received $10,000. A use of funds report from these organization for CARHOf will be due in August 2011.
32
COLORADO COLORADO COLOR

Sustainability/How This Helps the Community
The best aspect about the programs CARHOfs Workforce Housing Initiative supports is they are highly sustainable. because they provide downpayments and closing costs in the form of low-interest loans that are repaid by the homebuyer and returned to a pool of funding to be used by future homebuyers, the effect of these programs continue to reverberate for years to come. The CARHOf board of directors will meet every year to evaluate the needs of the Workforce Housing Initiative and determine how much to appropriate for the program. funding partners and CAR have made a commitment to support the Workforce Housing Initiative in the future. Once funders for matches are identified this year, CARHOf will update them annually about the plan for the Initiative and ask them to continue to support the program.
REALTOR Involvement
At a local level, local REALTOR involvement was critical to this program. In CARHOfs current structure, each local REALTOR association has a member who serves as a CARHOf volunteer/chairperson. for the Workforce Housing initiative, these chairpersons and their CARHOf committees were responsible for marketing and raising awareness about the availability of funds through the Workforce Housing Initiative. CARHOf also sought REALTORS to play a critical role in helping local organizations qualify to receive grant dollars through this program by helping these organizations raise funds at a local level in order to meet the programs matching funds requirement. finally, these CARHOf REALTOR volunteers were asked to inform their local REALTOR associations and the general public about which type of organizations could qualify to receive these downpayment funds.
www.REALTOR.org
33
CONNECTICUT CONNECTICUT C
aSSOCIaTIOn/FOundaTIOn PrOGr a m dESCrIPTIOn TarGET m arKET
Connecticut Association of REALTORS (CAR) 17,196 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Connecticut Workforce Housing umbrella program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Research, Advocacy/policy development, Education and Outreach
The Connecticut Association of REALTORS Workforce Housing umbrella program supports both a state and a local initiative. At the state level, CAR is organizing a series of regional forums on workforce housing and establishing regional teams to conduct advocacy on key issues under the Regional Workforce Housing Market development and Education program. In the local program, the Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS (ECAR) conducted a survey of households in New London County to measure housing needs and cost burdens by income group, age, and community, which will be used to provide data for developers, lenders, and policymakers on the continued need for low and moderate income housing in the region.
Regional Workforce Housing Market development and Education program: Local town council members, zoning commissioners, planning commissioners, REALTORS, and homebuilders Southeastern Connecticut Housing Market Study: Households in New London County, consumer, employers, lenders, government officials
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Connecticut suffers from a striking lack of affordable housing. In some communities, workers cannot even
afford to rent locally. The result is the nations greatest loss of the 25 34 year-old population, affecting Connecticuts ability to offer businesses a skilled labor force. Connecticut is a home rule state in which each community controls its own zoning. because of concerns about an influx of low-income residents, the states communities often use zoning power to block higher-density affordable housing. However, some municipalities now want to produce more housing options for municipal and commercial workers, adult children coming home after college, and others who make lowto moderate-incomes.
34
KEy ParTnErS aWard
Regional Workforce Housing Market development and Education program: partnership for Strong Communities, Home builders Association of Connecticut, department of Economic and Community development Southeastern Connecticut Housing Market Study: Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS (ECAR), Southeastern Connecticut Housing Alliance (SECHA), builders Association of Eastern Connecticut (bAEC), and Connecticut Economic Research Center, Inc. (CERC)
$80,000
COnTaCT
beth Mecteau director of Executive and Member programs Connecticut Association of REALTORS 111 founders plaza, Suite 1101 East Hartford, CT 06108 860.290.6601 860.290.6615 fax mecteaub@ctrealtor.com www.ctrealtor.com
Therefore, the Connecticut Association of REALTORS (CAR) has embarked on a two-pronged program to both collect and share information about workforce housing in the state. With an allocation of funds from CAR, the Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS (ECAR) conducted a survey to collect data on affordable housing needs in the southeastern part of the state. The Southeastern Connecticut Housing Market Study surveyed nearly 3,000 New London County residents (with approximately 400 surveys completed) to obtain and correlate demographic and income data with housing data in order to augment available market studies with current data and demonstrate the need for low- and moderate-income housing in the region. The Study will measure housing needs and cost burdens by income group, age, and community within New London County, providing essential data for developers, lenders, and policymakers regarding the need for low- and moderate-income housing in that region. ECAR expects
the Study to show an unmet need for 1,000 to 2,000 affordable rental housing units and 1,000 to 2,000 affordable ownership units. It will provide supporting data to five developers trying to advance projects that will offer more than 400 units of workforce housing. These developers can then document demand when dealing with lenders and local land use commissioners. The Study will also provide data to be used by ten community banks and three national banks in the region for underwriting and appraisal assessments on mortgage applications for the next five years. ECAR expects five towns in southeastern Connecticut to use the Study proactively to plan and zone for affordable housing. As of late March, 2011, the preliminary report was completed. final analysis of the report and recommendations was in process at the beginning of April 2011, with a follow-up survey to further refine the results being considered. At the state level, CAR, through its Regional Workforce Housing Market development and Education program,
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35
will offer a series of forums in each of 15 regions across the state in order to educate local stakeholders about affordable housing. Expert REALTORS, homebuilders, economists, and housing advocates will make presentations explaining the local housing market, the demand for affordable housing options that are in short supply, the benefits of mixed-income housing, municipal incentives, and programs and subsidies available to help create the housing. Through these presentations, CAR aims to directly address the reasons for many misconceptions and myths about affordable housing, and provide evidence that clearly refutes them. In each area, local teams will be established to lead more focused advocacy efforts going forward. Invited guests will include local selectmen, town council members, zoning commissioners, planning commissioners, REALTORS, and homebuilders from the region, with an expected attendance of 50 75 per forum. CAR believes that presentations by experts will enhance the credibility of the sessions. Examples of attractively designed, well-built homes will be shown, along with real-world evidence of workforce housing programs in which property values did not decrease, crime did not increase, and school costs were unaffected by the housing. Time will be provided for discussion and questions, but each event will last no longer than 90 minutes. Handouts will include key information, and follow-up with participants will create teams or committees in each region and town to pursue more focused discussions with municipal officials. CAR has held an organizational meeting with its partners, contacted the experts who will take part in the events, and met with mayors and first selectmen to inform them about the program. The first three forums were scheduled for June 1, June 16, and September 15, 2011. for Strong Communities, an organization dedicated to solving homelessness, creating affordable housing, and developing strong communities. The partnership will utilize its existing municipal, Regional planning Organization (RpO), and other housing related relationships to ensure the success of the overall program. They will also tap their municipal contacts to secure speakers from municipalities for the 15 regional sessions. Another partner, the Home builders Association of Connecticut (HAC), is providing area builders as speakers for the 15 regional sessions. HAC will encourage attendance at the sessions by area homebuilders, and will participate in the efforts of the regional teams the program is advocating for. finally, the RpOs are helping to encourage attendance and participation by municipal personnel and will serve as clearinghouses for information regarding the efforts of the regional teams. Each of the partners in this project plays a critical role in creating support for workforce housing.
REALTOR Involvement
In implementing the Regional Workforce Housing Market development and Education program, local REALTORS will be identified to speak at the 15 regional sessions and encourage attendance and involvement by area REALTORS. CAR expects that, as REALTORS have opportunities to strengthen their connections to and communications with community leaders through the Regional Workforce Housing Market development and Education program, the barriers to workforce housing will drop. by developing a greater supply of affordable options, REALTORS will have a greater range of housing to sell to all portions of the market. REALTORS will also have a high level of participation in the Market Study. In addition to serving as a core member of the steering committee, ECAR will also supply support staff for the program and provide $1,000 in funds to the endeavor. This fundamental role will put REALTORS in an excellent position to see and prepare for the trends affecting the future of housing in the New London area.
Pulling Together for Workforce Housing

The Regional Workforce Housing Market development and Education program relies on partnerships and outreach. CAR realized early on that strong partnerships would be critical to building the community support for creating more affordable housing options for Connecticuts workforce. CARs primary partner in this program is the partnership
36
DELAWARE DELAWARE DELAWARE

aSSOCIaTIOn/FOundaTIOn TarGET m arKET aWard
delaware Association of REALTORS (dAR) 3,800 members

PrOGr a m na mE
delaware umbrella program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Low income households and REALTORS who will be made aware of the various workforce housing programs available throughout the state and will assist potential buyers in finding the right programs.
KEy ParTnErS
$50,000
COnTaCT
Charlotte Herbert Government Affairs director delaware Association of REALTORS 134 East Water Street dover, dE 19901-3614 302.734.4444 302.734.1341 fax charlotte@delawarerealtor.com www.delawarerealtor.com
public Awareness, Community Outreach and Education (Consumer), REALTOR Education, financial Assistance
PrOGr a m dESCrIPTIOn
The delaware Workforce Housing umbrella program promotes workforce housing education and awareness through a public awareness campaign to overcome the stigma of affordable housing. Working through local REALTOR associations, the program provides closing cost assistance to homebuyers, providing home inspection on foreclosed homes and closing costs, and assists families with counseling and payment of mortgage application fees.
Sussex County Association of REALTORS: Habitat for Humanity, 1st State Community Action, Habitat for Humanity, Milford Housing, Sussex County Community development Office, Sussex County Association of REALTORS affiliates kent County Association of REALTORS: National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor (NCALL) Research fund, Inc. New Castle County board of REALTORS: delaware Housing Opportunities fund Inc., and delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
If all politics are local, what about real estate? Taking the stance that one size does not fit all, the
delaware Association of REALTORS (dAR) chose to use its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to support workforce housing initiatives developed by its local associations to assist workforce families in their communities. Each of three county associations Sussex, kent, and New Castle took a different approach, based on their local real estate environment, available partners, and resources.
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DELAWARE DELAWARE DELAWARE

Sussex County provided an education program for area REALTORS, developed advocacy and media campaigns focused on affordable housing, recruited local organizations as partners, and provided closing costs. The kent County program offered to pay counseling fees and application fees for low- and medium-income families. And in New Castle County, the local association of REALTORS provided one-on-one counseling and initiated a series of seminars with faith-based organizations, community services providers, and others to address topics such as credit, banking, and mortgages. Each county association met its own needs while also developing the equivalent of pilot programs that can be shared with their counterparts elsewhere in the state. to purchase a home in their work area but may find it difficult to afford all of the fees. A kCAR representative has been present at the orientations sessions and has provided information on the program and the benefits of using a REALTOR to potential buyers. Last but not least, the New Castle County board of REALTORS (NCCbOR) Workforce Housing Initiative far exceeded expectations. partnering with the delaware Community Reinvestment Action Councils (dCRAC) and the delaware Housing Opportunity fund, Inc. (dHOfI), NCCbOR instituted a Workforce Housing Initiative that included a series of seminars presented in conjunction with faith-based institutions, community service providers, schools, and other community organizations in low- to moderate-income communities. These seminars focused on budget, banking, credit, consumer loans, mortgages, fair housing, taxes, additional local resources, and investment strategies. With a goal of educating 500 individuals and or families about financial issues through a Credit Clinic, in conjunction with the dCRAC, the Initiative actually provided free educational services to 1,356 clients in less than six months. dCRAC offers a number of programs, including a five-week financial fitness program, in which clients learn how to build a better financial future for themselves and their families. during the seminars, dCRAC staff also inform clients about issues such as fair housing, budgeting, and how to build credit. The success of the seminars can be attributed to the timely manner in which the information is distributed. Often clients who attend one seminar will refer family and friends to attend the next seminar or event. dCRACs Housing Clinic had similar success, educating 510 clients, several times the initial goal of reaching 100 clients. Clients learn about issues such as fair housing and foreclosure prevention, as well as simple budgeting tools. The Housing Clinic has successfully hosted foreclosure prevention workshops where homeowners meet their lenders and start the communication process that can lead to a modification of their loans. The clinics use television and radio programs to cover a wide range of financial topics. Radio has been the most effective tool, because the programs are in Spanish and English.
Local Issues, Local Associations

The Sussex County Association of REALTORS (SCAOR), operating in an area with a strong resort/second home market that drives up home prices, targeted would-be homeowners earning $43,000 to $81,000 with expansion of a program called Local Opportunities Create Affordable Living (LOCAL). The first step in the expanded program was to extend the partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the SCAOR Community Service foundation in order to identify current listings in foreclosure and use Neighborhood Stabilization funds (NSf) to enable first time homebuyers to live closer to their work. A series of fundraising events helped raise the publics awareness to SCAORs efforts. On June 23, 2010, over 72 members volunteered on the Habitat and REALTOR framing frenzy. As a result of the overwhelming support from SCAOR volunteers, Habitat was able to frame an additional home that day. Local newspapers were on hand to provide coverage. The second part of the SCAOR program involved increasing partnerships with local employers regarding the Employer Assisted Housing program. The Association met with two major local employers regarding the program, one of which, Allen foods, agreed to pilot a program. The kent County Association of REALTORS (kCAR) partnered with the National Center on Agricultural Life and Labor (NCALL), to provide homeownership counseling, financial literacy training, and default and foreclosure prevention. kCAR paid the fees for this counseling, thus assisting low- and medium-income families who are eligible
38
FLORIDA FLORIDA FLORIDA FLORID

florida Realtors 115,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Sadowski Education Effort, Welcome Home Week, florida Workforce Housing umbrella program
PrOGr a m T yPE
florida Realtors took a multi-faceted approach to address the needs of workforce housing in its state, launching two statewide programs and supporting several local REALTOR associations in addressing the needs of workforce families in their local communities as needed. The Sadowski Education Effort (SEE) is a statewide advocacy campaign. The Welcome Home Week media campaign provides first responders, military families, teachers, and others in the workforce with information about opportunities for homeownership in florida and the unique financing programs available to them. The florida Workforce Housing umbrella Campaign is an umbrella program for existing and new efforts at the state and local level to provide education and financial assistance programs.
Advocacy Campaign, Community Outreach, Education (REALTOR/ Consumer), financial Assistance
florida legislators are the target for the SEE advocacy campaign. Welcome Home Week seeks to reach the general population of first responders, military families, teachers and other audiences of the workforce. Local programs are focusing on first-time homebuyers, low- to moderate-income households, and first responders, military families, teachers, and nurses.
KEy ParTnErS
The Sadowski Workforce Housing Coalition includes more than 20 advocacy, housing, and policy organizations, including florida Realtors, florida Homebuilders, League of Cities, Association of Counties, Legal Services, Coalition of Affordable Housing providers, State Housing Initiatives partnership (SHIp)
(continued on page 40)
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Working in one of the states that was hardest-hit by the real estate downturn, florida Realtors
developed
a three-pronged program to address workforce housing. first, with its more than 20 partners in the statewide advocacy group known as the Sadowski Coalition, florida Realtors mounted an education program aimed at informing florida state legislators of the long-term value of supporting workforce housing and seeking to restore a long-standing transfer fee set-aside that was recently diverted to the states general revenue fund. Second, a Welcome Home Week media campaign aimed at Hometown Heroes such as first responders, military families, teachers, and others in the workforce sought to share information about the unique financing programs available to first-time homebuyers. The third element of the program allocated funds to several local REALTOR associations so that they could assist first-time and low-income workforce homebuyers in ways best defined by local conditions.
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Administrators, Housing finance Authorities from all over florida, florida Manufactured Housing Association, florida Counties Association, and others. for Welcome Home Week, partners include the 66 local REALTOR associations as well as floridas SHIp program. partners for the local programs include Wells fargo bank; Green Committee; bb&T bank; Tri-County Air Conditioning-Heating; Macys Termite and pest Control; Natural Awakenings; Education Housing Alliance; Seagull Industries for the disabled, Inc.; Quantum House; Community partnership Group; Real Estate, Education and Community Housing, Inc. (REACH); Lee County Housing development Corporation; Habitat for Humanity; St. petersburg Chamber of Commerce; Workforce Housing Agencies; Metro Orlando Home builders Association; Orange County government; Housing and Neighborhood Services Agency (HANdS); Orlando Chapter of the American Institute of Architects; City of Winter Garden; Greater fort Lauderdale Alliance, the Greater fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, broward Teachers union, fort Lauderdale police chiefs union; the City of Tamarac; and various small business contributors.
aWard
$280,000
COnTaCT
vani ungapen director of Global business and Legislative Research florida Realtors 200 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, fL 32301 850.224.1400 ext. 2502 850.224.0702 fax vaniu@floridarealtors.org www.floridarealtors.org
Lessons Learned/Educating Legislators on the Need for Workforce Housing

florida Realtors, in coordination with their 20-plus partners in the Sadowski Coalition, have worked hard to educate florida legislators on the importance of funding workforce housing. Nearly 20 years ago the state of florida decided to dedicate a portion of the states real estate transfer fee to workforce and affordable housing, but these funds were recently shifted to the general revenue fund, a move that the Coalition sought to reverse. The Coalition also advocated for additional housing funds, a difficult undertaking in light of the states $3 billion shortfall. Nonetheless, talented people were brought in to lobby, and REALTORS, builders, and other housing advocates met personally with their legislators in their districts and in the state capitol of Tallahassee. With term limits forcing experienced members to leave after only 8 years, a constant effort must be made to convince policymakers that a dedicated funding source for workforce
housing be maintained every year. Although support was strong, the effort did not succeed due to an amendment that essentially killed the bill that would have restored the workforce housing funds. unfortunately, 2011 will be a rough budget year in florida, because federal stimulus dollars have run out and gaps need to be filled. New Governor Rick Scott has proposed abolishing the trust funds and funding housing at a low level for the coming two years. The Sadowski Coalition plans to push hard for an early passage of the bill in 2011 and is working to educate another crop of newly elected legislators, since ultimately it is the florida Legislators who writes the budget. With funds from the Ira Gribin Grant, florida Realtors will hire a highly regarded communications and lobbying team to continue its effort to repeal the cap on the State and Local Housing Trust funds. The Welcome Home florida media campaign produced more tangible and immediate success. florida Realtors produced and aired 1,100 fifteen- and 338 thirty-second
40

radio spots on 86 stations across the state. Each spot was a testimonial from a teacher, firefighter, police officer, or nurse, or a general spot that covered the military. Another 1,300 spots streamed on the stations websites across florida. Some local REALTOR associations bought or leveraged additional air time. Spots directed prospective buyers and sellers to a website (www.floridarealtors.org/ WelcomeHomeWeek) offering synopsis and links to comprehensive local, state and federal workforce housing programs and demonstrated how to find a Realtor . The site had 13,200 hits during the week of the campaign. loan modification, and refinance assistance. The first one was so successful that RAMb hosted a second week in July, incorporating two new components of the housing program Condominium Reform and broker fees. Each of these new programs focused on protecting tenants/buyers at the signing of a lease or closing. One participant said of the broker fee class: There is a way to challenge this transaction fee. Through the document that you had given me, I faxed it to the attorney and the closing attorney was able to remove the charges of the transaction feesaved me $395! RAMb hopes to continue offering this program annually. The programs offered RAMb leaders a platform to communicate new ideas, such as developing a regional short sales solution, and a class to explain permissible and illegal broker fees in the market. The REALTOR Association of Greater fort Lauderdale (RAGfL) established a program to provide assistance to purchasers of Neighborhood Stabilization program (NSp) properties. These homeowners were eligible for funding to assist with the purchase of household appliances or costs associated with the improvement curbside appeal. Among the eligible curbside improvements: the maintenance of overgrown grass, outside paint, the repair of exterior fences, walls, doors, etc. The Association targeted the teachers, emergency services personnel, and health industry workers. The program helps repair foreclosed homes, and improves the curbside appeal of local communities. Middle and lower income families have benefitted as they have been able to improve their homes inside and out. While applications did not come in as quickly as expected, the RAGfL was able to disperse most of the funds, and efforts are ongoing.
REALTOR Involvement the Local Associations

funds from the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant were also distributed among 11 local associations to create or enhance their own programs, tailored to local needs. The resulting programs include grants for low-income families to be applied towards closing costs, education for potential homebuyers on various workforce housing programs, funds to promote curb appeal, first-time homebuyer assistance for those who meet the low-income criteria, and more. Highlights from several local association programs are described below: The REALTORS Association of the palm beaches foundation (RApbf) received an allocation of $11,889 from the florida Realtors Ira Gribin Grant to sponsor first-Time Homebuyer Seminars/fairs and a down payment Assistance Seminar. RApb also provided education and counseling in palm beach County through an inhouse NeighborWorks Certified Counselor. With the NeighborWorks Certification and Real Estate, Education, and Community Housing, Inc. (REACH), the Association can begin providing foreclosure counseling, first-time homebuyer counseling, and loan modification courses to the West palm beach community. The REALTOR Association of Greater Miami and the beaches (RAMb) twice offered a two-day Housing Opportunities Specialist Certification program. upon completion, participants received a certificate and were listed on the www.sfhomeprograms.com website. RAMb hosted a Empowering South floridas Housing week in January 2010, with the goal of establishing a standard model that will provide guidance to residents and REALTORS using federal, state, and local foreclosure,
www.REALTOR.org
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GEORGIA GEORGIA GEORGIA GE

Georgia Association of REALTORS 28,115 members

PrOGr a m na mE
dekalb Workforce Housing Initiative program (d-WHIp)

PrOGr a m T yPE
This program educates REALTORS and workforce buyers about the Neighborhood Stabilization program (NSp), with a goal of connecting buyers with foreclosed and/or distressed properties in targeted areas of dekalb County, Georgia.
TarGET m arKET
$120,000
COnTaCT
brigette killion director of finance Georgia Association of REALTORS 3200 presidential drive Atlanta, GA 30340 770.451.1831 770.458.6992 fax bkillion@garealtor.com www.garealtor.com www.dwhip.org
Education (REALTOR/Consumer), financial Assistance, Revitalization, Website
REALTORS and Workforce Housing buyers in dekalb County who are identified through their participation in the NSp offered by the Atlanta Neighborhood development program.
KEy ParTnErS
dekalb Association of REALTORS, Atlanta Neighborhood development program, dekalb County department of Community Affairs, Georgia department of Community Affairs
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
dekalb County is one of Georgias most heavily populated counties. It also has one of the highest
foreclosure rates in the nation. With a relatively high percentage of empty homes, the possibility of blight and neighborhood disintegration is a very real concern. Therefore, in an effort to stabilize neighborhoods with a high number of foreclosed properties, the Georgia Association of REALTORS (GAR) partnered with the dekalb Association of REALTORS (dAR) to initiate the dekalb Workforce Housing Initiative program (d-WHIp), an education program addressing the needs of both REALTORS and workforce homebuyers. In addition to providing education and resources, d-WHIp connects REALTORS who are knowledgeable about the Neighborhood Stabilization program (NSp) with qualified workforce buyers.
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by involving local REALTORS in the process of finding community solutions, and connecting potential homebuyers with the information and resources they need in order to purchase and maintain their homes, d-WHIp has great potential to address neighborhood stability issues and also serve as a model program for the rest of the state. In implementing d-WHIp, GAR went through its licensed school to coordinate both an Expanding Housing Opportunities course and a Short Sales and foreclosure continuing education course for REALTORS. GAR and dAR also publicized buyer seminars that addressed NSp requirements, funding options, downpayment assistance, and opportunities to meet REALTORS who had taken the new training. In addition, dAR developed and promoted a new, consumer-oriented website. As of mid-March, 2011, d-WHIp has given 55 dAR members the Neighborhood Stabilization program class, 61 members the Short Sale and foreclosure (SfR) class, and 45 members the Expanding Housing Opportunities (EHO) class. In the first series, 37 REALTOR members completed all three courses. The second series was scheduled to be completed on April 19, with another homebuyer workshop planned for April 30. The buyer workshops began in early 2011 and are continuing through the end of 2011. The website, www.dwhip.org, allows buyers and REALTORS to register for classes online. In addition, d-WHIp certified REALTORS are listed on the site so buyers can easily find a REALTOR who is specially trained to assist them.
The Atlanta urban League conducted many of the same activities as ANdp, and served as a Housing and urban development (Hud) approved counseling agency to conduct free homebuyer workshops and to issue certificates to those who completed the workshop. The certificates are important, in that they allow the homebuyer to receive various types of downpayment assistance. The dekalb County department of Community Affairs was instrumental in publicizing the program to employees of the police department, fire department, and school system, all of whom are considered workforce buyers and therefore constitute the target audience for the homebuyer workshops. finally, three banks bank of America, brand Mortgage, and Community Capital provided in-kind contributions, such as food for attendees, that enabled the buyers Seminars and also provided training for REALTORS on specific funding programs. The partners often worked in concert. for example, the Atlanta urban League sponsored the first homebuyer workshop, where Community Capital conducted the financing segment and a dAR Affiliate Attorney member did the closing segment. The three banks have agreed to rotate presentation responsibilities at the various workshops.
Coalition Building and Partnerships

While all of the organizations receiving Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants were encouraged to develop partnerships, GAR and dAR did an outstanding job of integrating their partners into the d-WHIp initiative. There were six key partners involved in the program. The Atlanta Neighborhood development program (ANdp) recruited participants for the buyers Seminars and helped promote d-WHIp. ANdp also provided content for the REALTORS course on the NSp, which was one of the required courses to be certified under d-WHIp. The organization increased the visibility of qualified REALTORS through its website, publications, and other activities.
www.REALTOR.org
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REALTOR Involvement
dekalb County REALTORS have been enthusiastic about d-WHIp, and the program has already attracted interest from REALTORS who work elsewhere. because promotion efforts brought greater visibility to dekalb County REALTORS, both d-WHIp and dAR were asked to join as partners in piece by piece, a regional initiative of more than 120 Georgia-based organizations working together to address foreclosure issues (www.atlantaregionalhousing. org). In addition, a number of d-WHIp REALTORS have told dAR that they want to be more involved with the program. These REALTOR volunteers will now help with promotions, attend community outreach events, and make presentations at the buyers Workshops. A d-WHIp-certified REALTOR was scheduled to close the end of April/early May. After attending the homebuyer workshop, her buyer was eligible for downpayment assistance through a lender partner, Community Capital. The buyer is thrilled with the program and with the homebuyer workshop. Several buyers who attended the workshop need more time to work on their credit, so dAR might not see a lot of immediate success. However, the d-WHIp REALTORS are building for potential future sales, as some of these buyers will be ready within three to six months, and a couple more will be ready within a year. dAR held a reception where certificates were given to recognize the d-WHIp Certified REALTORS. At the event, the d-WHIp Certified REALTORS had the opportunity to meet and greet with the d-WHIp board of directors, the director of the dekalb County NSp, and members of key partner organizations such as the Atlanta urban League, Community Capital, brand Mortgage, and bank of America. because of the strong buy-in, dAR now requires REALTORS to sign a d-WHIp Service Agreement in order to participate in the program. This helps ensure their cooperation and assists in tracking their buyers in the d-WHIp program. As of mid-March, 2011, 30 REALTORS had signed the agreements.
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GUAM GUAM GUAM GUAM GUA

Guam Association of REALTORS (GAR) 404 members

PrOGr a m na mE
GAR Housing Opportunity forum

PrOGr a m T yPE
financial Assistance, Education (REALTORS/Consumers), Website, public Awareness Campaign
GARS Guam Housing Opportunities program includes education and outreach for REALTORS, homebuyers, and the general public. under this program GAR will: Assist Habitat for Humanity of Guam (HfHG) home recipients by donating $5,000 each for two families selected by HfHG, host a 2-day REALTOR mini-housing expo to provide REALTORS with on the information they need to effectively communicate the affordable workforce housing resources available on Guam to potential homebuyers, and feature industry-related experts in a public seminar targeting workforce and first-time homebuyers, and develop a website targeted for at that same audience.
TarGET m arKET
Habitat for Humanity of Guam

aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
del Ada Workforce Housing Chair peggy Araullo Llagas Executive Officer Guam Association of REALTORS 424 West Obrien drive - Julale Center Hagatna, Gu 96910 671.477.4271 671.477.4275 fax didamivida@yahoo.com eo@guamrealtors.com www.guamrealtors.com
HfHG candidate households, REALTORS, workforce housing homebuyers, first-time homebuyers
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Guam is where Americas real estate

day begins. The island is at the far reaches of the united States, a 3-hour flight from Japan and on the other side of the International dateline from the u.S. mainland, putting it a day ahead from the rest of the country. The Guam Association of REALTORS (GAR), a tightly knit organization of professional island REALTORS with strong linkages to local residents, works closely with this community of friends, families, associates, and newcomers to provide needed real estate services to the community.
The influence of the military on the local market has been considerable, driving up both home prices and rental costs. Approximately 13 percent of the islands households are military personnel and dependents, about one quarter of whom live off-base, usually in rental units. In addition, the anticipation of a significant military build-up on Guam has created a speculative housing boom in which many of Guams young adults and first-time homebuyers have been pushed out of the market by developers who have geared investment housing for military budgets. At the same time, relatively high rental rates have made the limited rental units on this small island unaffordable for many locals. Therefore, to create housing opportunities for the workforce community of Guam, empower REALTORS through education about workforce housing, and increase public awareness of workforce housing options, GAR is using its
www.REALTOR.org
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GUAM GUAM GUAM GUAM GUA

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant in a multi-pronged program. A GAR housing opportunity committee has adopted a program within Habitat for Humanity of Guam (HfHG) focused on building affordable housing, in which GAR will allocate a total of $10,000 to two families at $5,000 each to assist the families in building their own homes through HfHG. As of the end of March 2011, HfHG had selected the first of these two families. GAR is also providing a half day continuing education course to educate REALTORS on the utilization of housing resources and the tools available to workforce and first-time homebuyers, such as downpayment assistance programs and other federal and local loan products. This course will be given during the REALTOR mini Housing Expo planned for October 2011. At the same Housing Expo, GAR will sponsor a public seminar focused on workforce housing and first-time buyers. The seminar will offer information on topics such as preparation for taking out a mortgage, federal and local assistance programs, the appraisal process, home inspections, and title and escrow. during this period, GAR will also launch a website focused on delivering housing resources and information to the general public. It is early in the process of accomplishing these activities, but GAR has already garnered publicity about its efforts in the local news and has identified the company that will develop and maintain the new website to be launched in October 2011. for the first of the two homes to which GAR is contributing, HfHG has land in the village of yigo, with a family designated for the house and a likely groundbreaking in the spring of 2011. unlike many of the Habitat for Humanity programs on the u.S. mainland, where volunteers do much of the work, HfHG must use contractors to build a structure that is typhoon and earthquake resistant in addition to being affordable. Once the structure is in place, volunteers including GAR members and their families can complete the home. GAR will present the $5,000 check for each of the two homes at the groundbreaking ceremony, where it expects to have many REALTORS in attendance.
REALTOR Involvement
by Guams very nature, REALTORS are well-integrated into the community. They are extremely enthusiastic about the upcoming workforce housing projects, as illustrated by a testimonial from GAR president Anthony Godwin. Mr. Godwin writes: We are all so passionate about this. I was 23 years old when I purchased my first condo. It was close by the place I worked. I never would have imagined I could have done this until a REALTOR approached me and showed me how. More than ever, NOW is a great time to return to our roots and show folks that there are opportunities for home ownership out there and the means to make it happen. With the upcoming REALTOR educational opportunities for workforce housing and the excitement generated by GARs leadership, Guams REALTORS have excellent opportunities to grow their businesses and serve their community by promoting workforce housing.
Partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Guam

