NEIGHBORIMPACT Funding Proposal

December 8, 2017 | Author: Samuel Nichols | Category: N/A
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NEIGHBORIMPACT Funding Proposal

City of Bend Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2012-2013 (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013)

Project Name: Bend Housing Center Counseling, Education and Rehabilitation Services

Bend Housing Center Mailing Address: 2303 SW First Street, Redmond, OR 97756 Physical Location: 20310 Empire Ave., Suite A110, Bend, OR 97701 Telephone: 541-318-7506 Fax: 541-749-4948

NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

Page 1

FORM A CITY OF BEND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM TABLE OF CONTENTS Please indicate the page number on which each of the following issues is addressed:

1. Table of Contents

Page 2

2. Project Summary Form (Form B)

Page 3

3. Project Description

Pages 4 - 8

4. Property and Project Information

Page 8

5. Work Program

Pages 9 - 18

6. Project Benefit

Pages 19 - 20

7. Agency Information

Pages 20 - 25

8. Financial Information

Pages 25 - 26

9. Project Feasibility and Readiness

Pages 26 - 27

Attachments

(Cover letter)

Page 28

1) Housing Center Programs/ Services

Page 29 -32

2) City of Bend map

Page 33

3) Proof of IRS Non-Profit Status

Page 34

4) Budget Proposal

Page 35

5) Completed Budget Form (Form C)

Page 36

6) Letters of Support

Pages 37 - 38

NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

Page 2

FORM B PROJECT SUMMARY FORM Project Name:

NeighborImpact Bend Housing Center

Project Location:

20310 Empire Ave., Suite A110, Bend, OR 97701

Project Description:

This project will provide funding to support the Bend Housing Center which provides homebuyer education and counseling, foreclosure mitigation, rehabilitation loans, weatherization grants, financial education, and other related affordable housing services for Bend households.

CDBG Funds Requested:

$50,000

Applicant (Organization, Gov’t Agency:

NeighborImpact

Address:

2303 SW First Street

City, State & Zip:

Redmond, OR 97756

Contact Person:

Laura Fritz, Housing Director

Phone Number:

(541) 318-7506 x 3111

Fax Number:

(541) 749-4948

Email Address:

[email protected]

NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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I.

Project Description

Summary: NeighborImpact’s Bend Housing Center provides housing education, counseling and related housing and emergency services to Bend residents. The purpose of the Housing Center is to increase housing opportunities for low-to-moderate income families and individuals, preserve existing owner-occupied housing, prevent homelessness, and help homeowners accomplish imperative rehabilitation improvements. While our organization provides services to the tri-county area, the majority of the clients we help reside in Bend. The project will provide direct assistance for Bend residents including: homebuyer education and pre-purchase counseling, foreclosure prevention education and counseling, financial literacy education and budget/savings/credit counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, low-interest home rehabilitation loans, individual development account (IDA) savings plans and related counseling, mortgage payment assistance program administration, and overall supportive housing services for Bend residents. The Need: Today, unoccupied homes are a common sight in many Bend neighborhoods due to the rampant foreclosure crisis in our community. At the same time, home prices have dropped so precipitously in the past four years that many households that were once priced out of the Bend housing market can now afford to become a homeowner. Yet obtaining sound guidance on how to prevent foreclosure or buy an appropriate home for your income level and needs can be challenging. The market is saturated with scam artists and work-hungry housing industry “specialists” that do not have the expertise or objectivity to help these households. If a prospective home buyer or a homeowner in crisis falls into the wrong hands the results can be disastrous. Proven education programs and well-trained, objective counseling prevent the perpetuation of ill-considered home purchases, predatory loans, over dependence on credit, financial crisis, and housing default or loss. Thus, the need in our community is to provide a continuum of trusted, expert services that meet the holistic objectives of the homebuyer for the purpose of successful, sustainable homeownership. Housing Market & Unemployment -- Between 2003-2007, Central Oregon experienced a housing boom that rapidly increased home prices beyond affordability for many local residents. When the economic recession hit Central Oregon in 2008, the result was a housing market collapse. Foreclosure rates over the past three years generally have exceeded all other areas in the state of Oregon and much of the nation. Bend is considered one of the top 100 hardest hit metropolitan areas in the United States. Housing values have dropped by approximately 50% since the peak of the market in 2006, which has placed many families at risk of losing their homes and has found others who are contemplating strategic defaults. Although the rates of notices of default have declined in the past year for our region (2,364 NODs in Deschutes County in 2011 vs. 3,762 in 2010), large numbers of Bend homeowners are still at risk of losing their homes. Unemployment rates in our region remain at extremely high levels with Deschutes County standing at 14.6 percent in the month of November 2011, (Oregon Employment Department). This rate does not include the many individuals who have jobs but are under-employed due to the economic crisis. Unemployment in Central Oregon has NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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been high for three years running, outstripping national and state unemployment rates by several percentage points. These conditions have led to a significant number of homeowners losing their homes to foreclosure or becoming at-risk of going into foreclosure. Homelessness -- The high rate of foreclosure is contributing to the increase of homelessness in our region. The January 2011 homeless count (most recent data available) indicated that 18 households in Bend are homeless due to foreclosure. We believe this figure is much lower than the actual number of households that have become homeless due to the economic crisis in our region because it is extremely difficult to locate many of these households for the survey. NeighborImpact provides a continuum of care to help people move out of homelessness and become self-sufficient. Clients who are served by NeighborImpact’s Emergency Services Programs (shelter, rent assistance, energy assistance) are directed to the Bend Housing Center programs for financial literacy training and credit and budget counseling. These services help individuals build their knowledge and skills to try to ensure they don’t end up becoming homeless or needing other emergency services again in the future. How NeighborImpact Bend Housing Center Addresses the Need: NeighborImpact has demonstrated success in working with clients to help them preserve homeownership and become first-time home buyers. (Please see Attachment 1 for a detailed description of all Housing Center Programs/Services.) NeighborImpact is requesting funding in the amount of $50,000 to support the Housing Center programs in Bend. Funds will go toward supporting the costs of running the Bend Housing Center including counseling and educating Bend households on home purchase, foreclosure prevention, credit repair, financial literacy, home rehabilitation, post purchase education, saving to purchase a home or create a business, and reverse mortgage counseling. This funding level pays a portion of the costs of running the Bend Housing Center and serving the needs of low and moderate income households in Bend. NeighborImpact will use the funding from the City of Bend to help leverage additional money from the state of Oregon, NeighborWorks America, and private foundations to cover the costs of serving the City of Bend. NeighborImpact supports 3.51 FTE in the Bend Housing Center, including 1.25 FTE bilingual counselors; a .60 FTE who works on the Deschutes county mortgage payment assistance program; .60 FTE program support staff person who provides all the intake assistance and client referrals; .10 FTE rehabilitation program manager; and .96 FTE split between the Housing Director and the Housing Center Manager who work on developing programs, monitoring compliance, bringing resources to the community, creating partnerships and conducting outreach to increase program awareness. (The program manager also is the agency’s HUD certified reverse mortgage counselor.) At the Bend Housing Center free, one-on-one counseling is available every day of the week for Bend residents to address their personal housing needs. Counseling sessions are not limited and may be ongoing until the client’s needs/goals are met. In addition, we offer classes on a regular basis that cover foreclosure prevention, financial literacy, home purchase, and post purchase maintenance/homeownership issues. The frequency of classes depends on demand, but most classes are offered once a month. Furthermore, we offer online homebuyer education classes to provide people who cannot attend our 8-hour in person home buyer education class NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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an alternative. In addition, the Bend Housing Center administers the mortgage payment assistance program for Deschutes County residents who are receiving mortgage payments from the state of Oregon. (Approximately 70% of the 360 Deschutes County mortgage assistance clients are Bend residents.)The program is ongoing, and many Bend residents are able to maintain homeownership with the help of this program. NeighborImpact is working with these households to receive their monthly mortgage payments and to help them develop a sustainable plan once their benefits expire. We anticipate that the state will open a second round of applications for mortgage assistance in February 2012, and we will provide the assistance that Bend (and Central Oregon) residents need to apply for this program. Following is a table that illustrates the number of clients that the Bend Housing Center served during fiscal year 2010/11 (most recently completed year) and our minimum program goals for FY 2012-13. As required by HUD, at least 51% of those assisted with CDBG funding will be low or moderate income households, although typically the percentage of households we serve that are low/moderate income is above 70%: NeighborImpact Bend Housing Center

