Volume 2, Issue 1

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FEBRUARY 2012

Volume 2, Issue 1

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ACHANGE’S

MISSION:

To collectively promote

quality affordable housing

and community economic

development in Arkansas.

IN THIS MONTH’S

ISSUE

3 Time for ACHANGE!

4 Chairman’s Corner

5 Principles of Community

Development

6 For Every Dream, There’s

“HOPE”

7 Nomination Ballot Info

8 News

9 Member news

10 Save The Date for June!

11 2012 Meeting Information

12 Executive Committee/

Contact Info

The 2011 Annual Report is available online at

http://issuu.com/ACHANGE/

docs/2011_achange_annual_report2.pdf/1

You can read it online or print from there.

If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please contact

Debra at dbanks@achange.org or call 501-766-3941.

Volume 2, Issue 1

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TIME FOR ACHANGE!

Ahhh February…..that wonderful time of the year when love is in the

air, and candy is everywhere. We all scurry around, trying to find that

perfect gift for that significant person in our lives, hoping against hope

that our offering will let that person know just how important he or she

is to us.

So it was, that in February, I, with the help of the Education and

Training and Membership and Marketing Committee, set out to make our February 14, meet-

ing memorable for everyone. I wanted both members and potential members to feel important.

The work that you do is valuable to so many people across the state of Arkansas, and generally,

you are the unheralded soldiers of affordable housing. You quietly go about your work, not ex-

pecting recognition or thanks.

In front of each chair at the meeting, we placed a special Valentine’s card that said:

“In residences all over the state, people who received your assistance

are living in safe affordable places.

Children are coming home to an environment where they can study and thrive.

Someone is putting a key in a door and smiling with the pride of homeownership.

Your involvement made those smiles possible.

Thank you for putting your heart into what you do everyday.

You are the heart of ACHANGE.”

Happy 2012 to everyone. It’s “Time for ACHANGE”. Wouldn’t you agree?

Debra Banks

Program Manager

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CHAIRMAN’S CORNER

MY HOPE FOR ALL OF YOU

“Love is the most powerful force on earth.” - Merlin

We love our members! This February we chose to show apprecia-

tion to our members by providing a few gifts. Framed membership

certificates as well as lapel pins and annual reports are available for

all our members. If you did not get yours at the February meeting,

please call Debra.

Membership at ACHANGE comes with benefits:

Engaging and information-packed bi-monthly meetings

Opportunities to advocate for public policy changes and improvements

Utilization of our collective voices to promote the housing needs of families in Arkansas

Funding opportunities

Scholarships to national trainings

Awards and recognition to our membership

High quality annual training on topics that effect our members

The opportunity to network with organizations that are doing great things in Arkansas

As you can see, our members are important to us. If you are not a member, do not delay

another day. Get an application from dbanks@achange.org. You will finally feel the love

the rest of us feel!

Karen Phillips

ACHANGE Board President

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

PRINCIPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE:

Pt. 5: Strategizing for Long-Term Sustainability

The fifth component of the Community Development Principles of Good Practice is to "Be

open to using the full range of action strategies to work toward the long-term sustainability and

well being of the community.”

“Man is so made that once anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish” (Jean de la Fontaine).

De la Fontaine, a 17th century French poet, was a very astute observer of the results that can be

accomplished when human beings open themselves up to possibilities. Rather than saying it can’t

be done, those whose souls have been fired, will explore every opportunity and pursue the

knowledge necessary to make it happen.

People who work in the affordable housing arena are open to any and all possibilities. Everyday

they put together the strategies that will help them to turn an empty lot into a home for one fami-

ly or many families, and help those families qualify to occupy that developed piece of property.

You understand that by doing so, you help to stabilize a neighborhood and positively impact the

economy of that community.

Affordable housing is important to long-term sustainability and community well-being. Creating

thriving neighborhoods is hard work, and no one is more suited to do that job than those agen-

cies that have devoted their existences to providing safe and affordable housing.

The new realities of upcoming federal and state budgets may mean that agencies will have to be

more creative in getting the job done. Every possibility will have to be explored, but who is better

at that than you? If there is a way, affordable housing providers will find it.

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For Every Dream, there’s

New ACHANGE member, HOPE Credit Union) is a

financial institution, community development intermediary

and policy center that provides affordable financial

services; leverages private, public and philanthropic

resources; and engages in policy analysis in order to fulfill

its mission of strengthening communities, building assets,

and improving lives in economically distressed parts of

the Mid South.

Since 1994, HOPE’s efforts have generated over $1.6

billion in financing and benefited more than 90,000

individuals in the Delta, Katrina-affected areas and other

distressed communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

HOPE has a demonstrated track record of success in the following areas:

• Business Lending: Loans for small- & medium-sized businesses ♦ New Markets Tax Credit

financing ♦ Public agency guarantees and credit enhancements ♦

Financing for nonprofits, community facilities, health care, child

care and other community infrastructure ♦ Loan participations

• Housing Finance: Single family mortgages ♦ Low-Income

Housing Tax Credit debt and equity ♦ Development of rental and

owner-occupied housing

• Retail Financial Services: Transaction products such as checking

accounts, online banking, credit cards, debit cards, ATM cards ♦

Savings products including Individual Development Accounts, IRAs ♦ Secured and unsecured

consumer loans for automobiles, home equity, payday alternative loans

• Intermediary Services: Financial counseling such as foreclosure mitigation, homebuyer

education, VITA ♦ Affordable housing development ♦ Loan fund administration ♦ Project

design and management

Policy Analysis and Advocacy: Family Economic Self Sufficiency ♦ Responsible Financial

Services ♦ Budget and Tax Equity

If you’d like to learn more, contact Program Officer Wonder Lowe at 501-490-0312 or email

her at wlowe@hopecu.org.

