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Howard Interns Gain Hands-on Community Development Experience
The CDSC continues to support human capital initiatives that offer college students experience in community development. In partnership with the Howard University Center for Urban Progress (CUP), the Collaborative has provided 45 paid internships since 2000.
This year, the Collaborative placed six Howard University undergraduates with Washington, DC-based nonprofit developers for 9-month internships. Students are exposed to community development work through hands-on experience in affordable housing development, community organizing, economic development, business development, and social services.
Paul McGehee interned with Manna, Inc. this year where he says he learned the value of working closely with those that you are servicing while connecting several voices together on one issue to affect change. 
"I chose Manna after learning about their long standing ability to provide a wide range of affordable housing related services, including a not-for-profit mortgage provider and an advocacy task force for perspective homeowners. Having worked in this atmosphere, I have a greater understanding of how a nonprofit works to meet their goals and stay consistent with these goals."
Paul entered college with seemingly unrelated interests in Social Sciences and Architecture. He has since found that Community Development combines these disciplines while connecting people to opportunities. In terms of personal and professional growth gained from the Internship program, Paul says, "This internship has been incredibly valuable personally as I'm able to see that a career does not necessarily have to follow one single track."
Ward 4 Tenants Purchase Property and Plan Renovation
In 2006, the tenants of Webster Gardens, a 52-unit rental property located in Ward 4, were notified that their property owner intended to sell the building. The tenants quickly organized to exercise their Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) rights. Afraid of losing their homes and hoping to attain an equitable resolution, several tenants contacted Housing Counseling Services (HCS). HCS staff helped tenants understand their rights and search for legal representation. HCS continued tenant education workshops to ensure that the residents and board of directors were able to make appropriate and informed decisions.
With HCS's assistance, the tenants put together a request for proposal to seek the assistance of other developers who would help tenants meet their long-term housing goals. The tenants ultimately negotiated an agreement with Somerset Development and Transitional Housing Corporation to purchase and redevelop the property. The final agreement included the renovation of the property without the displacement of long-time residents by keeping it as an affordable rental project.
Throughout the process, HCS educated the tenants and helped them make appropriate decisions, while ensuring they remained involved in the entire development process. When asked about their experiences with the transformation, long-time residents, Mr. and Mrs. James Jackson said, "We have lived here fifty, almost sixty years. We love it. We love everything here. We raised two children. We have a lot of memories. We are pleased with what's happening here."
Webster Gardens is the oldest garden-style property in the District of Columbia. In November 2008, the property will transfer ownership and renovations will begin in January 2009. All of the current tenants will be offered affordable homes in this updated community.
Manna Mortgage Working Hard for Lower-Income Buyers
Despite the current mortgage and housing crisis, Manna Mortgage is not slowing down. "There is still good, safe money available for lower-income buyers," says Vice-President and General Manager of Manna Mortgage, Frank Demarais, "and we are committed to getting our clients into safe and manageable loan programs."
Since 2003, Manna Mortgage has been striving to get lower-income homebuyers into safe 30-year fixed rate mortgages and to re-finance those who have been victims of predatory lending or high cost subprime and interest only ARM loans. Additionally, Manna Mortgage specializes in reverse mortgages, a federal program which allows seniors to draw on the equity of their home with no monthly payments.
One of Manna Mortgage's goals is to help current homeowners understand the loans they are in. "As many as 40 percent of loans in 2004-2007 were option / interest only or subprime adjustable rate mortgages, and folks don't understand the terms and reset dates," says Demarais. "We can sit down with these people and help them to understand their documents and their re-finance options."
Manna Mortgage has been advertising in community papers to educate existing homeowners on their options. Manna Mortgage worked with DC Councilmember Mary Cheh on legislation that now requires lenders in DC to include a one page sheet with adjustment dates and highest payments, so that all buyers in the District of Columbia will understand the terms of their loans.
For more information on how Manna Mortgage can help you or your clients, please contact Frank Demarais at 202-832-1845 or fdemarais@mannadc.org.
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BB&T and CNHED Make Housing Development Training Program Available to Area Non-profits
NDC's HDFP Certification Program is an intense four-course training series focused on the financing of affordable housing projects in real communities. Through a partnership, BB&T and CNHED (The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development) were able to bring all four courses to the DC area, saving non profits travel and lodging costs typically associated with training. The program explores the development process, financial analysis techniques, and the structuring and negotiating skills needed to successfully develop and finance affordable single-family and multi-family housing.
Specific courses include Home Ownership Finance, Rental Housing Development Finance, Computer Spreadsheet Analysis for Housing, Housing Development Finance, Problem Solving, and Deal Structuring. The courses were made possible for participants through the help of BB&T, who subsidized the costs of the training for participants. The first course was held in June of 2007 and the final course wrapped up in March of 2008, allowing participants to receive certification in less than a year.
In July, BB&T, CNHED and NDC held a graduation ceremony for 44 participants who successfully completed all four courses and 39 who passed the final exam and received certification. The success of this partnership is a real testament to the hard work and determination of all participants.
Shalom House Renovation Completed
SOME's Shalom House, which provides 94 formerly homeless adults with long-term, affordable housing, has undergone major renovations in the last month.Renovations include renewed bathrooms, new furniture, paint and carpet in lounges, refurbished kitchens, a new roof, and freshly painted hallways. 
Special thanks to John and Jay Eichberg, John Doyle and Mark Baker of Eichberg Construction, Inc., Felicia Mingione-Buzan and Tina Patsch of Home Transformations, LLC, Ed Quinn of TW Perry and the DHCD Housing Production Trust Fund, all of whom have helped make this wonderful transformation possible.
ONE DC Hosts Training Institute
This summer, ONE DC hosted the successful Kressley Institute. Named in honor of community organizing supporter and 25-year Public Welfare Foundation veteran Larry Kressley, the institute was a week-long training dedicated to building individual and organizational capacity in the areas of resident-led campaign development and action planning in DC.
The free institute featured dual tracks: one for experienced organizers and another for beginning organizers. The advanced track included nine participants and beginning track included 21. Three facilitators with more than four combined decades of training/facilitation experience led the courses. A variety of individuals attended including aspiring or current community organizers and grassroots community leaders working to build collective power and leadership.
Offerings included workshops ranging from "DC Power/Political Structures" and "Tools for Effective Organizing" to "Refueling the Soul-Self Care and Maintaining Yourself for the Long Haul" and "The Treasure of Our History: Teaching People to Tell Their Stories." This year's institute incorporated a door-to-door outreach training component which was connected to a campaign for a Jobs for Justice multiracial workers' center.
In addition to the June 8th-13th training, participants will attend monthly sessions and receive tailored technical assistance for a year.
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© 2008 NEWSBRIEFS is a bimonthly publication of the Community
Development Support Collaborative (CDSC), www.cdsc.org, a
project of Washington Grantmakers. The CDSC
invests in the revitalization of DC's neighborhoods and the preservation of affordable
housing with capacity building grants, training, and technical assistance.
CDSC | 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
phone: 202.296.4582 | fax: 202.785.4331 | e-mail: info@cdsc.org
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