Goal Description # of individuals receiving pre-purchase counseling # of facilitated home sales # of individuals attending HBE classes # of individuals receiving foreclosure counseling # of individuals attending FCL workshop # of households receiving credit counseling* # of new IDA participants # of IDA graduates** # of individuals participating in Financial Fitness # of individuals graduating from Financial Fitness series*** # of down payment assistance loans # of individuals receiving reverse mortgage counseling # of individuals attending post-purchase workshop # of mortgage assistance households # of rehabilitation loan # of weatherization grants # of Energy Education participant households % of individuals served who are low/mod income – Bend

FY 2010/11 23 41 111 145 191 2 22 4 66 10 1 12 12 n/a 2 56 89 72%

Minimum Goal FY 2012/13 25 25 50 100 100 10 20 8 25 15 0^ 16 20 200 4 24 25 70%

*Many clients receive credit counseling as part of FCL or Pre-purchase counseling **IDA graduation takes a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years ***FF graduates attend all four FF classes NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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^NI has no DPA assistance funds at this time NeighborImpact has been providing counseling services to the Bend community for 13 years and meets a number of the priorities for CDBG funding. The vast majority of our clients fall into the low and moderate income categories. Our foreclosure prevention programs address an urgent need in our community. The home rehabilitation loan program preserves affordable housing stock and prevents homelessness. Finally, our counseling and education services help low and moderate income clients acquire, maintain and sustain homeownership. NeighborImpact is part of a very short list of agencies that provide free counseling and education resources in Bend. There is only one other HUD certified counseling agency in the area which has limited staff and services (Money Management International, Bend). No other organization provides the variety and depth of housing counseling services that are provided at NeighborImpact. Our HUD approved designation certifies that NeighborImpact has the credibility, experience and expertise to provide the highest quality counseling and education to our clients. NeighborImpact also is part of NeighborWorks America, a national intermediary for community development agencies which has stringent eligibility requirements and provides training and other resources to our agency to increase our expertise and capacity. All our counselors and managers receive regular and ongoing training to the highest national industry standards, and our counselors are certified in homeownership, foreclosure, and post purchase education and counseling. Additionally, NeighborImpact has two bilingual counselors who are able to serve both English and Spanish speaking clients. Furthermore, NeighborImpact works in close partnership with several key agencies in the area, including Housing Works, Partnership to End Poverty, Habitat for Humanity, CORIL, and COCOA to ensure households in need receive the services that will benefit them the most. NeighborImpact also is the only agency in Central Oregon that has been contracted to administer the state’s mortgage payment assistance program. Our track record with this program is strong and we anticipate that the state will extend another contract to our agency to administer the second round of mortgage payment applications in the near future. In addition, NeighborImpact recently won a contract from the state of Oregon for the Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP) to provide housing counseling services throughout Central Oregon. (Previously this funding was provided through the state of Oregon for Regional Housing Centers which did not serve Bend. The HOAP award, which will cover the period Jan 2012 – June 2013, is provided through the state document recording fee and the funds can be used in the City of Bend.) NeighborImpact is recognized by the state as the leading housing counseling agency for our region, providing services that cannot be attained anywhere else in the region. Long Term Impact: A recent report published by The Urban Institute (National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program Evaluation, Dec. 2011) which studied whether the program’s foreclosure education, counseling and modification facilitation was successful indicated that there is “consistent, compelling and robust evidence that the program has provided substantial benefits to homeowners facing foreclosure.” By helping people stay in their homes and reduce their housing payments, the Bend Housing Center is reducing the homelessness rate as well as NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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preserving affordable housing stock. Furthermore, by reducing foreclosure rates we are also helping to protect the long-term integrity of neighborhoods in the City of Bend and preserving homeownership. Through our educational and counseling programs such as Homebuyer Education classes, pre-purchase counseling, Financial Fitness courses, NeighborImpact is contributing to building financially astute and savvy households in Bend. Individuals who participate in our services have a strong grasp on how to take charge of their financial future. Whether it involves taking the necessary steps to clean up their credit or establish a habit of saving on a consistent basis, clients who go through the Bend Housing Center services are able to make informed decisions about their finances and homeownership. The very low default rate of clients who have gone through our homebuyer education program is a testament that our students have learned how to make sound, affordable choices when they leap into homeownership. Evaluation: NeighborImpact uses a variety of program measures to evaluate program effectiveness and to hold ourselves accountable to our goals/objectives and program requirements. Through the use of CounselorMax, a computer software program created by NeighborWorks America, we are able to electronically track client information, manipulate the data to produce specific types of reports and easily evaluate program progress. With CounselorMax we are able to track all client data including: program usage, income level, nationality, household characteristics, funding sources, referral tracking, class rosters, follow up, and more. Every quarter we review programmatic service goals outlined in our board report card to determine whether we are achieving our projected service delivery. Reviewing this information on a quarterly basis gives us timely feedback on how our programs are working and enables us to make changes mid-year if necessary to improve the effectiveness of our services. For example, if a particular program is falling short of program goals we may develop a targeted outreach plan to help increase numbers in that program. Class surveys also provide valuable feedback to our managers about our services. Surveys are given to all clients following each of our classes to evaluate whether the classes are responding to client needs. The surveys afford clients the opportunity to tell us whether they learned helpful information; whether the service exceeded, met or did not meet their expectations and why; how well the instructors presented the information; etc. We analyze these surveys quarterly and use them to adjust the curriculum, provide more training to our instructors, and make other improvements to meet client needs. The Housing Center Manager also reviews and audits all counselors files quarterly to ensure that counselors are providing appropriate service to our clients and that counseling methods are meeting the needs of our clients. All these evaluation methods provide the Housing Center management with essential information to assure funding compliance and to adjust and refine our service and service delivery to effectively serve our clients. II.