On a small island with a civilian population of about 150,000, people tend to take care of each other and their neighbors. GARs partner, HfHG, often spearheads such activity through a project called building Affordable Housing. The programs mission is to provide simple, decent, and affordable homes in partnership with the family in need, who cannot otherwise afford to purchase their own home.
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HAWAIÌ HAWAIÌ HAWAIÌ HAWAI`

Hawaiì Association of REALTORS (HAR) 9,037 members

PrOGr a m na mE
REALTORS Stimulating Workforce Housing in Hawaiì

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTOR /Consumer), Web-based Resource Center (Consumer), Resource Guide (Consumer), Community Outreach, public Awareness
REALTORS Stimulating Workforce Housing in Hawaiì, combines education and professional assistance to instill consumer confidence in beginning the process of homeownership. Hawaiìs workforce will be informed on how to take advantage of tax credits, downpayment assistance programs, buy-back interest, seller concessions, and the various programs being offered by fHA, vA, uSdA, and the State and County Housing Authorities.
TarGET m arKET
Maui, kauaì and Hawaiì), Hawaiì Homeownership Center, building Industry Association-Hawaiì, Hawaiì Association of Mortgage brokers (HAMb), Hawaiì bankers Association, Hawaiì Escrow and Title Association, and local REALTOR boards.
aWard
$60,000
COnTaCT
Hawaiìs service industry workforce, comprising renters, potential firsttime homebuyers and other potential homebuyers, who are unaware of the resources and tools available to enter the affordable housing market.
KEy ParTnErS
Myoung Oh director of Government Affairs Hawaiì Association of REALTORS 1136 12th Avenue, Suite 220 Honolulu, HI 96816-3793 808.733.7060 ext. 104 808.737.4977 fax moh@hawaiirealtors.com www.hawaiirealtors.com www.hawaiihousingprograms.org
Hawaiì Housing finance and development Corporation (HHfdC), County Housing Agencies (Oàhu,
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
As proof of the housing supply imbalance in Hawaiì and Honolulu, the nonprofit housing advocacy
organization, Home Hawaiì, employed some rather novel mathematics by asking how many people in a given occupation it would take to purchase a median-priced home. They discovered, for example, that in Honolulu it would take 2.33 physical therapists to afford a loan for a median-priced home. And it would take 3.33 police officers and 4.07 elementary school teachers to qualify for that same loan. This came as no surprise to the Hawaiì Association of REALTORS (HAR), whose members knew all too well the difficulty of finding affordable workforce housing on all of the states islands. After receiving the Ira Gribin Grant to launch its REALTORS Stimulating Workforce Housing in Hawaiì program, HAR conducted research and organized discussions among Hawaiì real estate professionals, concluding that the most effective message was to make a direct link between the availability of the tax credit and the importance of using a REALTOR, thereby stimulating both home sales and directing business to member REALTORS.
www.REALTOR.org
47
HAWAIÌ HAWAIÌ HAWAIÌ HAWAI`

HAR launched a media campaign covering Tv, radio, and print, focusing on the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit by stating first-time homeowners have 8,000 reasons to buy now. This was reinforced with the creation of a new website (hawaiihousingprograms.org) aimed entirely at potential first-time homebuyers. HARs program also included education for both REALTORS and potential homeowners, informing them of programs offered by fHA, vA, uSdA, and others to overcome the hurdles of homebuying. The program is sustainable via a one-stop web-based resource guide for everyone seeking information about housing loans related to programs and tools in Hawaii. HAR is partnering with lenders, brokers, state and county housing authorities to promote this resource guide. Since launching its campaign, HAR has seen changes in its market. As of November 2009, Oàhu, kauaì, Maui, and the big Island all experienced an increase in both singlefamily homes and condominium sales compared to the same period the year before, which many attribute to firsttime homebuyers and the federal tax credit. HAR staff met with state and county housing agencies to discuss various programs each of the islands were using, while the Advisory Group helped compile various first-time homebuyer programs and resources. becker Communications then developed the website www. hawaiihousingprograms.org. HAR looks forward to moving on with a new focus to the program, making sure that both the website and, most importantly, REALTORS are viewed as indispensible resources in Hawaiis workforce housing programs. Also, HAR has shared its workforce housing efforts with State lawmakers, during the course of the campaign. Lawmakers were very interested and engaged in dialogue with REALTORS to discuss workforce and affordable housing opportunities.
REALTOR Involvement
One of the goals of the REALTORS Stimulating Workforce Housing in Hawaiì program was to educate REALTORS on the opportunities available through the alignment of lower prices, lower interest rates, and various housing stimulus tools, all of which could help them to engage and assist working families in purchasing their first home. but what did Hawaiìs REALTORS know, and what did they need to learn? HAR had to find out, and so conducted an industry-based focus group. The information gleaned from that session helped develop training tools that were then disseminated to all of the islands. It was important to HAR that each island and its REALTORS communicate the same message, so REALTORS from every island and Local board formed an Advisory Group to meet this objective. The Advisory Group was tasked with discussing the appropriate strategy, message, and framework for promoting workforce housing to REALTORS and their clients. When a Task force composed of large, medium, and small brokerage firms and principal brokers, brokers-in-charge, and salespersons sought feedback from brokers, they learned that promoting the tax credit would be the most effective means of helping working families into workforce housing. This is how the tax credit became the focus of the consumer campaign. The Local boards were invaluable in helping to promote the campaign to their members. In fact, various Local boards used their own resources to supplement the campaign to promote the website.
A Successful Media Campaign

So much in advertising comes down to a successful tagline that jingle you cant get out of your head, the clever turn of phrase that everyone from your 12-yearold to your grandmother is quoting. So it was no small accomplishment when HARs media campaign came up with the engaging line: first-time homebuyers have 8,000 reasons to buy now. The tagline was clearly effective, based on the almost 12,000 unique hits to the website. Several elements went into creating the slogan. first, as discussed below, REALTORS talked to their clients and reported back on their concerns and interests. While there had been some initial thought to doing consumer focus groups, it was ultimately decided that the REALTORS knew their customers and had firsthand experience of what their first-time homebuyer clients wanted. So HAR next collaborated with the Honolulu board of REALTORS and made arrangements with their public relations firm, becker Communications, through their preexisting contract. becker Communications helped develop the media and communications plan that promoted both the first-time homebuyer tax credit and the importance of using a REALTOR.
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IDAHO IDAHO IDAHO IDAHO IDA

Idaho Association of REALTORS 7,500 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Welcome Home Idaho

PrOGr a m T yPE
The program is an enhancement to an existing program, Welcome Home, with three components: homebuyer education and counseling, REALTOR education from the Ada County Association of REALTORS, and downpayment assistance.
TarGET m arKET
Ada County Association of REALTORS (ACAR), REALTORS Community foundation, Idaho Housing and finance Agency (IHfA), Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (NHS), Intermountain Multiple Listing Service (IMLS)
aWard
Education (REALTOR/Consumer), financial Assistance
$60,000
COnTaCT
Workforce earning between 80 percent and 140 percent of average area income young professionals, first time homebuyers, service industry personnel, community service personnel, such as police and teachers. The education component will focus on workforce first-time homebuyers earning 125 percent of area median income or less.
Miguel Legarreta director of public policy Idaho Association of REALTORS 301 S. Capitol boulevard boise, Id 83702 208.947.7226 mlegarreta@adacounty-realtors.com www.idahorealtors.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
As in many other states, Idahos housing prices are beyond the reach of many workers. In boise, for example,
lack of access to affordable homes has caused many workers to either rent or live so far away that long drives become necessary just to go to work. In the ski resort communities, average home prices are about seven times the average annual income of most residents. Therefore, when given the opportunity to assist first-time homebuyers using the Ira Gribin grant funds, the Ada County Association of REALTORS in partnership with the Idaho Association of REALTORS developed a creative and ambitious three-pronged program they called Welcome Home Idaho.
www.REALTOR.org
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The first element of the program offered bridge loans to qualified first-time homebuyers who were faced with waiting for the federal first-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit to show up in their federal income tax refunds. The bridge loans, which were available at closing for up to five percent of the sales price and capped at $7,000, often made a significant difference in affordability for the new homebuyers. Over 1,200 Idaho workforce families utilized the tax credit advance loan. Welcome Home Idahos second prong was developed in conjunction with, and enhanced by a contribution from, the Intermountain Multiple Listing Service. In partnership with Ada County Association of REALTORS (ACAR) and the REALTORS Community foundation, another loan program was developed to pay off the interest and fees associated with Idaho Housing and finance Association (IHfA) loans. The net effect was a zero-percent loan and a smoother transition into first-time homeownership. Of the 1,200 families utilizing the tax credit advance loan, 260 obtained the added benefit of reimbursement of the interest and fees associated with the loan. finally, with a focus on Ada County, home to a large percentage of this mostly rural states population, the Welcome Home Idaho program developed materials and trained over 50 REALTORS on how to reach out to employers in the community to help workforce families access housing assistance. program representatives met with a large number of area employers, including the City of boise (1,600 employees) and Idaho power (2,000) employees. Welcome Home Idaho has also conducted seminars with elected officials and business leaders about the benefits of employer-assisted housing (EAH) programs. Enhanced by a strong communications program that brought high visibility to the effort, Welcome Home Idaho has been received well within the community, participating agencies such as IHfA, the local business community, and Idahos REALTORS. The program will continue to expand its inroads into the business community. In many ways, this is already happening, as the boise valley Economic partnership is using Welcome Home Idaho materials when talking with employers considering locating to boise and the surrounding area.
Lessons Learned
One of the challenges in Welcome Home Idaho was educating and training REALTORS to be prepared and comfortable in reaching out to the workforce demographic and illustrating the benefits of the program to businesses and the workforce. To address this issue, the program created additional presentation materials, including a slide presentation, a training video, and other promotional materials. ACAR also stepped up, becoming the point of contact to help the REALTORS overcome barriers to meetings with area employers. In addition, the MLS will include housing programs such as those offered through boise City programs, IHfA assistance, and the boise City/ Ada County Housing Authority, so that REALTORS have easy access to the information. The Welcome Home Idaho program has been a model for expanding community partnerships as well. The REALTOR education and outreach appear to be key in sustainability, and Welcome Home Idaho is working to create new programs. One example of the new programs is creating a housing trust fund to enable families/individuals earning 140 percent and less of area median income to be able to purchase single family residences within high cost neighborhoods in the city of boise. The coalition has suggested policies and procedures by which a housing trust fund would be created, how the funds could be loaned to a purchaser, the terms and conditions of the silent second mortgage, equity share and recapture provisions should the home be sold or refinanced in the future. The coalition has additionally created a model to reflect how an investment in the housing trust fund could be leveraged over time to substantially create additional funds that would enable future qualified homebuyers to purchase homes they would not otherwise be able to afford. boise City Mayor bieter has expressed real interest in the program in having the City of boise provide an initial investment into the housing trust fund. The next steps are to obtain approval from Mayor bieter to present the program to the boise City Council for their approval.
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REALTOR Involvement
A creative, multi-faceted communications approach has been at the heart of Welcome Home Idaho. Here are some of the many activities the Idaho Association of REALTORS accomplished in the course of this program: Co-hosted a large regional housing conference (bring Workers Home) with NAR and the National Housing Conference developed a Homebuyer video presentation to help market the program, and provided the material to all REALTORS who have gone through the EmployerAssisted Housing Class developed a standalone webpage to support program information downloadable program brochure Logo downloads promotional/educational video downloads and links to youTube page Created and distributed a program brochure Inserted Welcome Home Idaho brochures and information about EAH programs into boise valley Economic partnership and IHfA promotional material Employed social media to promote these programs to members and the workforce Media outlets have responded by asking about the IHfA/REALTOR program, and the Idaho Association of REALTORS is now providing stories to the media on a regular basis. because of the success of these efforts, the Ada County Association of REALTORS received extensive local press coverage, creating greater public awareness and allowing the Association to expand the program to other REALTORS around the state. In fact, the consumer outreach has had such outstanding results that the Association initiated a monthly forum for REALTORS to present to business community leaders on housing issues and EAH benefits.
www.REALTOR.org
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ILLINOIS ILLINOIS ILLINOIS ILLINOI

partnership for Home Ownership (pfHO)/Illinois Association of REALTORS (IAR) 50,000 members
PrOGr a m na mE
Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) program, NeighborWorks Instructor Training program, REALTOR Education program
PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTOR), Community Outreach
pfHOs program has three components. first, pfHO is working with the Metropolitan planning Counsel to develop an EAH toolkit with guidelines, policies, and forms to implement EAH Initiatives and to provide technical assistance to cities, municipalities, and employers as a Regional EmployerAssisted Collaboration for Housing (REACH) partner. pfHO is also using NARs EAH Class to educate REALTORS about employer-assisted housing and teaching them how to work with employers to develop EAH benefits programs. And finally, pfHO is partnering with NeighborWorks America to train REALTORS as department of Housing and urban development (Hud) certified counselors.
TarGET m arKET
NeighborWorks America, Metropolitan planning Council (MpC), local REALTOR associations

aWard
$160,000
COnTaCT
Laurie Clayton Illinois Association of REALTORS partnership for Home Ownership 522 South 5th Street Springfield, IL 62701 217.391.4848 800.370.6697 lclayton@iar.org www.illinoisrealtor.org www.pfho.org
REALTORS; employers, municipalities, and cities seeking to establish EAH initiatives; employees from employers offering EAH incentives; homeowners who need to meet with a Hud certified counselor.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
In this changing market, organizations and people need to be flexible and adapt, which was exactly what
partnership for Home Ownership (pfHO) did when some of its initial program plans for its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing grant were not getting the traction expected due to unforeseen market conditions. pfHO, which was created by the Illinois Association of REALTORS (IAR) to help low-income, rural Illinois residents achieve homeownership, originally proposed a program that included participation in two housing assistance programs run by the state; however, changes in the market and buyer activity caused pfHO to reevaluate its program and restructure it to better fit the current needs of working families in Illinois. by retooling their focus, pfHO was able to address a need in their state while also creating a more direct REALTOR role in their grant program and build a new partnership.
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ILLINOIS ILLINOIS ILLINOIS ILLINO

for example due to more federal and state housing assistance programs requiring homebuying counseling, pHfO saw a role for members of the Illinois Association of REALTORS, and partnered with NeighborWorks to offer a Hud-certified Instructor Training program. pfHO set a goal to have 70 REALTORS statewide attend one of two NeighborWorks 5-day instructor training programs, so that a base of REALTORS can be certified as trainers to assist potential homebuyers in loan programs that require certified counseling. In November 2010, pfHO also sent three REALTORS to NARs meeting in New Orleans so that they could become authorized instructors for the NAR EAH Course. pHfO now has three instructors who can conduct this EAH class at local board association offices throughout the state. It is pfHOs goal to bring these trained REALTORS and Illinois REACH partners together, so that they may work as a team with Illinois EAH employers. The REACH program and partnership with MpC will be an ongoing program. Another modification of its program involved a partnership pfHO had not originally envisioned. While working on its EAH Toolkit of guidelines, policies, and forms that could be used by cities, municipalities, and employers to establish EAH Initiatives, pfHO was approached by the Metropolitan planning Council (MpC) to partner in an EAH program and become a Regional Employer-Assisted Collaboration for Housing (REACH) partner. In working with MpC, IAR is creating the relationship between the REACH partners and the REALTORS. The REACH partners memorandum of understanding (MOu) with MpC states that all REACH partners must use a REALTOR in each EAH transaction. This creates a continuing relationship between the REACH partner and the REALTORS in their area. NAR has worked with MpC for several years and now with pfHO as a REACH partner REALTORS will be increasing the flow of EAH. As originally planned, pfHO will work directly with the local associations of REALTORS to bridge the participation, communication, and delivery of educational materials to REALTORS and employers alike.
Lessons Learned: Flexibility

After all is said and done, the Illinois Association of REALTORS has characterized the need to change as an opportunity arises. As the market changed, we broadened our potential partner base and therefore our exposure of the work product; e.g. REALTOR training of loan products and toolkit development. So what happened, and how did pfHO step in to keep the momentum going? The new program elements are sustainable and are planned to be ongoing. The development of authorized instructors will provide a base to continue educating interested REALTORS and others in becoming Hudcertified counselors. The inclusion of the requirement of using a Hud-certified counselor in state and federal housing programs also bodes well for the sustainability of this program component. The most compelling piece of advice from the Illinois experience is to remain flexible, and even when you have invested an enormous amount of time, do not hesitate to switch plans if your target audience changes or is nonresponsive. by maintaining an open dialogue and longterm relationship with the state housing agency, changes and departures from a program can be addressed, agreed to, and resolved without damaging the partnership.
REALTOR Involvement
Each of the new programs provides a more direct REALTOR involvement. pHfO will continue to evaluate the counseling programs and the number of REALTORS going through those programs once there are sufficient numbers of instructors qualified. The EAH/NAR/MpC program will ultimately work with 36 local REALTOR associations, which will provide venues for training and outreach for employerassisted housing and education statewide.
www.REALTOR.org
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INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA INDIA

Indiana Association of REALTORS (IAR) 15,737 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Indiana Association Workforce Housing partnership and building a Living Legacy: Centennial project
PrOGr a m T yPE
Outreach and Education, Construction/Rehab
IAR is using the Ira Gribin Grant funding to support both a statewide initiative and a more locally focused program. The state initiative, Indiana Association Workforce Housing partnership, will provide businesses that may locate in the state with current information on the housing available in the areas they are considering as business locations. The local program spearheaded by the Metropolitan Indianapolis board of REALTORS foundation, building a Legacy, will provide permanent housing and support to low-income and homeless families in Indianapolis.
Indiana Association Workforce Housing partnership: business prospects, economic development professionals, REALTORS, and potential workforce homebuyers building a Living Legacy: Homeless and low-income families in Indianapolis
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Job creation has been on many minds the last few years, so when a business expresses interest in
bringing jobs to a state that is cause for celebration. but with that celebration comes an awareness of the need to house the people who will be doing the work. Even in communities in which there are new opportunities and growth, challenges exist. In the Near Eastside area of Indianapolis, for example, 45 percent of households earn less than $25,000 annually, and the high school graduation rate is below 50 percent. The Indiana Association of REALTORS (IAR) seeks to address both of those situations by using its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to support both a statewide initiative providing information on housing to business prospects, and a local program called building a Living Legacy, which funds affordable housing for those in need in the greater Indianapolis area.
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KEy ParTnErS COnTaCT
Indiana Association Workforce Housing partnership: Indiana university, Indiana Economic development Association, indypartnership, Economic development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Northeast Indiana Regional partnership building a Living Legacy: Metropolitan Indianapolis board of REALTORS, John H. boner Community Center
aWard
karl berron CEO Indiana Association of REALTORS 7301 N. Shadeland Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46250 317.913.3230 877.839.5152 fax kfberron@indianarealtors.com www.indianarealtors.com www.indianaishome.com
$80,000
The Indiana Association Workforce Housing partnership (IAWHp) is a statewide business outreach and economic development program that informs those considering creating jobs in the state about the housing available near their prospective locations. This program will leverage IARs unique statewide comprehensive data warehouse of countyby-county housing statistics by coupling it with information from the Indiana Sites and buildings website. Currently, site location consultants and business owners use the Indiana Sites and building website to enter criteria for the kind of property they need for new or expanded facilities, resulting in a map of all buildings or lots matching the criteria. IAR will work with its research partners at Indiana universitys business Research Center to develop an automated information system to feed the latest housing data it has to what is currently available on Indiana Sites and building website. The results will be a more complete summary for business owners and site location consultants. The data will be organized to present housing
characteristics for the neighborhoods, cities, counties, or regions surrounding a selected site, highlighting the housing that would be available and affordable to the workforce of new facilities. As of late March 2011, the project was proceeding as planned. IAR had identified the data fields to be included, and the programming had progressed through overall design of a systems architecture that could be used with multiple websites. The building a Living Legacy program is spearheaded by the REALTOR foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Metropolitan Indianapolis board of REALTORS (MIbOR). The REALTOR foundation has set out to renovate or build 32 homes near the east side of Indianapolis by february 2012 in partnership with the John H. boner Community Center and other organizations from the Near Eastside area. These 32 homes will be available to families coming out of or on the verge of homelessness that is due to foreclosure or job loss. MIbOR has committed to at least $500,000 toward this project, raised primarily from MIbOR
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members, and has raised $378,941 as of March 2011. At that time, work had begun on 18 of the homes, with bids for contractors being taken on another seven. This project will set each participating family on the path to home stability and help them obtain professional, supportive assistance to stay housed and maintain a stable family lifestyle. Eligible families must earn between 30 to 50 percent of area median income. (a state agency), several regional economic development organizations (REdOs) covering urban and rural multicounty regions throughout Indiana, and numerous LEdOs serving individual counties and cities. This will give site location consultations and business owners convenient access to site-relevant workforce housing information for Indiana. IAR intends to continue funding this resource into the future with the participation of the IbRC. IAR has received a very positive response from both state and regional economic development organizations, and plans to create long-term partnerships with such organizations throughout the state. Once established, IAR will also explore the potential for ongoing revenue support from development companies, utilities, and others with a stake in the development process.
Finding Jobs, Finding Homes

Indianas housing stock is highly affordable, but too often a lack of employment opportunities limits homeownership. IARs workforce housing goals emphasize leveraging Indianas competitive advantage in housing costs to the benefit of the workforce. The Indiana real estate industry can contribute to job creation and overall economic development by encouraging business investment in the state. The best way to do this is to showcase the opportunities to house both the companys workforce and its executives by providing high quality housing information tailored to the areas that businesses and investors are considering. IAR has developed a unique statewide data warehouse of Multiple Listing Service (MLS)/ broker Listing Cooperative (bLC) information, collecting data on all listings, sales, and property characteristics for properties in 91 of Indianas 92 counties. The data are updated daily and made available for market reporting purposes, public policy analysis, etc. In addition to leveraging IARs statewide data warehouse of residential comparative statistics, the IAWHp will use the Indiana Sites and buildings website that provides information on thousands of commercial and industrial properties, content that is maintained, updated and managed by local economic development organizations (LEdOs) in every county in the state. Site location consultants and business owners use this site to enter criteria for the kind of property they need for new or expanded facilities, resulting in a map of all buildings or lots matching the criteria. To build on that for the IAWHp, IAR will work with the Indiana business Research Center (IbRC) at Indiana university to develop an information system to feed the latest housing data to economic development organizations throughout the state. These include the Indiana Economic development Corporation
REALTOR Involvement
both programs will ultimately involve REALTORS, though in different ways. The statewide IAWHp will bring business to REALTORS. The program fills a longstanding desire for the housing industry to integrate its unique data resources into the economic development apparatus in the state. It is through economic growth that REALTORS will achieve business success. With IARs initiative to assist those marketing the state to employers, opportunities for success become more likely. In the building a Living Legacy project, local REALTORS are and will continue to be involved in the project on a personal level. MIbOR anticipates that members will help collect gently used furniture for the homes and allow the residents to shop through the help of a local moving and storage company. In addition, members will be recruited to help landscape the exterior of the homes once are constructed.
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IOWA IOWA IOWA IOWA IOWA IO

REALTOR foundation of Iowa/Iowa Association of REALTORS (IAR) 6,764 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Iowa umbrella program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Construction and Rehab
The Iowa umbrella program supports five local REALTOR boards in workforce housing programs the Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS (SWIAR), Quad City Area REALTOR Association (QCARA), des Moines Area Association of REALTORS (dMAAR), Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS (CRAAR), and Iowa City Area Association of REALTORS (ICAAR). SWIAR, CRAAR, QCARA, and dMAAR are partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build new homes and help lowincome families complete exterior home improvements. ICAARs REALTOR Homes for Our future 2011 program will rehab a multi-family unit that will be sold to applicants that are at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI).
SWIAR, QCARA, dMAAR: Applicants with income from 30 60 percent of AMI, the ability to make monthly payments, and willingness to put in mandated sweat equity hours. CRAAR: Habitat: Applicants with income from 30 60 percent of AMI, the ability to make monthly payments, and willingness to put in mandated sweat equity hours. brush with kindness: homeowners earning 20 50 percent of the AMI, willing to complete 25 hours of sweat equity, and unable to complete home repairs on their own. ICAAR: families at or below 80 percent of AMI, with the Hud-approved Home Ownership Mortgage Readiness Certification and credit allowing them to acquire financing.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Throughout Iowa, those who live in poverty,

even when they are employed, have few housing options. These working poor often live in substandard rental housing and seldom get the chance to experience the benefits of homeownership. With its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant, the Iowa Association of REALTORS (IAR) addressed this situation by dispersing the grant among five local associations. four of these local REALTOR groups have longstanding relationships with Habitat for Humanity and used the funds to support those efforts, while the fifth is sponsoring a similar program of its own.
The Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS (SWIAR) is applying its funds to Habitat projects that will result in two families moving out of poverty housing into decent, affordable homes. SWIAR will recruit member volunteers to work on both sites and is leveraging its Ira Gribin grant dollars to raise more funds and match federal grant funds. The Quad City Area REALTOR Association (QCARA) is also conducting a similar program of support for two Habitat homes. QCARA has been supporting the area Habitat for Humanity program in both Illinois and Iowa since 2003, raising money from an annual event and through direct solicitations. In 2011, the Association raised $11,000 from the annual Texas Hold Em Tournament for Habitat for Humanity, twice the amount collected in 2010. In addition, the Association organizes work days to help build homes on both sides of the river. QCARA is applying the funds received from the Ira Gribin Grant to two home builds currently underway, one in Iowa and one
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KEy ParTnErS aWard
SWIAR: Habitat for Humanity, Iowa West foundation, Wells fargo, Iowa Western Community College, Council bluffs building and Trade Association QCARA: Habitat for Humanity, Scott County Housing Council, St. Ambrose university, Wells fargo foundation, bush Construction dMAAR: Habitat for Humanity, des Moines REALTORS foundation and Golf Committee CRAAR: Habitat for Humanity, kurt Warner first Things first foundation, farmers State bank, City of Cedar Rapids, first Avenue uptown College district, Wellington Heights and Moundview Neighborhood Association ICAAR: City of Coralville, Hills bank, Housing Trust fund of Johnson County
$60,000
COnTaCT
david bert Iowa Association of REALTORS 1370 NW 114th Street, Suite 100 Clive, IA 50325 515.453.1064 515.453.1070 fax dave@iowarealtors.com www.iowarealtors.com
in Illinois. In addition to the funding, QCARA will continue volunteering at each of the sites and providing lunch and snacks to volunteers. The des Moines Area Association of REALTORS (dMAAR) has been partnering with the des Moines Habitat for Humanity since 1986 and has committed to organizing a build of one home out of the ten being built as part of the Habitat 20/10 blitz build. dMAAR has recruited 15 crew leaders and ten volunteers per day for this build, and has raised over $64,000 by allocating money from its own budget, coordinating golf outings, and seeking donations. The Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS (CRAAR) is allocating $8,000 of its grant funding to a Habitat project that will help rebuild the area devastated by flooding in 2008. CRAAR will donate its remaining funds to A brush with kindness (AbWk), a special Habitat rehabilitation program that helps low-income homeowners complete exterior home improvements such as painting, landscaping, and minor repairs.
finally, the Iowa City Area Association of REALTORS (ICAAR) developed its own program, REALTOR Homes for the future, in which ICAAR builds an affordable housing unit every two years using green building practices and universal design. for this project, ICAAR is rehabbing a two-family dwelling to make it energy efficient, then selling the two attached homes at affordable prices to households with 80 percent or less of the area median income (AMI).
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City

The devastating floods of 2008 destroyed much of two core neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids, severely impacting affordable housing in the city due to the fact that replacement homes would cost about double the value of the older homes that were wiped out. In addition, even where housing is viable in those neighborhoods, much clean-up work remains. Therefore, in May 2011, CRAAR will participate in a project sponsored by Habitat and football player kurt Warners first Things first
58

foundation, focusing for ten weeks on the core flooded neighborhoods. The plan is to build five new homes, rehab another five homes, and help ten homeowners address their property issues through AbWk. CRAAR plans to leverage its Ira Gribin Grant funds to secure additional donations and volunteer time. CRAAR coordinated a fundraising effort called Home Team Huddle (HTH) that involved volunteers hosting viewing parties on Super bowl Sunday, at which they used the games half time to solicit funds from their guests. CRAAR raised an additional $1,117 through this event. CRAARs second fundraising event was held on St. patricks day and they raised an additional $2,639.58 for the program. CRAAR also plans on working to raise awareness of workforce housing by creating an improved housing commission, with the goal of improved coordination between the City and the local Habit for Humanity. In Iowa City, ICAAR has long been aware of the affordability gap between housing prices and the wages of essential workers such as teachers, firefighters, police officers, and nurses. Therefore, in 2009, ICAAR established its REALTOR Homes for Our future program, which builds affordable homes using green building practices and universal design. The goal is to build an affordable project every two years, which makes the timing of the Ira Gribin Grant perfect for the Associations 2011 timeframe. The 2011 project will rehab a two-family unit to be energy efficient. As of late March 2011, the home had been acquired and June 2011 had been scheduled for the work. Applicants for the two units must first take ICAARs Home Ownership course, which was offered in March. ICAAR reports that a media partner has been generating good publicity for the project, which will certainly help the organization in leveraging funds and increasing both donations and volunteer assistance.
REALTOR Involvement
These local efforts, whether in partnership with Habitat for Humanity or through another program, help families move out of poverty housing situations into affordable, decent housing. The projects also build the property tax base and attractiveness for an entire community, resulting in association members giving back to their community and strengthening partnerships between REALTORS and community organizations. by taking active leadership roles in these projects, REALTORS demonstrate their knowledge of and concern for the community, and establish themselves as the source for those seeking affordable workforce housing.
www.REALTOR.org
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KANSAS KANSAS KANSAS KANSAS

kansas Association of REALTORS (kAR) 8,900 members

PrOGr a m na mE
kansas Housing Opportunity website (www.yourkansasHome.org)

PrOGr a m T yPE
Web-based Resource Center (Consumer)
kAR created a comprehensive, consumer-oriented website (yourkansasHome.org) to assist working individuals and families who need more information about the home-buying process and homeownership assistance programs, including information on foreclosures and short sales.
TarGET m arKET
Housing and Credit Counseling Inc., Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Inc.
aWard
$60,000
COnTaCT
Households earning between 80 and 120 percent of the area median income that have not purchased a home because of concerns about the funds for downpayment and closing costs or inability to qualify for a residential mortgage.
Luke bell vice president, Government Affairs kansas Association of REALTORS 3644 SW burlingame Road Topeka, kS 66611-2050 785.267.3610 ext. 2133 800.366.0069 lbell@kansasrealtor.com www.kansasrealtor.com www.yourkansasHome.org
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
While a number of states used all or part of their Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants to develop or
redesign websites with features of interest to potential workforce homebuyers, the kansas Association of REALTORS (kAR) was both methodical and creative in redesigning its kansas Housing Opportunity website (www.yourkansasHome.org). The website draws on the best of the best, incorporating good ideas gleaned from a myriad of housing-related websites. yourkansasHome.org is designed to be comprehensive and consumer-oriented, with a section dedicated to important information on foreclosures and short sales to help homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure. The goal is to provide kansas real estate consumers with the necessary information and resources they need to jumpstart the homebuying process or take the necessary steps to avert a pending foreclosure.
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KANSAS KANSAS KANSAS KANSAS

As of february 28, 2011, kAR has completed the preliminary development and design of the revamped website, with help from the primary vendor, NfI Studios, and the site is now being beta tested. To ensure that the site content and design meet the programs objectives, the content is being reviewed by kAR partners and modified accordingly. The website is expected to launch by June, at which point kAR and its member REALTORS will begin aggressively marketing the site. key features will include a consumer homeownership cost calculator that will compare various financing options, information about tax incentives and other means of lowering the cost of a home, a qualified search feature that will help consumers identify which assistance programs are available to them, and a list of REALTORS in their area. a program that allows users to enter their individual information and be presented with a list of programs that apply to their situation. finally, kAR decided to avoid having too broad a scope, and has targeted marketing the site to potential homeowners in the 80 to 120 percent AMI range, many of whom have not purchased a home because they lack funds for downpayment and closing costs. kAR has established measurable goals that will help the organization gauge the success of the website. The target is to have about 1,000 unique website visitors each month. This information will be tracked using Google Analytics or a comparable system. In addition, kAR has been working with the kansas Legislature to create a new statewide housing finance agency, as kansas is the only state in the nation without such an agency. The housing finance agency will create new homeownership assistance and financing programs for working individuals and families in kansas and will, in turn, increase traffic to the website. To sustain the program beyond the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant funding kAR will fund all costs associated with the further implementation, development, hosting, and maintenance of the yourkansasHome.org website through the general state association budget. kAR has also designated staff time to maintaining and updating the content of the website. In future years, the association will study possible enhancements to the website and will study the feasibility of funding those enhancements on a case-bycase basis.
Start with a Plan

kAR showed considerable business savvy in the website redesign, by recognizing that there was no need to reinvent the wheel. The Association conducted thorough and wideranging research to identify the most useful elements and functions on other REALTOR sites. In some cases, kAR representatives talked directly with these other groups, seeking either guidance or licensing agreements. More specifically, kAR looked at: NARs HouseLogic site, which has information on maintaining and improving a home to optimize both livability and resale value. HouseLogic also discusses tax exemptions and incentives. The site for the Illinois Association of REALTORS (IAR), which offers statewide statistics on the housing market. The Wisconsin Association of REALTORS website, which features an Ask a REALTOR button. The Washington Association of REALTORS site, which provides consumers with information on foreclosures and homeowner assistance programs. In addition, kAR understood that simply providing consumers with detailed descriptions of homeownership assistance programs would not be enough; users of the site needed a way to identify exactly which programs would be most beneficial to them. Working with the kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS, kAR sought to license
REALTOR Involvement
In the future, kAR hopes the website will serve as a nexus for training and even certification of kansas REALTORS, with the online resources they need in order to succeed. until then, the hope is that the consumer-oriented portion of the website will drive business to REALTORS, through both the search feature that allows consumers to find a REALTOR in their area, and the increased business that is likely to result once potential homebuyers are able to take advantage of this extraordinary resource.
www.REALTOR.org
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KENTUCKY KENTUCKY KENTUCKY

kentucky Association of REALTORS (kAR) 10,381 members

PrOGr a m na mE
kentucky umbrella program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Home Maintenance and Repair, Education (Consumer), financial Assistance
The kentucky umbrella program supports workforce housing efforts by two of kentuckys local associations. The Lexington-bluegrass Association of REALTORS (LbAR) is using the Ira Grant funds to expand its support to working families through two existing programs Repair Affair and RAMp that provide repairs and modifications to workforce housing families/individuals homes to help them maintain and retain their homes. The Greater Louisville Association of REALTORS (GLAR) established a new program, Moving into the future, that provides mortgage readiness education and matching funding financial assistance to disadvantaged single-parent college students or new graduates to prepare them for a smooth transition into homeownership.
LbAR: low-income or disabled homeowners GLAR: low-income single parents.

