Affinity groups address specific issues.
HDC coordinates affinity groups for its members, enabling them to work collaboratively on current issues, employing a "can-do" approach to developing policy recommendations, advocacy points and best practice models.
These small, dynamic groups, comprised of interested HDC members, concentrate on specific issues and address a wide range of topics. Fueled by HDC's guidance, members work together to develop policies, ideas and solutions that provide the entire membership with the tools it needs to maximize the development of affordable housing. Out of these affinity groups, educational forums on topics may occur.
2008 Affinity Groups
Helping to Implement HDC's
Future of the Field
BUILD A BROAD ALLIANCE:
Incentive Zoning
Develop recommendations to the board on land use and development regulations in major developement areas. Advocate for HDC positions with Seattle and suburban elected officials.
Suburban City Advocacy
Be informed on suburban affordable housing issues. Organize tours of suburban projects and a housing forum. Work on zoning strategies. Develop recommendations for HDC positions and help advocate.
Collaboration with For-Profit Housing Industry
Help develop and implement outreach plans for this 2007 priority sector. Review advocacy agendas for issues in common that HDC might support and develop recommenda-tions to the HDC board. Lend your personal connections with Master Builders, Realtors, etc. to this effort.
Collaboration with Environmental/Smarth Growth Organizations
Help develop and implement outreach plans for this 2007 priority sector. Review advocacy agendas for issues in common that HDC might support and develop recommen-dations to the HDC board. Lend your personal connections with Futurewise, Cascade Agenda, etc. to this effort.
INCREASE EFFICIENCY:
Asset & Property Management
Work to increase standards and improve internal systems for quality, cost effective and efficient long-term oversight of low income housing properties.
Funding Coordination
Work to coordinate funding applications, processes and documents of the various funders.
Successful Design & Development
Organize tours of nearly complete buildings to learn what worked and what didn’t. Share best practices.
Tax Credits / Bond Financing Programs
Work to develop and advocate for HDC positions on bond cap and tax credit policies.
INFORMATIONAL GROUPS:
Federal Issues
Be informed on Congressional and HUD issues that are impacting us locally.
Green Building and Innovative Design
Be informed on standards, sustainable practices, universal design, and construction news.
Homeless Housing
Be informed on issues re: implementation of King County's Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness.
King County Issues
Be informed on housing programs and growth management, suburban and King County Council issues.
Seattle Issues
Be informed on housing and services funding and program changes, and departmental and City Council news that may related to housing.
State Issues
Be informed on CTED and legislative session issues.
Accomplishments
Insurance
In 2004 HDC helped gain legislation allowing self-insurance pools for nonprofits and a budget appropriation to establish a pool for nonprofit housing developers in Washington State. HDC also worked with the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties to gain legislation aimed at solving insurance problems for condominium
builders.
Funding Coordination
HDC's Funding Coordination affinity group met with city, county and state
funding bodies to improve application coordination and developed a strong
working relationship with the state's Community Trade and Economic Development
Department to coordinate state and city funding processes. HDC developed
a "generic" application that all funders agreed to use, greatly simplifying
the process to obtain funding for low-income housing.
Public Awareness
HDC produced its third series of network television
commercials by partnering with the Master Builders Association
of Seattle-King County, the Seattle-King County Association of Realtors®
and new partner Washington State Housing Finance Commission. The theme
was Housing our Community-—Working to Build a Better Quality
of Life. The 30-second spots aired on KIRO-TV during fall 2004
and spring 2005.
King County Funding for Housing
HDC helped restore budget cuts to King County's Housing Opportunity Fund at the end of 2004.