Property and Project Information

This project will serve the entire City of Bend. Although NeighborImpact operates four Housing Centers in Central Oregon, the Bend Housing Center serves as our headquarters. NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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See Attachment 2- City of Bend Map III. Work Program NeighborImpact’s timeline for this project is the entire Program Year 2012-2013. Following is a list of specific services proposed for the City of Bend, followed by our detailed program work plan: 1. Provide foreclosure prevention counseling and foreclosure mitigation services 2. Provide pre-purchase/budget/credit counseling 3. Provide homebuyer education classes 4. Provide financial fitness classes 5. Provide reverse mortgage counseling 6. Provide home rehabilitation loans to low income homeowners who have a health or safety issue with their primary residence 7. Provide weatherization grants 8. Provide mortgage payment assistance program support and administration

NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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NeighborImpact Work Plan:

Marketing & Partnership Development Goal: Expand community knowledge and access to Housing Center Programs Objectives: Improve and expand partner relationships so that partners play an active role in promoting and referring people to NI programs; Ensure all NI clients are familiar with and have access to NI programs, regardless of point of entry; Develop sophisticated and cohesive collateral to promote Housing Center programs Outcomes – 1. 2. 3. 4.

Increase number of strategic partnerships in all three counties Strengthen existing partnerships as evidenced by increase in referrals Increase participation in programs, especially underserved populations and geographies Create new marketing collateral to elevate profile of Housing Center

Outreach to Community Partners – all counselors and managers shall conduct at least two outreach activities every month to increase awareness of Housing Center programs and to expand our partner base

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

Ongoing

Selef

1. Identify strategic outreach opportunities a. Key partners b. Key events/activities c. Rural Communities d. Minority Advocates 2. Review outreach plan and results during regular staff meetings 3. Work in collaboration with Head Start by sending programmatic updates and flyers to key staff to make sure their clients are familiar with Housing Center programs and to help the Housing Center reach the Latino community NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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Advertise the Housing Center

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

Ongoing

Selef

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

7/30/11

Laura, Selef

1. Develop new promotional flyers for all programs 2. Investigate new ways of marketing the Housing Center a. Explore new advertising opportunities on the internet – place special emphasis on sites that potential homebuyers tend to view b. Explore small community papers for advertising campaign c. Target at least three PSAs annually to be circulated to area newspapers, radio and television stations d. Explore posting Housing Center info on Craigslist e. Utilize Child Care Resources newsletter to share updates about Housing Center programs f. Regularly update Housing Center Facebook page g. Explore if working with Twitter would be beneficial to Housing Center

Budget – Create annual budget for advertising and promotional costs

Program Design & Development Goal: Offer a variety of classes, programs and services to help Central Oregon residents strengthen their household finances, build financial assets, and acquire, maintain and sustain homeownership. Objectives: Provide services that are responsive to community needs that enable residents to rebuild and expand the stability of their financial foundation. Outcomes – NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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1. Increase access to quality homebuyer education by actively marketing eHome curriculum in Central and Eastern Oregon 2. Increase the number of households that access homebuyer education prior to starting to shop for a home 3. Provide down payment assistance loans to help low and moderate income households attain homeownership 4. Help households maintain and sustain affordable homeownership through loan modification support and post-purchase education 5. Expand services to innovative new programs to preserve homeownership. 6. Help households improve their credit to enable them to achieve their financial goals 7. Increase housing affordability and stability for low income households through home rehabilitation and weatherization 8. Reduce household energy burden and carbon emissions 9. Create jobs Begin End Lead Launch Post Purchase Education Program

6/28/11

Ongoing Selef, Yolanda

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef

1. Offer class every quarter to households that address pertinent issues pertaining to sustaining homeownership 2. Create a flyer with a class schedule 3. Ensure one additional staff member receives NeighborWorks Post-Purchase training to build internal capacity for teaching the post-purchase class 4. Work with partners to develop more incentives to attract people to attend the class 5. Evaluate and improve program through feedback from surveys, classroom instructors, etc. Homebuyer Education & Counseling 1. Expand number of partners and nurture existing partnerships with professionals the Housing Center can call upon to teach specific sections of the course (Realtors, lenders, insurance agents, etc.) 2. Market on-line homebuyer education (eHome) to all of Central Oregon, as well as eastern Oregon counties NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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3. Work with Housing Works to provide class to all interested NSP clients

Down Payment Assistance

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

12/31/12 Selef, Cherie

1. Apply for DPA funding from NeighborWorks in the next grant cycle 2. Explore applying for DPA funds from the City of Bend and OHCS 3. Train and certify another counselor for SAFE ACT Certification if necessary 4. Explore whether Safe Act certification will be needed in the future and if it is not needed, train another counselor by the end of 2011 on how to process and underwrite loans.

Foreclosure Education & Counseling 1. Ensure all current counselors have foreclosure certification by December 2011 2. Continue to hold foreclosure workshops to meet the level of demand in the communities we serve a. Regularly update curriculum to reflect changes in regulations, scam activities, etc. to ensure we are providing relevant, accurate and up-to-date information to our clients b. Continue to recruit volunteers to support classes to ensure that there always are two NeighborImpact representatives at these workshops.

