Dear John,
I hope this email finds you in positive spirits. As we say goodbye to summer and move into autumn, I’m reflecting on the seemingly far too swift passage of time and the many unplanned events and transitions that can occur when we least expect. Thus, I’m sad to note the unexpected passing of Rev. John Whitfield in Alabama during July. Many Community Land Trust leaders in our network, who were fortunate to know and work with him across many decades, feel his loss deeply. Among his numerous gifts to us, I most vividly recall Rev. John’s leadership of a 2010 working group for the “Heritage Lands Initiative”, which focused on elevating the importance of expanding Black land ownership in the deep south. In many ways, those critical early conversations, at least partially, shaped our sincere commitment toward intentional use of a racial equity lens today. In my mind, Rev. John’s booming, but also warm and comforting, baritone voice continues to encourage us all to press forward in centering racial equity and serving communities of color. His leadership legacy and baton has passed to us all now during a time of year where many Grounded Solutions Network leaders have begun end of year planning and preparations for all the potential 2023 holds for the expansion of lasting affordability in housing.
Nominate yourself for our Board of Directors and save the date for our Annual Membership Meeting
As we continue pressing forward on our bold 10-year vision to create one million units with lasting affordability, active engagement and leadership will be central to our ability to execute and achieve our goals successfully. So, please note this reminder that Practitioner self-nominations to serve on our Board of Directors are open through October 7! Our Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization, ensuring sound financial management, and adopting appropriate policies that position Grounded Solutions for success. If you are interested in joining the Board to help guide the work of Grounded Solutions Network, I encourage you to nominate yourself now!
On a related note, our Annual Membership Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 8! Please mark your calendars for the meeting, which will provide an opportunity for us to share successes and challenges from the past year and hear from our member base, who makes up the foundation of what we do, about their wins and successes over the past year. Details regarding the time and RSVP process for the Annual Membership Meeting will be circulated via email soon.
Member Highlights
Thanks, in part, to a variety of social media posts, I’m aware of numerous positive activities occurring across our network. A few of those outstanding leadership opportunities and accomplishments include:
- Congratulations to Dr. Ashley Allen, Executive Director of Houston Community Land Trust, for being selected as a fellow with Leadership Houston. The program will engage a diverse base of local leaders to increase their civic leadership capacity for the benefit of Greater Houston and its community stakeholders. Kudos to Ashley on this amazing recognition!
- Shout out to our IH member the Montgomery Department of Housing and Community Affairs! A recent research study found that six Montgomery County, MD census tracts experienced inclusive growth between 2000 and 2019. The study further suggests that building more housing, especially with (inclusionary zoning) policies like Montgomery County’s moderately priced dwelling unit (MPDU) program in place, promotes inclusive growth that makes room for people of all incomes.
- Douglass Community Land Trust received well deserved recognition in this Bloomberg article about the soon to be constructed 11th Street Bridge Park and its community-driven equitable development plan, which seeks to ensure housing costs for low-income families do not rise because of the new amenity. The article states: “Maybe the most tangible effort so far is the Douglass Community Land Trust, a nonprofit that holds land in trust in order to preserve or build housing. What started as a strategy recommendation for keeping homes affordable near the park has since evolved into a private nonprofit with its own board and staff and a portfolio of some 240 units of permanently affordable housing for local residents.”
- In August, our Grounded Solutions’ DC office hosted the first in-person convening of the Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition led by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. The group consists of 21 leading national affordable housing organizations seeking to influence improvements to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Duty to Serve (DTS) Underserved Market Plans for 2022-2024. The meeting resulted in the coalition’s release of a new scorecard evaluation of progress by the GSEs, which shows room for further improvement in meeting the stated Duty to Serve plan goals.
- The City of Lakes Community Land Trust in Minneapolis hosted a visit by HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge in early September – Wonderful to see HUD leadership focus on one of the high performing members of our network – further elevating us all!!!
- Our amazing Grounded Solutions Board President Dr. Akilah Watkins has been selected as the new President and CEO of Independent Sector; a national nonprofit that brings together a diverse community of changemakers, nonprofits, foundations, and corporations working to strengthen civil society and ensure all people in the United States thrive. Akilah will leave her current leadership role at the Center for Community Progress at the end of December 2022 and will continue to serve on our GSN Board until year end 2023.
- Trust Montana is seeking to hire a new Executive Director; providing an exciting opportunity to lead a successful and growing nonprofit!
As you dig into this newsletter, you’ll get to see more exciting member submitted stories, highlights and engagements from Q2 2022. We also want to hear from others as we move toward the final quarter of the year, too! I encourage you all to continue sharing with us your wins and successes. These highlights will be included in our quarterly newsletters and amplified across Grounded Solutions Network’s social media channels.
Staffing Updates
Since our last newsletter, I am excited to share that our staff team has continued to expand, adding important additional technical and administrative capacity to the Grounded Solutions team. Please join me in welcoming Aminata Cisse (Program Coordinator), Gabriela Ilabaca (Operations and Finance Specialist), Mike Mooney (Product Management Associate-HomeKeeper), Stephen Schiavone (Executive Administrative Assistant), and Nyasha Sprow (Communications Specialist) to our high performing team.