KEy ParTnErS
LbAR: REALTOR Community Housing foundation (RCHf), Lexington-fayette urban County Government, kentucky Housing Corporation, Mortgage bankers Association of bluegrass, Remodelers Council of Home builders Association of Lexington GLAR: family Scholar House, The Housing partnership
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Homeowners and potential homeowners in need are the focus of the umbrella program supported by
the kentucky Association of REALTORS (kAR), which split its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant funds between two local associations. The Lexington-bluegrass Association of REALTORS (LbAR) and its nonprofit arm, the REALTOR Community Housing foundation (RCHf), are using grant monies allocated by kAR to support two existing programs Repair Affair and Remodeling Access and Mobility program (RAMp). Repair Affair repairs deteriorating homes of low-income workforce families and individuals so that the homes remain habitable and the homeowners can continue to live in them. RAMp focuses on providing safe access into and out of the home for people with disabilities and mobility impairments, so that they, too, can remain in their homes. With the Ira Gribin Grant, LbAR hoped to repair or modify 15 to 20 homes under Repair Affair and RAMp. As of late March 2011, LbAR had approved two homes for Repair Affair and received 12 applications for the RAMp program. More applications were expected, and LbAR planned to begin working on these projects in May.
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aWard
$80,000
COnTaCT
Hunt Cooper director of Communications and Education kentucky Association of REALTORS 161 prosperous place, Suite 100 Lexington, ky 40509 800.264.2185 859.264.7565 fax hcooper@kar.com www.kar.com
The Greater Louisville Association of REALTORS (GLAR) is using its funds allocated by kAR to support a new program, Moving into the future, which will help single parents from the family Scholar House programs prepare for homeownership through mortgage readiness education and a matching grant of up to $1,500 for downpayment and closing costs. family Scholar House is a unique program that assists disadvantaged single parents by providing support while they pursue a college education. GLAR has identified a pool of 37 student parents and designated 22 recent or imminent college graduates as qualified for the program. Many of these candidates have been active in preparing to become homeowners taking such steps as obtaining copies of their credit reports and taking financial literacy classes. As of the end of March 2011, 15 family Scholar House participants had committed to participation in the downpayment matching program. Throughout 2011, GLAR plans to continue teaching and counseling these individuals as they move toward homeownership.
A Focus on Disadvantaged Single Parents

Many of the young people supported by GLARs partner in Moving into the future, family Scholar House, came into the program from local shelters and homeless situations in the Louisville area. family Scholar House offers a continuum of care that includes housing services, peer support, mentoring, community referrals, case management, and academic advice. In 2010, family Scholar House served 1,635 families with 2,464 children and 163 babies on the way, offering affordable housing and rental assistance through a variety of means, including a residential campus. A second campus, downtown Scholar House, was completed in January 2011. The location was pre-filled in advance and has a waiting list of over 500 families. A third campus is under construction and scheduled to open in April 2012. After leaving the program, 75 percent of program graduates enter into stable employment and 54 percent continue their education after exiting the residential program, most often in graduate programs.
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As noted, GLARs Moving into the future program has already identified its initial pool of potential applicants from family Scholar House. These individuals are recent or imminent college graduates with career-track employment or majors made possible by their academic success. To qualify for the program, they must apply for the program, commit to fulfilling the educational requirements of the program, and develop their savings to earn the matched funds... The educational requirements include a series of six homebuyer and mortgage-readiness classes coordinated by a GLAR member who currently conducts classes through a nonprofit agency, The Housing partnership. GLAR members have been active in the program, helping to recruit additional partners and raising the level of awareness to the REALTOR community. Local REALTORS have the opportunity to make a difference in the community by assisting each family into home ownership. With the tools of an education and homeownership, an entire family can be lifted out of poverty, which will only enrich the community. This program is unique because it considers the systemic problem of poverty and addresses all of those needs. Individual agents have also agreed to provide a homebuyer rebate as an incentive to this homeownership program. GLAR expects the families assisted through this program to continue to benefit beyond the grant period. All households purchasing homes will receive continued homeownership counseling to support responsible maintenance and to help them troubleshoot any homeownership concerns. In addition, all participants who buy their homes through this program will be surveyed regularly, and will be monitored for two years following their purchase to determine the long-term benefits of the program. GLAR hopes that the Moving into the future participants will not only be able to enjoy the benefits of homeownership, and influence their peers and family members to become homeowners. While GLAR has determined that these benefits are not measurable, they are part of the improved quality of life that GLAR intends the program to support.
REALTOR Involvement
both of the kAR initiatives will broaden the publics understanding and appreciation of REALTORS and their commitment to community-building activities. In the Lexington area, LbAR is the only organization providing the RAMp services at no cost, positioning REALTORS as a resource for those who need assistance in staying in their homes. In Louisville, GLAR aims to make homeownership education a standard part of the family Scholar House program. Whether it be stabilizing neighborhoods by keeping low-income and disabled homeowners in their homes, or helping a new generation enter into homeownership, these programs make it clear that REALTORS make a difference in their communities.
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LOUISIANA LOUISIANA LOUISIANA

Louisiana REALTORS (LR) 11,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Workforce Homebuyer Support program

PrOGr a m T yPE
financial Assistance, Homebuyer Education and Counseling, Revitalization
The program provides homebuyer education and counseling and financial assistance to residents who are first responders, teachers, and civil servants, to encourage workforce homeownership in growing neighborhoods within New Orleans. The program is targeted at the broadmoor neighborhood, which will serve as a model of how to revitalize and stimulate a community impacted by a hurricane.
TarGET m arKET
New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORS, broadmoor development Corporation, Salvation Army, first NbC bank, finance Authority of New Orleans
aWard
$80,000
COnTaCT
first responders (police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel), teachers, and civil service employees who intend to purchase and reside in a home in the broadmoor neighborhood. participant household income must fall within 80 200 percent average market income, and the buyer must have been a pre-Hurricane katrina resident of the Gulf South region.
Norman Morris Senior v.p. of Government Affairs Louisiana REALTORS 4639 bennington Avenue baton Rouge, LA 70808 800.266.9538 225.926.8538 fax norman@larealtors.org www.larealtors.org
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Several years after a horrified nation watched Hurricane katrina devastate communities across the Gulf
Coast. As the areas have slowly begun to recover, workforce housing remains a challenge for residents of Louisianas Gulf communities, including New Orleans. Since Hurricane katrina, rents have skyrocketed across New Orleans. Many first responders, such as police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical personnel, as well as teachers and civil servants, spend a substantial portion of their monthly income just to rent an efficiency apartment. Concerns about rising rents are compounded by the decrease in supply of good quality rentals, as many small- and medium-sized landlords were unable or slow to rebuild their properties, given the lack of rebuilding assistance or loan funds for rental properties in stormaffected areas. The rental situation creates even more urgency for low- and middle-income renters to find a way to own their own homes. However, these individuals often have difficulty coming up with downpayments and closing costs.
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Louisiana REALTORS (LR) is using its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to address this situation through the Workforce Homebuyer Support program, which will provide closing cost assistance to approximately 25 homebuyers purchasing affordable, subsidized, energy-efficient homes in the broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans. The program is a partnership among LR, the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORS (NOMAR), the broadmoor development Corporation (bdC), and the Salvation Army. The focus is on providing workforce housing opportunities for individuals who will contribute to neighborhood community capacity. The program is intended to serve as a model for other communities seeking to revitalize and rebuild their neighborhoods in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Shores region. bdC plays a key role in the program, coordinating target marketing and working directly with the families, The program has begun outreach to the target audience, assisted 22 families with homebuyer counseling and education, begun working with six potential homebuyers in the mortgage approval process, and developed marketing materials. The Workforce Homebuyer Support program offers the homebuyers grants of up to $5,000 to cover closing costs. An exciting development is a commitment from the Salvation Army to provide individual subsidies of up to $75,000 for the broadmoor homes, which are listed at $250,000. In addition, any first-time homebuyers will be assisted in qualifying for a soft second mortgage program (up to $60,000) sponsored by the finance Authority of New Orleans under this program. Construction financing has been obtained through a partnership with first NbC bank and groundbreaking on new homes was slated to begin in March 2011. LR and NOMAR are offering the partnership up to $10,000 of in-kind services, which include using their staff to assist with marketing the program and managing communications with media and elected officials to help educate the public about the program. LR and NOMAR plan a series of seminars and forums directed at REALTORS and housing industry professionals to educate them about the program and how it can benefit their clients.
Revitalizing a Neighborhood
following Hurricane katrina, New Orleans found itself missing many of the essential personnel needed to quickly restore the city to a functioning state. Many of these workers rented their homes and had little control over when they could return to the city, even when they had jobs waiting for them. When developing the program to promote homeownership to this crucial element of the workforce, LR, NOMAR and their partners identified the broadmoor neighborhood as having key components that would allow the program to serve as a model to other neighborhoods across Louisiana. The neighborhood was affected by Hurricanes katrina and Rita, and is in need of revitalization. It has many vacant properties and an active neighborhood association, indicating the potential to thrive and re-populate. finally, broadmoor has other resources to assist with its development and promote workforce homeownership. Examples of additional resources that the bdC has secured in order to further promote workforce homeownership are additional AmeriCorps workers that are assigned specifically to this program. In addition, several green organizations including Global Green, the New Orleans Green Collaborative, and urban vision
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developers, have become non-monetary stakeholders of the program. The organizations are committed to promoting the program to their clients and remaining educated about the progress of the program to help further its success. The Workforce Homebuyer Support program is helping to improve the probability that essential personnel will have a strong presence in the city shortly after a major disaster, so that the city may return to operating and functional status sooner. The ultimate goal of this program is not only to support the revitalization and stimulation of a heavily hurricane-impacted neighborhood in the heart of New Orleans, but to shape the program in a manner in which it can serve as a model to other such neighborhoods around the state.
REALTOR Involvement
REALTORS will play a critical role in this initiative, as they are the ones who will guide the potential homebuyers through the process, connecting them to resources and answering questions. REALTORS will conduct marketing through site visits to employer organizations and through weekly office hour information sessions for potential homebuyers. Over 50 workplaces have been identified for targeted outreach, including eight New Orleans policy department district substations, 40 city charter schools, six fire station districts, and six city acute care hospitals. After potential homebuyers complete mortgage prequalification/ preapproval, REALTORS will help with the purchase and sale process, or direct them to financial training and counseling if needed.
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MAINE MAINE MAINE MAINE MAIN

Maine Association of REALTORS foundation (MARf) 4,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Live Where you Work program

PrOGr a m T yPE
The Live Where you Work program provides downpayment and closing cost assistance to help workers from households earning up to 100 percent AMI purchase homes closer to their jobs to reduce or eliminate their daily commute. These no-interest loans of up to $5,000 are repayable over 60 months.
TarGET m arKET
$50,000
COnTaCT
Suzanne Guild Executive director Maine Association of REALTORS foundation 19 Community drive Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.7501 207.623.3590 fax suzanne@mainerealtors.com www.marfoundation.org
Households earning less than 100 percent area median income (AMI) are eligible, especially those in which workers must commute more than 15 miles daily.
KEy ParTnErS
hoMEworks, Inc.; Androscoggin bank; Gorham Savings bank; kennebec Savings bank; Machias Savings bank; The first, N.A.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Of all the states, Maine has the longest average commute, with almost one-third of the states workforce
traveling more than 30 minutes between home and work, and 15 percent spending over an hour traveling in each direction. The state has little in the way of public transportation, which means that families must put money into their vehicles that they might otherwise save for the costs involved in purchasing a home. Therefore, the Maine Association of REALTORS foundation (MARf) developed the Live Where you Work program to help incentivize Maine homebuyers to live closer to their jobs. With the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant funds, the foundation offers interest free loans of up to $5,000 to help cover downpayment and closing costs for individuals who purchase a home that will reduce their commute at least 15 miles one way to work.
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MAINE MAINE MAINE MAINE MAIN

Transportation as the Driver, and Changing Directions
The most significant change in direction for the MAR foundation was in its business model. In order to implement the program as planned, MARf was required by state law to change from a strictly grant-making organization to an organization with the legal authority to offer loans. The requirement entailed a MARf staff member becoming a loan officer so that MARf could meet state requirements to be licensed as a Supervised Lender. The licensing process made it necessary for MARf to develop a number of internal systems, including loan servicing and quality control. The MARf loan officer was registered in November 2009, the same month that the state approved MARf as a Supervised Lender. At that point, MARf was able to offer the Live Where you Work program loans. Live Where you Work became operational in february 2010. In 2011, the MARf staff person met the loan originator licensing requirements as mandated by the federal SAfE Act. for an organization that functions with one part-time staff person, this was an enormous accomplishment! In addition, the change in business model gives MAR the flexibility to seek additional resources, since the organization can now offer both grants and loans. The important lesson, according to MAR Executive director Suzanne Guild, is that in difficult times, an organization has to be flexible in order to continue, even if that means making changes to a product or business process. The extensive requirements MARf had to meet to become a lender caused delays in MARfs plan to implement Live Where you Work. To address these delays, in another change in direction, MARf implemented a more rigorous marketing plan, no longer relying on the possibility that people might recognize a good idea when they see it. Intensive marketing to Maines REALTORS and the states largest employers, using personal contacts, phone calls, e-mail, press releases, and direct mail, have led to an increase in activity and more publicity for the effort. MAR staff also visited real estate companies around the state in order to describe the Live Where you Work program and obtain feedback about the program and MARfs efforts. In addition, HoMEworks, Inc., a statewide homebuyer education organization, began distributing information about Live Where you Work to its students. One thing these increased personal contacts did confirm was that while the program has promise, patience is warranted because the delays coincided with a period of continued economic distress in Maine. The economy and housing market have stabilized and inquiries about the program have become more frequent. by early March 2011, MARf had received three preliminary applications. At this time, the MAR foundation is also soliciting additional primary lenders to participate in the program.
REALTOR Involvement
The Live Where you Work program provides a new financial product that REALTORS can market to prospective buyers in order to help them purchase a new home closer to their place of employment. In addition, the refocused communications effort engages REALTORS and REALTOR associations more directly and is designed to involve more Maine REALTORS in marketing the program and expanding their presence in the community while doing so.
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MARYLAND MARYLAND MARYLAN

partnership for Housing foundation (pHf) (Maryland Real Estate Education foundation, Inc.) 29,000 members
PrOGr a m na mE
MARyLANd HOME MAkEOvER

PrOGr a m T yPE
Rehab and Renovation, Community Outreach
pHf expanded its existing programs to include MARyLANd HOME MAkEOvER, which provides necessary home repairs and improvements to ensure the comfort, safety, health, security, and long-term affordability of the dwellings for individuals, households, or surviving families of first-responders, veterans, community heroes, and disabled persons.
TarGET m arKET
Local REALTOR associations, Womens Council of REALTORS, local Chambers of Commerce, social services organizations, veterans organizations, building contractors and suppliers
aWard
$100,000
COnTaCT
Individuals, households, or surviving families of police, firefighters, EMTs, veterans, community/everyday heroes, and developmentally disabled or physically challenged homeowners with homes requiring work or retrofitting, or new homeowners.
fern dannis director of Housing programs Maryland Association of REALTORS Suite 200 200 Harry S. Truman parkway Annapolis, Md 21401-7348 800.638.6425 443.716.3510 fax fern.dannis@mdrealtor.org www.partnershipforhousing.org www.mdrealtor.org
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Availability and affordability are often the focus of workforce housing initiatives, but the partnership for
Housing foundation (pHf), the foundation arm of the Maryland Association of REALTORS used its Ira Gribin Grant to improve and ensure the comfort, health, and security of those already living in workforce housing. patterned after the popular television program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, pHfs initiative, MARyLANd HOME MAkEOvER, identifies individuals, households or surviving families of police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, veterans, community heroes, and developmentally-disabled or physically-challenged persons whose homes are in serious need of repair or improvement. potential recipients are not strictly limited to this list, but all candidates must own their home. Improvements may be as simple as installing ramps or as extensive as a full-scale makeover. The goal is to help families or individuals facing significant challenges with a customized housing solution.
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pHf also conducted an education and awareness campaign to bring the housing needs of the states workforce to wider attention and recruit new partners to join its efforts. While the organization sent dvds to contractors and their associations and provided updates on its facebook page, much of the campaign involved networking by REALTORS. In each makeover, there was strong REALTOR involvement. Each situation has been different. for example, one REALTOR identified a family needing assistance to adapt their home through her brothers college football teams alumni network. ultimately, the football connection even drew in a pro football player from the baltimore Ravens, who volunteered some of his time and drew media attention as well. pHf produced a video of the first makeover and is continuing that effort by trying to create a video or slide show about each makeover, aimed at local REALTOR associations and potential partners, explaining its efforts and encouraging viewers to identify potential recipients for assistance. Thus far, pHf has helped three families with makeovers, and hopes to eventually conduct four makeovers each year. The ongoing effort largely involves building and sustaining networks with contractors, suppliers, and potential fundraising partners; engaging additional members of the real estate community; continuing to work with social services and community organizations to identify eligible families; and producing public relations and media materials such as videos. The program also helps root the recipient families in the community by building connections both with and around them. In the course of a makeover, pHf has been in touch with local social services organizations with potential to help the families, whether or not they actually receive the home makeover. The project provides workforce families with resources that otherwise might have been unattainable, and assists members of the communities in offering services to friends and neighbors. pHf hopes to inspire other organizations to take on similar projects, and has used this opportunity to establish a pipeline of projects in hopes of completing three or four such makeovers each year. Most importantly for the long term, the MARyLANd HOME MAkEOvER helps raise awareness about the need for workforce housing. In fact, at the completion of each project, it is evident that the public is more aware of the program, because pHf receives more applications and requests for services. In keeping with the programs stated purpose of helping families of military veterans and persons with disabilities, pHf selected the barry family of Gambrills, Maryland, as the second recipient of the MARyLANd HOME MAkEOvER. Mike barry, the familys father, is in the military and was deployed in Iraq at the time of the makeover, while the familys young adult son, daniel, has disabilities as a result of a childhood stroke. Rehabilitation of the barry home began with a deconstruction of the basement and continued on to redoing electrical work throughout the entire house and a remodeling of the kitchen. Most importantly, builders installed a new entrance and other accessibility features so that daniel can now enter the house and live there more easily. The remodeling of the barry house took only six weeks but has resulted in a life altering experience by giving daniel a sense of independence. As daniel said at the end of the project, Its my dream come true and I wouldnt trade it for a thing.
Opportunities and Challenges

beyond simply repairing these homes, pHf hopes to improve their energy efficiency and green profile, while also working toward long-term affordability by implementing repairs that will require minimal maintenance in the future. Each project has started without completely identifying all of the contractors and suppliers for the various phases of construction, which created stress. However, once a specific family and location was identified, it was easier to recruit potential partners and suppliers, based on the location of the project and the community or contractor connections of the selected family. After that, the projects gained momentum.
REALTOR Involvement
This program is particularly significant for Maryland REALTORS because it creates an extremely positive image of REALTOR involvement in the community. pHf is developing new partnerships, networks, and coalitions, not only for this program, but also for future activities between
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REALTORS and these local partners. pHf highlights the contributions of REALTORS, both as individuals and as members of the local REALTOR associations, in addressing the recipients needs. for example, the Anne Arundel County Womens Council of REALTORS assisted the barry family by providing needed kitchen appliances and a gift certificate to bed bath and beyond. pHf expects strong involvement from local REALTOR associations and boards. The MARyLANd HOME MAkEOvER helps local REALTORS promote the program to potential contractors, suppliers, and volunteers, making further connections in the community and solidifying the perception that REALTORS are partners who bring great value to the community. REALTORS play a pivotal role by coordinating publicity for the program in a variety of venues throughout the entire scope of the project, by issuing press releases, obtaining press coverage, providing web up-dates and facebook entries, submitting nominations for local awards, and seeking articles in local/state newsletters and magazines. Local REALTORS also commemorate the completion of each project with a significant event and awards for all participants in that effort, including volunteers, contractors, and donors.
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MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETT
Massachusetts Association of REALTORS (MAR) 20,500+ members

PrOGr a m na mE
Chapter 40b Outreach

PrOGr a m T yPE
Advocacy, Outreach and Education
The program funded an advocacy and public outreach and educational campaign to sustain the states current Affordable/Workforce Housing Statute (referred to as 40b), which enables local zoning boards of appeals to approve affordable housing developments under flexible rules. Opponents of 40b had obtained sufficient signatures to get a recall referendum onto the November 2010 ballot. Had it passed, this referendum would have eliminated all of the low- and moderate-income housing sections of 40b and invalidated all 40b permits that had not obtained a building permit for at least one unit by January 1, 2011.
TarGET m arKET
The Committee Against Repealing the Housing Law, made up of more than 130 civic, business, and religious leaders, academics, senior and disability organizations, environmentalists, housing and civil rights advocates, affordable housing residents, labor, and municipal officials.
aWard
$100,000
COnTaCT
Massachusetts voters, residents who benefit from Chapter 40b (lowand moderate-income workforce families typical occupations include healthcare, educators, retail employees, construction trades, municipal employees, etc.)
Anthony deGregorio Legislative and Regulatory Counsel Massachusetts Association of REALTORS 256 Second Avenue Waltham, MA 02451 781.839.5511 781.839.5516 fax adegregorio@marealtor.com www.marealtor.com www.protectaffordablehousing.org
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
What if your state had an Affordable/Workforce Housing Statute, enacted in 1969, that allowed local zoning
boards of appeals to approve affordable housing developments under flexible rules if at least 20 to 25 percent of the units had long-term affordability restrictions? What if this law had resulted in over 56,000 homes being created statewide for low- and middle-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities over the course of 40 years? What if the people living in these homes were in occupations like teaching, health care, construction, retail, and essential services?
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And what if opponents of the law had gathered enough signatures to take it to a voter referendum, possibly wiping out all options for affordable housing construction in the future? This was the situation confronting the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS (MAR) when they applied for their Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant, which MAR used to fund a public outreach and educational campaign to save the statute, known as 40b. With more than 130 partners representing the entire range of community, business, labor, and humanitarian organizations, MAR worked with other members of The Committee Against Repealing the Housing Law (The Committee) to plan campaign strategy, provide in-kind donations of time and effort, raise additional funds, and maintain a 40b web page (www.protectaffordablehousing.org), among other activities. As a member of the campaigns steering committee, MAR also paid for office space and the equivalent of four additional full-time organizers. The Association set ambitious goals for itself, asking its REALTOR members to help raise an additional $1 million for a paid media campaign to run in the weeks before the election. did The Committee succeed? yes. In November 2010, Massachusetts voters rejected the repeal of 40b by 58 to 42 percent. The statute is safe for now. but the fact that the repeal even made the ballot indicates a need for ongoing education on the topic of workforce housing. Therefore, after the election, the steering committee reconvened and planned to accomplish the following activities: Hold 12 community meetings to develop local and state agendas for affordable housing Revamp the campaign website Create a working group on 40b improvements Sponsor a May 17 Massachusetts Homeownership Conference Work with trade organizations as they develop their housing and economic development strategies The goal of these and other activities is to keep the momentum of the campaign going so that those who understand the benefits of workforce housing in Massachusetts can influence policy in a positive way for the future.
Lessons Learned from a Campaign

One of the first lessons learned from this effort was that there are major misconceptions about affordable housing. despite the existence of the statute, Massachusetts has very little in the way of workforce housing. In its Ira Gribin Grant application, MAR cited a study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which rated Massachusetts as the least affordable state in which to rent an apartment in 2003. yet opponents of 40b feared that affordable housing would lead to a greater demand for services by the homes occupants, lower property values, and change the character and reputation of the community. These fears forced MAR and its allies on The Committee to battle faulty impressions and misinformation about workforce and affordable housing. Another lesson is that a campaign of this nature requires consistent and concise messages that fit neatly into a sound bite or short printed statement like a bumper sticker or brochure title. public opinion polling is critical so that the campaign messages can address concerns and misperceptions directly, while also providing information in a way that appeals to the voters. Not all audiences will respond to the same information the same way, so where funds are available, a campaign should craft different messages for different audiences. Its also important to have good data available in order to back up claims made to the media and the public. The Committee existed for a number of months before MAR applied for its Ira Gribin grant, providing a structure for the grant funding and offering MAR the security of knowing that it had many good allies. That brings out another lesson: build a diverse coalition early, and capitalize on existing relationships. It is with its allies in the 40b campaign coalition that MAR sees its future advocating for workforce housing in Massachusetts.
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REALTOR Involvement
REALTOR participation was critical to this project, as REALTORS are the ones who understand and can communicate the ways in which mixed-use developments are of value to the community. REALTORS are also in a unique position to combat the stereotypes associated with affordable housing and present information as to how workforce housing actually helps communities prosper. by becoming visible and active in the campaign to save 40b and to promote workforce housing, REALTORS in Massachusetts have reasserted their values as professionals and as leaders in the states communities.
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MICHIGAN MICHIGAN MICHIGAN

Michigan Association of REALTORS (MAR) 24,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Michigan umbrella program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Survey and policy development, financial Assistance, Community Outreach
The MAR umbrella program includes a Statewide Initiative and a local pilot program coordinated by the Traverse Area Association of REALTORS (TAAR). both programs involve the concept of workforce housing and placebased attributes, which incorporates green concepts, such as energy efficiency, walkability, sustainable living, and cultural growth into mixeduse developments to create more desirable communities that attract workforce residents. The Statewide Initiative involves a comprehensive study and analysis place-making based development as it relates to workforce housing development in order to provide direction and support for policymakers and industry leaders.
TAARs GS4 Workforce Housing program is a local pilot program currently providing micro-grants of $50 to $1,500 to 40 families of public safety workers to help offset the cost of local, green housing in a five-county area in Northern Michigan.
TarGET m arKET
Statewide Initiative: Stakeholders in housing and development policy, including lawmakers, bankers, developers, builders and real estate agents, state and local elected officials, foundations and nonprofit organizations, including the environmental community TAAR pilot program: public safety workers
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Over the last 60 years, Michigan has

watched its urban areas depopulate while the suburbs have sprawled. Teachers, firefighters, police officers, nurses, health care workers, and others now often have long commutes to work and are unable to live near shopping and public amenities, such as parks and cultural venues. yet workers increasingly express a desire to walk in their neighborhoods, as well as an interest in livability, green buildings, reduced auto dependence, easy access to entertainment, and homes near their jobs. Mixed use development models often meet these preferences, despite seemingly embedded resistance from policymakers.
The Michigan Association of REALTORS (MAR) umbrella program focuses on both a statewide initiative and a local pilot program that address the concept of placemaking. placemaking is the idea of incorporating green concepts, such as energy efficiency, walkability, sustainable living, and cultural growth, into mixed-use developments that can be used for a variety of purposes. MARs statewide placemaking for Michigan prosperity program will implement a comprehensive study of past placemaking initiatives. This study will help determine the costs and benefits of combining placemaking-based development with Michigan workforce and affordable housing projects. MAR and its partners will use the study data to conduct outreach to policymakers and stakeholders on this issue and will help develop new policies to support integrating workforce housing into placemaking and mixed-use development projects. Educational material produced through this initiative will be broadly distributed to appropriate audiences, and seminars and conference presentations will be given around the state to stakeholder
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Statewide Initiative: Michigan State university Land policy Institute, Michigan State Housing development Authority, Michigan bankers Association, Michigan Association of Home builders, the Small business Association of Michigan, and Michigan department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth TAAR pilot program: Community partners: Housing Task force
aWard
kathie feldpaush Senior vice president Michigan Association of REALTORS 720 North Washington Avenue p.O. box 40725 Lansing, MI 48901-7925 517.334.5544 517.334.5568 kfeldpausch@mirealtors.com www.mirealtors.com
$100,000
groups in order to disseminate the studys findings. As of late March 2011, data was being assembled from three case study communities and was about to undergo analysis to indicate the level to which various property characteristics are valued. The local pilot program funded by MARs umbrella program shows placemaking in action. The Traverse Area Association of REALTORS (TAAR) is conducting a local pilot program in a five-county area, providing micro-grants of $50 to $1,500 to 40 public safety workers to offset the cost of housing choices that have characteristics of placemaking. for example, to qualify as placemaking, the housing must be within the jurisdiction in which the public safety worker works; if a Grand Traverse County Sheriff seeks a micro-grant for a home purchase, the home must be in Grand Traverse County. The funds can be used to offset closing costs or downpayments, or they may be used for improvements that make the home more energy efficient, such as Energy Star appliances. In 2010, the
program provided grants to seven public safety workers; most requests were for energy efficiency improvements. This pilot program will assist MAR in measuring the role of incentives in placemaking programs. MAR will work to assure that data about the local project are assessed and summarized in order to determine the pilot programs applicability to other communities in Michigan.
Placemaking and the Pilot Program