Mortgage Payment Assistance (MPA) Program 1. Receive loan documents, assemble loan packets, conduct loan closing education workshops, and submit signed loan documents to OHSI for all approved applicants NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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2. Process monthly income verification as per OHSI 3. Process quarterly Homeowner Education Program as per OHSI; provide in-person class alternative to online education component 4. Provide NeighborImpact support services to homeowners throughout the loan processing period, MPA payment period and post support as needed 5. Prepare for program expansion into other phases by continuing to communicate with the state of Oregon on status of those programs and when they forsee opening them (e.g. MPA-additional slots, Modification assistance, moving assistance, short sale assistance, etc.)

Pilot Program

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef, Yolanda

1. Interview/Intake specific pool of clients – screen for criteria and counsel about program 2. Work in partnership with state’s private contractor to facilitate the refinance of their mortgage 3. Support state and private contractor to promote program to appropriate targets.

Individual Development Account 1. Continue outreach efforts to attract participants from rural areas and underrepresented populations through creative approaches a. Work with non-profits and social service organizations b. Distribute culturally sensitive flyer for program c. Work with Head Start to expand reach of program d. Work with other partners and advocates that serve the Hispanic community 2. Research upcoming Supplemental Funding grant NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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program for IDAs and determine whether NeighborImpact should apply for the additional funding 3. Promote IDAs to all non-profits, social service organizations, and chamber of commerce

HECM

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef, Yolanda

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Emily

1. Train second counselor and obtain certification 2. Explore charging fee for service to support program

Financial Fitness 1. Make adjustments and update curriculum after reviewing evaluations 2. Recruit more partner experts to help co-teach classes 3. Recruit more participation, especially from foreclosure clients, MPA clients, and all other Housing Center programs. 4. Regularly review other financial fitness programs, curriculum, etc. to add/improve our offerings

Rehabilitation Loan Program 1. Reorganize program processes a. Managers and Housing Director will work together to streamline the program, ensuring the program is run more economically, clients benefit from housing counseling before going into the rehab program, and program adheres to all regulatory requirements including SAFE Act b. Research how other rehab programs are being run to inform how we develop our new procedures c. Hire new staff to administer the program and/or train existing staff NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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d. Review/revise policies as appropriate to reflect programmatic changes 2. Apply for CDBG funding when the program has been revamped, with the goal to apply in the first or second quarter of 2012, or when the next funding opportunity arises

Client Services Goal: Create program measures and processes that can be used to evaluate program effectiveness and to establish accountability. Objectives: Program measures will inform management whether programs are on track to meet goals and whether services are meeting community needs. Outcomes – 1. 2. 3. 4.

Provide equitable service delivery Maintain high standards for consumer satisfaction Staff programs adequately to serve community needs Revise or eliminate programs that prove ineffective

Program Evaluation

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef

1. Review and report on quarterly evaluations for all classes a. Adjust teaching methods and curriculum to meet the needs of community based on information from evaluations b. Implement post-service telephone surveys to evaluate overall Housing Center service levels c. Call Foreclosure clients whose files have been closed to collect data on whether permanent modifications were obtained by telephone. d. Develop a system that tracks all modifications the Housing Center works on to get an accurate number of what is being accomplished. 2. Quarterly review counselor files for compliance and NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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quality service and provide feedback to individual counselors to help them improve program delivery

Develop partner screening protocol

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef

1. Create a unified partner application for all Housing Center partners 2. Establish a partner screening protocol to evaluate partner applications 3. Identify program needs and target key reputable partners to fill those needs Long-Term Planning/Sustainability Goal: Identify and implement new service model(s) that will generate income to support the housing counseling and education programs while also meeting the needs of low and moderate income residents of Central Oregon. Objectives: Find new revenue sources for the Housing Center so that the programs are not vulnerable to changing political and economic conditions. Outcomes – 1. Secure technical assistance grant 2. Conduct a minimum of two peer visits to explore income generating lines of business and best practices in agencies that are similar to NeighborImpact and/or the region we serve 3. Create a business plan

Explore different models of business to create income stream for housing counseling and education programs to ensure longterm sustainability.

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

12/31/12 Laura Selef

1. Research expanding the Housing Center to include services to buy/rehabilitate/sell properties on the market a. Attend NW Training Institutes on how to develop NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

Page 17

model (if available) b. Visit other organizations that currently have successful model in place c. Apply for technical assistance grants for REO option and business plan development if appropriate 2. Investigate pros and cons of charging for classes and counseling services 3. Investigate pros and cons of increasing lending services to generate program income 4. Investigate other fee for service models such as additional Hardest Hit programs

Explore paperless system for all client/class files

Begin

End

Lead

7/1/11

6/30/12

Selef

1. Review with HUD representative 2. Evaluate cost/speed/accuracy to determine whether we can adopt a paperless system

NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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IV.

Project Benefit

How your project will meet at least one of the national objectives: The Housing Center will meet the following national goals/objectives: 

“Produce and preserve both renter- and owner-occupied affordable housing, with emphasis on workforce housing and on reasonable land costs.” NeighborImpact’s Housing Center foreclosure mitigation program both preserves affordable housing for homeowners as well as prevents homelessness for those same owners who may not have another housing option if they were to lose their home. Our comprehensive program helps Bend residents apply for and secure loan modifications that bring down their housing payments to affordable levels. When we are unable to help families secure a loan modification, we often are able to refer them to other programs within our agency that can provide them some help in finding new housing.



“Maintain the city’s ability to support services to homeless and special needs populations.” City of Bend CDBG resources will be used to sustain NeighborImpact program services for residents of Bend. Inherent in our program delivery model is the identification, prevention and service provision to individuals and households experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Paramount in the Housing Center is our Foreclosure Prevention services.

Estimates of the total number of persons to be served by the project and the number of low-and moderate-income persons to be served by the project: 1. Provide a minimum of 100 individuals with foreclosure prevention counseling and foreclosure mitigation services 2. Provide pre-purchase/budget/credit counseling for 25 clients 3. Provide Homebuyer Education for 50 clients 4. Provide 8 Financial Fitness Classes per year and financial counseling for 25 clients 5. Assist 16 homeowners per year to sustain homeownership through reverse mortgage and default mortgage counseling as an option to prevent foreclosure 6. Improve quality of life for at least 24 households per year through weatherization grants which will be targeted to reduce monthly housing costs NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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7. Provide 4 Rehabilitation loans to low income homeowners who have a health or safety issue with their primary residence 8. Mortgage Assistance program administration/support will be provided to 200 Bend residents At least 51% of those served in all programs will be low- or moderate-income. How the project will ensure that moderate-income persons do not benefit to the exclusion of low-income persons: NeighborImpact has a target market of low-moderate income households for all its programs. Staff pre-screens clients for each individual program that is provided at the Housing Center. Some programs have income limit requirements, including weatherization (which has an income cap of 60% state median income) and housing rehabilitation (which has an income cap of 80% AMI). In addition, the Housing Center targets NeighborImpact Head Start families (below 30% AMI) for its services, and partners with Housing Works and Habitat for Humanity to provide their clientele with services including the matched savings program (IDA has an income limit of 80% AMI) and Financial Fitness classes. Both Housing Works and Habitat work exclusively with low income clients. In all these ways we are able to ensure that moderate income clients do not benefit to the exclusion of low income persons. The methods used to determine the project benefit and documentation of the sources used: NeighborImpact’s data base, CounselorMax, will be utilized to pull data to determine project benefits. Statistics and projections used in this proposal are derived from NeighborImpact Housing Center program recordkeeping utilizing the CounselorMax database; Oregon Housing and Community Services; Oregon Employment Department; Deschutes County Clerk’s Office; Bratton Report; Central Oregon Realtors Association; Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative; and local media coverage. IV.

