Category: Uncategorized

Hood River Down payment Assistance Program Guidelines

• Current income limit is $76,800               Current Loan amount up to $15,000

 

• Loans will be awarded to qualified applicants as funds allow, based on receipt of firm commitment letter from lender
• Can be used for down payment and closing cost assistance
• Income limits Income includes all income from household members over the age of 18.
• Can be combined with $15,000 Veteran’s Down payment program, if qualified
• Loans are restricted to homes purchased in Hood River County in Oregon
• First time homebuyers. (No homeownership in the last 3 years)
• Must be owner occupied

 

• Up to $15,000 Note and Deed of Trust will be used (in 2^nd position)
• Loan is forgivable by 20% per year, starting one year after closing and will have no balance after the 5^th year
• Mobile homes OK, if land is purchased
• Recipients must take Homebuyer class offered by Mid-Columbia Housing Center prior to purchase
• Recipients must attend at least 1 one-on-one counseling session with CCHC staff
• Buyers can have no more than $30,000 of liquid assets after closing

– Retirement accounts such as IRA’s and 401Ks are exempt

• No other real property can be owned at the time of closing
• Closing must be completed through Escrow
• Home must have a professional Home Inspection completed

 

For additional information contact: David Peters or Mario Heredia at 541-296-3397 Habla Espanol

 

Survey gauges need for public child care center

 

MEDIA RELEASE – July 23, 2021

 

Contact:           Dan Spatz

Telephone:      (541) 340-9883

Email:              dspatz@cgcc.edu

 

As more people are vaccinated to reduce the risk from COVID-19, many parents in the Mid-Columbia region are returning to the workforce. But the high cost and scarcity of affordable child care is a challenge, both for the general public and students attending Columbia Gorge Community College.

“Columbia Gorge Community College has long recognized the need for affordable child care,” said Nancey Patten, director of Child Care Partners – Child Care Resource & Referral. This college-based program offers training and technical assistance to early learning professionals and referral services for CGCC students. It recruits and supports new early learning programs to meet the needs of local families.

The college also has an Early Childhood Education program to help meet the acute shortage of skilled early childhood educators.

This past spring the Ford Family Foundation awarded Columbia Gorge Community College a grant to conduct a child care center feasibility study. The study is taking place over the summer and fall. It will gather information on the regional need for affordable child care and develop a business model to determine how a child care center can be operated on a sustainable basis.

This month the college and its community partners are distributing a survey as the critical first step in completing that study. The survey is anonymous. Participants are asked to report the number of children in their families, how their child care needs are currently met, and their ability to contribute toward the cost of child care. “We know our region needs a child care center,” Patten said. “Data from this survey will be vital in order for us to determine the feasibility of operating a facility, including the level of support we will likely need to keep our rates affordable for low and moderate-income families.”

A child care center will have two goals: First, to provide affordable child care for families who are unable to place children in centers operated by Head Start (typically because family incomes do not meet federal eligibility requirements). And second, to provide real-world instructional experience for students enrolled in the college’s Early Childhood Education program.

Ten community partners joined with the college in supporting the local cost of this study, including Four Rivers Early Learning Hub, City of The Dalles, Wasco County, Northern Wasco People’s Utility District, Mid-Columbia Medical Center, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, North Wasco County School District, Columbia Gorge Education Service District, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District and Port of The Dalles.

The survey is posted to the college website and social media. Community partners are distributing it through their social media networks. People are encouraged to complete the survey no later than Friday, August 20. Paper versions of the survey are also being distributed to libraries, schools and other locations.

Here are links to the survey in English and in Spanish. These are also being posted to the college website, www.cgcc.edu.

 

-30-

To: MCHA and CGHA Board of Directors

From: Joel Madsen, Executive Director

Subject: HUD Waiver Extensions – PIH Notice 2020-33

Date: December 14th, 2020

 

 

The chart to follow summarizes the waivers authorized under PIH Notice 2020-33 and the availability period for each. Staff recommends the Board authorize use of the waivers as presented below.