Obtaining the big picture through the statewide placemaking for prosperity initiative will have important implications for Michigans future, as it will likely spur policy changes and, over time, change the very nature of Michigans communities. However, the pilot program shows there is no need to wait until the data is in. MAR and TAAR can support placemaking in practice now. The Traverse region of Michigan is one of the premier resort areas of the united States. As in many such areas, housing costs are beyond what essential personnel such as
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firefighters and police officers can afford. Through outreach and promotion of the program, TAAR will highlight one of the major issues in its five-county area affordable housing for public workforce. This program provides a direct link between REALTORS and the Grand vision project, a large-scale, long-range community planning project team, thereby providing additional opportunities for REALTORS to be involved with viable workforce housing proposals in the TAAR region. TAAR will advise the leadership of the placemaking for prosperity project on the success of the micro-grant project, including compiling relevant data in support of efforts to expand and retain workforce affordable housing. Over the long term, the GS4 Workforce Housing program will promote the creation of prime location and energy efficient affordable housing in order to expand housing choices for the regions public safety workforce.
REALTOR Involvement
placemaking for prosperity will benefit Michigan REALTORS by raising their awareness of how to transform the built environment to meet the changing needs of customers, and by creating the types of healthy communities in Michigan that will be more attractive to homebuyers. MAR is charging all REALTORS to provide creative and innovative solutions to diversify the real estate environment. The results of the placemaking for prosperity initiative will help break down the barriers of home ownership, benefitting individuals and communities, and show the important role that REALTORS play in influencing quality of life. At the same time, the TAAR pilot program provides additional opportunities for REALTORS to be involved with viable workforce housing proposals in the TAAR region.
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MINNESOTA MINNESOTA MINNES

Minnesota Association of REALTORS (MNAR) 17,500 members

PrOGr a m na mE
preparing Working families for Homeownership

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTOR/Consumer), Web-based Counseling Tool
MNARs program includes a webbased pre-purchase education and counseling tool that includes information about programs, loan products, and homebuyer education services available to potential workforce homebuyers. MNAR is also developing courses to educate workforce buyers and REALTORS about resources available to workforce buyers.
TarGET m arKET
$80,000
COnTaCT
Chris Galler Chief Executive Officer Minnesota Association of REALTORS 5750 Lincoln drive Edina, MN 55436 952.912.2663 952.953.3815 fax cgaller@mnrealtor.com www.mnrealtor.com
first-time homebuyers, REALTORS

KEy ParTnErS
Minnesota Home Ownership Center, local REALTOR, boards
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Minnesota, like the rest of the country, is in the midst of a housing crisis marked by unprecedented
numbers of foreclosures and record low levels of home sales. Although many of the homes for sale in the state are affordable, renters are often concerned that their credit history is not good enough to qualify for a mortgage and that they will be unable to afford the purchase or upkeep of a home. Therefore, the Minnesota Association of REALTORS (MNAR) used its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to establish the preparing Working families for Homeownership program, which teaches consumers how to take advantage of the more affordable home prices and the assistance programs available to them. The program also offers a REALTOR education component emphasizing how best to serve low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers.
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MINNESOTA MINNESOTA MINNES

More specifically, MNAR plans to enhance consumer and REALTOR education by increasing the delivery methods for homebuyer education and counseling to ensure that all workforce buyers have access to services and that Minnesota REALTORS are aware of the programs, loan products, and homebuyer education services available to this population. To accomplish this, MNAR is developing a web-based pre-purchase education and counseling tool and a content-specific course targeting the needs of workforce buyers, both aimed at consumers, while also developing four continuing education training sessions for REALTORS. The continuing education programs will familiarize REALTORS with pre-purchase education, financing/downpayment assistance programs, and consumer credit counseling activities available in their area. As part of this process, MNAR and its primary partner, the Home Ownership Center, have formed an advisory group with representatives from local associations and other real estate professionals to work with the Home Ownership staff in crafting the on-line and course content. potential homebuyers will access the web-based tool through REALTORS and housing counseling agencies after completing an initial screening that determines their readiness for homeownership. The web-based prepurchase education and counseling tool is expected to be ready to launch in May 2011, and the first continuing education training for REALTORS is planned for the summer of 2011. Another interesting finding from the focus groups was that potential homebuyers in Minnesota indicated they would be willing to pay more for the web-based training than for in-person workshops. To provided MNAR with an idea of a way to help support the sustainability in its workforce housing programs; MNAR is taking guidance from this finding and pricing the online course at $75, about $25 more than the standard classroom training. Convenience is a key factor. Two-thirds of Minnesota households have broadband Internet access and another 14 percent have either dial-up or dSL access. In addition, Minnesota is a large state where consumer workshops outside of the major cities are held infrequently. potential homebuyers wishing to participate must either wait sometimes weeks to take a class, or drive long distances to participate. In addition, many in-person workshops require an 8-hour commitment on a Saturday, which may not be convenient for many participants. The web-based education tool eliminates the barriers to classroom education posed by geography, limited availability of in-person workshops, scheduling constraints, transportation, etc. In addition, web-based learning is a preferred format for some consumers, who see it as a more effective delivery method. The web-based tool will allow consumers to spend additional time on content relevant to their learning and offer the flexibility of completing the education at their own pace. Accessibility and convenience will encourage participation, resulting in enhanced preparedness for Minnesota homebuyers.
A Preference for Web-Based Training

focus groups that MNAR conducted in 2009 indicated that consumers wanted a menu of homeownership education options, including tailored online education and a robust menu of online resources, in addition to counseling services and standard classroom options. based on this research, MNAR and the Home Ownership Center decided to develop web-based content and courses, for their education program, including a web-based pre-purchase education and counseling tool. Once implemented, this web-based educational tool will offer increased access to homeownership education and the opportunity for more customized services.
REALTOR Involvement
Minnesota REALTORS can expect to hear a lot about the various components of MNARs preparing Working families for Homeownership program. The association plans to actively promote the web-based homebuyer education and counseling tools among its 19,000 member REALTORS. In addition, the MNAR advisory group will work with the Home Ownership Center staff to identify topics that will be most effective in helping REALTORS serve workforce homebuyers. These topics will be addressed through training sessions and additional resources developed to support REALTORS who hope to expand their business by assisting workforce homebuyers.
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MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi Association of REALTORS (MAR) 5,700 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) Initiative

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTORS ), Outreach (Community and Employers)
MAR seeks to increase statewide awareness of the employer-assisted housing (EAH) legislation passed in 2008, which exempted a housing benefit provided by an employer to an employee (downpayment/closing cost assistance) from state taxation. To accomplish this, MAR is educating and training REALTORS on EAH so that they have the skills and resources to call on local employers, creating a statewide EAH committee, and establishing an ongoing process to educate and engage employers and community leaders on EAH issues and opportunities.
TarGET m arKET
MS Economic Council, MS Manufacturers Association, MS Hospital Association, Homebuilders Association of MS, MS development Authority, MS Economic development Council and MS Home Corporation
aWard
$60,000
COnTaCT
John phillips vice president Mississippi Association of REALTORS 4274 Lakeland drive Jackson, MS 39232 601.932.9325 601.932.0382 fax jphillips@msrealtors.org www.msrealtors.org
REALTORS, state chambers, employers, community leaders such as mayors and other elected officials
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
A major legislative success calls for

celebration, but what happens after the party is over? In Mississippi, where the Mississippi Association of REALTORS (MAR) helped push through groundbreaking, statewide employer-assisted housing (EAH) legislation in 2008, the organization has moved on to the next phase: outreach and education.
Mississippis EAH law allows employers to provide downpayment and/or closing cost assistance to their employees without the benefit counting as employee income for purposes of state taxation. businesses can use this benefit as an employment incentive to attract and retain the best, most qualified workers. The benefit is particularly helpful to firms along the Gulf Coast, which is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane katrina in 2005. There, the need for affordable housing is significant, as repair and rebuilding of rental units has been slow, further diminishing the options for workers with incomes below the median. In other parts of the state, companies are expanding or adding jobs. for example, Toyota is building a new factory in Tupelo, where new jobs will be created. Attracting and retaining workers will become an issue for such employers in the not-too-distant future. MAR wants to make sure its members and Mississippi community leaders have the information they need regarding the advantages of the new state law and other EAH incentives so that the states real and potential growth can be fully realized.
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MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI

To accomplish this goal, MAR is educating REALTORS in each of Mississippis 21 regions, using NARs EmployerAssisted Housing Class (EAH Class), which will give participating REALTORS the skills and resources to call on local employers and work with them to develop EAH benefits for their employees. In addition, a statewide EAH committee made up of trained members from each of the 21 local boards will administer an employer outreach and education plan. It will assist in managing grant finances, logistics, and will provide staff support to this effort. MAR and this new committee will also be developing marketing collateral on the benefits of EAH for its partners and membership. This plan is part of an ongoing process to educate and engage employers and community leaders on the topic of EAH issues and opportunities. In publicizing the EAH classes to REALTORS, initially MAR issued personal invitations to a select group of REALTORS, but found that attendance was better when they opened the classes to any interested member and offered continuing education credits to those who attended. A key is explaining the program properly, which draws REALTORS who are excited about the opportunities presented in the program and want to help MAR advance EAH throughout the state. The next step is to engage the cities and municipalities in town hall meetings, where community stakeholders will be asked to join MAR for an information session. MAR believes that there is potential to set shared goals that the leadership teams of each respective group will embrace. Commerce and the efforts of REALTORS who have a strong working knowledge of their communities most influential employers. MARs EAH team has been received enthusiastically by the school boards of Jones County and the City of Laurel, and they are working with them to setup homebuyer workshops for their teachers. MAR believes that if some of the most notable, community-engaged employers start offering employer-assisted housing then others may follow. MAR will also participate in the annual conferences of each of the states major trade associations, such as the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, where a large number of employers can be reached at once.
REALTOR Involvement
Individual REALTORS play a critical role in this initiative, as those with a strong working knowledge of their communities can identify the most influential employers and promote the benefits of EAH to them. The EAH legislation can open up new opportunities for homeownership in Mississippi, a prospect that many REALTORS relish. REALTORS are also playing a major role in spreading this message throughout Mississippi. Activities include forming a statewide EAH committee, with representatives from each local board, to administer an employer outreach and education plan. under the guidance of the committee, those REALTORS who have taken the EAH training will reach out to employers, community leaders, MAR partners, and other REALTORS to discuss the benefits of EAH and the positive impact it can have on communities and businesses. Over the long term, EAH programs throughout Mississippi should strengthen the workforce, attract further economic growth, and expand the pool of qualified, responsible future homeowners.
Leveraging Legislation for Action: Building a Statewide Initiative

MAR plans to target at least one major employer in each of the local communities during the first year of the grant, and also hold at least three regional town hall meetings to which it will invite key employers from each community, along with a range of community leaders and stakeholders. MAR will identify employers through local Chamber of
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MISSOURI MISSOURI MISSOURI M

aSSOCIaTIOn/FOundaTIOn
Missouri Association of REALTORS 20,546 members

PrOGr a m na mE
MO Workforce Housing umbrella Grant program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTORS/Consumer)
PrOGr a m dESCrIPTIOn
Missouri Association of REALTORS took a multi-faceted approach to address the needs of workforce housing in its state, launching both a statewide program and supporting a local REALTOR board in their efforts to
address the needs of workforce families in their community. The statewide program, Its your Move, Guiding Missouris Workforce to Home buying (IyM-GMWHb) educates consumers and REALTORS about workforce housing, financial programs, and the benefits of home ownership. The local program Housing Americas Workforce (HAW) focuses on enhancing current educational programs for REALTORS regarding workforce housing, and educating the public about the value of a REALTOR (through a public awareness campaign) as well as financial programs that are available to low to moderate income individuals.
TarGET m arKET
KEy ParTnErS
IyM-GMWHb program: Missouri Housing Industry Alliance, MAR members HAW: Johnson County Community College, Consumer Credit Counseling Services
aWard
$100,000
COnTaCT
Angela M Haigh Operations Manager/ Assistant to finance 2601 bernadette place p.O. bOx 1327 Columbia, MO 65205 573.445.8400 ext. 135 or 110 573.445.7865 fax angiehaigh@morealtor.com www.missourirealtor.org
IyM-GMWHb program: REALTORS and potential homebuyers HAW: REALTORS and potential homebuyers
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
When it comes to workforce housing,

there can never be enough information. Thats why the Missouri Association of REALTORS used its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to support two programs aimed at providing both the REALTOR community and the public with additional education on the topic.
At the state level, MARs 501(c)3 foundation, the CENTER for Education and private Enterprise (the CENTER), developed a new homebuying guide entitled Its your Move Guiding Missouris Workforce to Home buying (the Guide). The Guide will be the basis for a training program for both REALTORS and consumers that MAR and the CENTER plan to launch throughout the state. The curriculum covers the buying process, financing options, making an offer, maintaining a home, and other topics of interest to both REALTORS and potential homebuyers. As of March 2011, the Guide was almost ready, and plans were in place to train at least four REALTORS from each of Missouris six regions so that they will be equipped to present the program to service workers, teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, support staff and other highly qualified consumers in need of homebuying knowledge. At the local level, the Housing Americas Workforce (HAW) program has updated the kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS (kCRARs) Workforce Housing Specialist
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MISSOURI MISSOURI MISSOURI MI

certification program and expanded its educational programs for REALTORS. kCRAR is also running a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the value of using a REALTOR, identify programs that are available to low-to-moderate income individuals, and increase financial literacy. kCRAR believes that REALTORS can best serve their clients and play a significant role in the community through a thorough knowledge of lending programs and other resources. A key element of the public awareness campaign is to help potential homebuyers see the community service website (www.kchomeprograms.com) as an indispensible resource. finally, kCRAR is promoting existing programs, such as its monthly community homebuyer education classes, called Homebuying Today: Its a Whole New World, which are taught by one REALTOR and one lender. The updated courses have been offered since the fall of 2010, and a new financial literacy course is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2011. The Guide will cover the following topics: What should go into my decision to buy a home? How am I protected in the buying process? What are my financing options? How do I shop for a home? How do I make an offer? Closing on my new home Maintaining and keeping my home Terms I should know Where can I go to find answers?
CENTER will approach REALTORS, community lenders, employers, schools, and fire and police departments to generate interest in and hold the classes. In order to market the IyM/GMWHb program, the CENTER and MAR are making changes to their websites. both will offer the free downloadable Guide, and will sell a dvd, Cd, and flash drive. MAR and the CENTER are also contacting lending institutions, title companies, and other related businesses in order to leverage mutual interests in promoting the program.
A Focus on Education
ultimately, MAR hopes that each of the states 37 local boards will be able to offer at least one IyM/GMWHb program each year to ten to 20 consumers per class. To accomplish this goal, MAR and the CENTER had to develop a curriculum incorporating the Guide, market the program and class offerings to REALTORS and consumers, and finally conducting the classes. This was an aggressive action indeed! The basis for the training curriculum is the Guide, rewritten and revised by REALTOR douglas Andrews, CRS, GRI, AbR, a past public school administrator carrying the Specialist of Education credential who is also a 14-year veteran of the real estate industry. As of April 2011, MAR and the CENTER were in the process of training REALTORS on how to present the contents of the Guide and how to run the class. The Guide will be available both in print and online, with different publications for facilitators and consumers. The
REALTOR Involvement
both HAW and IyM/GMWHb programs are designed to help REALTORS help themselves, making it easier for REALTORS to generate community interest by giving them more of the tools and resources that potential homebuyers want. A knowledgeable REALTOR is an indispensible ally in purchasing a home, and both Missouri programs provide that states REALTORS with the means to expand their reach to the low-to-moderate income segment that often requires the most help. Whether through HAWs Workforce Housing Specialist program that helps REALTORS better understand the special needs of workforce housing clients, financing options that are available for low-to-moderate income buyers, and special programs that are available to assist workforce housing clients, or through a statewide program that gets back to basics using the Guide, MAR has made it easier for REALTORS to take on the issues of workforce housing and expand their pool of potential clients.
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MONTANA MONTANA MONTANA

Montana Association of REALTORS (MAR) 3,600 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Affordable Workforce Housing public Awareness Campaign

PrOGr a m T yPE
Community Outreach, Education (REALTOR), Speakers bureau, public Awareness
MARs Affordable Workforce Housing public Awareness Campaign will educate REALTORS and consumers alike, while also shaping public policy on workforce housing. The Campaign includes continuing education for REALTORS on workforce housing affordability, local housing summits community conversations hosted by local boards to increase public awareness on workforce housing impacts and solutions, and a REALTOR Speakers bureau providing presentations to community organizations on workforce housing issues.
TarGET m arKET
NeighborWorks Montana, Montana board of Housing, local boards

aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
Glenn Oppel Government Affairs director Montana Association of REALTORS 1 South Montana, M-1 Helena, MT 59601-5112 800.477.1864 406.441.4861 406.443.4032 main 406.443.4220 fax goppel@montanarealtors.org www.montanarealtors.org
Montana workers earning 80 to 120 percent of the median family income in their area.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Like many states in the intermountain west, Montana experienced unprecedented growth fueled by the
real estate sector during the housing boom, while prevailing wages often lagged. With the market correction, workforce housing wages have not kept pace with home prices in highly desirable areas such as Gallatin County, although some communities, such as Helena, Great falls, and butte, have achieved parity. yet there is no guarantee of continued affordability. Therefore, to address the future of affordable housing in the state, the Montana Association of REALTORS (MAR) created a public awareness campaign to engage REALTORS, the public, and elected officials in a conversation about the factors that influence the cost of workforce housing in Montanas growing communities.
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MARs Affordable Workforce Housing public Awareness Campaign has three core elements. The first is continuing education for REALTORS, for which MAR has developed a supplemental course that focuses on workforce housing affordability issues. MAR also developed a recertification course to its Workforce Housing Specialists, which was offered through its local boards beginning in May 2010. The second element is a series of Housing Summits in which each participating local board organizes, plans, and manages a community conversation to increase public awareness on workforce housing affordability issues, impacts, and solutions. finally, the Campaign offers speaker training tailored to each community and continued from an effort begun in 2008 with MARs workforce housing public awareness campaign. The speaker training program establishes a speakers bureau of REALTOR members from each participating local board that are equipped to give 20-minute presentations to service clubs and other community groups. MAR considers this program to be a long-term effort. for example, the needs assessment takes time, and that element of the program will be used to influence changes in local growth policies, which drives the future of housing by determining zoning and housing density standards and regulations. Once the policies change, it will likely be years before their impact is evident. However, MAR views the campaign as a program to ensure that workforce housing in Montana becomes a standard consideration in housing and land use policies throughout the state. and potential solutions to these issues. The purpose was ultimately to create a housing task force whose primary task is to conduct a housing needs assessment to be used to develop a plan to be incorporated into the local growth policy. Attendees at the housing summits were a good mix of REALTORS, industry partners, and local partners and public officials, including city council members, county commissioners, and state legislators. Each board that held a housing summit successfully recruited partners that included fellow industries like lenders, builders, and title companies as well as housing advocates. The Missoula Organization of REALTORS cosponsored its housing summit with the City of Missoula and its mayor. The housing summits opened doors with local leaders. for example, at the butte summit, Jon Sesso, the planning director and state legislator, was a featured speaker and commented how impressed he was that the REALTORS were initiating a conversation on housing issues. Another highlight was that Ralph perry, Senior business developer with fannie Mae in Nashville, spoke at both the bitterroot and Missoula housing summits, where he was very well received.
Local Housing Summits

In order to increase awareness among citizens and elected officials of workforce housing affordability issues, impacts, and solutions, MAR held a series of housing summits around the state. The purpose of these community conversations was to discuss local information and issues regarding housing affordability and regulatory costs, the top local issues affecting housing affordability,
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One challenge the associations faced is that Montana is a large state with a relatively small population, and some of the local boards are too small to support staff capable of spearheading this sort of program. Nonetheless, five of the eight local boards have held a housing summit, and three more are scheduled for spring of 2011. The Montana summits are based on a 2008 housing summit held in billings, which served as the genesis of the statewide program. Each year, the billings Association conducts a series of forums on its Quality of Life principles, including protecting property rights, ensuring economic vitality, providing housing opportunities and choice, and building better communities. After each housing summit or community conversation, Montana REALTORS continue to work with local officials to establish a housing task force to conduct a housing needs assessment to be used in the communitys growth policy. These post-summit efforts will ensure that the community adopts sustainable solutions to workforce housing affordability challenges. continuing education course is now available for each local board to offer in conjunction with the overall program plan. Additionally, MAR has developed and approved Workforce Housing Specialist Certification and Recertification courses. As of early 2011, over 220 REALTORS have graduated from the courses in various locations around the state. MAR will continue to offer the certification and recertification courses throughout the year into the future. MAR has offered speaker training for REALTOR members in five regional sessions. The training is meant to prepare REALTORS to present 20-minute talks on workforce housing affordability issues to various local community groups. These presentations will enable REALTORS to frame the discussion and promote REALTOR solutions. The statewide scope of MARs program is ensuring that an on-going conversation about affordable workforce housing will occur among its members and the community.
REALTOR Involvement
While REALTORS play a leadership role in the MAR housing summits; they are at the center of the continuing education and speakers bureau elements of the program. The two-credit Workforce Housing Affordability Issues
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NEBRASKA NEBRASKA NEBRASKA

Nebraska REALTORS Association (NRA) 4,200 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Nebraska REALTORS REACH program partnership

PrOGr a m T yPE
financial Assistance, Education (Consumer), Outreach
Through this program, NRA will develop an Affordable Housing foundation to promote the availability of affordable, safe housing and assist buyers seeking that housing, conduct outreach to the state legislature to promote interestbearing real estate trust accounts to help fund Readiness Education Awareness Collaborative for Homebuyers (REACH) homebuyer education, and build a partnership with Nebraska Housing developers Association (NHdA) to strengthen relationships between REALTORS and REACH affiliate organizations.
TarGET m arKET
Nebraska Housing developers Association, REACH affiliate organizations

aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
Tyler Richardson Administrative Services director Nebraska REALTORS Association 800 S. 13th Street, Suite 200 Lincoln, NE 68508-3240 402.323.6500 402.323.6501 fax tyler@nebraskarealtors.com www.NebraskaRealtors.com
potential homebuyers earning less than 100 percent of area median income.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Although Nebraska is fortunate not to have

exorbitant home prices, this fact does not alleviate the very real need to provide the opportunity of affordable, decent housing to all Nebraskans. In many instances, the wages earned by working Nebraskans do not sustain the cost of housing. At the same time, tighter underwriting standards are restricting the pool of potential buyers who can qualify for loans.
Therefore, when given the opportunity to apply for an Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant, the Nebraska REALTORS Association (NRA) began investigating various options to meet the needs of the states would-be workforce homeowners. In the course of this research, NRA learned something very interesting: many other states allow for interest-bearing real estate trust accounts. And Nebraska does not. As a result of this research, NRA is using a portion of its Ira Gribin to reach out to state legislators and show them the benefits of allowing interest-bearing real estate trust accounts. If successful, NRA will develop an Affordable Housing foundation, which will then be the sole beneficiary of the interest earned on participating brokers real estate trust accounts. Interest from these real estate accounts will be donated to the foundation and will help subsidize the cost of Readiness Education Awareness Collaborative for Homebuyers (REACH) homebuyer education. REACH affiliate organizations deliver homebuyer
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education throughout Nebraska. The foundation will partner with the Nebraska Housing developers Association (NdHA), which serves as a lead agency for REACH affiliates, to sustain and expand the delivery of homebuyer education in Nebraska. This will complement a new requirement by the Nebraska Investment finance Authority (NIfA) that all borrowers in its Mortgage Revenue bond program must take a homebuyer education course before they close on their mortgage loan. The new law applies to loan products from the federal Housing Administration, u.S. department of Agriculture (uSdA) Rural development, and veterans Administration, and states that an education completion certificate must be provided at or before loan closing. This recently implemented requirement has increased the number of households in need of homebuyer education. Whether mandated or voluntary, homebuyer education enhances the success of first-time homebuyers in achieving and maintaining a home. It provides a comprehensive look at the homebuying process and teaches buyers the advantages and responsibilities associated with homeownership. In Nebraska, most REACH affiliates charge a nominal fee of $25 to the homebuyer to attend their classes. The intention of this fee is to create a slight homebuyer investment to ensure attendance, while keeping the out-of-pocket cost minimal to homebuyers. However, the actual estimated per person cost for a REACH affiliate to provide homebuyer education is between $300 to $500. One way to offset these subsidized costs is through the proposed Affordable Housing foundation that will be funded through the interest-bearing real estate trust accounts that NRA and the NHdA are advocating for through this program. The Associations goal is to offset a portion of the actual cost of delivering pre-purchase education for 100 households in 2011, and to assist an additional 350 households in this way in 2012 2015. The ultimate goal is to increase the overall number of families REACH Affiliates are able to educate this year through this assistance. In the course of these efforts, NRA looks forward to a stronger relationship with NHdA in support of REACH and its activities. The Nebraska REALTORS will work closely with the NHdA to develop criteria for the REACH Affiliates participation, including identification of relationships with REALTORS, demographics of those served by the REACH Affiliate organizations, participation levels of the homebuyer education workshops and the successful loan closing history for workshop participants. The NRA will market its partnership with NHdA and REACH affiliates through its website, newsletter, and e-mail communications, and local REALTOR associations in Nebraska will be asked to promote the partnership and the availability of the REACH programs to prospective homebuyers. In late March 2011, there was guarded optimism about the legislative effort. That optimism proved completely warranted, because a few days later, the bill (Lb347) to authorize interest-bearing trust accounts under the Nebraska Real Estate License Act had been signed into law. Moving straight into the next phase, NRAs immediate past president has been appointed the point-person and organizer of the Affordable Housing foundation.
Models for Legislation

When NRA drafted legislation to introduce to the Nebraska legislature in 2011, the organization relied on models, one of which was the Maine Association of REALTORS (MAR) foundation, As MAR has had a program using interestbearing trust accounts for a number of years. Another model was Nebraskas Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA). Since 1984, Nebraska law has allowed for interest on lawyers trust accounts, as administered by the Nebraska Lawyers Trust Account foundation. Currently, 250 financial institutions throughout Nebraska participate in the IOLTA program. The proposed law will necessitate partnerships with financial institutions across the state, making the IOLTA model particularly applicable. Once the first draft of legislation was prepared, NRA presented it to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC), and incorporated their suggestions, which resulted in NRECs support of the proposed legislation.
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REALTOR Involvement
It will take time to educate prospective brokers and REALTORS on participation in the program, as participation will be on an opt-in basis. Interest earned on real estate trust accounts should sustain the fund indefinitely if participation is strong enough. This effort provides REALTORS an avenue through which they can display their continued support of affordable housing within their communities. In addition, there is great potential for stronger relationships between REACH affiliates and the REALTORS in their communities. The majority of REACH affiliates have very positive relationships with local REALTORS. Numerous REALTORS throughout the state volunteer their time to teach a portion of the REACH Homebuyer Education Workshops. The direct financial support towards homebuyer education will only strengthen these relationships and demonstrate the commitment Nebraska REALTORS have towards affordable housing.
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NEVADA NEVADA NEVADA NEVAD

Nevada Association of REALTORS (NvAR) 16,474 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Security deposit program

PrOGr a m T yPE
NvARs Security deposit program provides rental assistance via zerointerest loans to assist working, lowincome renters in covering the initial security deposit needed to rent an apartment or home. participants will have 12 months to pay back the loan.
TarGET m arKET
$80,000
COnTaCT
karen Walker Government Affairs Coordinator Nevada Association of REALTORS Suite 200 760 Margrave drive Reno, Nv 89502-3560 775.829.5911 ext. 115 800.748.5526 775.829.5915 fax karen@nvar.org www.nvar.org
Members of the community who are employed, who earn up to 80 percent area median income, and who need assistance moving into the first rung of the housing ladder (rental housing), but whose income may exceed the level for public assistance.
KEy ParTnErS
Nevada Rural Housing Authority, Reno Housing Authority, Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
The Nevada Association of REALTORS (NvAR) is the only Ira Gribin Grant recipient to deal with rental
housing exclusively. for many people in the states workforce, rental housing is the only housing that might be affordable, and sometimes that is difficult. With so many residents working in Nevadas gaming and service industry, many of these individuals struggle to scrape together the money for the first months rent and a security deposit to move into a rental property. However, they also make too much to qualify for public assistance. Therefore, NvAR designed the Security deposit program to assist working families with interest-free loans to cover their security deposits. Working with three of Nevadas housing authorities (Southern Nevada, Reno, and the states Rural Housing Authority), NvARs program targets renters earning up to 80 percent of the area median income. Each housing authority sets its own policies on loan payback, with the intent to have the payments made in monthly installments, to be completed within one year of the agreement date.
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NEVADA NEVADA NEVADA NEVAD

The goal of NvARs Security deposit program is to help families avoid having to incur credit card debt or delay moving into a rental property because of the challenge of substantial up-front costs generated by moving into a new rental. Security deposit loans have been provided to more than 50 renters statewide. These loans have made it possible for the recipients to afford the upfront costs of moving into a rental property, and repayment is setup to occur in an affordable, reasonable timeframe for these families. In the case of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA), which received $49,600 of the grant allocation from NvAR, many of the applicants did not meet the programs criteria because their income was over the range set by the program due to social security or disability income. despite this being an obstacle, SNRHA has still loaned out $25,894 since the programs inception last summer. This experience is one NvAR will continue to evaluate as it determines if it needs to make changes to the program criteria. Although the program did not take off as quickly as anticipated, there has been an increased amount of activity in late 2010 and early 2011. NvAR is considering modifying its applicant qualifications in the future based on the experiences since the programs launch. for example, one option is to expand the program to include applicants who receive Social Security benefits, since that criterion disqualified many applicants. NvAR found that many senior citizens continue to work on a part-time basis, but still struggle to find affordable, decent housing and could benefit from this kind of rental assistance program.
Building a Bridge to the Workforce and the Future