Agency Information:

Please provide the following information about your agency: Agency’s background, mission and service history NeighborImpact’s Mission: NeighborImpact is dedicated to empowering individuals and families to succeed and become engaged citizens in the community. Since 1985, NeighborImpact has been a leader in developing solutions and bringing resources to the Central Oregon region to address poverty issues. Our agency offers a diverse array of services that not only meet basic human needs for food and shelter, but also enrich people’s NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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lives by providing access to increased education, skills, and hope for the future. As a Community Action Agency, NeighborImpact serves Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties which comprises approximately 220,000 residents. This region is one of the hardest hit areas in the state and nation due to the economic recession and housing market collapse. Since its founding NeighborImpact has been involved in a variety of programs, projects and strategies to serve Central Oregon residents, including housing development, emergency services, advocacy, home rehabilitation and weatherization, transitional and homeless services, and so on. Programs and services have developed as the needs in the community have changed over time. NeighborImpact currently provides services to Central Oregon’s residents in the following areas:  Home Ownership  Child Development  Family Stabilization  Emergency Services  Child Care Resources In 1998 NeighborImpact began offering housing counseling and education services to City of Bend residents. In June 2002 NeighborImpact's Homeownership Center opened its doors for business in Bend. The Bend branch is now located at 20310 Empire Ave, Bend, OR. The Bend Housing Center was the first of four state-sponsored regional housing centers to begin offering services in Central Oregon. In December 2003, NeighborImpact joined NeighborWorks of America’s Campaign for HomeOwnership. NeighborImpact also is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency, only one of two in Central Oregon. The Bend Housing Center is in business to serve Bend residents as a “one-stop shop” for citizens who want to become financially fit and make their way towards homeownership, as well as to help households preserve homeownership. Bend Housing Center services include pre and post-purchase counseling and education, financial literacy, foreclosure prevention, home rehabilitation, reverse mortgage counseling, mortgage assistance program administration, home weatherization and savings programs. Housing Center staff creates new programs, develops new service delivery models and works to bring resources to Bend that meet the needs of our community. Clients who seek services at NeighborImpact benefit from our program referral practices. Any client that seeks out services in one of the three agency departments (Housing, Emergency Services and Early Child Care Education/Services) will be referred to other departments whenever appropriate. If NeighborImpact cannot meet the client’s needs they are referred to other partner agencies and services to serve them. NeighborImpact provides services to thousands of residents in Bend and Central Oregon every year. The agency will continue to work to improve the lives of low and moderate income residents so long as the need exits. NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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A brief description of the agency’s financial stability as it pertains to its capacity to successfully complete the project, including a brief financial history and primary funding sources With a current annual budget of more than $14 million coming from federal, state and local grants, NeighborImpact is financially stable. The majority of funds are restricted by the funding organizations and cannot be used to support Housing Center activities. NeighborImpact has a well-developed governance system, name familiarity and an established record of leadership in the community, a diversified funding base and a well maintained financial management system, and location in a desirable geographic area that has helped attract a good supply of talented and skilled staff members. Unlike most of the Community Development Corporations (CDCs) in Oregon, which are single purpose organizations, NeighborImpact is a relatively large multi-service agency with programs serving the low-income community in a number of areas (Head Start, emergency services, energy assistance, etc). Agency accounting practices conform to standard accounting procedures. Internal accounting controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding safeguarding assets against loss from unauthorized use of disposition and reliability of financial records for preparation of financial statements and accounting for assets. Since its inception, the agency has consistently been in compliance with all contracts and grant requirements and in meeting its responsibilities for sound financial management. NeighborImpact has an independent audit prepared annually and notifies each of its major federal programs of the audit plan. The audit is performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards applicable to financial audits contained in the Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; 0MB Cir. A-133. An Oregon Certified CPA performs the audit. The agency’s auditor’s reports have expressed an unqualified opinion on the agency’s financial statements and on compliance for major federal award programs. NeighborImpact’s funding sources include federal grants, state grants, private grants, contributions and program income. The Bend Housing Center currently is funded by the City of Bend, NeighborWorks of America, Oregon Housing and Community Services, program income, and miscellaneous small grant awards. Membership in the NeighborWorks network also provides NeighborImpact with advantages in terms of operating support, but possibly more importantly, training and technical assistance opportunities not available to most CDC’s in the state.