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
PH and HCV-1 PHA 5-Year and Annual Plan Submission Dates: Significant Amendment Requirements	Statutory Authority Section 5A(a)(1), Section 5A(b)(1), Section 5A(g), Section 5A(h)(2)   Regulatory Authority §§ 903.5(a)(3), 903.5(b)(3), 903.13(c), 903.21, 903.23	·         Alternative dates for submission ·         Changes to significant amendment process	·         Varies based on FYE ·         12/31/20	Yes	04/14/2020
PH and HCV-4 Family Income and Composition: Interim Examinations	Statutory Authority Section 3(a)(1)   Regulatory Authority §§ 5.233(a)(2), 982.516(c)(2), 960.257(a), (b) and (d), 960.259(c)   Sub-regulatory Guidance	·         Waives the requirement to use the income verification requirements, including the use of EIV, for interim reexaminations	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
	Notice PIH 2018-18
PH and HCV-5 Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) Monitoring	Regulatory Authority § 5.233   Sub-regulatory Guidance Notice PIH 2018-18	·         Waives the mandatory EIV monitoring requirements	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
PH and HCV-6 Family Self-	Regulatory Authority § 984.303(d)	·         Provides for extensions to FSS contract of participation	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
Sufficiency (FSS)
Contract of
Participation: Contract
Extension
HQS-1 Initial Inspection Requirements	Statutory Authority Section 8(o)(8)(A)(i), Section 8(o)(8)(C)	·         Changes initial inspection requirements, allowing for owner certification that there are no life-threatening deficiencies ·         Where self-certification was used, PHA must inspect the unit no later than 1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification ·         Will include reminder that HQS waiver does not include a waiver of	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
	Regulatory Authority §§ 982.305(a), 982.305(b), 982.405		·         1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
		24 CFR 35.15, visual assessment for deteriorated paint
HQS-2: Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Pre- HAP Contract Inspections: PHA Acceptance of Completed Units	Statutory Authority: Section 8(o)(8)(A)   Regulatory Authority: §§ 983.103(b), 983.156(a)(1)	·         Changes inspection requirements, allowing for owner certification that there are no life- threatening deficiencies ·         Where self-certification was used, PHA must inspect the unit no later than 1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification	·         6/30/21       ·         1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification	Yes	04/14/2020
HQS-3 Initial Inspection: Non-Life-Threatening Deficiencies (NLT) Option	Statutory Authority Section 8(o)(8)(A)(ii)   Sub-regulatory Guidance HOTMA HCV Federal Register Notice January 18, 2017	·         Allows for extension of up to 30 days for owner repairs of non-life threatening conditions	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
HQS-4 HQS Initial Inspection Requirement: Alternative Inspection Option	Statutory Authority Section 8(o)(8)(A)(iii)   Sub-regulatory Guidance HOTMA HCV Federal	·         Under Initial HQS Alternative Inspection Option – allows for commencement of assistance payments	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
	Register Notice January 18, 2017	based on owner certification there are no life-threatening deficiencies ·         Where self-certification was used, PHA must inspect the unit no later than 1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification	·         1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification
HQS-5 HQS Inspection Requirement: Biennial Inspections	Statutory Authority Section 8(o)(D)   Regulatory Authority §§ 982.405(a), 983.103(d)	·         Allows for delay in biennial inspections ·         PHAs must require owner certification there are no life-threatening deficiencies ·         All delayed biennial inspections must resume by 6/30/21 and be completed by 12/31/21	·         6/30/21     ·         12/31/21	Yes	04/14/2020
HQS-6 HQS Interim Inspections	Statutory Authority Section 8(o)(8)(F)   Regulatory Authority §§ 982.405(g), 983.103(e)	·         Waives the requirement for the PHA to conduct interim inspection and requires alternative method	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
		·         Allows for repairs to be verified by alternative methods
HQS-7 PBV Turnover Unit Inspections	Regulatory Authority § 983.103(c)	·         Allows PBV turnover units to be filled based on owner certification there are no life- threatening deficiencies ·         Allows for delayed full HQS inspection NLT than 1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
			·         1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification
HQS-8: PBV HAP Contract: HQS Inspections to Add or Substitute Units	Statutory Authority Section 8(o)(8)(A)	·         Allows for PBV units to be added or substituted in the HAP contract based on owner certification there are no life-threatening deficiencies ·         Allows for delayed full HQS inspection NLT 1- year anniversary of date of owner’s certification	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
	Regulatory Authority §§ 983.207(a), 983.207(b)
	Sub-regulatory Guidance HOTMA HCV Federal Register Notice January 18, 2017		·         1-year anniversary of date of owner’s certification
HQS-9 HQS Quality Control	Regulatory Authority §§ 982.405(b),	·         Provides for a suspension of the	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
Inspections	983.103(e)(3)