Introducing: Innovative Finance
We are very excited to announce that Devin Culbertson has joined Grounded Solutions as our new Vice President of Innovative Finance. The Innovative Finance function at Grounded Solutions will deepen our technical assistance offerings and nuance the way we assess real estate markets and community development eco-systems. This shift also allows us to support members in sourcing land acquisition and development capital. Grounded Solutions’ capital and finance work aims build the field by bringing new capital to support shared equity, and working with CDFIs and impact investors to better serve the needs of shared equity organizations.
Career Opportunities
As we continue to grow, both in size and in impact, we require technical expertise to support our work. We are currently looking to retain a Managed IT Services Provider, to do just that.
Deadline for responses to the RFQ is October 15, 2022.
Check out the rest of our newsletter for additional items of interest including updates on Grounded Solutions staff team work to advance Sector Growth, Innovative Finance, HomeKeeper, National Strategy, and more. I hope to hear from you that the content is informative and helpful.
In solidarity,
National Policy Updates
The Underserved Mortgage Market Coalition (UMMC), for which Grounded Solutions is a member, recently acknowledged improvements to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Duty-to-Serve (DTS) Underserved Market Plans for 2022–2024 but called on the Enterprises to go further to reach underserved housing markets, including borrowers in shared equity homes.
In addition to this, we have been tracking the FY23 Budget for Affordable Housing Resources. Stay up to date and view the UMMC scorecard at the link below.
Research Updates
Back in June, Grounded Solutions launched a once-in-a-decade census survey for the nation’s community land trusts and shared equity programs. The information we gather fuels policy wins, funding for the field, best practice dissemination, and priorities for us to help you advance your work. Over 110 organizations have completed the survey.
For those who have not had a chance to do so, follow the link below to start the survey – or to check out our recent publications.
Member Contribution
Lighthouse Beloved Community CLT
The Lighthouse Beloved Community in Lynchburg, Virginia are developers that don't disappear. They are starting new construction on homes using net-zero building science technology. The first home has been funded through the generous donation from Divine Fog Realty and its non-profit, Divine Fog Serves. Their organization selected Lighthouse Beloved Community as a home building partner because of the CLT model and the wraparound services that will be given to the family from the Lighthouse. The winner was awarded this incredible gift at Divine Fog's Home From the Heart Gala on August 27.
Urban Homesteading Assistance Board
In June 2022, UHAB closed on construction financing for 45-14 42nd St, a 20-unit residential building in Sunnyside, Queens. The building went through the city's public foreclosure process in 2017. The tenants organized with UHAB and petitioned the city's housing agency to become a tenant-controlled and -operated HDFC co-operative. Since 2018, UHAB has been working with HPD and the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) to craft construction financing for the building, which totals $5.2 million. R and S Construction will serve as the general contractor. The scope of work includes a new roof and parapet walls, a new boiler and hot water heater, new electrical panels and risers, new windows, and in-unit renovations in kitchens and bathrooms. This fall, tenants will start tri-lingual training courses in English, Spanish and Bangla. The soon-to-be HDFC co-op will be one of only 11 HDFC co-operatives in Queens out of around 1,300 citywide. The future co-op will be part of Interboro CLT, a citywide community land trust.
HomeKeeper Updates
HomeKeeper has added 17 new users so far in 2022, bringing our community to 152 user organizations!
To keep up with the needs of our growing community, we continue to refine our product with HomeKeeper version 2.9.
Training Institute Online:
Fall Series
Grounded Solutions is pleased to offer 3 of our most popular courses in a condensed, 2-week series during October. Our courses are designed to be interactive, delivering content, facilitating discussion, and encouraging learning in an engaging virtual format. You will have access to the recording for a full 30 days after the full series ends for review and possible certification. Each course in addition provides instructor curated supplemental materials for your training journey and learning library that are yours to keep forever. Register for one course or all, spaces are limited.
This is a great opportunity for new practitioners, onboarding new staff, or otherwise dedicating quality time for professional development. And those who want to deepen and enrich their learning in a virtual cohort environment. All sessions sponsored by NeighborWorks.
Community Land Trusts for Homeownership: Basics & Beyond - Facilitated by Jason Webb
10/17 & 10/18
Post-Purchase Stewardship for Shared Equity Homeownership Programs - Facilitated by Latriece Love-Goodlett
10/19 & 10/20
*HomeKeeper introduction and separate office drop-in hours Friday, 10/21, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PT)
Affordable Pricing and Resale Formulas - Facilitated by Julie Brunner
10/24 & 10/27
All courses will meet from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PT)
* Need-based scholarships, membership pricing, and organization discount rates with multiple employee registrations available
Scholarship application deadline has been extended until October 12.
Where we live matters.
We bring together an extensive network of partners and member practitioners from local communities who have a deep understanding of best practices in community land trusts, shared equity housing, local housing policies such as inclusionary zoning, and more.
At Grounded Solutions Network, we know what policies and strategies work to build and preserve housing opportunities, and we help communities use them.
 |