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A list of key personnel that will be assigned to this project, and their job titles and qualifications. Include FTE hours for each Laura Fritz, Housing Director, (.48 FTE) oversees all Housing Center programs including the counseling and education, weatherization and the rehabilitation loans. She previously worked as the Housing Center Manager for 18 months. She has approximately 14 years of experience working in affordable housing, community development and economic development in California and Oregon. She has a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in Housing and Project Development. She served as the Assistant Director for a downtown revitalization organization in Berkeley, Ca. for four years. She also worked for the City of Alameda in the Community Development Department during her time in California, and served as the Executive Director of a nonprofit affordable housing organization also in the city of Alameda. Before coming to work for NeighborImpact, she worked as a Planning Consultant for her own company Laura Fritz & Associates. She was hired by the City of Redmond to undertake the long-term project of developing an affordable housing plan which was adopted by the city council. Selef Spragg, Housing Center Manager, (.48 FTE) manages housing counseling and education programs and supervises staff that work in these areas. He also oversees marketing and outreach for the Housing Center. Selef worked as a housing counselor for NeighborImpact for more than 2 years before becoming the Housing Center Manager. He has earned a professional certificate in Home Ownership and Community Lending through NeighborWorks of America. Selef is bilingual in Spanish. Selef has been certified and licensed in General Construction and Real Estate. He worked for a number of years as a General Contractor building and planning homes for low to moderate income families which led him to Real Estate where he focused his efforts on helping minority and low income families into homeownership in California. Before coming to work for NeighborImpact almost 4 years ago, he worked as an interpreter in fields such as medical, real estate, construction, court and school interpreting for his own company called Spanglish LLC. He has also served as a volunteer in case management, counseling and inspections in areas such as New Orleans, specifically after disasters. Yolanda Vanderpool, Housing Specialist, (1.0 FTE) previously worked for NeighborImpact as a Housing Center Specialist for two and a half years from 2004-2006 with same responsibilities and duties. She was rehired by the agency to provide counseling and education services in October 2009 after returning to Central Oregon. Yolanda has earned her professional certificate in Home Ownership and Community Lending, Pre-purchase Education, Homeownership Counseling, Foreclosure Counseling, and Post Purchase Education. Yolanda is bilingual in Spanish. Prior to relocating to Central Oregon she was a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Oregon and for 12 years in partnership with her husband and managed three Real Estate offices in Eugene, OR where she specialized in providing real estate services NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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to first time home buyers and Latinos. She also worked for Wells Fargo as a Loan Officer with emphasis in marketing emerging markets and minorities. Erica Calderon, Housing Specialist, (.25 FTE) has worked as a counselor for the Housing Center for one year. Prior to that she was NeighborImpact’s bilingual administrative assistant for 2.5 years. She has a certificate in Homebuyer Education and Foreclosure Counseling. Erica attended the private University of Tec of Monterrey in Mexico City where she studied International Relations/Spanish as a second language. Returning to the Central Oregon area, she started her own investment company educating investors how and where to invest in properties focusing in Mexico and Belize. Throughout her work and educational experience Erica has demonstrated a strong commitment to her communities as demonstrated by her continuous participation in volunteer organizations. Currently she has been working with the Housing Center volunteers recruiting, training and maintaining retention. Cherié Ferguson, Housing Technician (.60 FTE) for NeighborImpact, serving as an Advisor for the Oregon Housing Stabilization Initiative’s Mortgage Payment Assistance program for Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. While concentrating her time on assisting homeowners as they complete the requirements of the state’s mortgage assistance program, Cherié is also involved in community outreach activities and homeownership education to further the efforts of the Housing Center and NeighborImpact. Prior to her work at NeighborImpact, Cherie spent four years working in Central Oregon on a paid, volunteer and consultant basis to help further a variety of human services – including increased access and availability to housing for vulnerable populations. This work was accomplished through area non-profits such as The Women’s Resource Center and the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. Before moving to Central Oregon, Cherié worked for the YWCA of Clark County for more than three years writing grants and generating additional funding to support a variety of programs. In total, Cherié has more than 10 years of experience working for a variety nonprofit organizations. She attended Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. Karen Bushnell, Housing Center Support Specialist (.6 FTE) has worked for NeighborImpact for 11 months. She provides program support to assist program staff and clients with establishing and maintaining homeownership. She coordinates classes, retrieves data for program reporting, assists with special projects and handles client calls, filing and data entry. She worked as a temporary employee for NeighborImpact’s mortgage payment assistance program in late 2010 and then was hired permanently by the agency. Karen previously worked at AmeriTitle and Escrow Company, primarily in the Title Department. She researched public records to determine ownership and encumbrances of real property. She was also the designated Recorder for all legal documents to be of record with the county.

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Emily Quaka, Weatherization and Rehabilitation Manager, (.10 FTE) has managed weatherization and home rehabilitation loan programs and staff for the past 15 months. Prior to joining NeighborImpact she worked for Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit that provides free home repairs to low-income homeowners. She has worked in the federal government and nonprofit sectors with multiple AmeriCorps programs, both in program management and project development. She deployed to the Gulf Coast for six months after Hurricane Katrina to develop service projects for 300 AmeriCorps members and serve as a liaison to local organizations. She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the LBJ School, University of Texas at Austin. See Attachment 3 – Proof of IRS Non-Profit Status

VI.

Financial Information

A detailed line item budget describing the total project cost and operating income and expenses, including consideration of inflationary factors, maintenance costs, potential relocation costs, and increased insurance costs associated with the project. See Attachment 4. The Bend CDBG grant proposal budget represents the costs associate with running an office in the city of Bend and offering programs to Bend residents. Included in the budget are housing counseling and education expenses, staffing costs, office costs (e.g. rent, insurance, phones, computers, printing, etc.) and other program costs (e.g. rehabilitation loans, training costs, administration). A completed Budget Form (Form C) showing secured and potential sources of funding, including other federal and state grants and loans, monetary donations, in-kind contributions, volunteer labor, and donation of materials and supplies (attach additional sheets if necessary). Volunteer labor should be included under 'Private Funds'. Attach letters of funding commitment from sources, if available. See Attachment 5 for Form C and Attachment 6 for letters of support/funding commitment. The Bend Housing Center has received generous support from the City of Bend for several years as the ongoing services are eligible CDBG expenses. Our services have a tremendous impact on the lives of Bend residents. A description of the assumptions used to determine the total project cost and the operating budget including the sources consulted and how costs were determined. Sources for the budget include historical agency data and current program costs. NeighborImpact stripped out costs associated with providing services outside of the city of Bend to determine the operating budget of the Bend Housing Center. Bend residents account for approximately 70% of the Housing Center’s clientele. NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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A brief description of your agency's plan for funding the project after the first year, if applicable. Not applicable. A statement regarding your agency's ability to proceed with the project without your requested CDBG funds or with a CDBG award less than your requested amount. Without funding from the City of Bend NeighborImpact will have to cut staffing by approximately one FTE.

VII.