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
		requirement for QC sampling inspections
HQS-10 Housing Quality Standards: Space and Security	Regulatory Authority § 982.401(d)	·         Waives the requirement that each dwelling unit have at least 1 bedroom or living/sleeping room for each 2 persons.	Remains in effect one year from lease term or date of this Notice, whichever is longer	Yes	04/14/2020
HQS-11 Homeownership Option: Initial HQS Inspection	Statutory Authority Section 8(o)(8)(A)(i), Section 8(y)(3)(B) Regulatory Authority § 982.631(a)	·         Waives the requirement to perform an initial HQS inspection in order to begin making homeownership assistance payments ·         Requires family to obtain independent professional inspection	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
HCV-1 Administrative Plan	Regulatory Authority § 982.54(a)	·         Establishes an alternative requirement that policies may be adopted without board approval until 3/31/21 ·         Any provisions adopted informally must be adopted formally by 6/30/21	·         3/31/21       ·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
HCV-2	Regulatory Authority	·         Waives the requirement	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
Information When Family is Selected: PHA Oral Briefing	§§ 982.301(a)(1), 983.252(a)	for an oral briefing ·         Provides for alternative methods to conduct required voucher briefing
HCV-3 Term of Voucher: Extensions of Term	Regulatory Authority § 982.303(b)(1)	·         Allows PHAs to provide voucher extensions regardless of current PHA policy	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
HCV-5 Absence from Unit	Regulatory Authority § 982.312	·         Allows for PHA discretion on absences from units longer than 180 days ·         PHAs must not make HAP payments beyond 12/31/20 for units vacant more than 180 consecutive days	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
HCV-6 Automatic Termination of HAP Contract	Regulatory Authority § 982.455	·         Allows PHA to extend the period of time after the last HAP payment is made before the HAP contract terminates automatically.	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
HCV-8 Utility Allowance Schedule: Required Review and Revision	Regulatory Authority § 982.517	·         Provides for delay in updating utility allowance schedule	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
HCV-9 Homeownership Option: Homeownership Counseling	Statutory Authority Section 8(y)(1)(D)   Regulatory Authority §§ 982.630, 982.636(d)	·         Waives the requirement for the family to obtain pre-assistance counseling	·         6/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
11b SEMAP	Regulatory Authority 24 CFR Part 985	·         PHA to retain prior year SEMAP score unless requests otherwise	HUD will resume issuing new SEMAP scores starting with PHAs with FYE dates of 06/30/21	Yes	04/14/2020
11b-2 SEMAP	Regulatory Authority § 985.101(a)	·         Waives the requirement for PHAs to submit an annual SEMAP certification in PIC within 60 days of FYE during the period of time that HUD will roll forward prior year SEMAP scores	·         6/30/21

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
MS-1 Mainstream Initial Lease Term	Statutory Authority Section 8(o)(7)(A)   Regulatory Authority § 982.309(a)(2)(ii)	·         PHA may enter initial lease terms of less than one year regardless of whether the shorter lease term is a prevailing market practice	·         6/30/21
MS-2 Mainstream Criminal Background Screening	Statutory Authority 42 U.S.C. 13663(a), 42 U.S.C. 13661   Regulatory Authority §§ CFR 5.856, 982.553(a)	·         PHAs may establish, as an alternative requirement, screening requirements for applicants for Mainstream vouchers which are distinct from those in place for its HCV program in general	·         6/30/21
MS-3 Mainstream Age Eligibility to Enter HAP Contract Statutory Authority	Statutory Authority 42 U.S.C. 8013(k)(2)	·         As an alternative requirement, the PHA may choose to expand the definition of an eligible non-elderly family member to include those who were issued a voucher prior to turning 62 and were not yet 63 on the	·         6/30/21

 

 

Item	Statutory and regulatory waivers	Summary of alternative requirements	Availability Period Ends	Did the PHA implement the waiver or alternative requirement?	Date of PHA adoption.
		effective date of the HAP Contract