Volume 2, Issue 1

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7TH ANNUAL

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE

AWARDS

NOMINATION BALLOT

Recognizing the contributions of individuals, organizations and companies

in improving the quality of life of low wealth families and communities

across Arkansas

Nominations can be submitted electronically at http://

app.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/achange/community-development-

service-awards-nominations/

For a printed copy of the nomination form, contact Debra at

dbanks@achange.org or call

501-766-3941.

Volume 2, Issue 1

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NEWS

HUD comment period open for Public Housing Agency (PHA)

5-Year and Annual Plan Proposal

The purpose of the plan is to provide a framework for local accountability and an easily

identifiable source by which public housing residents, participants in the tenant-based

assistance program, and other members of the public may locate basic PHA policies, rules and

requirements concerning the PHA’s operations, programs and services. PHAs are required to

submit annual and 5-Year Plans to HUD as required by

section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437c–1).

The proposed information collection requirement will be

submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of

1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended). The Department

is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT NEWS

Arkansas was a part of the historic settlement between

Attorneys General in 49 states and the five largest mortgage

lenders in the nation. The settlement will provide long-term

reform to mortgage servicing practices and create a system for

monitoring and enforcing the new standards.

The settlement will provide more than $25 billion in relief nationwide to distressed borrowers

and direct payments to states and the federal government-including nearly $40 million for

Arkansas.

To learn more about how this settlement will affect Arkansas, be sure to attend the April 10,

2012, meeting. Representatives from the Attorney General’s office will be one of the special

guest presenters for the month.

DEADLINE TO

COMMENT

The comment

period ends April

3, 2012.

To read the Federal Register

information, click here to read.

Volume 2, Issue 1

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MEMBER NEWS!!!

NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS

NEW MEMBERS

PDC Companies, Little Rock

RENEWING MEMBERS

Crawford-Sebastian County Community Development Council, Inc., Fort Smith

Universal Housing Development Corporation, Russellville

CHANGES!!!

Two of our member organizations have recently had a few changes of their

own, changes that both feel more accurately reflect their missions and visions.

Metropolitan Housing Alliance is the new name of the Little Rock

Housing Authority. The new name and new logo reflect the geographic outreach

and goals of the organization—to promote and develop a brighter future for the com-

munities it serves. The new name tells residents, partners and community members

that the Alliance is dedicated to developing more opportunities and more partner-

ships as it spreads across a larger geographic area. MHA is committed to “Giving

Every Street a Neighborhood, Making Every House a Home”.

For more information on the Metropolitan Housing Alliance, click here.

The Southern Good Faith Fund and Southern Bancorp Cap-

ital Partners have united common vision of reducing poverty,

decreasing unemployment, and increasing educational attain-

ment in targeted communities. The new streamlined organization, known as Southern Bancorp

Community Partners, will enhance impact in those communities.

For more information on Southern Bancorp Community Partners, click here.

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June 19-22, 2012

Save the Date: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK

Tickets go on sale

and

registration

begins on

April 16th!

ACHANGE cordially invites you to attend a week of activities in celebration of National Home-

ownership Month!

JUNE 19

2012 Community Development Service Awards

Celebrate the outstanding contributions of community leaders, development professionals and

individuals in the fields of community and economic development.

JUNE 20

Public Policy Symposium

Join concerned citizens and community economic development professionals as they discuss

trends and the ties that should bind housing and economic development in Arkansas

communities.

JUNE 21-22

Community Development Training Conference

Strengthen your organization’s capacity, enhance and obtain new development skills and in-

crease your productivity at this two day conference offering classes specifically designed for

existing and potential CHDOs, foreclosure counselors, homebuyer educators, and

managers of nonprofit organizations.

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2012 MEETING SCHEDULE

ACHANGE IN ACTION

2012 started off in a big way. The first meeting of the year was well-attended and provided

members and guests with useful information and a wonderful opportunity to network.

Presenters for the February meeting

________

Visited the Member’s Forum lately? Now, you can post topics for discussion. Get a discussion

started today! If you need password assistance, just email Debra at dbanks@achange.org.

4/10/2012

Scheduled

Mortgage Settlement Information from

the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office

The Arkansas Community Foundation

These are only a few of the persons in attendance for February.

ACHANGE member Michael Jackson Natalie Jonkhout, Hugh Rowden, and

Michelle Grier of Wells Fargo.

Volume 2, Issue 1

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ACHANGE Executive Committee

Board Chairman—Karen Phillips

1st Vice Chairman—Susan Forte

2nd Vice Chairman—George Holcomb

Secretary— Frances Newsome

Treasurer—Cathy Carlock

Associate At-Large Board Member—Martie North

At-Large Board Member—Darryl Swinton

Program Manager—Debra Banks

Committee Chairs

Education and Training Committee Chairman—Roma Isom

Finance Committee Chairman—Cathy Carlock

Membership & Marketing Committee Chairman—George Holcomb

Public Policy Committee Chairman—Darryl Swinton

Resource Development Chairman—Charles Vann

Ad-hoc Committee Chairman—Martie North

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401 Main Street, Suite 206

North Little Rock, AR 72114

501-766-3941 Fax: 501-244-9670

At ACHANGE, your membership matters.

Come grow along with us!