Project Feasibility and Readiness

A description of the agency’s administrative capacity to complete the project, including its experience in implementing and managing activities similar to the proposed project. If capacity is achieved through partnerships with or utilization of other organizations or agencies, describe the nature and status of these partnerships. NeighborImpact is a federally recognized Community Action Agency and is governed by a board of directors comprised of members from its service area with one-third of the members from local government, one-third from the private sector and one-third from the low-income community or organizations that represent low-income persons. Current board members include County Commissioners, City Council members, local lenders, business owners, human service agency staff members and Head Start parents. NeighborImpact is a member of the NeighborWorks America network, a national affiliation of more than 200 nonprofit community development organizations committed to community revitalization. This network is sponsored and supported by NeighborWorks America Corporation, from which NeighborImpact receives operating support, real estate development and down payment assistance grants and technical assistance. In addition to operating support from NeighborWorks and the State of Oregon, NeighborImpact receives operating support from HUD and Neighborhood Partnerships, as well as private support from local contributors, donors, foundations and trust funds. The City of Bend has a sub-grant agreement with NeighborImpact to administer the day to day operations of the Housing Center. NeighborImpact is recognized as the region’s only longterm Home Ownership Center/Housing Rehabilitation loan program administrator. The NeighborImpact Housing Centers are also designated as the Regional Housing Counseling Centers for Central Oregon by Oregon Housing and Community Services. Additionally, NeighborImpact’s Housing Center has established partnerships with professionals who contribute to the overall success of the Housing Center. Oregon Housing and Community Services have been instrumental in ensuring that the tri-county region is served with a Housing Center. Relationships have been established with realtors, lenders and NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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financial institutions to support instruction on financial fitness and Homebuyer Education, along with general guidance to the Housing Center via an advisory committee. Partners include: Bank of the Cascades, Chase, Arbor Mortgage, Summit Mortgage, USDA Rural Development, Deschutes County Title, AmeriTitle, Western Title & Escrow, First American Title, Century 21, Remax, Big Sun Real Estate, Keller Williams, and High Desert Insurance. Also, NeighborImpact has established relationships with community organizations which act as a referral component, including Housing Works, Department of Human Services, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), Bend Area Habitat for Humanity, Saving Grace, Central Oregon Community College (COCC), Partnership to End Poverty, Homeless Leadership Coalition, Central Oregon Builders Association and all local jurisdictions. A description of neighborhood and/or community support for the project. Attach letters of support or other evidence of neighborhood/community support. As evidenced by our community partners, the Housing Center is well supported in the community by both social service agencies and professionals in the real estate, lending and development communities. Also, it is supported on the state level by OHCS, and at the national level by NeighborWorks and HUD. A description of the agency’s readiness to proceed with the project. For example, if the purchase of property is involved, is the property currently available for purchase? Is staff currently available to work on the project, or is the agency ready to proceed with hiring staff? The offerings of NeighborImpact’s Bend Housing Center are well established and currently available to the community. NeighborImpact has the experience, ability and capability to continue this project upon notification of funding. A description of any land use processes (such as a zone change or a conditional use permit) the project will require and what steps, any, have been taken to address these issues. Not Applicable A description of the agency‘s familiarity with meeting the federal requirements listed in Section 7.3, and/or the agency’s plan for ensuring that these requirements are satisfied NeighborImpact is extremely familiar with meeting the federal requirements listed in section 7.3. We have successfully administered several Housing Center CDBG grants with the City of Bend and we regularly administer state of Oregon CDBG rehabilitation grants. NeighborImpact also has administered CDBG housing rehabilitation programs and one shelter program in the City of Bend. In addition to administering CDBG programs in the City of Bend, NeighborImpact has successfully administered eight other CDBG housing rehabilitation programs in the tri-county region since 1994. NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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ATTACHMENTS

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Attachment 1 - Housing Center Programs/ Services

Homebuyer Education Classes The class uses the “Realizing the American Dream” curriculum, produced by NeighborWorks America. The classes are a minimum of 8 hours in length and are offered on an alternating week night and weekend schedule each month. When demand warrants, more classes/month are scheduled. Classes rotate between communities in Bend and Redmond, and are occasionally taught in Madras and Prineville. “Realizing the American Dream” focuses on teaching first time homebuyers the importance of financial self-sufficiency. Clients learn to shop for a home, how to get a mortgage loan, improve their budget and credit profile and maintain their home and finances after purchase. NeighborImpact is now offering an online homebuyer education option in English and Spanish called eHome. EHome follows the same curriculum, and clients must participate in a minimum of a one hour counseling session before they can receive their homebuyer education certificate. The counseling session ensures that the educational experience meets the National Industry Standards for Homebuyer Education.

One-on-One Budget/Credit/Pre-Mortgage Counseling This training and counseling helps clients overcome budget/credit obstacles and move towards mortgage readiness if they wish to pursue homeownership. Counselors assist clients in developing corrective action plans to repair their credit and meet their goals. Clients learn how to establish a budget and incorporate debt into that budget; they are assisted in taking actions to improve and rebuild their budget/credit; counselors help clients figure out appropriate ways to reduce debt; and clients are counseled on how to save over the long term for purchases such as a home.

Foreclosure Prevention/Default Mortgage Workshops Due to the dramatic increase in demand for foreclosure prevention counseling in the past two and a half years, NeighborImpact offers every three weeks a Resolving/Preventing Mortgage Delinquency Workshop. These workshops cover the keys to preserving homeownership, as well as all the options that are available to households facing foreclosure. The workshop also reviews how individuals can work with their lenders, the basics of loan refinancing and loan modifications and the ins and outs of the federal “Making Home Affordable” plan, and how to avoid foreclosure rescue scams. After attending the workshop, clients may seek individual oneon-one counseling with one of NeighborImpact’s housing counselors.

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Foreclosure Prevention/Default Mortgage Counseling This service provides in-depth counseling to owners who anticipate having trouble paying their mortgage or have defaulted on their mortgage and are facing foreclosure. Work is done with the client and the lender to create a plan of action to prevent foreclosure and avoid future mortgage defaults. This counseling is designed for home owners in financial distress. Every aspect of default and delinquency is addressed including ways to maximize income and reduce expenses, calculating delinquencies, and understanding the players in the mortgage marketplace. NeighborImpact is part of the state’s SafeNet initiative, and is a recipient of funding from the Oregon State Department of Housing and Community Services National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program grant.

Reverse Mortgage Counseling This service provides a neutral third party counseling session to educate participants (seniors 62 years and older) with the pros and cons of a reverse equity mortgage, and various other options for maintaining homeownership. Clients are offered the convenience of speaking to their HUD-approved counselor face-to-face or over the phone. This counseling, which is specifically targeted at the residents of the three Central Oregon counties (Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson), is intended to determine that the client has a reputable lender and that they also have a clear understanding of the pertinent conditions and benefits of the reverse mortgage loan program. Counseling includes identifying alternatives, comparing costs, and assistance in understanding the program and product.

IDA-Individual Development Account This program is a matched savings program that is used to assist low-income households to accumulate assets for homeownership, rehabilitation, education or business development ventures. Through Oregon’s Individual Development Account initiative, low-income Oregonians gain financial skills, break the cycle of poverty, build wealth and invest in their communities. Each dollar a participant saves is matched by funds from the state’s IDA pool and reserved in a separate account for a specified asset or activity. When all program requirements are fulfilled (such as completion of NeighborImpact’s homebuyer education class and/or our Financial Fitness classes or other classes as required), the participant's funds are matched with reserved funds. NeighborImpact was awarded 32 slots to enroll tri-county area IDA clients during 2011.