Through its Security deposit Loan, NvAR is hoping to impress upon the community that REALTORS care and support partnerships that can help families transition from renters to homeowners over time. Each Housing Authority has had a somewhat different experience with the program. The Reno Housing Authority (RHA) received $21,600 of the grant money from NvAR; as of March 15, 2011, the RHA has loaned out $4,800. RHA, which owns the properties that the tenants will be living in, was finding that there were not many properties to rent out, since current renters were staying put, thus not freeing up space. However, RHA anticipates having more properties to rent in 2011 as it rehabs foreclosed homes with various grant monies it has received from the federal government. The Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA) has loaned out over $3,000 of the $8,800 allocated to it. NRHA has had a positive experience in seeing repayment under the program, and has been able to assist six renters so far under the program. under this program, they have been able to broaden the individuals they are able to serve since NvARs income limit is higher than their existing rental assistance program. NRHA had a Security deposit Loan program in place for several years, prior to partnering with the REALTOR Association. However, that program focused on lower income tenants, while the NvAR program allows the Authority to service people earning between 60 percent and 80 percent of AMI, who earn above the cut-off point most other programs the Authority offers. The Rural Housing Authority has successfully asked many landlords to accept the loans as payment for the security deposit.
REALTOR Involvement
NvAR anticipated that REALTORS would have potential clients who were unable to afford to buy a home, and that the REALTORS could direct them to the Security deposit program of the appropriate Housing Authority. NvAR has launched a media relations program, and provides REALTORS with updates on the program in order to generate continued interest, support, and participation. In addition, NvAR promotes the program on its website and in weekly e-news that goes out to all Nevada REALTOR members.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW HAMPSHIR

New Hampshire REALTORS Housing foundation 5,500 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Creating Wealth through Homeownership is a downpayment and closing cost assistance grant program for homebuyers who might otherwise not be able to afford suitable housing near their place of work.
TarGET m arKET
$60,000
COnTaCT
Creating Wealth through Homeownership

PrOGr a m T yPE
Households earning less than 100 percent of the area median income as adjusted for household size.
KEy ParTnErS
paul Griffin New Hampshire Association of REALTORS 115A Airport Road Concord, NH 03301 603.225.5549 603.228.0385 fax paul@nhar.com www.nhar.org
New Hampshire Association of REALTORS, New Hampshire Community Loan fund (NHCLf), New Hampshire Housing finance Authority (NHHfA)
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
from 1998 to 2008, the median home price in New Hampshire increased by 84 percent while median
income rose only 33 percent. The gap is even larger in the portions of the state where job creation has been strongest. This disparity has left many working New Hampshire residents without the means to purchase a home. This is particularly true among them those in the service sector fire and police officers, and health care workers, etc. Therefore the New Hampshire REALTORS Housing foundation (the foundation), the nonprofit arm of the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS (NHAR), established the Creating Wealth through Homeownership program, which provides grants of up to $5,000 to assist qualified workers with downpayment and closing costs for principal residences. With in-kind contributions from the foundation, such as administrative costs and legal filing fees, the goal is to create a sustainable program that will assist more than 50 households through 2015.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW HAMPSHIR

The foundation is marketing the program through its website as well as working with NHAR, local boards, major employers, financial institutions, and the states housing finance authority to assistance with marketing the program. As of April 2011, broker-wide mailer had gone out, along with a mailer to lending institutions. At the same time, individual marketing efforts targeted the largest brokers in the state. New Hampshires top 30 service sector employers employ approximately 78,500 people, and NHAR is marketing Creating Wealth through Homeownership to this group to raise the employers awareness of the program and its potential to increase and retain the workforce. The foundation looked to build upon NHARs previous partnership with the New Hampshire Community Loan fund (NHCLf) on the REALTORS Escrow Trust Account program (RETA) to develop a long-term, sustainable funding source for the program. The foundation worked with NHAR and NHCLf, and has begun to transfer participants from the RETA to the Creating Wealth Through Homeownership program. In doing so, NHCLf will help launch and support the new downpayment assistant program. The foundation is also pursuing partnership opportunities with the New Hampshire Housing finance Authority (NHHfA), a tax exempt public benefit corporation that administers a broad range of programs designed to assist low- and moderateincome individuals and families in obtaining affordable housing. NHAR and the foundation participate in the two annual NHHfA events through sponsorships and exhibits, generating exposure and interest from statewide agencies as well as consumers. In addition, the Creating Wealth through Homeownership program will be made available to NHHfA in the form of marketing materials and grant application opportunities for mortgage applicants working with NHHfA. brokerages were actively participating in the former RETA, and the foundation continues to work with NHCLf to transition those participants to the foundation. In addition to the RETA accounts, the foundation is also seeking grant funding for the new program. Of the 19 banks participating in the RETA program, seven have charitable foundations that award competitive grants to qualified nonprofit organizations, including housing-related organizations. The foundation has begun approaching them to request funds. The foundation also plans to solicit grants for the Creating Wealth through Homeownership program from the other participating banks, as well as from other lenders that offer housing grants, but that may not participate in the escrow account program.
REALTOR Involvement
The Creating Wealth through Homeownership program is unique in New Hampshire, in that it is designed to facilitate workforce housing homeownership. There are no other programs in the state with this emphasis that provide grants to qualified applicants for downpayment and closing cost assistance. The program provides a new financial product that REALTORS can market to qualified prospective buyers to help facilitate a home purchase. The program is marketed to REALTORS through the NHAR website and electronic newsletter, and through the foundations website. And these REALTORS in turn market the program to potential homebuyers. by developing this program and bringing it to buyers New Hampshire REALTORS are opening doors for buyers who might otherwise not be able to purchase a home.
Sustainability
NHAR and the foundation developed an ambitious sustainability program for the Creating Wealth through Homeownership program. The foundations program relies on brokerages to transfer interest earned on real estate trust accounts to the foundation for downpayment assistance. As of March 2011, 19 banks and 119 real estate
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NEW JERSEY NEW JERSEY NEW JER

New Jersey Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation, Inc. (NJARHOf) 50,000 members
PrOGr a m na mE
Helping Hands Towards Homeownership program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Community Outreach, Homebuyer Counseling, Education (REALTOR/ Consumer)
building on existing programs, NJARHOf is educating REALTORS and workforce homebuyers on the housing resources and tools available to working families in New Jersey. These resources include financial literacy workshops, homebuyer counseling, homeownership tax benefit classes, NARs EmployerAssisted Housing (EAH) Class, NARs Expanding Housing Opportunities class, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage finance Agencys Live Where you Work program, and community outreach through Tv, radio, and print and electronic media outlets and webinars.
TarGET m arKET
New Jersey Association of REALTORS (NJAR), NJAR Government Research foundation, NJAR Local boards, New Jersey Community Capital, New Jersey Housing Mortgage finance Agency (HMfA), Td bank, Small business Administration (SbA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
aWard
$160,000
COnTaCT
first-time homebuyer working families with households earning 50 150 percent of median household income. The program also serves REALTORS who can assist these families in purchasing their first home.
Teresa Tilton director of Member Services and federal Liaison New Jersey Association of REALTORS p.O. box 2098 Edison, NJ 08818-2098 732.494.4718 732.494.5616 main 732.494.4723 fax teresa@njar.com www.njar.com www.handsthathelpnj.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Many would-be first-time homeowners

find the homebuying process daunting. How do they start? Who do they talk to first? What do they need to know? What personal and financial information do they need to prepare? And where do they find the answers to these questions? The New Jersey Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation (NJARHOf) addressed this issue head-on by launching a multi-faceted education program Helping Hands Towards Homeownership with assistance from the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants
program. The program offers a multitude of homebuyer resources, as well as REALTOR training components. Specific elements include: A financial Literacy series Home buyer Counseling Homeownership Tax benefit classes NARs EAH Class NARs New Expanding Housing Opportunities class New Jersey Housing and Mortgage finance Agencys Live Where you Work program Community outreach
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The Helping Hands Towards Homeownership program educates both REALTORS and consumers about the resources available to those seeking to own their own homes. Working with a long list of nonprofit housing organizations and state and government agencies, NJARHOf is providing classes, webinars, and information campaigns on topics such as financial literacy, employerassisted housing, and tax-benefits of homeownership. To spread the word about the program, NJARHOf launched a marketing plan that includes traditional media outlets like Tv, radio, and press events, as well as podcasts, facebook, youTube, and an online ad campaign targeted to social networking sites. The many tasks NJARHOf has taken on include overseeing the message development; working with partners to develop tools and resources to educate consumers and REALTORS on housing resources for workforce homebuyers; coordinating the educational efforts; setting up the classes; developing and communicating the program message; marketing the program and a range of workforce housing tools; and serving as a catalyst between all of the partners and bringing them together to leverage the most benefits for REALTORS and consumers. The NJARHOf financial workshops assisted approximately 85 families and individuals in 2010, and the organization was able to put the workshop attendees in touch with the appropriate counseling agencies that could further assist with their needs. NJARHOf also hosted several webinars in 2010, which will continue into 2011. finally, NJARHOf developed a brochure for Helping Hands Towards Homeownership, as well as a website (www. handsthathelpnj.com) in order to provide resource information and a calendar of classes, workshops, and webinars to both REALTORS and the general public.
Financial Workshops and Training

The webinars and workshops for REALTORS were among the more successful and popular elements of NJARHOfs multi-faceted program. Specific workshops include the webinar Mortgage Incentives Help buyers Live Where They Work, hosted in partnership with the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage finance Agency. The webinar is archived for future viewing. Another webinar, presented along with the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of delaware valley, spoke to REALTORS about the impact of foreclosures. This same partnership sponsored a webinar for both New Jersey REALTORS and the public, Afraid of Losing your Home? public foreclosure, at which CCCS and the NJ foreclosure Mediation program were the speakers. The latter demonstrated the importance of being flexible. CCCS of delaware valley had continued to experience clients with foreclosure issues. They were holding seminars but having low attendance. during one of the partnership meetings, the idea was put forth to have a foreclosure webinar so people could be anonymous and view it at a time convenient for them. The implementation of this concept helped many people, with the site recording 70 hits. The Helping Hands Towards Homeownership partnership with Td bank and HOMECorp, Inc. launched its first two courses in the financial literacy series. Attendees learned
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how to manage their credit as well as other valuable information, including rights as a borrower, making sense of credit reports, how work history affects credit, borrowing basics, loans and goal setting. The two-part workshop has been repeated in various locations around the state and continues to be presented in 2011. The financial workshops were so successful that many of the attendees asked for a second series consisting of a more advanced class. As NJARHOf develops that class, the organization can take pride in the fact that the workshops led to approximately 85 families and individuals receiving REALTOR assistance in 2010. NJARHOf worked in partnership with the local housing counselors, and put workshop attendees in touch with counseling agencies that could help them further.
REALTOR Involvement
As a result of raging snowstorms and difficulties in traveling across the state the REALTOR training, which was originally scheduled for fall 2010, got off to a slower start than anticipated. To address these challenges, NJARHOf began working more closely with the local boards/associations to bring the classes to their locations. This has generated more interest. NJARHOf also determined that spring and summer, though busy times for REALTORS, would be better seasons for the classes, and are rescheduling the classes accordingly. Through REALTOR efforts, many in the New Jersey State Legislature are interested in the financial workshops NJARHOf has been offering, especially since the classes can benefit their constituents. The REALTORS role is to attend the sessions geared towards them, then use the resources and tools in working with their clients. The REALTORS who participate in the EAH Class and/or Expanding Housing Opportunities will be better equipped to play a stronger role in assisting clients to address their workforce housing needs.
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NEW MEXICO NEW MEXICO NEW

REALTORS Association of New Mexico (RANM) 6,500 members

PrOGr a m na mE
umbrella Workforce Housing Initiative

PrOGr a m T yPE
The REALTORS Association of New Mexicos umbrella Workforce Housing Initiative supports local workforce housing programs in two parts of the state. The Charity begins at Home program provides employees of Santa fe nonprofit organizations in the fields of arts, culture, humanities, education, environment and animals, health and human services, and housing who have household incomes between $22,000 $79,200 and who work with a Homewise Homebuyer Counselor and a REALTOR with downpayment assistance. The Home Renters Assistance program in Las Cruces provides up to $500 interest-free loans to cover the security deposit that most rental properties require to renters in the workforce. The loans must be repaid within 12 months.
for Charity begins at Home, the target market is employees of the nonprofit segment of the Santa fe community who meet income criteria and who work with a Homewise Homebuyer Counselor and a REALTOR. The Home Renters Assistance program assists Las Cruces home renters who are employed, earn up to 80 percent AMI, and do not receive any substantial public assistance.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
New Mexico is one of the most diverse states, and the individual communities within the state reflect
that diversity in many ways: ethnically, culturally, economically, and more. Since each New Mexico community is different, the REALTORS Association of New Mexico (RANM) developed the umbrella Workforce Housing program to apply its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to two very different financial assistance programs in New Mexico. In the first program, the Santa fe Association of REALTORS (SfAR) partnered with Homewise, a local affordable housing agency, to launch a new program called Charity begins at Home, which provides downpayment assistance to employees of Santa fe nonprofit organizations. The Las Cruces Association of REALTORS (LCAR), on the other hand, is offering $500 loans to be applied toward the security deposits generally required in renting a home.
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Charity begins at Home: Santa fe Association of REALTORS (SfAR), Homewise Home Renters Assistance program: Las Cruces Association of REALTORS (LCAR), the Housing Authority of the City of Las Cruces and dona Ana County
aWard
diane Moehlenbrink Communications, Marketing and Events director REALTORS Association of New Mexico 2201 brothers Road Santa fe, NM 87505 800.224.2282 505.982.2442 diane@nmrealtor.com www.nmrealtor.com
$60,000
The Charity begins at Home program was launched in October, 2010; as of March 2011, two individuals have taken advantage of the program. SfAR has used the story of one of these individuals in promoting the program. Specifically, working with one of the SfAR REALTOR members, an employee of farm to Table, a local nonprofit, received $5,000 in assistance along with funds from the City of Santa fe to purchase her new home on January 14, 2011. It is anticipated that a total of nine individuals will be able to take advantage of the first round of funding. In Las Cruces, the situation is very different. The Home Renters Assistance program, a cooperative effort of the LCAR and the Housing Authority of the City of Las Cruces and doa Ana County, is designed to provide security/ move-in deposit assistance to employed home renters that otherwise might have to live in sub-standard rental properties. The Home Renters Assistance program was launched in late 2010 to provide $500 interest-free loans to home renters who are in the workforce. The loans
must be used to cover the security deposit that most rental properties require. Since nearly half of Las Cruces renters pay less than $600 a month for rent and security deposits are generally equal to one months rent, the $500 maximum should be adequate to help the target audience. Applicants will be screened and coordinated by the Housing Authority of Las Cruces, which has substantial expertise in these matters. The loans must be repaid within 12 months and the program will be self-sustaining as the loans are repaid and then distributed to new applicants. As of March, 2011, three renters had taken advantage of the program.
A Unique Target Market

In Santa fe, SfAR members asked themselves if charity begins at home, who makes sure that the charity workers have homes? Workers for nonprofit organizations (NpOs) often do fulfilling work, for low pay, as most charitable organizations try to spend the bulk of their funds on their missions, whether that be helping homeless teenagers,
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taking meals to the elderly, or cleaning up blighted neighborhoods. The nonprofit segment accounts for over eight percent of jobs in Santa fe, and three of the citys largest employers are NpOs. The salary range for nonprofit employees in Santa fe is typically under $79,200, while the median home price in Santa fe for the 1st Quarter 2010 was $390,500, indicating a substantial affordability issue between income and the cost of housing. According the City of Santa fes Housing Needs Assessment, NpO employees are likely to leave Santa fe in search of affordable ownership opportunities. When they go, they take with them their contributions to the community, including their time and energy as volunteers and citizens, as well as their local spending. The Citys Housing Needs Assessment indicates that over 9,000 workers who used to live in Santa fe have left the County but kept their jobs and now commute daily to the jobs. These 9,000 workers account for about $301.6 million in lost local spending every year. SfAR is conducting the program in collaboration with RANM and Homewise, a local housing organization with which SfAR has established a five-year partnership to support the new program and sustain it over time. Homewise will administer the loans and contribute $5,000 in matching funds for each downpayment assistance loan that is made. promotional efforts will include REALTOR education of SfAR members to explain and promote project as well as public relations efforts with nonprofit organizations to spread the word about the downpayment assistance program, the sharing of compelling personal stories through various media channels of how people were helped with downpayment assistance, and an annual media event designed to highlight the program along with the yearly SfAR sustaining contribution. SfAR has committed to providing an additional $10,000 annually to sustain the program for the next five years and is working with a fundraising consultant to develop an annual event to support this effort.
REALTOR Involvement
In Santa fe, RANM and SfAR have worked to ensure that REALTORS are fully engaged in the Charity begins at Home program. One of the goals of the program is to increase the visibility of REALTORS in Santa fe through community outreach to an under-recognized and underserved segment of the population. REALTORS play a key role in marketing the program to the community by garnering interest in nonprofits where they volunteer or serve as board members and by ensuring that qualified applicants are directed to Homewise for inclusion in the homebuyer program. SfAR will further promote the program to its members through the use of its website, flyers, newsletters, and membership meetings. SfAR kicked off Charity begins at Home by sharing information about the new program at a brokers forum on October 28, 2010. Homewise officials provided an update for REALTOR members at a membership meeting on december 1, 2010, including how REALTORS can access the program while working with clients. In addition, information about the new program is now on the Associations website. REALTORS ability to encourage and access the funds through Homewise will be a gauge of the programs success. Las Cruces REALTORS are also expected to play a role in marketing the Home Renters Assistance program, which will increase REALTOR visibility and encourage home renters to seek out the services of a REALTOR when they are ready to move up from renting to buying a home. A kick-off story explaining this program was included in the January, 2011 Neighbor to Neighbor. This publication is printed quarterly by the Las Cruces Association of REALTORS and distributed by the Las Cruces Bulletin. The program was officially kicked off to members of LCAR at their REALTOR Rally in January. Continuing pR efforts, in conjunction with the Housing Authority of Las Cruces, are planned. These efforts will be aimed at both LCAR members and renters who qualify as recipients.
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NEW YORK NEW YORK NEW YORK

New york State Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunities foundation, Inc. 54,000 members
PrOGr a m na mE
first-time Homebuyer Grant program; Housing Our Military with Excellent Service (HOMES)
PrOGr a m T yPE
financial Assistance, Education (REALTOR/Consumer)
The first-time Homebuyer Grant program expands an existing program in order to serve more individuals and families who fall under the low-to-moderate income level, by assisting them with their closing and/ or downpayment costs. The HOMES certification program is designed to educate REALTOR licensees on how to assist military personnel and their families regarding available housing and the steps to secure suitable housing.
TarGET m arKET
Community foundation for the Capital Region and local REALTOR boards
aWard
$160,000
COnTaCT
first-time Homebuyer Grant program: Low- to moderate-income homebuyers who would fall under the income and purchase limits for loans and assistance established through the State of New york Mortgage Agency (SONyMA) using u.S. Census data. HOMES program: REALTORS working near New yorks military bases, military personnel and their families.
Ali Mann director of divisions New york State Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunities foundation 130 Washington Avenue Albany, Ny 12210 518.463.0300 ext. 203 amann@nysar.com www.nysar.com www.NySARHousingfoundation.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
In thinking of how to use its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant, the New york State Association of
REALTORS (NySAR) Housing Opportunities foundation homed in on two distinct needs in its state. for its first effort, NySAR Housing Opportunities foundation allocated a portion of its Ira Gribin Grant to expand an existing first-time Homebuyer Grant program. This program helps workforce individuals and families with low-to-moderate incomes by assisting them with closing and downpayment costs. The second element of NySARs program focused on creating a new program to serve military personnel and their families Housing Our Military with Excellent Service (HOMES). Through this three-day course, REALTORS can become certified and recognized by NySAR as a resource for military personnel and their families. The program provides REALTORS the opportunity to broaden their credentials while also making more targeted housing counseling services available to military personnel and their families.
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The first-Time Homebuyer Grant program operates by providing downpayment and closing cost grants of up to $2,000 to qualified workers purchasing their first homes. The NySAR Housing Opportunities foundation has been operating this program since 2007, and is using the Ira Gribin grant monies to develop a specific program website (www.NySARHousingfoundation.com) and to provide an additional 20 homebuyer grants each year, 11 of which had been awarded by the end of March 2011, with two more each month thereafter. The revised website highlights the first-Time Homebuyer Grants and has been redesigned to gain statewide visibility among both the public and REALTORS. The HOMES program focuses on meeting the specific needs of an underserved population military personnel and their families. under the program, REALTORS learn to address the concerns and interests of military families in terms of access to veterans Affairs (vA) financing, limited time to secure housing before a move, frequent changes in location, and other issues. both programs are ongoing and have already shown success. The first-time Homebuyer Grant program distributed six $2,000 grants in its first two months of operation and has already raised funds to see the program through 2011. The new website is up and running, with a high volume of member and non-member traffic. Meanwhile, the HOMES program began with a great start. The first training session offered under the program coincided with veterans day 2010 and had 30 participants. NySAR expects to easily meet its goal to train 100 REALTORS through the HOMES program, since it has eight more sessions scheduled with almost 60 pre-registered. To date, a total of 28 REALTORS have become certified.
Learning to Serve Those in the Service

The HOMES program, which is run as a three-day certification program, focuses on the unique needs, issues, and challenges of military and veteran clients. With more than 71,000 Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air force, Coast Guard, Reserve, and National Guard personnel in New york, members of the military constitute a significant contributor to the states economy. In meeting with family Readiness Groups at fort drum and with a Navy Housing Counselor at a naval base in Saratoga County, the foundation learned that many military families would like to be homeowners but do not understand the real estate buying and selling process, the impact of credit scores on securing a mortgage, the services a REALTOR provides, or what qualifications/expertise to seek when selecting a REALTOR. In turn, REALTORS do not always understand the transient nature of military service, military housing benefits programs and vA mortgage products. Therefore, the HOMES program is training REALTORS to better serve military families and veterans in their search for affordable housing. The hope is that each trained REALTOR will have the knowledge and skills to serve hundreds of military families and veterans. publicizing the program and the certified REALTORS will require networking and advertising, as well as a strong online presence. Representatives of the armed forces are not allowed to endorse or promote the training or those REALTORS who have completed it, so the NySAR Housing Opportunities foundation is working with each military installation to determine the most appropriate means of communicating the availability of this resource, most likely through online and print advertising targeted at military personnel. Advertising will begin once there are 100 HOMES-certified REALTORS, most likely in the summer of 2011.
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The NySAR foundation will provide web-based training for those REALTORS who have taken the course and want to teach the course. The foundation will make the webinar and supporting materials available on its website for use by its local boards or other state associations. Military service members are able to locate a REALTOR who has successfully completed the training through the addition of a search tool on the NySARs website.
REALTOR Involvement
for both the programs that NySAR Housing Opportunities foundation established, REALTOR involvement is key. for the first Time Homebuyer Grant program, applicants must work with REALTORS, who guide the homebuyer through the process, then take the applications to the local board for review. for the HOMES program, the important role that REALTORS play is maintaining contact with appropriate personnel at the local military bases in order to continually publicize that there are specially trained REALTORS who can serve as a resource to meet their unique housing needs. After the first class of the HOMES training, NySAR observed that many of the participating REALTORS were either former military personnel or married to active military. The input from these REALTORS led NySAR to make a few minor changes to the course in order to make it more useful. The first offering of the revised course will take place in May 2011. NySAR is developing a database to keep track of those REALTORS who have completed the training and credentials, and will keep in touch with them to gauge how many military families and veterans they have helped.
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NORTH CAROLINA NORTH CAROL

North Carolina Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation (Homes4NC) 32,415 members
PrOGr a m na mE
Workforce Housing program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Community Outreach, public Awareness, Website (REALTOR/ Consumer), Education (REALTOR/ Consumer)
North Carolinas Workforce Housing program created a Workforce Housing Certificate program for REALTORS. The program also educates the public through local workforce housing fairs and workshops for major employee groups; provides a one-stop, webbased resource that can be used by REALTORS, housing partners, and consumers to learn about affordable housing programs; and conducted a publicity campaign to inform consumers about the web site and the availability of workforce housing certified REALTORS.
TarGET m arKET
$140,000
COnTaCT
diane Greene director of Community Outreach North Carolina REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation 4511 Weybridge Lane Greensboro, NC 27407-7877 336.808.4234 800.443.9956 336.299.7872 fax dgreene@ncrealtors.org www.homes4nc.org/ www.ncrealtors.org
first-time homebuyers in the workforce earning less than area median income.
KEy ParTnErS
Local REALTOR associations, North Carolina Housing finance Agency, fHA/Hud, bank of America, and nonprofit housing organizations throughout the state.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Affluent part-time residents with second homes are often behind the high prices of housing in resort
communities, leaving the service and retail workers who work in those communities with few local housing options. With its unique coastline, beautiful mountains, and other attractions, North Carolina has a range of such highly desirable communities. In fact, travel and tourism contribute over $22 billion annually to the states economy. The North Carolina Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation (Homes4NC) therefore used its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant funds to help first-time homebuyers with incomes below the median break into the housing market.
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NORTH CAROLINA NORTH CAROL

The multi-faceted program began with REALTOR education, including the Workforce Housing Specialist (WHS) Certificate. The Certificate course, which called for 16 hours of training, was designed to include required modules of statewide standards such as those taught in the NC Housing finance Agencys financing dreams, and elective modules, including NARs Employer-Assisted Housing Class, Short Sales and foreclosure prevention, a Green course, Housing Advocacy, and freddie Macs Credit Smart. Homes4NC also focused on consumer education and marketing with a branded handout, banner, and brochure (customizable by local associations) and a new North Carolina WHS logo. The organization also implemented a major revision of its website to offer a searchable database for users to find housing programs, resources, and Workforce Housing Specialists in their local areas. Homes4NC also conducted an extensive public awareness campaign in June 2010, to drive consumers to the website and to the WHS-certified REALTORS who can help them become homeowners. A range of other activities brought attention to the program, including a special license plate design for Homes4NC. When the license plate is purchased or renewed, $20 of the consumers cost is given to Homes4NC. With 32,000 members and thousands of housing industry partners, the fundraising potential from the license plate is tremendous. In addition, Homes4NC has a long history of conducting successful fundraising events, and it plans to continue these efforts to support the Workforce Housing program.
6,046 page views. Nearly one-third of these searches were for affordable housing programs and organizations, and to identify nearby Workforce Housing Specialists. Homes4NC was particularly successful at gaining media attention. Newspapers and television stations in Asheville, Raleigh, Wilmington, and other communities responded to information provided by the campaign and ran stories about the REALTOR education, the new website, workforce housing education programs, and more, often including interviews with new homeowners who were helped by the initiative and praised the efforts of their REALTORS.
REALTOR Involvement
Along with qualifying more REALTORS for the WHS Certificate, the Homes4NC program sought to position REALTORS as leading advocates of workforce housing in North Carolina and facilitate stronger relationships between REALTORS and housing organizations to increase volunteer efforts with partner organizations and affordable housing advocacy. by the end 2010, more than 1,300 REALTORS across the state had attended at least one WHS class, and 245 were certified as NC Workforce Housing Specialists. Local REALTORS are key to the success of the overall program. Homes4NC has been successful in its outreach to REALTORS because of the assistance it received from local associations. Three local associations Asheville, Raleigh, and Wilmington agreed to pilot the program by each planning WHS classes and a series of outreach events. The willingness of these local associations to take the lead resulted in more REALTORS and their clients being served through the Workforce Housing program. Homes4NC is seeking additional grant dollars to expand the WHS program into several new markets and to continue its public awareness and education efforts.
Making It Easy to Find a REALTOR

One-stop shopping is more than a slogan, its also a logical way to do business. by providing a single resource from which the consumer can locate all of his or her related needs, a business positions itself as the first, possibly the only, place for that consumer to go when seeking a service especially when it comes to housing. Homes4NC redesigned their website, http://www.homes4nc.org/, to serve specifically as a single resource that covers everything from how to find a REALTOR to social services available in a given community. The website has been a major success. The first month it was launched, the site had 1,115 visits and
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OHIO OHIO OHIO OHIO OHIO O

Ohio Association of REALTORS (OAR) 30,039 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Ohio Association of REALTORS umbrella program