Financial Fitness Classes The Housing Center offers a series of four 2 -hour classes to individuals who would like to improve their financial literacy. Topics covered are Financial Planning & Money Management; Saving & Investing; Banks & Other Financial Services; and Understanding & Managing Credit. These are interactive courses for prospective homebuyers and people who want to develop better financial management skills. We partner with professionals in the field to co-teach portions of the classes. These courses are an integral part of the comprehensive education process to enable participants to attain their personal financial goals. We strongly encourage NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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Foreclosure Prevention clients to enroll in these courses. Additionally, these classes are required for participants in IDA and are open to community members and referrals from other service agencies. Down Payment Assistance Program Our Housing Center has set aside a capital lending fund to serve the target audience of households that earn 100% or less of area median income who are home buyer ready. The Down Payment Assistance Program (DPA) is a program designed to provide qualified applicants with second trust deed loans to be used toward down payment and/or closing costs assistance when purchasing their first home. This program is designed as a gap financing tool to benefit first-time low to-moderate first time homebuyers that can justify a need with the purchase of a new home. The loan is limited to a maximum amount of 20% of the sales price. The loan term is a 30 year fixed rate. Repayment will start immediately after closing with a fully amortizing loan payment consisting of principal and interest paid monthly. The loan may be used in conjunction with eligible first-time home buyer and low to-moderate income loan programs such as the Oregon Bond and Home$tart Program. They must be owner occupied homes.

Post-Purchase Classes Another direct service that we offer is post-purchase classes/counseling. This course addresses all pertinent issues pertaining to sustaining homeownership. We will focuses on topics that help both new and existing homeowners manage their most important asset. Topics will include home maintenance and repair, energy efficiency, tax assessments, financial management, budgeting skills, insurance, methods for getting homeowners more involved with the community, early intervention tools to prevent delinquencies and default and the pros and cons of refinancing.

Home Rehabilitation Loans NeighborImpact will continue to offer the Home Rehabilitation program through the NeighborImpact Housing Center. The purpose of the program is to alleviate health and safety issues and correct structural deficiencies in homes owned by low-income persons. This helps conserve and improve existing low income housing stock and often enables residents to remain in their homes. The program is funded by CDBG grants awarded to local jurisdictions, sub granted to NeighborImpact and loaned to program participants. All participants must be at or below 80% area median income. Loans are typically 1% - 4% deferred payment rehabilitation loans that may be up to $28,500 per household.

Program Referral Program referral is incorporated into all Housing Center programs. An advantage of having the Housing Center programs part of the NeighborImpact Housing and Emergency Services Department is that we hold regular staff meetings where we exchange information and provide program updates so all staff are familiar with the most current program offerings. Other agency NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

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programs included in the Housing and Emergency Services Department include all programs mentioned above, as well as: emergency shelter for homeless families with children, transitional housing for homeless families with children, short and long term rental assistance, energy assistance, and food bank. The I & R service provides clients with information and referral to other NeighborImpact programs and services and other organizations in the community. NeighborImpact also keeps other service agencies and private organizations updated on opportunities and needs in serving local residents. NeighborImpact also refers buyers to FHA products and USDA Rural Development loan guarantee products that can assist home buyers in rural communities. In addition to the provision of direct services, NeighborImpact also provides critical indirect services to the region. Our agency serves as one of the key advocates for low and moderate income households on all social issues including affordable housing and homeownership. To be successful in these roles, NeighborImpact serves on both local and state advisory bodies such as Community Action Partnership of Oregon, Oregon Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, City of Bend Affordable Housing Committee, City of Redmond Affordable Housing Task Force, Homeless Leadership Coalition, and Family Access Network Steering Committee to increase awareness and press for support of affordable housing and homeownership goals.

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Attachment 2 – City of Bend map

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Attachment 3 – Proof of IRS Non-Profit Status

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Attachment 4 – Budget Proposal

Detailed Line Item Project Budget Revenue NeighborWorks America TARP EHOME Foundations Umpqua IDA HOAP HUD MMMSA Revolving Loan Fund RFFD CDBG Service Request Total Revenues Expense Staffing 3.51 FTE and benefits Client Loans Rent Telephone Office Supplies Mailing - Postage Printing and Marketing Travel and Training Other office expenses IT Pool Expenses Administration Total Expenses

NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

$65,558 $84,513 $7,000 $12,000 $20,086 $23,333 $6,885 $4,000 $100,000 $10,259 $50,000 $383,664

$196,058 $100,000 $30,713 $1,559 $2,582 $500 $4,532 $5,000 $1,150 $7,660 $33,910 $383,664

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Attachment 5 – Budget Form (Form C)

FORM C BUDGET FORM PROJECT BUDGET: Sources of Funds Project Activities Staffing 1.0FTE + Fringe Rent Telephone Office Supplies Mailing/Postage Travel & Training Printing Other Expenses Client Services IT Pool Admin TOTAL

CDBG Funds Requested $45,341

Other Public Funds* $73,917 $8,770

659 $1,926 $300 $3,500 $2,800 $1,150 $1,694 $12,750 $106,807

$4,000 $50,000

Private Funds**

Match

Project Total

$76,800

$196,058

$21,943 900 656 $200 $1,500 $1,732

$30,713 $1,559 $2,582 $500 $5,000 $4,532 $1,150 $100,000 $7,660 $33,910 $383,664

$100,000 $5,966 $17,160 $226,857

*OTHER PUBLIC FUNDS: Amount of Funding

Source Secured

NeighborWorks America EHOME HOAP HUD MMMSA TOTAL

Committed

Use of Funds

Applied For

$65,588 $7000 $23,333 $6,885 $4,000 $27,333

$7,000

Project services/salaries Project expenses/salaries Project expenses/salaries salaries Project expenses/salaries

$72,473

**PRIVATE FUNDS: Amount of Funding

Source Secured

TARP Private Foundations

$84,513

Umpqua IDA RLF RFFD TOTAL

$20,086 100,000 $10,259 $214,858

NEIGHBORIMPACT CDBG PROPOSAL 2012-2013

Committed

Use of Funds

Applied For

$12,000

Project expenses/salaries Will apply, expenses/salaries Project expenses/salaries Rehab Loans Project expenses/salaries

$12,000

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Attachment 6 – Letters of Support

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