PrOGr a m T yPE
The Cincinnati Area board of REALTORS (CAbR) Workforce Housing Initiative provides REALTORS with the training and tools they need to become advocates for workforce families seeking to buy a home and brings them together with potential homebuyers at Home buyer Training classes and events. The dayton Area board of REALTORS (dAbR) Housing Opportunity program incorporates three elements: Educational programs for REALTORS regarding resources available for first-time homebuyers, an upgraded information website, and downpayment assistance to 30 qualified first-time homebuyers.
CAbR Workforce Housing Initiative: REALTORS and workforce families, who are first time homebuyers, with an income of $37,000 or above. dAbR Housing Opportunity program: REALTORS and consumers who are at or below 120 percent of the area median income in the four counties served by dAbR.
Education (REALTOR/Consumer), Website Redesign, financial Assistance, Community Outreach
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Low interest rates and housing prices make this the ideal time for moderate-income families to pursue
homeownership. However, many would-be first-time buyers have difficulty qualifying for a mortgage due to credit problems or inability to come up with the cash needed for downpayments and closing costs. Working through two of its local associations the Cincinnati Area board of REALTORS (CAbR) and the dayton Area board of REALTORS (dAbR) the Ohio Association of REALTORS (OAR) used its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to support programs that help both potential first-time homebuyers and REALTORS find and access resources to address these challenges and help facilitate home purchases by low- and moderate-income buyers.
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KEy ParTnErS aWard
CAbR Workforce Housing Initiative: Ohio Housing finance Agency, the Homeownership Center of Greater Cincinnati, City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County first Suburb Consortium, the Hamilton County Township Association, the Hamilton County Municipal League, u.S. bank dAbR Housing Opportunity program: Homeownership Center of Greater dayton, fifth Third bank, pNC bank, key bank, Wright-patt Credit union, City of dayton, Montgomery County, City of kettering, City of West Carrollton, Miami valley fair Housing Center, united Way, East End Community Services, Home builders Association, CityWide development, County Corp.
$120,000
COnTaCT
Tim Lockwood vice president, professional development Group Ohio Association of REALTORS 200 E. Town Street Columbus, OH 43215-4648 614.228.6675 614.228.2601 fax lockwood@ohiorealtors.org www.ohiorealtors.org www.homeownershipdayton.org
The CAbR Workforce Housing Initiative focuses on using REALTORS to attract workforce families to neighborhoods that are affordable, and that have increased public safety and neighborhood amenities. CAbR partnered with the local government to identify the target neighborhoods for this initiative. As a first step, Cincinnati-area REALTORS are being provided educational programs, like NARs Employer-Assisted Housing Class, that teach them how to connect with employers, nonprofits, and community groups to promote workforce housing in the community, to enhance their knowledge and skills in workforce housing. These REALTORS then participate in CAbR-sponsored Home buyer Training classes and Housing Expos at several locations across the region, where they can interact with the potential homebuyers taking the classes. These events are designed to help potential buyers understand what it takes to purchase and finance a home. In dayton, dAbR is supporting a three-pronged initiative. As in Cincinnati, the dayton REALTORS have access to new
educational programs to educate them on the numerous resources available for first-time homebuyers and for those needing financial assistance and counseling. dAbR has also updated its website, www.homeownershipdayton.org, to include a complete overview of assistance programs and a means for consumers to get answers to questions. finally, dAbR has established a downpayment assistance program to provide 30 homebuyers with funds, as well as education and personalized counseling. dAbR has successfully partnered with the HomeOwnership Center of Greater dayton (HOCGd) in this effort. As of spring 2011, both programs have already had some measurable success. CAbR identified the neighborhoods it plans to feature blue Hill and Over the Rhine, and is planning to offer tours of homes that are priced for workforce housing, as well as a Home buyer Expo that will provide potential homebuyers with information on assistance for rehabbing properties, specially priced mortgages, and lending programs. CAbR has also
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contacted area employers to discuss offering their employees educational programs about the benefits of homeownership. Similarly, dAbR has been very active in implementing its program. The Ohio division of Real Estate approved dAbRs new first Time HomebuyersShow Them the Money course for continuing education credit, and the first classes are scheduled for spring of 2011. dAbR has also successfully presented NARs Expanding Housing Opportunities course on affordable housing, with 19 participants completing the program. In addition, updated resources content has been added to the website. HOCGd has scheduled Homebuyer Classes throughout 2011 and designated internal staff to administer the program. both these associations are excited about the work theyve done so far and are eager to accomplish more. with first-time buyers as well as existing homeowners to achieve their goals, including foreclosure prevention, guidance on financing for home rehabilitation, refinancing a mortgage and understanding home equity options. The Center has also provided $23,500 in additional funds to cover program development, marketing, and homebuyer counseling and education. dAbR developed and is promoting a new brochure highlighting the Centers services and programs. One goal of the redesign for HOCGds website is to increase the number of hits from 2,000 per year to at least 5,000 by adding new information about financial assistance programs and a link to dAbRs website.
REALTOR Involvement
CAbR and dAbR each have a goal to reach workforce homeowners by having trained REALTORS present at consumer-oriented classes. The double commitment of additional education and assistance in educating consumers requires extra time on the part of the REALTORS, but there has been great enthusiasm for learning about financing opportunities and how to help employers understand the full value of homeownership for their employees. The prospect of a program that brings everyone together in a unified approach allows the public to see all of REALTORS as trusted advisors, proponents of stabilized neighborhoods, and key members of the community.
Partnerships That Lend a Hand

both CAbR and dAbR exemplify the partnership element of the Ira Gribin Grants in the way they are working with their partners. CAbR has been especially active in securing lender participation in the neighborhood events the association is sponsoring. because financing is one of the most significant barriers to home purchase, CAbR has contacted several lenders to get their input regarding financing options with potential homeowners, and has planned a meeting with the local chapters of the Home builders Association, Mortgage bankers Association, National Association of Real Estate brokers, and the Cincinnati Area board of REALTORS to discuss financing, the inventory of distressed properties, and stabilizing neighborhoods. As CAbR stated in a recent report to NAR, the opportunity to bring all the players in a real estate transaction together to help create the opportunity of homeownership for low to moderate income buyers has been exciting. On the other hand, the dAbR Housing Opportunity program has involved a great deal of close work with one key partner. HOCGd is a leading resource for potential homebuyers in the dayton area, providing information about many of the resources available to assist families in purchasing a home, as well as offering classes and counseling as a chartered member of the NeighborWorks network and a Housing and urban development (Hud) approved housing counseling agency. HOCGd works
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OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHO

Oklahoma Housing foundation (OHf) 9,043 members

PrOGr a m na mE
umbrella Grant program

PrOGr a m T yPE
bartlesville and Stillwater: buy a foot, build a House, be a Hero program raises money to build a home with Habitat for Humanity and builds awareness; Enid: The Good Neighbor fund helps homeowners in particular income brackets bring their homes into compliance with the city code; Lawton: The existing volunteer REALTOR program, which conducts homebuyer seminars for military families, purchased equipment so military families can print out listings of interest onsite; Midwest City/del City/Moore: Rebuilding Together Oklahoma City (OkC) assists senior retirees who lack the income to make repairs or modifications to their homes so that they can age in place.
bartlesville: Individuals earning between $15,000 to $30,000 a year, whose current housing does not qualify as simple and decent Enid: Individuals/families in financial need who have been cited for a code violation Lawton: Military personnel and their families Midwest City/del City/Moore: Individuals 55 and over, earning $11,500 or less, who are unable to make repairs to homes to which they have title Stillwater: Low-income families/ individuals who live in inadequate housing and can contribute the monthly payments and mandated labor for a Habitat for Humanity home
fundraising, financial Assistance, Consumer Education and Outreach, Construction/Rehab, Home Maintenance and Repair
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
The Oklahoma Housing foundation

(OHf), the nonprofit arm of the Oklahoma Association of Association of REALTORS has taken to heart the notion that every community is different. Reflecting a long history of active REALTOR involvement in the states 24 communities, five of those community REALTOR associations came forward with programs ranging from building homes through Habitat for Humanity to upgrading computer and printer resources for an onsite office to help military families better examine their housing options when transferring to a new base.
The bartlesville Association of REALTORS (bAR) and the Stillwater board of REALTORS (SbOR) both used their portion of Oklahomas Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to support Habitat for Humanity projects. In bartlesville, the buy a foot, build a House, be a Hero program incorporates the work of a talented local artist who has donated his time in order to design a print for the project. When donors contribute, they receive the print, a letter of appreciation, a tax letter, information about Habitat, and a schedule of the volunteer hours available locally. bAR has launched a media campaign aimed at its own members as well as individual and corporate donors. Contributors can purchase individual square feet in an upcoming Habitat project or donate to sponsor a future project. This is a long-term program. bAR has not yet sponsored a Habitat home, though the organization is successfully raising funds. The SbOR project of the same name has much in common with the bAR program, including the art aspect in this case, 8"x10" watercolor prints signed by the artist, who also happens to be a local REALTOR.
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Habitat for Humanity, Gary Gibson of Ampersand Graphics, City of Enid, Community development Services Agency of Enid (CdSA), Americorp, u.S. Army, Command Group of ft. Still, Rebuilding Together OkC, Jack Allred (artist), dave Whorton at barn Lab printers
aWard
Jennifer Williams director of Association Events Oklahoma Association of REALTORS 9807 N. broadway Oklahoma City, Ok 73114 405.848.9944 800.375.9944 405.848.9947 fax jwilliams@oklahomarealtors.com www.OklahomaRealtors.com www.OkHousingfoundation.com
$60,000
The Enid Metro Association of REALTORS (EMAR) applied their grant money to support the Good Neighbor fund campaign, which is a multi-faceted campaign focused on getting blighted areas cleaned up and restored. As part of the campaign, EMAR and its partners help low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners who have retired from the workforce, bring their homes into compliance with city codes. The program often has a waiting list, which the extra funds from the grant allowed EMAR to address. deteriorating properties can have an adverse effect on property values, and this project covers such tasks as painting, roof repair, clean-up, weatherproofing, and fence or porch repair. The goal is to create viable, affordable neighborhoods that will appeal to investors and potential workforce homeowners alike. by bringing these homes up to code and maintaining home values the program makes these neighborhoods more marketable and attractive. for 17 years, the Lawton board of REALTORS (LbOR) volunteer REALTOR program has provided rental and
homebuying information, as well as homebuyer seminars, through member volunteers at the ft. Still Army base. very simply, the program needed an upgrade in its Internet connection, a printer for its computer, and assorted additional supplies, all of which were purchased with the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant funds. The Midwest City/del City/Moore Association of REALTORS (Mid/del) also put its funds into an existing program, in this case Rebuilding Together OkC, which assists retirees who need assistance in making the repairs or modifications necessary to stay in their homes. The Ira Gribin Grant funds were used to purchase equipment necessary for the volunteers who make the repairs. This program is discussed in more detail below.
Keeping Seniors in Their Homes

Rebuilding Together OkC is both an annual project and an organization in the Oklahoma City area. Every May, Rebuilding Together OkC hosts a communitywide event
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in which teams rehabilitate or retrofit homes so that seniors can remain in their homes as long as possible. Often, the homeowners helped live alone and cannot physically or financially maintain their home in a habitable condition. The average annual income of these homeowners is $11,500 per year, and many live on a fixed income. Rebuilding Together OkC assesses the homes and assigns volunteers according to skill level. Mid/del volunteers a team each year, consisting of approximately 40 REALTORS and affiliate members and their families that complete a home repair. The Mid/del team often handles exterior issues, such as trimming unruly shrubbery, caring for lawns, and hauling away trash, which are not part of the Rebuilding Together OkC program. With the Ira Gribin grant, Mid/del was able to purchase the equipment and supplies that are necessary to complete the project in one day. This includes hand trucks to move furniture and appliances away from walls, a sturdy tent that can shelter household belongings that are taken outside during the project, work tables, and a banner letting passers-by know that local REALTORS are contributing to the community. In May 2010, the Mid/del REALTORS helped Ray knight, an 84-year-old man who was a drill Sergeant during WWII then worked for many years as a school teacher and an employee of the Oklahoma County Health department. He now lives on Social Security and veterans Administration benefits. The many repairs done to Mr. knights home include exterior painting, replacing light bulbs, debris removal, caulking and spackling, replacing the kitchen faucet, and weatherizing the entire home.
REALTOR Involvement
because REALTORS are in the business of buying and selling real estate, they shape their communities. Addressing the needs of low- and moderate-income residents, ensuring that military families have appropriate housing, and making repairs where there is blight or where elderly homeowners need assistance is one of the ways to shape the communities of Oklahoma. participation by REALTORS in the Oklahoma programs has been strong, because they see a chance to improve their communities and the lives of their fellow citizens.
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OREGON OREGON OREGON OR

Oregon Association of REALTORS HOME foundation (HOME foundation) 14,500 members

PrOGr a m na mE
HOME Sweet Home program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (Consumer), financial Assistance
Oregons Home foundation is making forty $2,000 downpayment grants to first-time homebuyers, with lenders who will provide an additional $500 match. buyers must complete at least eight hours of homebuyer education, provided through the portland Housing Center and other regional housing centers. The program is being marketed through the websites, an electronic newsletter, a quarterly magazine, and conferences.
TarGET m arKET
Oregon bankers Association

aWard
$80,000
COnTaCT
Jenny pakula vice president, business development and Member Outreach and Staff Counsel Oregon Association of REALTORS p.O. box 351 Salem, OR 97308-0351 503.362.3645 800.252.9115 503.362.9615 fax jpakula@oregonrealtors.org www.oregonrealtors.org
first-time homebuyers earning 100 percent or less than the area median income; REALTORS and members of the Oregon bankers Association who will be made aware of this new financial product and how it could benefit their clients.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Innovative approaches sometimes require equally creative business practices. fortunately, the Oregon
Association of REALTORS (OAR) HOME foundation has both sides of the equation covered, with both the new concepts and the ability to bring them to fruition. The foundations HOME Sweet Home program was developed in conjunction with the Oregon bankers Association (ObA). The programs outline was simple enough: provide $2,000, zero-percent downpayment assistance loans to first-time homebuyers having an income of up to 100 percent of the area median. The homebuyers must complete eight hours of homebuyer education, and the lender would provide a $500 match for each $2,000 request, though this match could be in the form of reduced fees, additional loan funds, or in-kind services. REALTORS can market the program to potential homebuyers and make referrals to qualified lenders.
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under the initial plan, ObA would administer the loan requests, distribute the funds, and provide the $500 match for each homebuyer; the Housing Center would hold the note and deed of trust, and act as the lender; and the HOME foundation itself would provide the initial funding and market the program to potential homebuyers through its REALTOR members. However, there were unanticipated challenges when it took ObA longer than expected to obtain association member agreement. This, and a number of banking issues, led the HOME foundation to work with its partners to restructure the process and change the loan program to one that offers grants. All grant funds have been distributed to borrowers residing in large urban counties. These areas are closest in proximity to the largest centers in the state for families needing to reside close to their place of employment. for a yearly allocation of funds to the HOME Sweet Home program. The amount of allocation is dependent on the yearly fundraising for the HOME foundation. Once the program was restructured, it took off. As grants began to be paid out, grant requests and inquiries about the program increased significantly. When the program was launched, there were forty $2,000 grants available. As of October 1, 2010, 34 had been paid out, and by early April 2011, all funds from the initial grant were spent. Otherwise, all elements of the project have been completed. The next project milestone was an additional lump sum distribution to the HOME Sweet Home program from the HOME foundation, which was paid before the end of 2010. Another $6,000 will be allocated to the program in June 2011. Also, in March, 2011, the HOME foundation received a grant of $100,000 for the program from the Oregon Housing and Community Services. The partnership between the OAR and ObA has been fantastic. It has been a complete success for the REALTORS to work so closely with an industry partner. This is particularly true given the market downturn over the past couple of years and the role the banks have played in the real estate downturn. Having the bankers
Can a Grant Be as Sustainable as a Loan?

Applicants for the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants were required to produce a sustainability plan, showing how the proposed program would continue once the grant funds had been spent. The original plan for the HOME Sweet Home program was to roll repaid loans back into the fund to help support future loans. At the same time, the Oregon Association of REALTORS and ObA made plans to jointly raise funds to financially sustain the program over time, and the HOME foundation identified several sources of potential state funding, as well as client trust account funding and direct donations from corporations and individuals. However, it soon became apparent that the amount of paperwork for the note holder would make the cost of the program prohibitive for ObA. Shifting the program to one that offers grants rather than loans alleviated the need for a note holder. but where would the money come from to replace disbursed grant funds without the loan repayments assumed in the grant application? To keep the program sustainable, the HOME foundation board of directors amended the HOME foundation bylaws to allow
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provide a $500 match for each grant has demonstrated to OAR members that the banks do want to work together and improved member perception of them. Had program administration remained complicated, it would have taken longer to launch the program and sustainability will be more difficult. The easier the program is to implement and sustain, the less drain there is on staffing allocations, as well. In order to measure activity a core element in any ongoing and sustainable activity ObA provides monthly statistics to show which banks are participating, counties where properties are being purchased, percentage of grants paid in the metro areas, and which REALTORS are participating in the program. OAR will continue to evaluate the program by reviewing the monthly statistics provided by ObA to ensure the majority of funds are making it to the workforce housing communities.
REALTOR Involvement
The HOME Sweet Home program benefits REALTORS by providing them with a new financial product they can market to prospective buyers in order to facilitate a home purchase. REALTORS can educate their buyers about the program and make referrals to qualified lenders; homebuyers must work with a REALTOR in order to be eligible for the HOME Sweet Home grant. REALTORS were made aware of the program through the Oregon Association of REALTORS website, electronic newsletter, quarterly magazine, and meetings.
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PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA PEN

pennsylvania Association of REALTORS (pAR) 32,367 members

PrOGr a m na mE
The Community Reinvestment project (CORE)

PrOGr a m T yPE
The CORE project is a state-wide effort by pAR to encourage local municipalities and/or redevelopment authorities to enter into agreements with REALTORS to market and sell unused governmentowned properties, so that they can be converted into affordable workforce housing.
TarGET m arKET
Individual municipality and/or redevelopment authorities, Housing Alliance of pennsylvania

aWard
$120,000
COnTaCT
Research, Redevelopment, Web-based Resource Center (Consumer)
Teachers, police officers, fire fighters, health care workers, retail clerks, administrative personnel, and other moderate income workers who are essential to the economic vitality of a city or region. The specific audiences served by CORE will differ based on the needs of each individual municipality.
Jennifer Shockley Assistant director public policy and political Affairs pennsylvania Association of REALTORS 500 North 12th Street Lemoyne, pA 17043-1213 800.555.3390 717.561.8796 fax jshockley@parealtor.org www.parealtor.org www.parealtorcore.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
One of the frustrations of the housing

downturn is that a shortage of affordable housing exists alongside thousands of empty and unused homes and other buildings. The pennsylvania Association of REALTORS (pAR) estimates that tens of thousands of such properties sit vacant in pennsylvania alone. Therefore, pAR initiated The Community Reinvestment project (CORE) in order to help first-time homebuyers, teachers, firefighters, police officers, and others gain access to government-owned properties. Inspired by the Greater baltimore board of REALTORS SCOpE (Selling City-Owned properties Efficiently) program, which has overseen the sale of over 250 properties in that
city, pAR created a similar program for the entire state of pennsylvania. The concept involves municipalities, government agencies, or local housing authorities working with local REALTORS to market and sell governmentowned properties to investors or owner-occupants who agree to make the property habitable. pAR works with each participating community to identify properties based on the following criteria: current condition of the property, appraised value, projected rehabilitation costs, and projected sale price. CORE will help individuals realize the American dream of homeownership, stabilize communities in urban centers, and provide an additional revenue stream for communities.
Repurposing Government Properties

pAR first piloted the CORE project in philadelphia in february 2009, where pAR identified more than 19,000 government-owned properties in all kinds of physical condition. The pilot resulted in an agreement to put over 350 properties up for sale through CORE. by October
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PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA PEN

2010, two homes had been constructed on vacant land available through CORE, and sold to owner-occupants. pAR is now using the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to implement the project statewide through development of property mapping software, standard transactional forms, and education. The second step in the implementation of CORE involved creating support for the concept. pAR has garnered support from the pennsylvania Housing finance Agency (pHfA) as well as the Housing Alliance of pennsylvania. presentations on CORE were made at two blight conferences with 100 attendees, including elected officials, municipal leaders, staff, and school board officials. Support from pHfA, the Housing Alliance, blight summit attendees, and others will be essential for the success and long-term growth of the project. The third and final step is the actual listing and sale of CORE properties. With 67 counties and over 2,500 municipal governments, assembling an inventory of these government-owned properties is a tall order. yet by late 2010, property data had been obtained for 57 counties. Identified properties are keyed and mapped so that local leaders can see the impact these unused buildings have on the surrounding areas. All of this information will be available on the CORE website. due to staffing changes within the Redevelopment Authority of the City of philadelphia (RdA), progress towards listing the agreed-to properties has slowed, though there is still a commitment from the RdA to implement CORE. However, much progress has been made with the city of Reading, a thirdclass city currently suffering major budgetary problems. The city has recognized that CORE is a viable option in which REALTORS can use their knowledge to assist Reading as it struggles to increase homeownership and tax revenue. To support the sustainability of the program, the $175 fee REALTORS pay to become a CORE designated REALTOR will be put back into the project. CORE designated REALTORS will pay a $50 yearly fee for access to the mapping software. pAR is also exploring funding opportunities with the pennsylvania Housing finance Agency, and has identified other groups to approach as prospective funders in 2011. In addition, pAR has formed a housing foundation to seek grant and corporate funding for CORE as well as other housing-related projects at pAR.
Implementation of CORE is a three-step process. first was the development of standards and materials, including a set of CORE principles and Guidelines for Implementation. The principles include six overarching themes that are nonnegotiable tenets of CORE: encourage local associations to implement the CORE project; provide municipalities with a pool of trained REALTORS knowledgeable about CORE; counsel municipalities on the listing and sale of properties for workforce housing; encourage municipal governments to adopt guidelines that maximize properties returning to the active tax rolls; provide public education and outreach on project objectives and outcomes; and, establish partnerships with other organizations to further the project objectives. The Guidelines are designed to assist in the implementation process. Along with that is a 3-hour administrative training course to help REALTORS discuss CORE with community leaders. This course has been given to the CORE Advisory Group, the ten local government affairs directors, and five local association CORE Committees. A 7-hour designation course has also been developed to teach REALTORS how to market and sell CORE properties, how the sale of CORE properties will open the door to a wider market, and how REALTORS can utilize that knowledge in other areas of their real estate business. The CORE website, www.parealtorcore.com, includes general information on the project, how REALTORS and municipalities can get involved, and the property mapping system. The site is dynamic and will grow as the project expands in scope.
REALTOR Involvement
pennsylvania REALTORS are excited about the opportunities CORE presents, including providing homeownership to currently underserved groups, solidifying a revenue source for municipalities, and helping to develop and stabilize communities.
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PUERTO RICO PUERTO RICO PUER

puerto Rico Association of REALTORS (pRAR) 600 900 members

PrOGr a m na mE
REALTORS Homeownership Solutions in Todays Economy

PrOGr a m T yPE
Consumer Outreach, Education (REALTORS/Consumers), public Awareness Campaign
This program will inform working families throughout the island about buyer incentives, tax exemptions, and minimized closing costs and downpayment costs, initially, emphasizing a government program that expires in September 2011. pRAR will use brochures, marketing materials, outreach events, and a half hour Tv program to inform residents about this and other buyer resources and incentives. The program will also educate REALTORS about how to promote opportunities for homeownership.
TarGET m arKET
banco popular and popular Mortgage of puerto Rico, banco Gubernamental para el financiamiento de la vivienda en puerto Rico (The department of Housing for financial Needs in puerto Rico), Oriental bank, Reliable Mortgage, Scotiabank of pR, first bank of pR, Appraisal Institute of pR, Home builders Association of pR, Seven Sense pR
aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
Lower-income citizens such as policemen, firefighters, nurses, and teachers, who will likely qualify for the short-term stimulus package; working families, especially those outside the metropolitan area, with a household income of $25,000 to $50,000; REALTORS
Alexandra Jorge puerto Rico Association of REALTORS p.O. box 79830 Carolina, pR 00984 787.791.8555 787.791.8577 fax prarealtors@gmail.com www.prarealtors.org
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
The real estate industry is one of the main drivers of puerto Ricos economy, which has been hit hard by the
recession. In response, the government of puerto Rico evaluated the shift in employment patterns and designed various stimulus plans addressing the needs of low-income households, residential investors, and new construction projects. These government-backed initiatives are expected to pull the local economys business cycle back in tune with that of the united States within the next five years. Among the government programs is a collection of new buyer incentives, tax exemptions in capital gain for sellers and buyers, and minimized closing cost and downpayment cost all set to expire in September, 2011.
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PUERTO RICO PUERTO RICO PUER

for REALTORS who have tried hard to build worker confidence in buying a property in the current economy, this short-term incentive program is a significant help. In order to take maximum advantage of the opportunity, the puerto Rico Association of REALTORS (pRAR) is using its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to educate working families through the island about these and other home-purchase assistance programs available in puerto Rico. The main goal is to reach every part of the island. Many residents in the metropolitan area are aware of the government incentive program but those in the suburbs and rural areas often are not. pRAR hopes to reach up to 60 percent of the working families in puerto Rico with a positive message about the islands real estate market and buyer incentives. pRARs Homeownership Solutions program has a number of specific goals. The first step is to develop and promote an island-wide training program for REALTORS so that they can participate in various events with knowledge about every type of financing option available to potential homebuyers. Within a month of gaining access to its Ira Gribin grant funds, pRAR began holding Train the Trainers meetings, in which pRAR leadership explained to puerto Rico REALTORS the full context of the program, its objectives, and the short- and long-term plans for the coming years. pRAR also created brochures and marketing materials for upcoming fairs and events, and sent the event schedules for the year to each of the local board presidents to share with their members. The next phase of the program is the creation of a half hour Tv program that will be broadcast to all of puerto Rico. This weekly broadcast will help pRAR address real estate issues through interviews and discussions, helping to provide information so that consumers feel secure and confident in buying a home. pRAR has already begun related Tv media tour/spots with appearances of Channel 24 and radio station WkAQ. In addition, pRARs recently redesigned website will offer an ongoing forum for REALTORS and consumers, and there will also be a Hot Line, ready to launch in mid-April 2011, that will answer questions and help address the concerns of potential buyers.
Educational Fairs
In addition to reaching out via the media, pRAR is planning a number of events that consumers can attend to learn more about buying a home. The first fair is scheduled for the end of April 2011. At some events, potential homebuyers will have an opportunity to meet with representatives of different financial institutions. These financial representatives can offer orientation information and interview families about their specific financial situation to help them assess their readiness to buy. In addition, real estate tours will promote direct contact with buyers and seller needs. All of these activities will help position REALTORS as the best source of current information concerning real estate, economy, financing, new laws, and benefits.
REALTOR Involvement
The REALTORS Homeownership Solutions in Todays Economy programs will educate puerto Rico residents about the role REALTORS play in the community. because few on the island know the difference between a REALTOR and a real estate agent, the program will not only help rebuild the real estate market, but will also provide understanding that REALTORS make a big difference to people aspiring to be homeowners. by creating greater awareness, pRAp expects that more real estate agents will see the affiliation of being a REALTOR as necessary and more working families will see in a REALTOR the best source of trusted real estate market information.
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RHODE ISLAND RHODE ISLAND RH

Rhode Island Association of REALTORS (RIAR) 4,600 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Creating Working Housing partnerships: REALTORS and RIs Affordable Homes

PrOGr a m T yPE
REALTOR Education and Outreach, Community Outreach
Through Creating Working Housing partnerships: REALTORS and RIs Affordable Homes program RIAR will design and implement outreach programming and materials to: Raise awareness among REALTORS about workforce housing needs and issues throughout Rhode Island, offer REALTORS additional continuing education that addresses workforce housing, and help eligible Rhode Islanders access education and counseling opportunities to facilitate their purchase or rental of workforce housing.
TarGET m arKET
Grow Smart Rhode Island, Housing Action of Rhode Island, The Housing Network of Rhode Island, Housing Works RI, Rhode Island Housing, The Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission, South kingstown Affordable Housing Collaborative
aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
REALTORS; Rhode Islanders who need workforce housing, whether rental or ownership units.
Susan C. Arnold CEO/General Counsel Rhode Island Association of REALTORS 100 bignall Street Warwick, RI 02888 401.432.6947 401.941.5360 fax susan@riliving.com www.statewidemls.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
As in many states, there is a good deal of

misunderstanding about the real price of housing in Rhode Island today. The housing price data that appear in local media often include sales of foreclosed properties that have stood vacant and deteriorated significantly before being sold. The very low prices paid for these distressed properties bring down the average sales prices, creating the misperception that housing affordability is no longer a problem.
The reality for many low- and moderate-income households is much more challenging. While housing sales prices have declined, they are still out of line with household incomes. In 2009, for example, homeownership in providence, RI required an annual income of $56,716, which was above the average income for such wage earners as elementary school teachers, police officers, nurses, retail salespersons, and janitors. In addition, there is a severe shortage of affordable rental units. As a result, increasing numbers of Rhode Islanders, many of whom are working parents with young children, have turned to homeless shelters. In order to help address this situation, the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS (RIAR) used its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to implement the Creating Working Housing partnerships: REALTORS and Rhode Islands Affordable Homes program. This multi-faceted program is designed to raise awareness among REALTORS
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RHODE ISLAND RHODE ISLAND RH

about workforce housing needs and issues throughout Rhode Island by delivering presentations to regional real estate boards and local real estate companies, sponsoring tours of workforce housing around the state, and taking advantage of outreach opportunities through the RIAR website, member radio shows and newsletters, and other means. The program is encouraging RIAR members to help eligible Rhode Islanders in the purchase or rent of workforce housing. In addition, RIAR has developed several training modules on subjects related to workforce housing, which it has incorporated into its continuing education program. Those REALTORS that complete the designated workforce housing courses will receive a Rhode Island Workforce Housing Specialist designation, to reflect their specialized knowledge and skills to assist workforce buyers. To implement this program, RIAR is working collaboratively with seven housing organizations, who sit with RIAR on a steering committee to help develop and maintain the curriculum for the continuing education modules, recommend instructors, including members of the legal and banking communities with direct experience in representing these transactions, and attract the participation of additional stakeholders. As of mid-March 2011, the new training modules had been developed, the instructors identified, and the materials made ready for submittal for continuing education credits, while the steering committee and the various outreach efforts are in development. This program will ultimately benefit Rhode Islanders who need workforce housing, whether rental or ownership units. With better-educated REALTORS and other housing professionals, consumers will be better able to access the housing built in the state to meet their specific needs and to make educated decisions about what home is right for them. Working with all low- and moderate-income homebuyers, including learning about Rhode Islands homeownership education and counseling programs and the financing products available to these income groups understanding the ownership models of Rhode Islands workforce housing, including guiding the purchase and sale; affirmatively marketing; technical issues, such as long-term affordability, income eligibility, lending, etc. Current market issues for RIs low- and moderate-income housing needs, such as foreclosure in the current market understanding rental and supportive housing The RIAR Education department, with the input of the workshop development team, is also reviewing the courses that are already offered through the Continuing Education program to determine whether some of those courses, with or without modification, are appropriate for inclusion in the list of workshops that REALTORS can attend to learn more about workforce housing.
REALTOR Involvement
from the perspective of the individual REALTORS, this program has the potential to potentially increase their revenue and provide them with marketing opportunities in low- and moderate-income areas. It may also make sellers agents aware of opportunities to market properties to community development corporations. RIAR members will play an important role in helping workforce families access the counseling and information they need. better-educated REALTORS can more fully participate in marketing home ownership units with long-term affordability restrictions, of which there are an estimated 1,000 across Rhode Island. A REALTOR is often the first person that low- and moderate-income households turn to when contemplating the purchase of a home. Equipped with the knowledge and skills gained from RIARs program, REALTORS will be better able to help such homebuyers access the counseling and information they need to understand the housing products and financing programs available and to make good housing decisions based on their individual situations.
Developing the New Curriculum

The new curriculum consists of four three-hour modules to be delivered by six instructors, and will be offered at half the usual cost for such a class. Examples of modules that are part of the program include:
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SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROL

South Carolina REALTORS (SCR) 17,270 members

PrOGr a m na mE
palmetto Heroes
PrOGr a m T yPE
SCR is partnering with the South Carolina Housing finance and development Authority (SCHfdA), to participate in its palmetto Heroes program, which provides downpayment assistance to workforce homebuyers. SCR is providing an additional $500 in downpayment/closing cost assistance to each family that SCHfdA assists through the palmetto Heroes program.
TarGET m arKET
$80,000
COnTaCT
byron king South Carolina Association of REALTORS 3780 fernandina Road Columbia, SC 29210 800.233.6381 803.798.6650 byron@screaltors.org www.screaltors.com
Teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders

KEy ParTnErS
South Carolina Housing finance and development Authority
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
To honor the teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMS personnel who are essential to
any community, the South Carolina Housing finance and development Authority (SCHfdA) established a $40 million loan program to provide downpayment assistance to these workforce homebuyers. In addition, eligible palmetto Heroes homebuyers can also get a 5.125 percent interest rate through the SC State Housings first-time Home buyer program. SCHfdA plans to offer about 300 loans of $7,000 in downpayment assistance to qualified applicants, some may even be forgivable loans, depending on the borrowers income. South Carolina REALTORS is helping to enhance the assistance provided to palmetto Heroes buyers by providing an additional $500 in downpayment/closing cost assistance to families that SCHfdA assists.
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SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROL

In addition, SCR will provide free advertising and promotion of the program through its weekly eNewsletter, website coverage, archived webinar, and other online activities. SCR is including SCHfdA in all of its upcoming events, including the SCR Annual Conference and Trade Expo, and REALTORS will serve on the SCHfdA advisory committee for the program. In order to recapture the funds so they will be available for future buyers, SCR has issued 80 of the grants as forgivable loans to the workforce buyers. The current plan for future funding is to ask the recipients to donate some or all of their SCR grant to future palmetto Hero buyers as downpayment assistance. The palmetto Heroes program has received additional bond money and will continue to make loans to nurses, teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, EMS workers, dispatchers, and corrections officers for the foreseeable future. This effort has garnered great press coverage for SCR and state REALTORS. The SC Housing Authority has written about the REALTOR grant contributions in all of the publicity about this program and has also included it in all of its economic impact reports. Tv crews covered the initial press conference which highlighted SCRs involvement at the SCR Capitol Conference in March 2010.
Building a Partnership
When the South Carolina Housing Authority received $138 million in federal funds to fight foreclosure, SCR was invited to Housing Authority discussions about how these funds should be used. Without the Ira Gribin Grant, SCR would not have been included in a partnership with the South Carolina Housing Authority. The grant therefore puts SCR in a position to learn about new programs and provide input as these programs develop.
REALTOR Involvement
As partners in the palmetto Heroes program, REALTORS are involved in all of the resulting transactions. SCR plans to write to all 300 buyers to let them know that the REALTOR organization contributed to their home purchase and, as of April 2011, had already sent such letters to the 80 buyers who had already received their loans. Those REALTORS who complete SCHfdAs training program on the palmetto Heroes loan program will be listed on SCHfdAs website.
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TENNESSEE TENNESSEE TENNESSE

Tennessee Association of REALTORS (TAR) 23,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Homeownership Options for Tennessees Workforce

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTOR), Web-based Resource Center (REALTOR/Consumer)
The Homeownership Options for Tennessees Workforce program developed an accredited continuing education program for REALTORS across the state, using a statewide faculty of trained instructors. The program also created an on-line resource center website for both REALTORS and consumers, and launched an advertising and pR campaign to support the education and website initiatives at both the state and local levels.
Workforce consumers who face difficulty finding affordable housing in the communities where they work primarily lower-income citizens employed in downtown areas and higher-income suburban communities, including first-time homebuyers, potentially with less-than-ideal credit histories.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
In states where at least 20 percent of the REALTORS
are credentialed in a particular specialty, people
start expecting their REALTORS to be trained in that specialty. This expectation is behind the Homeownership Options for Tennessees Workforce! program, instituted by the Tennessee Association of REALTORS (TAR). In cooperation with its educational arm, the Tennessee Real Estate Educational foundation (TREEf), TAR has set a goal to train 4,500 of the states 23,000 REALTORS in its Homeownership Options course over a three-year period, and even more in the years after that. funding from TARs Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant is supporting the first three years of the program.
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Tennessee Real Estate Educational foundation (TREEf), Local associations (23), Tennessee Housing development Agency, Tennessee department of Economic and Community development
aWard
Charles pug Scoville director of Communications and Education Tennessee Association of REALTORS 901 19th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212-2137 615.321.1477 615.321.4905 fax pug.scoville@tarnet.com www.tarnet.com www.TNHomeAssist.com
$100,000
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
To meet their aggressive schedule and achieve widespread workforce housing training throughout the state, TAR and TREEf are training and equipping one instructor from each of the states six regions to deliver the six-hour, CE-accredited Homeownership Options program. TAR reasoned that the courses and the online resource center it planned to develop would have little impact on workforce housing if they were not known and utilized, so TAR launched an advertising and public relations campaign to alert consumers to the program and informing them of the additional credentials many REALTORS now offer.
Tennesseans looking to purchase an affordable home. The website is being funded by Ira Gribin Grant monies for the first three years and then maintained by TREEf. for the REALTOR training and certification, Tennessee Housing and development Agency (THdA) the state housing finance agency played a major role in developing and refining the course materials and website resources. The most significant partners were the Tennessee Real Estate Educational foundation (TREEf), through which TAR developed and offered the training, and the local associations of REALTORS. TAR did face some challenges. It encountered an initial delay in getting the training approved by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission and the impact of the recession on the Tennessee REALTOR community has reduced the level of REALTOR participation in training. TAR had hoped to have 2,000 enrollments in the first full year of operation, there have been only several hundred thus far,
Course and Website Development

TAR and TREEf launched the new website (www. TNHomeAssist.com) to educate both REALTORS and consumers about homeownership options in Tennessee, especially financing options. The goal is for the site to eventually become the central resource center for information on financing and other assistance to
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although interest is building. As a result, TAR has held off on development of the planned two-hour refresher course and has instead worked to augment and enhance the sixhour course. Student, instructor, and local Association Executive feedback have all been very positive. However, TAR faces the continuing challenge of presenting the program as an opportunity for REALTORS to grow and expand their business. Therefore, the Association is stepping up efforts to ensure that the workforce concept is understood as encompassing more than just low-income buyers, and that workforce housing is needed by such essential personnel as teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers. A key element of this effort is an extensive follow-up survey of a random selection of past course participants, to assess whether and how they were able to apply the training they received, and how that training benefitted potential workforce housing homebuyers. The information from the survey will help inform TARs plans to update its training materials and website later in 2011. A significant boost for this program will come in 2012. The Trustees of TREEf have agreed, in 2012, to award six hours of elective credit toward the Tennessee Graduate REALTOR Institute (GRI) designation for anyone completing the Homeownership Options training, and to do so retroactively. As of January 1, 2012, the program will officially be recognized as a GRI elective course and will become a permanent fixture in TARs educational offerings for at least the next several years. TREEf has also committed to keeping program content and materials updated at its own expense after Ira Gribin grant funding has been exhausted.
REALTOR Motivation and Involvement

TARs biggest challenge at this point, by far, has been the recession that has plagued the REALTOR organization in Tennessee and brought real estate education in the state to a virtual standstill. The recovery that everyone was convinced would be underway by now simply hasnt materialized, at least in Tennessee. Since the outset of this recession, TAR has lost approximately 32 percent of its members, and most members are still not attending courses. Local associations are simply not hosting many courses of any type because attendance has been so poor. Consequently, it has been difficult to overcome the hesitation of many of the local associations to host the education program that TAR developed, despite the support and subsidy provided through the Ira Gribin grant. However, as more Association Executives hear about the positive student feedback from the courses that have been held, interest in offering the training to members has grown. It is simply taking longer to build that interest than originally anticipated. To support this growing interest in the program, TAR and TREEf are currently working to: Sweeten the pot to encourage more associations to host the grant-funded program; Offer the program directly to members; and/or Convert the program to an online-delivery format to reach a larger audience.
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TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS

Texas Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation (TARHOf) 84,692 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Texas Workforce Housing program

PrOGr a m T yPE
The program trains Texas REALTORS on workforce housing issues, consumer needs for workforce housing, and specific workforce housing and first-time buyer programs available to Texans. The program also builds consumer awareness of available programs and Texas REALTORS role as a community resource.
TarGET m arKET
$220,000
COnTaCT
debra Waldman director of professional development Texas Association of REALTORS 1115 San Jacinto boulevard, Suite 200 Austin, Tx 78701 512.671.0731 512.370.2390 fax dwaldman@texasrealtors.com www.TexasRealtors.com www.txhomeprograms.org
Education (REALTORS/Consumers)
REALTORS, consumers making 60 180 percent of the area median income.

KEy ParTnErS
Texas Association of REALTORS, Texas department of Housing and Community Affairs (TdHCA) Manufactured Housing division, fHA
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
When it comes to homeownership, Texas

is often contradictory. for example, the state has a strong culture of owning private property, but it ranks only 45th out of the 50 states in rates of homeownership. While overall affordability is good in Texas, the home prices in the major metro areas can be prohibitive, squeezing out such essential personnel as teachers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters.
The Texas Association of REALTORS (TAR) saw an opportunity to address these gaps by raising awareness and promoting education about workforce housing issues among both REALTORS and consumers. The Texas Association of REALTORS Housing Opportunity foundation (TARHOf) utilized its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to re-tool its highly successful Texas Affordable Housing Specialist certification program to include course offerings that focus on programs available within Texas that support workforce housing. This multifaceted program trains Texas REALTORS on workforce housing issues and programs, and promotes consumer awareness through advertising and a consumer-based website www.txhomeprograms.org it created to publicize the program and promote dates and locations of homebuyer workshops made possible through the
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Ira Gribin Grant. The foundation has run a successful consumer education campaign that resulted in significant increased traffic to the site. The Affordable Housing Specialist certification program requires the completion of 12 hours of instruction, with one four-hour course united Texas: Housing Initiatives that Work being mandatory and the remaining eight hours comprised of a combination of elective courses. under this initiative, TARHOf has developed and adopted additional course offerings that have a workforce housing focus to be offered as electives. These include an fHA course TARHOf developed in cooperation with the regional fHA office, a continuing education course on manufactured housing that it developed in partnership with the Texas department of Housing and Community Affairs Manufactured Housing division, and NARs Employer-Assisted Housing Class. TARHOf has worked closely with its partners to make the training available to as many REALTORS as possible. In an innovative move aimed at encouraging the local associations and their affiliate partners to offer consumer workshops, TAR gave out 77 micro-grants, averaging about $1,100 each. A section of the TAR website for Texas REALTORS highlights a variety of ways to tap into the workforce housing market, the consumer workshops being one of the primary means. The idea is to position Texas REALTORS as the experts and advocates for affordable workforce housing in Texas. various pages provide suggestions and resources on how to arrange a consumer workshop, recruit participants, find a suitable location, set an agenda, and publicize the event. The Texas Association of REALTORS has received such positive feedback from its members on this effort, since many felt too intimidated to take on the planning and expense of a homebuyer workshop and were grateful to have a turn-key program offered to them. As one of the Texas Association of REALTORS members said, Our company has hosted many Homebuyer Workshops over the years and we find all of the materials, from the planning Guide to the Marketing Materials to
the powerpoint presentation, to be the best we have seen. kudos to you and your staff for providing Texas REALTORS with timely and relevant materials to assist us in educating the public about homeownership here in Texas. We are fortunate to have such dedicated individuals at the Texas Association of REALTORS working for all Texas REALTORS in our great state.
Volunteers Stepping Up
The original plan for the coursework associated with TARHOfs Texas Affordable Housing Specialist certification involved not only course development, but also delivery by key partners. However, budget cuts at those organizations affected their ability to present the courses, leaving TARHOf looking for alternatives. The Texas Association of REALTORS had already developed an additional eight hours of education, with plans for delivery by the regional federal Housing Administration office and the Texas department of Housing and Community Affairs (TdHCA) Manufactured Housing division. In conjunction with the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), TAR also developed a two-hour course that discussed consumer housing programs. finally, TAR made the four-hour Employer Assisted Housing Class an option for credit toward the Texas Affordable Housing certification. With the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing
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Grant funds applied to the program, REALTORS paid only $20 to take eight hours of elective courses. A total of 1120 students participated in 2010 and 87 have participated in 2011. That was all according to plan. What TARHOf had not anticipated was that budget cuts would inhibit the ability of fHA and TdHCA instructors to travel and present this material. In addition, the two organizations were prohibited from accepting compensation for travel, meaning that, in a nutshell, they could not travel to teach the classes even if TARHOf paid their mileage and other travel expenses. This is where TARs member REALTORS rose to the occasion. volunteer instructors taught the classes in exchange for travel expenses only. The volunteer instructors also contributed to elements of the curriculum, such as the Manufactured Housing course content. The 26 local associations found these volunteers and the new classes to be extremely helpful.
REALTOR Involvement
The volunteer course instructors were instrumental in making the program work. These REALTORS went above and beyond in helping other Texas REALTORS gain awareness and additional understanding of the role they can play in affordable workforce housing opportunities. The more than 1,100 Texas REALTORS who took the course and gained certification can now promote workforce housing programs to their clients and assert themselves as valuable partners in their interactions with workforce housing clients, housing counselors, lenders, community organizations, and local officials. These Texas REALTORS can also make themselves available as trained Texas Affordable Housing Specialists to counsel attendees at local homebuying workshops. The affordable housing education programs have re-energized many Texas REALTORS after the slower sales that came with the housing slump, and they are now driven to expand their role in the community.
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UTAH UTAH UTAH UTAH UTAH UTA

utah Association of REALTORS (uAR) 13,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Affordable Housing Opportunities

PrOGr a m T yPE
public Awareness, Education (Consumer)
uAR developed a program to increase buyer confidence in the real estate market and educate workforce homebuyers about the homeownership assistance programs available in utah. under this program, uAR conducted a survey to better understand the homeownership barriers that working utah residents face, how to address their concerns, and how to drive their attention to homeownership resources. In the next phase of the program, uAR then utilized the information from the survey to conduct a media and online campaign to inform workforce homebuyers about affordable housing resources.
TarGET m arKET
utah Housing Corporation, utah bankers Association, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce
aWard
$80,000
COnTaCT
deanna devey Communications director utah Association of REALTORS 230 W. Towne Ridge parkway Suite 500 Sandy, uT 84070 801.676.5200 801.676.5225 deanna@utahrealtors.com www.utahRealtors.com
utah residents earning 60 to 150 percent of area median income, including first- time homebuyers and families/individuals who have not purchased a home because they are concerned they do not have the funds for a downpayment or closing costs.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Why do some potential homebuyers buy a home while others continue to rent? The utah Association
of REALTORS (uAR) was determined to find out so that utah REALTORS could help those would-be buyers who have trouble making the commitment. The first step in uARs Affordable Housing Opportunities program under its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant was a radio campaign and statewide open house to promote the federal homebuyer tax credit before it expired. Then, knowing the tax credit would not last forever, the uAR conducted a consumer survey to learn what messages would motivate potential buyers, even without a tax credit. using knowledge gained from the survey, uAR initiated an ambitious media campaign with Tv and Internet components to let buyers know there were still many affordable housing opportunities, even without the governments tax credit.
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The consumer survey, conducted in August 2010, queried 852 utah residents who had purchased a home in the last 12 months or were planning on buying in home in the next 24 months. Results showed that the workforce housing target audiences primary motivation for buying a home was the desire for homeownership. However, these buyers were also concerned that personal finance issues would prevent them from buying a home. The survey revealed that certain concepts appealed to potential homebuyers and could motivate them to buy a home sooner. These appealing concepts include: Interest rates are at historically low levels; They can buy a house for the same amount as their rent; Safe, affordable loans are available; and utah homes are affordable. Consumers indicated that they trust themselves and their friends and family for their real estate information, with the utah Association of REALTORS as their third most trusted source. The survey findings informed the media outreach campaign, enabling uAR to fine-tune its messages to convince the target audience that this is the time to buy because record-low interest rates are making it possible for prospective buyers to get into a home and/or get more house for their money. To communicate effectively to potential homebuyers about the affordable real estate opportunities available in utah, uAR created a campaign blog to keep consumers current on the latest real estate news and trends. This blog addresses the fact that consumers trust themselves and their friends more than any other source by giving readers a tool they can use to continually educate themselves. It also provides consumers with information about the various workforce homebuyer programs in utah, such as downpayment assistance, mortgage programs, savings programs, and more. The survey results indicated that the blog is a better tool for building trust and confidence than a more static website. The television commercials in the media campaign included simple, easy-to-understand messages about the market that drove traffic to this blog site. The blog, which will continue well into the future, also has the flexibility to adjust its messages as the market changes. As of the end of March 2011, the estimated reach of the Tv ads was 85.4 percent of the 25-to-54-year-old population. uAR media buyers estimate that 1,000,888 adults viewed the commercials an average of 10.1 times during the January March media buy.
Racing to the End of the Tax Credit

With the $8,000 federal homebuyer tax credit set to expire, uAR went all out with a push to help as many homebuyers as possible make the deadline. In partnership with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, uAR ran radio ads on highly rated stations during the month before the April 30, 2010, contract-signing deadline, providing details about the tax credit and encouraging buyers to act while it was still available. To add a final sense of urgency in the weeks before the April 30 deadline, uAR partnered with other REALTOR associations around the country in conducting a Nationwide Open House in order to give buyers an opportunity for a quick look at a variety of homes if they were interested in qualifying for the tax credit at the last minute. In the days leading up to the open house, the radio ads were converted into open house ads, press releases were distributed to reporters statewide, and uAR leadership participated in a number of media interviews. Articles about the tax credit and open house were also printed in a number of newspapers statewide. The response to the program was strong. Across utah, there were about 1,600 open houses on April 10. Among the media outlets covering the story were two highly regarded newspapers, the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News, as well as television stations, regional newspapers, and blogs. Open house page views on utahRealEstate.com more than quadrupled during the weekend of the open house. And, finally, utah home sales that May 2010 skyrocketed, with a 19 percent increase over May 2009. for the January May period, home sales statewide were up nearly 25 percent compared to the first five months of 2009.
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Throughout the campaign, some of the strongest sales were in the workforce housing segment. Over the 12-month period ended february 2011, sales of homes priced $150,000 and below were up 7.6 percent, and those priced $150,001 to $200,000 were up 9.4 percent, indicating that more low- and moderate-income buyers now see that buying a home is feasible for them.
REALTOR Involvement
The highly successful open houses uAR held across the state on April 10 also drew many REALTORS, with 13 percent of uARs membership taking advantage of this opportunity to meet with potential first-time homebuyers. Another advantage of the program was the direct benefit to uAR Member REALTORS. Through utah REALTOR magazine, the organization shared the survey results with utah REALTORS. The response was very positive as utah REALTORS learned how they could use the data to better serve their clients and address the affordable housing issues and concerns they face. REALTORS were also able to spread the message about affordable homeownership through the use of the Tv commercials uAR created. REALTORS were encouraged to use the ads in their own marketing, and many posted the commercials on their Web sites, mentioned them in their blogs, and even played them at homebuyer trade shows. The Tv ads continue to be a resource for REALTORS to simply and effectively communicate with potential buyers about the opportunities available to them in todays market.
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VERMONT VERMONT VERMONT V

vermont Association of REALTORS (vAR) 1,875 members

PrOGr a m na mE
The vermont Employer-Employee Connect program

PrOGr a m T yPE
Website, Education (REALTOR), Employer Outreach
vAR is establishing a comprehensive, consumer-oriented website (www. myhomeinvermont.com) that will serve as a one-stop shopping center for potential homebuyers who need more information on home-buying resources and programs available in vermont. vAR will also offer NARs Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) Class throughout the state to train and equip its members to reach out to employers and help them create EAH benefit programs that help workforce families.
TarGET m arKET
vermont Housing finance Agency, five vermont Housing Trusts

aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
Tess kennedy Education and professional Standards director vermont Association of REALTORS 148 State Street Montpelier, vT 05602 802.229.0513 ext. 4 802.229.0995 fax tess@vtrealtor.com www.vtrealtor.com
potential homebuyers, REALTORS
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
In vermont, the states need for workforce housing is particularly acute. In 2008, the median purchase
price of a primary home in vermont was $200,000, A vermont household would need an annual income of $63,000 as well as $14,000 in cash (for closing costs and a modest five percent downpayment) to purchase that home. Sixty-one percent of vermonts households have incomes below $63,000. And at least 52 percent of the states non-farm employees did not make enough to afford the average rent on a modest, two-bedroom apartment. The service industry in vermonts resort communities accounts for many of the states jobs, creating a combination of the lowest wages with the highest housing prices. Add in property taxes that are among the highest in the nation and it becomes clear why it is especially difficult for middle-income workers in vermont to become homeowners.
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VERMONT VERMONT VERMONT V

The vermont Association of REALTORS (vAR) took on this situation with its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant, using a two-pronged approach. The first step is to develop a new website (www.myhomeinvermont.com) that will be a comprehensive, consumer-oriented, one-stop shopping center for potential homebuyers who need more information on home-buying resources and the programs available throughout vermont. This website will also compile information from the five vermont Housing Trusts (Champlain Housing Trust, Gilman Housing Trust, Central vT Community Land Trust, Windham Housing Trust and NeighborWorks of Western vermont) and the vermont Housing finance Agency. The website development is moving ahead, though it initially faced some challenges, which vARs Communication director tackled by moving to a new website development and management firm, which is simplifying the process, saving vAR hours of time, saving the organization money, and allowing faster updates. The second step of the vAR initiative is to educate the states REALTORS on Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH). vARs own staff are scheduled to take the first of these NAR EAH Classes in the spring of 2011. vAR has not previously offered this course, which the organization will use as a platform to spur employer outreach in creating EAH benefit programs that help workforce families. vAR plans to establish an EAH committee made up of board members who will focus on reaching out to potential employers to encourage them to offer EAH benefits. prior to this effort, no vermont employers were known to participate in an EAH program. by establishing an information base through its website and by promoting its EAH education program, vAR hopes to become the primary resource for low- and middle-income workers who wish to become homeowners. vAR believes that many of these working families could successfully make the transition to homeownership with the help of the downpayment and closing costs assistance programs that will be featured on vARs new website. Through this effort, vAR is seeking to provide a positive public image for the real estate industry as a whole at a time when consumer confidence is low.
Extending the Staff through the Use of Interns

One of vARs goals is to have at least three of its five employees take the EAH Class. This will allow them to be knowledgeable and capable of answering member questions about the training. It will also help them promote the benefits REALTORS will gain from taking the class. In addition, vAR will extend its staff by taking advantage of the proximity of a college with an internship program. vAR plans to recruit interns through Norwich universitys internship program and utilize the interns to help develop an advertising program for the website, assist in refreshing website content, and help maintain the website. More specifically, an intern working on the project with vAR would gather information from the five vermont Housing Trusts, Rural development, and vermont Housing finance Agency about the resources available to potential homebuyers. This information would include downpayment assistance programs, closing costs assistance, navigating the mortgage process, how to find a REALTOR, how to find a qualified home inspector, and any employer assistance programs available.
REALTOR Involvement
Although vAR has long contemplated a housing program, the small membership has meant few resources to devote to anything beyond the basic member services. The Ira Gribin Grant now gives vAR the capacity to offer REALTORS a new program and possibly spur greater involvement in the organization. vAR will work with REALTORS who take the EAH training to encourage and assist them to interact with vermont employers to promote EAH and create more ownership opportunities for potential homebuyers, thus enabling vermonts REALTORS to grow their business. Since receiving funding for its EAH initiative, vARs Government Affairs director, who attends vermonts daily legislative sessions, has begun speaking with Representatives about developing EAH programs. He reports back that the Representatives have responded positively and would like to be kept informed as to what vAR does in this area. While nothing explicit has been discussed, this development holds promise for future state support of EAH.
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VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGIN ISLANDS

virgin Islands Territorial Association of REALTORS (vITAR) 320 members

PrOGr a m na mE
vITAR Workforce Housing Assistance Initiative

PrOGr a m T yPE
The vITAR Workforce Housing Assistance Initiative will provide seed money for a closing costs assistance fund to benefit workforce families. vITAR is partnering with the vI Housing finance Authority (vIHfA) to help create the fund. vITARs goal is to provide assistance to 10 15 families with threeto five-year loans ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for closing cost assistance. Repayment will generate funding for about three to five loans per year after the initial program year.
TarGET m arKET
$50,000
COnTaCT
belton Jennings Account Executive virgin Islands Territorial Association of REALTORS Administrative Headquarters 6511 Haughton Lane Orlando, fL 32835-5724 407.227.3457 877.253.2448 407.641.9269 fax vitar@vitarparadise.org www.virginislandrealtors.com
Low- to moderate-income homebuyers

KEy ParTnErS
vI Housing finance Authority
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Except for the distilleries on St. Croix and a few smaller industrial firms, the u.S. virgin Islands has a
tourism and service-based economy serving over 2.2 million vacationers and cruise ship passengers each year. data from 2009 show that almost 70 percent of this hardworking but largely unskilled or semi-skilled workforce is in the food service, hospitality, grounds keeping, retail, clerical, or basic transportation industries, with a median hourly wage of $10.98. yet in 2008, median home prices on the islands ranged from $274,000 in St. Croix to $521,000 in St. John, clearly out of reach for service-industry workers making barely over $20,000 annually. Most of these individuals rent, and all too often, the properties they live in are substandard. Many of the owned homes on the islands are substandard and in need of replacement as well.
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VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGIN ISLANDS

The combination of low incomes and low affordable housing stock clearly demonstrates the need to assist the Islands workforce in obtaining a home of their own. Therefore, the virgin Islands Territorial Association of REALTORS (vITAR) is using its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to create a closing costs assistance program that will address this situation. The program will help potential homeowners to overcome their inability to accumulate sufficient up-front resources to cover upfront closing costs associated with purchasing a home. vITARs goal is to assist 10 15 families with three-to-five year loans ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, at two percent interest. As the loans are repaid, half of the interest will go toward replenishing the fund and half will be applied toward loan administration costs. vITAR expects that the combined principle and interest payments from the loans will generate funding for 3 5 loans per year after the initial round of loans. In addition, vITAR will take the lead in raising additional funds for the program through its members, affiliates, and local businesses whose employees are current or potential beneficiaries of the program. and photo-op for vITARs June general membership meeting on St. Croix, which ties in to vIHfAs June Affordable Housing Month promotional activities. vITAR also plans to solicit corporate funding from large employers such as resort hotels, the Cruzan and diageo (Captain Morgan) distilleries, and the Hovensa petroleum refinery. The initial goal is to raise corporate contributions matching the Ira Gribin Grant of $50,000. As with any community or church-based donors, corporate contributors will receive publicity from vITAR, lauding their commitment to workforce housing.
REALTOR Involvement
vITAR anticipates that this program will provide a measurable boost to the visibility and credibility to vITAR and REALTORS as being deeply committed to the community and providing safe, affordable workforce housing. REALTORS will promote the program to their communities and their clients. As the program establishes more Island residents as homeowners, REALTORS will have potential to grow their businesses and become increasingly influential in their communities.
Leveraging Partnerships and Fundraising

vITAR utilized its excellent partnership skills to join with the vI Housing finance Authority (vIHfA) to create this program. vITAR has worked closely with vIHfA, to determine the eligibility criteria, loan limits, and repayment terms for the program. Together the two partners will promote these loans to banks, mortgage brokers, and the general public. Grant funds will be placed with vIHfA as a restricted fund and named so as to show that vI REALTORS are the funds sponsor. vIHfA will then administer the fund, approve and grant the loans, handle collections, and provide vITAR with regular financial reports. vIHfA is very excited as this program represents their first-ever public/private venture and will significantly benefit the Authoritys ability to assist homebuyers. In order to ensure maximum publicity throughout the islands, vITAR and vIHfA are arranging a special presentation ceremony
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VIRGINIA VIRGINIA VIRGINIA VIRG

virginia Association of REALTORS (vAR) 33,500 members

PrOGr a m na mE
virginia State umbrella program

PrOGr a m T yPE
financial Assistance, Education, Rental Assistance
The virginia State umbrella program supports workforce housing efforts led by four of virginias local associations. The Charlottesville Association of REALTORS and the New River valley Association of REALTORS are offering downpayment assistance to teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers (Charlottesville) and lowincome workforce families (New River valley). The Richmond Association of REALTORS is conducting an education program about affordable housing, targeting REALTORS, government officials/planners, local business leaders, and the general public. The fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS (fAAR) is offering rental assistance for new teachers in Spotsylvania County and other school systems in planning district 16.
Teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers (Charlottesville); workforce families making 80 percent or less of the area median income (New River valley); REALTORS, government officials, business leaders, the general public (Richmond); newly hired teachers in Spotsylvania County (fredericksburg).
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
We all know, all real estate is local. Accordingly, the virginia Association of REALTORS
allocated its Ira
Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to support efforts by four local associations already involved in addressing workforce housing issues in their community. The four associations developed programs reflecting local workforce housing needs: The Charlottesville Association of REALTORS organized a program of downpayment assistance in the form of loans for teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers who are purchasing homes in the communities in which they work. The New River valley Association of REALTORS (NRvAR) is offering downpayment assistance and closing cost loans to workforce families who earn less than 80 percent of the area median income. The Richmond Association of REALTORS (RAR) Affordable Workforce Housing Educational and Outreach program seeks to better inform REALTORS, government officials, city planners, local business leaders, and the general public about the need for affordable workforce housing options. finally, the fredericksburg REALTORS foundation has instituted the Hands up for Education initiative to help newly hired schoolteachers in the Spotsylvania County and other school systems in planning district 16 to pay the first months rent and security deposit on rental housing.
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Charlottesville: Charlottesville Area Community foundation (CACf), piedmont Housing Alliance (pHA) New River valley: Community Housing partners Richmond: Community Housing partners, partnership for Housing Affordability, Housing virginia, virginia Local Initiatives Support Corporation fredericksburg: Spotsylvania School System, NSWC Credit union
aWard
R. Scott brunner Chief Executive Officer virginia Association of REALTORS 10231 Telegraph Road Glen Allen, vA 23059 804.264.5033 804.262.0497 fax scott@varealtor.com www.vARealtor.com
$120,000
Each of the four programs has made measurable progress. In Charlottesville, 12 families have received assistance since the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants funds were awarded, and five of those families received downpayment assistance. As of the end of March, 2011, NRvAR had made its first loan, to a family that could not have purchased their new home without assistance. NRvAR had also presented materials related to the program to REALTORS. RARs educational program has sponsored a series of events, which will continue at least through the end of 2011. for example, at the 2010 Spring Symposium and Affordable Housing Awareness Week kick-Off, RAR spoke to more than 130 guests about the benefits of mixed use/mixed income developments and sustainable communities. finally, the fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS (fAAR) partnered with NSWC federal Credit union to promote its rental assistance program last August, offering full funding for nine rental assistance applications.
fAAR is now expanding the program to Caroline County, king George County, Stafford County, and the City of fredericksburg.
Teachers and Teaching

Two of vARs four programs deal with teaching, though in very different ways. fAARs Hands up for Educators grant program addresses a logistical problem that first-year teachers often face when moving to a new community in order to work: they must pay up-front living expenses well before they ever receive a paycheck. A young teacher just out of college often has to pay rental housings first-month rent and security deposit with the possibility of not receiving a paycheck until the end of September. Hands up for Educators offers these young teachers help in the form of grants for as much as $2,000 to cover the security deposit, utility deposits, and the first month of rent for verified firstyear teachers in the areas school systems. provided the
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teachers fulfill their contract to teach in the school system, they do not have to pay back the grants. To promote the program, fAAR offers an employer-assisted housing (EAH) seminar to the participating school systems. The School Systems Human Resources department is including the grant information and application in the materials it provides to new employees, as well. Since the school systems hire throughout the year, Hands up for Educators will be available on an ongoing basis. Looking down the road, fAAR intends to apply for other grants in hopes of expanding the program to also offer downpayment assistance. In Richmond, it is the REALTORS who are doing the teaching. As the state capitol of virginia, the city is the base of operations for politicians, government employees, planners, and a wide range of other professionals who are charged with planning for the states future. Therefore, RAR has taken on the combined challenge and opportunity to ensure that virginias leaders and decision-makers are informed about affordable housing issues. It is hoped that a series of education programs targeted toward area REALTORS, government officials and planners, local business leaders, and the general public will help dispel myths about affordable housing, identify successful efforts, and bring attention to housing trends that have an impact on affordable housing. funds from the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant program are being used to pay for the marketing materials, advertising, banners, site rental, catering, study development, and transportation expenses associated with the effort. Thus far, RAR has sponsored a Spring Symposium and Affordable Housing Awareness Week in April 2010 and an Affordable Housing day in January 2011; printed and distributed hundreds of copies of relevant studies; and held Community Conversations with the federal Reserve bank to discuss how vacant properties affect the supply of affordable housing. RAR also plans to hold another Affordable Housing Awareness Week in 2011, and is sponsoring the release of a Neighborhood design Elements Study in October 2011.
REALTOR Involvement
All four programs actively involve local REALTORS. for example, NRvAR has involved REALTORS in program leadership, and has prepared materials for REALTORS interested in the program. REALTORS are being encouraged to promote the program in their ads, websites, and social media as well. finally, NRvAR REALTOR members are being asked to make a financial contribution to the program, with a suggested minimum of $20 each. The greater understanding of workforce housing issues will help participating REALTORS to grow their business with their greater capacity to assist potential workforce homebuyers. Similarly, RAR is sponsoring a Lunch and Learn series for REALTORS about financing for first-time and lowincome buyers, enabling those REALTORS to better serve the workforce target audience. The NSWC federal Credit union, which has partnered with the fredericksburg REALTORS foundation in Hands up for Education, is donating $25 to the foundation for each REALTOR member of fAAR that joins the Credit union. Response has been strong, with 62 REALTORS participating in the program thus far and another $1,550 going to the foundation as a result. fAAR is also educating local REALTORS on the benefits of the Hands up for Education program.
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WASHINGTON WASHINGTON WA
Washington REALTORS (WR) 17,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Workforce Housing Opportunities to Stimulate Washingtons Housing Market

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTOR/Consumer), public Awareness
Washington REALTORS expanded its existing Quality of Life initiative to create a public awareness campaign to educate consumers on workforce housing programs and opportunities, particularly for the first-time homebuyer sector of workforce housing. It is also educating REALTORS on how to reach the target market through NARs new Expanding Housing Opportunities course.
TarGET m arKET
Washington State Housing finance Commission, department of financial Institutions

aWard
$100,000
COnTaCT
first-time homebuyer segment of workforce housing market, defined as median income workers who serve Washington communities.
Nathan Gorton director Government Affairs Washington REALTORS p.O. box 719 Olympia, WA 98507-0719 360.943.3100 800.562.6024 360.357.6627 fax nathan.gorton@warealtor.org www.warealtor.org www.wahomeowners.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
first-time homebuyers tend to be younger and more comfortable with the Web, especially
social media. So when the Washington REALTORS (WR) decided to apply for the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant, they thought young and decided to investigate ways to use online resources such as videos, Twitter, and facebook to reach out to their target market.
The WR program, Workforce Housing Opportunities to Stimulate Washingtons Housing Market, had three components, each corresponding to a different stage in stimulating the housing market. The first component was message development through focus groups, which WR used to learn how to best reach and address the concerns of potential first-time homebuyers who might be hesitant. The second element of the program was education for REALTORS and Workforce Home buyers. This stage involved educating REALTORS and buyers on the use of resources and tools available to the first-time homebuyer segment: maximizing use of federal tax credits, downpayment assistance programs, and other affordable housing resources available for workforce housing. The final stage involved a marketing campaign to inform workforce homebuyers about the resources and tools available to homebuyers and create greater consumer confidence so working families are able, in todays economy, to purchase a home near their work.
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Although there are as yet no firm data on how the program impacted buyers, WR has preliminary indications of program success. for example, the director of the Washington State Housing finance Commission (WSHfC) noted that, following the media campaign promoting WSHfC programs, reservations for loans were at $8 million, which is significantly higher than normal.
New Media
Initially, WR thought about conducting a television advertising campaign, but the results of the focus groups indicated that this might not be as effective as webbased outreach. Instead of airing commercials on Tv, WR produced eight videos. These were provided to WR members and local associations for use on their websites and to distribute through links on facebook and Twitter, etc. Those videos are posted on WRs youTube channel and are designed to drive viewers to the website. As WR reported: This generation is impatient and wants a REALTOR who can save them time. WR also realized that a media campaign is best waged on multiple fronts and by multiple means. So in addition to the videos, the organization built a new website (http://wahomeowners.com/) with homebuying calculators and other tools that first-time homebuyers might find useful. WR also offered a class promoting the $8,000 tax credit and Washington State Housing finance Commission financial resources, while also educating members on other matters relevant to assisting the first-time homebuyer. This class, 8,000 Reasons to buy, was made available in the form of live webinars, online videos, and disks to every memberbroker in the state and drew hundreds of students interested in providing first-time homebuyers with up-todate information. In a more traditional vein, WR created banner ads and public service announcements, and WRs Issue fund chipped in $65,000 for two radio campaigns: one to advertise a state-wide open house and the other to promote an extension and expansion of the first-time homebuyer tax credit. The Washington State Housing finance Commission credited the campaign with a 51 percent increase in use of their website during the campaign. The WAHomeowners. com site had more than 8,500 unique visitors. Collectively,
I have used the WAhomeowners.com website to help my first-time homebuyer clients understand the homebuying process as well as the increased responsibilities involved in being a homeowner. Home ownership is a special opportunity, not to be taken for granted; the website provides a voice, other than mine, that reiterates what is required to be a responsible homeowner. A home is likely one of the largest investments that a person makes in their lives and it is very important to maintain a home in order to preserve that investment. WAhomeowners.com is a valid and reliable resource for those homeowners who call me in distress. The website is a trusted source of information of Hud approved counselors for those struggling with their mortgage. finally, as a managing broker I use the site to help educate our newer agents on what it means to own a home from a consumer perspective. The tools on WAHomeowners.com have been a key resource for my business and office in helping first-time homebuyers attain and maintain the American dream of homeownership. MARIAH buCk Managing Broker Windermere Orcas Island
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the six marketing videos were viewed more than 40,000 times. An aggressive earned media campaign that included publication of four op-ed pieces drove in an estimated $200,000 in free promotion of homebuying for the first-time homebuyer workforce segment. After showing these videos and the website to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service board, that organization contributed $50,000 to videos and maintenance of the website to help ensure the projects sustainability. The use of the videos has spread across the country as WR made them available to all REALTOR Associations and many are using them. for example, the Alaska Association of REALTORS will be augmenting its website with materials WR produced using its Ira Gribin Grant funds. WRs work with the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant has emphasized sustainability. for example, WR frequently updates the website for relevance to the current market. In addition, WR staff have created additional videos about short sales, foreclosures, and connecting with housing counselors. Almost every WR staff department got involved in program activities, which boosted excitement and team effort among all of them. The Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant has created a positive, proactive campaign to benefit not only first-time homebuyers but also WR members business and the Washington state economy as a whole. In addition, WRs partnership with a state agency the Washington State Housing finance Commission has been described as amazing and nothing short of a miracle. This relationship will enhance the first-time homebuyer segment of workforce housing for years to come.
REALTOR Involvement
The education component of the WR program addressed the need to educate REALTORS in terms of how to reach the younger buyers who think in terms of finding information online. WR developed a web-based class, covering affordable housing basics, financing options and resources, working with counselors, and ways to maximize opportunities. As of mid-March, 2011, 191 REALTORS took this class for continuing education credit, and almost 9,000 viewed it online. The class was also sent to 1,700 member brokers on dvd as well, in order to provide wider exposure. In addition, there was a significant increase in WSHfC class participation by REALTORS as noted by agency staff. Local associations also scheduled hourlong presentations on WSHfC loan and downpayment assistance programs and how to access them.
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WASHINGTON, DC WASHINGTON
Washington, dC Association of REALTORS (WdCAR) 2,438 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Washington, dC Workforce Housing Land Trust program

PrOGr a m T yPE
financial Assistance, Outreach and Marketing
WdCAR is providing downpayment assistance for buyers participating in the Washington, dC Workforce Housing Land Trust program, a shared-appreciation model in which homebuyers receive financial assistance in order to purchase a quality home that they could not otherwise afford and in exchange for the financial assistance, they agree to share a percentage of the units market appreciation with the next buyer whenever the home is sold to keep the cost of the home affordable
TarGET m arKET
City first Enterprises (CfE)/City first Homes (CfHomes)

aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
Ed krauze Government Affairs director Washington, dC Association of REALTORS 500 New Jersey Avenue, Suite 310 Washington, dC 20001 202.422.5754 301.590.2248 fax ekrauze@gcaar.com www.wdcar.org
Workforce homebuyers, including schoolteachers, fire fighters, police, first responders, government employees, and other workforce families.
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Most people have heard the phrase pay it

forward, meaning that when something good happens to you, you then do something good for someone else. The Washington, dC Association of REALTORS (WdCAR) is using its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to help others pay it forward through the Washington, dC Workforce Housing Land Trust program (Land Trust program).
The Land Trust program is a shared-appreciation model in which homebuyers receive financial assistance in order to purchase a quality home that they could not otherwise afford. In exchange for the funding, these homeowners agree that when they eventually sell the home, they will share a percentage of the homes market appreciation with their buyer, so that that person or family can afford to live in the same house. WdCARs partner City first Enterprises (CfE) received $10 million in public financing in 2007 to support the creation of 1,000 sharedappreciation, permanently affordable homes in the district of Columbia. WdCAR is contributing $50,000 of its own money to match the Ira Gribin grant to create a pool of downpayment assistance funds for buyers who purchase through the program. Each year for the next five years, the financial assistance component of WdCARs program will provide seven workforce buyers with a $2,000 grant at settlement for the shared appreciation units they purchase. This financial assistance will ultimately aid 35 homebuyers. In addition,
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WASHINGTON, DC WASHINGTON
WdCAR is conducting educational outreach to brokers, agents, lenders, and REALTORS to raise their awareness of the program, and further marketing the Land Trust program and shared appreciation model. With City first Homes (CfHomes), the implementation arm of CfE, WdCAR is establishing application guidelines and acceptance criteria, developing marketing materials, and providing guidance on CfHomes creation of a 4-hour training session for brokers and agents on the model, the history of this type of program, financial and technical nuances that make the program work, and selling tools and guidance for the shared-appreciation model. WdCAR hopes to train as many as 240 REALTORS and reach out to ten to 15 lending institutions. As of late March, 2011, WdCAR was still organizing this ambitious program. There had been progress made on creating a marketing campaign that will drive home the value of workforce housing to REALTORS and consumers alike and CfHomes has already begun outreach efforts, and has had conversations with lending institutions, spoken at REALTOR events, and given presentations to at least 75 REALTORS at a variety of settings. Shared-appreciation homeownership is a community affair. by sharing market appreciation, homeowners are helping to keep housing units permanently affordable. They are also promoting neighborhood stability and helping to foster mixed-income communities and cities for future generations. Shared-appreciation housing is cost-effective and efficient, in that it significantly leverages a one-time public subsidy in order to create homes that remain permanently affordable to workforce homebuyers, firsttime homebuyers, and others who may more affordable housing options.
REALTOR Involvement
The dC Workforce Housing Land Trust programs sharedappreciation model allows REALTORS to work with a large, untapped customer base of households that are currently renting and priced out of homeownership. yet buying a shared-appreciation home is similar to any other real estate transaction; the REALTORS who bring buyers to a shared equity unit capture the standard commission. A particularly advantage of this program for REALTORS is that many shared-appreciation homeowners use the program as a stepping stone to market-rate homeownership. REALTORS who assist homebuyers in purchasing Land Trust homes now can work with those same buyers later to identify a new home when they eventually transition to market-rate homeownership. In addition, participation in the Land Trust program offers a significant opportunity to WdCAR and its members. by taking an active role in the district of Columbias groundbreaking shared appreciation program, WdCAR and its REALTOR members can show that they are indeed committed to solving the affordable housing, and in particular the workforce housing, needs of district residents.
Shared Appreciation Creates Shared Benefits

If you talk on the phone with the staff at WdCAR, you might get the sense that they are bouncing up and down in their chairs from excitement because they are so enthused about the Land Trust shared-appreciation program. And its no wonder this is a relatively new model and a completely different way of thinking that is full of potential, especially over the long term. The financial assistance that homebuyers participating in this type of program receive may be in the form of a lowinterest rate second mortgage, a grant, or an artificially low home price. The market value of the home will then increase over time. It is important to note the term shared in the title of this program. future buyers get the benefit of purchasing a property that has appreciated, but remains affordable, while the sellers still benefit by keeping a percentage of market appreciation to themselves, and can thus benefit from the wealth-building advantages and stability of homeownership.
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WEST VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA WE

West virginia Association of REALTORS (WvAR) 3,200 members

PrOGr a m na mE
This program educates REALTORS and potential first-time homebuyers about the resources available to help first-time buyers buy a home with a secure and safe loan.
TarGET m arKET
$50,000
COnTaCT
West virginia Workforce Housing Education

PrOGr a m T yPE
Education (REALTOR/Consumer)
REALTORS and the first-time homebuyer segment of the states workforce

KEy ParTnErS
Amy White director of Education West virginia Association of REALTORS 2119 kanawha boulevard East Charleston, Wv 25311 304.342.7600 304.343.5811 fax education@wvrealtors.com www.wvrealtors.com
County development Authorities, local Chambers of Commerce, West virginia Affordable Housing Trust fund, department of Housing and urban development, u.S. department of Agriculture, West virginia Housing development fund, Local REALTOR boards
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
Three main barriers face first-time homebuyers in West virginia, according to the West virginia Association
of REALTORS (WvAR): finding cash for downpayment and closing costs; perceptions that credit is not available; and low buyer confidence due to price declines. despite an overall decrease in home prices for the state in recent years, housing affordability remains a challenge for many parts of West virginia. WvAR is concerned that when the market recovers, pent-up demand will send home prices further beyond the reach of low- and moderate-income families. West virginia also struggles with property types that present challenges. for example, many properties do not qualify for loans due to unbalanced land-to-house value ratios and an abundance of mobile homes with limited financing options. In order to address these issues, WvAR used its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to launch the WvAR Workforce Housing Education program, to educate both REALTORS and potential workforce homebuyers about the many possibilities and resources available for homeownership. The program includes messaging, education, and marketing.
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WEST VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA WE

for messaging, WvAR has relied on webinars and focus groups to determine which issues are most important to REALTORS, West virginia employers, and consumers. REALTOR education involves both webinars and in-person classes. A course was approved and has been offered six times around the state, with those taking the in-person classes receiving continuing education credit. Two webinars (one for REALTORS and one for consumers) have been recorded and are available online, on demand. The classes emphasize how to use the housing resources and tools available to potential workforce homebuyers. Those potential homebuyers have the opportunity to take classes themselves, through webinars. WvAR shifted to primarily face-to-face interactions when it became apparent that not all of the employers and consumers were willing to participate in webinars. The focus of this effort has been on identifying the concepts that are most useful to the public. The classes address how to take advantage of the hundreds of housing assistance programs in the state, as well as advice on other resources for more affordable housing opportunities. These concepts are the foundation for further education and marketing efforts. The latter incorporates consistent messages presented through editorials, press releases, Tv and radio interview pitches, and public service announcements. In addition, a dedicated page on the WvAR website will offer in May 2011 both REALTORS and potential homebuyers resources and assistance on programs, state agency services, and classes. the same location. The Housing fairs are being promoted locally and with state support to employers in the area as well as through other mortgage providers. In addition, meetings with WvHdf and uSdA revealed those agencies concerns that some homebuyers in need of credit counseling are at a loss as to how to get started and where to turn for advice. Therefore, in the consumer courses, WvAR added a workshop for those future homebuyers who need a little extra time and guidance through the process of improving their credit. WvAR believes this will prevent future buyers from falling out of the process and will further promote home ownership in West virginia. for both REALTOR and consumer education, WvAR is leading the sessions, continuing to update content, and coordinating homebuyer training sessions throughout the state. WvAR association staff serve as instructors along with partners, local lenders, and representatives from appropriate state agencies.
REALTOR Involvement
The education element of the Initiative helps REALTORS in two ways. Consumer courses focus on understanding the role the REALTOR plays in helping workforce buyers locate and secure affordable housing that is safe and secure. The classes make clear the REALTORs place in the community as a partner dedicated to healthy neighborhoods that are both affordable and livable. At the same time, REALTORS have access to classes that address workforce housing issues partnered with a review of fair Housing and Civil Rights Laws. The partnership of the two topics fits perfectly with an approach that suggests how to find and assist homebuyers and a review of fair Housing to promote inclusion of all potential buyers and not any one specific category. These classes can be taken in a traditional inperson setting for continuing education credit, or via a pre-recorded, on demand webinar with no continuing education credit. REALTORS who take the classes will be better able to grow their businesses by connecting with firsttime homebuyers and those seeking workforce housing.
Partnering for Education

WvAR has worked closely with its partners on the education effort, which resulted in some exciting changes and additions to the REALTOR courses. In partnership with the West virginia department of Housing and urban development (WvHud), West virginia Housing development fund (WvHdf), and u.S. department of Agriculture (uSdA)/Rural development, WvAR reviewed the course offerings before taking the classes to REALTORS. during review, Hud suggested incorporating a fair Housing element to the classes. As a result, the webinars and live courses all contain a fair Housing unit. The live class is presented as a pre-course with a Housing fair at
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WISCONSIN WISCONSIN WISCON

Wisconsin REALTORS Association (WRA) 14,000 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Wisconsin Workforce Housing Initiative

PrOGr a m T yPE
Web-based Resource Center (REALTOR/Consumer)
Wisconsin has created a comprehensive website, including descriptions of current employer-assisted housing (EAH) offerings, information on how to create an EAH program, and training materials from the NAR Employer-Assisted Housing Class. The program set out to train 100 REALTORS, lenders, and counselors to be newly EAH-certified. The Initiative seeks to educate and engage at least ten new employers on EAH. As of April 2011, WRA had enrolled five employers in an EAH program, with another four pending.
TarGET m arKET
Wisconsin Housing and Economic development Authority (WHEdA)

aWard
$80,000
COnTaCT
Tom Larson director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Wisconsin REALTORS Association Suite 201 4801 forest Run Road Madison, WI 53704-7337 608.241.2047 800.279.1972 608.241.2901 fax tlarson@wra.org www.wra.org www.wisconsinhousingworks.com
REALTORS, employers, lender partners, counseling agencies, and consumers
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
A problem common to many websites is

the glut of information that is difficult to find. This is the case even when someone knows what theyre looking for and where its likely to be. Or a person may land on what looks like the right site and find that its little more than a shell for basic information. A truly useful, easily navigated website is a thing of beauty, and all too rare.
The Wisconsin REALTORS Association (WRA) and its Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant partner, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic development Authority (WHEdA), have been partners on a number of statewide workforce housing initiatives over the years, so it was natural for them to team up in order to implement Wisconsins Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to promote employerassisted housing (EAH). both the WHEdA and the WRA websites cover dozens of topics relating to housing, both in Wisconsin and nationally. Recognizing the need for a single web resource that is clearly laid out and comprehensive without being confusing, they decided to create a new site http://wisconsinhousingworks.com/ devoted exclusively to EAH issues. The WisconsinHousingWorks website is designed to inform and educate real estate professionals, lender partners, employers, and employees on the value of homeownership and EAH.
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WISCONSIN WISCONSIN WISCON

Website Focused on EAH Issues
until now, the materials WRA and WHEdA have offered on EAH and their workforce housing initiative have been provided in hard copy format or via email. Now all these materials reside in one easily accessible location the new website to build interest and demand for the program. And new information and updates can be added easily and quickly. The Ira Gribin Grant gave these partners an opportunity to create a more efficient way to reach out to a broad range of stakeholders across the entire state. REALTORS, employers, lender partners, counseling agencies, and consumers are all expected to make use of the site. The site not only provides information on current EAH program offerings in the state, but also describes how to create an EAH program, and makes available training materials from the EAH Class. Associated with this, WRA and WHEdA are working to train an additional 100 REALTORS, lenders, and counselors within the state to be EAH certified. Another goal is to educate and engage at least ten new employers, which was close to being met by April 2011; WRA had enrolled five employers in an EAH program, with another four pending. by placing all of the presentations, documents, forms, etc., on the website, WRA expects to expand the interest and demand for the program. Since the website was launched in May, 2010, there have been many requests for program information, training, and implementation across the state. WRA has presented five training classes, with a total of 67 REALTORS, lenders, and housing counselors in attendance. Three more classes are scheduled. Employers and municipalities that have viewed information on the website are calling and asking for additional information. These new contacts will ultimately result in more employers creating programs that will expand the knowledge of homeownership within their staff and ultimately impact their community with both increased knowledge and more new homeowners. WRA and WHEdA, the two partners in the program, have worked very well together. The two organizations used their internal Marketing and Communications teams and their professional experience with website design and market push. They also collaborated on the draft designs and web-content decision-making. Together they hired a professional videographer and director for videotaping, interviewing, and editing of the tapes. both WHEdA and WRA are committed to the EAH program and will continue to maintain the website and keep it and the training materials up to date. The program meshes with both organizations missions very well.
REALTOR Involvement
With the expansion of the work on Workforce Housing that WRA and WHEdA have been doing, WRA expects to be able to educate more real estate professionals, lender partners, employers and, ultimately, employees on the value of homeownership and especially the importance of good preparation for homeownership by potential firsttime buyers. This expansion will allow both organizations to reach out to the entire state in a more efficient and contemporary manner. The program will serve REALTORS, lenders, counseling agencies, and employers by increasing their access to a comprehensive list of available EAH programs and EAH training materials. WRA believes that by training an additional 100 professionals on EAH, it can expand the number of employers offering EAH programs in the state from 17 to 22. by enrolling just five new employers, WRA estimates that at least 100 new consumers will have access to homeownership preparation education classes, and would result in many of those employees becoming homeowners by 2011.
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WYOMING WYOMING WYOMING

Wyoming Association of REALTORS (WAR) 2,100 members

PrOGr a m na mE
Wheels for ReStore

PrOGr a m T yPE
funding Model, Construction and Rehab
The Wyoming Association of REALTORS Wheels for ReStore program supports the local Habitat for Humanitys ability to raise money through its Habitat for Humanity ReStore outlets in order to serve more families and lower the cost of homes for Habitat families. The additional funds raised by the ReStores are used to fund additional Habitat Home builds. WAR is allocating its grant dollars to purchase two moving trucks that it will lease to local Habitat for Humanity ReStore outlets at no cost. This will enable the ReStore outlets to collect donations of large items that they can sell for significant return to support more Habitat builds or use in Habitat homes. There are eight local Habitat for Humanity chapters in Wyoming, and each chapter will be able to lease a truck for a two-year period over the projected eight-year length of the program.
families in Wyoming who qualify for Habitat for Humanity homes. To qualify for a Habitat home, workforce families must have an income of 30 70 percent of the Wyoming median income ($19,750 $50,000 for a family of four).
KEy ParTnErS
Habitat for Humanity

aWard
$50,000
COnTaCT
Guyla Greenly Association Executive Wyoming Association of REALTORS 951 Werner Court, Suite 300 Casper, Wy 82601 307.237.4085 307.237.7929 fax ggreenly@wyorealtors.com www.WyoRealtors.com
PrOGr a m Sum m ary
It is a common statement in Wyoming that Wyoming is one big small town. This phrase relates to a sense
of community that is shared throughout the state and the sense of responsibility Wyoming residents feel toward helping their neighbors. And there is definitely a need to help neighbors when it comes to housing. About 30 percent of Wyoming households fall into the low income category, and half are considered low- to medium-low income. In addition, about 30 percent of the states homes, both owned and rented, need significant rehabilitation or even demolition. Therefore, the Wyoming Association of REALTORS (WAR) often partners with housing organizations such as Wyoming Community development Authority and Wyoming Housing Network to educate real estate professionals and consumers on workforce housing issues such as foreclosure prevention and first-time homebuyer education. Many of the organizations REALTOR members also volunteer with workforce housing-oriented groups, such as Habitat for Humanity.
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WYOMING WYOMING WYOMING

The eight Habitat for Humanity programs across the state add about eight houses per year to the workforce housing availability in Wyoming. In looking at the best options for how to utilize the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant, WAR members began thinking about how to help Habitat increase that number. The resulting approach is both novel and highly practical. As one of its fundraising mechanisms, Habitat for Humanity operates ReStore outlets, which sell new or recycled items that have been donated for resale. Habitat uses the profits from the sales to help fund the building of additional homes. Often, the ReStore outlets in Wyoming are unable to accept donations of building materials such as doors, windows, kitchen cabinets, etc., because the stores lack access to a vehicle large enough to pick up and transport the items. by turning away those donations, the ReStore program forfeits the larger ticket items that could be sold for a significant return or used in Habitat builds. WAR determined that its Ira Gribin Grant could fund the purchase of two moving trucks equipped with hydraulic lifts. WAR is retaining ownership of the trucks while leasing them to Habitat for Humanity ReStore outlets at no cost, though the stores are responsible for maintenance and insurance while the trucks are in their possession. WAR is leasing one truck per store for a two-year period, after which the trucks move on to other ReStore outlets for two years, and so on, so that each Wyoming ReStore outlet has one of the trucks for two years over the course of the next eight years. The goal is for the ReStore outlets to increase their profits so that they can purchase their own trucks once they return the leased vehicles. WAR will have the trucks decaled or wrapped with signage for the ReStore store outlets, noting that they were donated by the Wyoming Association of REALTORS through a grant from the National Association of REALTORS. In addition, Habitat will be able to sell advertising on the back doors of the trucks to help cover the costs of maintenance and insurance. It is expected that, with the ability to sell additional building materials provided by the trucks, perstore profits will increase by as much as $60,000 per year, ultimately funding another 8 10 Habitat homes across the state.
More about ReStore

With the provision of a large truck with a hydraulic lift, the Wyoming ReStore programs will be able to collect more donations, particularly large items that simply cannot be hauled in the back of a pickup truck. The availability of donated building materials such as windows, cabinets, doors, etc. that can be used in Habitat homes will help bring down the cost of the homes, making them more affordable to the Habitat families. And increased sales for the ReStore outlets will lead to improved profits, allowing the local chapters to purchase their own trucks and sustain their ability to boost donations, as well as raising the profits that are used to build homes. Even a small increase in profits will make a significant difference. for example, the ReStore in Casper, Wyoming, generates about $40,000 45,000 a year in profit, which is used to help build homes. The average home for Habitat for Humanity in Wyoming costs approximately $50,000. The availability of a large moving truck with a hydraulic lift will allow the store to pick up more products and raise their profits to $100,000 120,000 per year. That additional $50,000 60,000 a year will change the available funds so that the Casper store moves from not quite funding one new home per year to funding two new homes per year. This shows how WARs vision of assisting each Habitat for Humanity chapter across the state in becoming selfsustaining can lead to more affordable workforce housing in Wyoming.
REALTOR Involvement
As the owners of Habitat homes get on their feet and become stable, they have the potential to move up to other homes, which could help expand business for Wyoming REALTORS. The advertising on the trucks will also raise consumer awareness of how hard Wyomings REALTORS strive to fulfill the needs of homebuyers at all economic levels. Wyoming REALTORS are already dedicated to serving their communities through working on Habitat for Humanity builds. This program will further strengthen their relationships with the people of their communities, especially working families.
www.REALTOR.org
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FOr mOrE InFOrm aTIOn

To learn more about the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants program visit www.realtor.org/iragribingrant or e-mail questions to iragribingrant@realtors.org. The Ira Gribin Workforce Grants final Report Tackling Workforce Housing State by State is a great resource for REALTOR associations interested in developing programs to address the housing needs of working families in their communities. If your association is interested in starting your own program and would like help getting started, please contact Lora McCray, Manager, Housing Opportunity, at lmccray@realtors.org or 202.383.7560.
SSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA W ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN LINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CA A ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAW SIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NO H DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSE H CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SO MA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW E ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA ECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCK DA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLA ONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING AL NA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MIS OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TE A ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAW SOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NE H DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC GIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MA ORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHOD VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNE CHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE H CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON DA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARY ORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHOD VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNE CHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE O RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLA RADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANS SKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA O VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOM IS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNE LINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CA MA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA SOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NE LINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHIN GIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MA TA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DA A ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAW SIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NO UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN H CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SO ING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW H CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WARE FLORIDA GEORGIA GUAM HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA M 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington, ERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK DC 20001-2020 NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYL 800.874.6500 www.REALTOR.org NIA WISCONSIN WYOMING

Ira Gribin Grant Final Report: Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

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Ira Gribin Grant Final Report: Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

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ONSIN WYOMING ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAW NNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA

Tackling Workforce Housing State By State

Tackling Workforce Housing State By State

May 2011 Copyright 2011 National Association of REALTORS

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: CONTENTS

Participation and Outcomes

Chart of Funded Programs by Program Type

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants

Grantee Profiles (2009 2010)

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: INTROduCTION

It is critically important to the health of our

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS

Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

The NAR Housing Opportunity Team

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: ExECuTIvE

The Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants program was developed

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS

Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: OvERvIEW

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS

Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: pARTICIpATION

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS

Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

figure 1 | pROJECT TypES

COmmunITy OuTrEaCH (27%)

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: pARTICIpATION

HOmEbuyEr EduCaTIOn (18%)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS

Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

Partnerships and Funding

figure 2 | GRANTEES pROJECT pARTNERS

tate and Local S REALTOR boards/Associations, foundations, and Committees

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: pARTICIpATION

Project Impacts and Outcomes

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS

Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

HOMEbuyER EduCATION ANd REALTOR pROfESSIONAL dEvELOpMENT

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: pARTICIpATION

We are now writing competitive grants to non-REALTOR funders.

for building/Rehabbing Workforce Housing (pennsylvania)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS

Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: pARTICIpATION

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS

Tackling Workforce Housing State by State

Em Ho plo us yer ing -A ssi s

Fu Fin ndin an g & cia lA ssi s

FUNDED PROGR AMS BY PROGR AM TYPE

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: FUNDED

PROGR AMS BY PROGR AM TYPE

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants: GR ANTEE

Georgia Association of REALTORS Guam Association of REALTORS

Hawai`i Association of REALTORS Idaho Association of REALTORS

88 91 93 95 98 101 104 106 109 112

Wyoming Association of REALTORS

ALABAMA ALABAMA ALABAMA AL

Alabama Association of REALTORS (AAR) 13,000 members

Alabama Workforce Housing Initiative

Education and Outreach (REALTORS/ Consumers), Website

REALTORS, potential homebuyers earning below the median income, employers

PrOGr a m Sum m ary

With the recent opening of new automotive

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of REALTORS