David Lipsetz Named Next Housing Assistance Council Executive Director

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Contact: Dan Stern, dan@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600

Lipsetz-7237-smallWashington, DC: October 12, 2017 – The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) Board of Directors has named David Lipsetz as the organization’s next Executive Director. Lipsetz will replace Moises Loza, who is retiring on November 1, 2017 after more than 40 years at HAC. Founded in 1971, HAC is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected nonprofit organizations serving the housing needs of rural America and its residents. David becomes only the fourth Executive Director to lead the Housing Assistance Council.

“HAC is excited about this next chapter of our journey. We’re very blessed by the contributions that Moises Loza has given HAC,” said Andrew Bias of Wichita, Kansas, chair of HAC’s board of directors. “Thousands of lives in rural communities are better because of HAC’s involvement and support. HAC welcomes David on board to continue on this journey with the full backing and encouragement of our board of directors and staff.”

Lipsetz comes to HAC having held several senior positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, most recently as the Associate Administrator of USDA’s Rural Housing Service. He has also managed affordable housing programs in New York City and Oakland, California. David was born and raised in Ohio, and began his career on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide to Michigan Congressman John Dingell. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and Master’s degrees in both Sociology and City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University.

“I am honored to step into this new role,” Lipsetz said. “Moises Loza leaves an unparalleled legacy, having guided HAC to be the highly regarded and effective organization it is. HAC is needed now more than ever, as a lender helping to develop affordable housing in underserved rural markets, and as a national voice for including rural communities in America’s plans for a vibrant and prosperous future.”

It has been an honor for me to serve the people of rural America over these last 40 years,” Moises Loza stated. “Rural Americans have a special strength, but also face particular challenges that require rural solutions rather than urban approaches. I am so pleased to be able to leave HAC’s work in David’s capable hands. I can’t wait to see what HAC does next!”

The Housing Assistance Council is a national nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution that helps build homes and communities across rural America. HAC provides technical assistance, financial products, and research and information services, with an emphasis on serving the poorest of the poor in the most rural places.

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Rural Veterans and Local Nonprofits Receive Housing Aid

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homedepotfoundlogoReturn to Press Releases

Contact: Dan Stern, dan@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600 ext. 137
Janice Clark, janice@ruralhome.org, 202-842-8600 ext. 131

Rural Veterans and Local Nonprofits Receive Housing Aid

Awards Funded by the Housing Assistance Council and The Home Depot Foundation

Washington, D.C., May 9, 2013 – Life will improve for 100 veterans and their families in nine rural communities around the country, thanks to awards given by the Housing Assistance Council with the support of The Home Depot Foundation. HAC is awarding grants totaling $265,000 to nine local nonprofit housing associations to build or preserve housing for veterans in rural America.

“A disproportionately high number of rural Americans have served in the armed forces” said Moises Loza, HAC’s executive director, “and they deserve to have decent, affordable homes. HAC is proud to partner with The Home Depot Foundation and local nonprofit groups to ensure that they do.”

As part of its Affordable Housing for Rural Veterans Initiative, HAC will provide not only grants, but also training, research, and other assistance to rural nonprofits that serve veterans. HAC builds the capacity of local housing nonprofits to help more veterans and others in their communities.

The grantee organizations – described below – provide a range of programs. With the HAC grants, veterans who own homes in Maine, Washington, and Tennessee will receive home repair funds. Veterans in Texas will be able to help build their own new homes. New apartments will be constructed for homeless veterans in Florida. Altogether, nearly 100 veterans and their families will benefit from these grants.

“The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every veteran has a safe place to call home,” said Kelly Caffarelli, President of The Home Depot Foundation. “We recognize the great need that exists in rural areas and are proud to partner with the Housing Assistance Council in our efforts to give back to those men and women who have so bravely served our country.”

About the Housing Assistance Council
Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Housing Assistance Council is a national nonprofit corporation dedicated to helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America by providing below-market financing, technical assistance, research, training, and information services. HAC’s programs focus on local solutions, empowerment, reduced dependency, and self-help strategies. HAC is an equal opportunity lender. To learn more, see https://ruralhome.org/veterans.

2013 Affordable Housing for Rural Veterans
About the Grantees

  • Ability Housing of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, will use $28,000 to support the development of eight units of permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans that live in Duval and Nassau Counties. More information about Ability Housing is available at www.abilityhousing.org.
  • Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) in East Wilton, Maine, will use $28,000 to support a home repair program for rural veterans in Franklin County. Up to ten veterans and their families will have their homes made safe and affordable through WMCA’s repair program. More information about WMCA can be found at https://wmca.org.
  • Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency (NMCAA) in Traverse City, Michigan, will use $28,000 to assist five veterans and their families in Northwest Lower Michigan with home repairs. NMCAA’s home repair loan fund offers a zero interest deferred loan for veteran homeowners. More information about NMCAA can be found at www.nmcaa.net.
  • Community Action Network (CAN) in Paris, Tennessee, will use $24,000 to support ten veterans and their families in Henry, Benton, and Carroll counties. CAN will provide home repair, accessibility modification, and energy conservation upgrade support using its volunteer-based home repair program. For more information about CAN visit www.canhomes.org.
  • Proyecto Azteca in San Juan, Texas, will use $28,000 to support a sweat equity homeownership program for five veteran families in Hidalgo County. Each family is required to contribute their own labor to help build their home. This labor significantly reduces the cost of the units, making them affordable to the low-income veteran participants. For more information about this program visit https://www.proyectoazteca.com/.
  • Rebuilding Together Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia, will use $28,000 to support a home repair program for rural veterans in five Appalachian Virginia counties. Up to six veterans’ households will be provided targeted safety and energy improvements of their homes. More information about Rebuilding Together can be found at www.rebuildingtogetherroanoke.com.
  • Kitsap Community Resources in Bremerton, Washington, will use $28,000 to support a home repair program for rural veterans in Kitsap County. Up to seven veterans’ households will be provided with domestic home repairs, accessibility, and energy conservation measures. More information about Kitsap Community Resources can be found at www.kcr.org.
  • Couleecap in Westby, Wisconsin, will use $20,000 to support the development of rental housing for rural veterans in Monroe, Vernon, La Crosse, and Crawford Counties. At least four units of supportive housing will be developed for homeless veterans and up to three units of affordable housing will be developed for veteran families. More information about Couleecap can be found at www.couleecap.org.
  • Southern Appalachian Labor School (SALS) in Kincaid, West Virginia, will use $28,000 to support multiple repair and development projects in Fayette County. Up to 28 veterans and their families will benefit from their programs. For more information about SALS visit www.sals.info.

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HAC Awards Over $1 Million for Local Self-Help Homeownership Programs

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NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Dan Stern
202-842-8600, ext. 137
dan@ruralhome.org

HAC Awards Over $1 Million for Local Self-Help Homeownership Programs

Washington, DC, June 2, 2017 – The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is partnering with six organizations to build 67 self-help homes for low and moderate-income families. HAC provides financing for these projects using $962,325 in funds from the federal Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP), which is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Through the SHOP program, families develop sweat-equity in the construction of their homes and create a sense of community by assisting their neighbors with the construction of their homes as well. “Since its inception, HAC has been a supporter of the SHOP program as a means for creating safe, affordable housing and stable communities for low-income rural Americans,” said Moises Loza, HAC’s Executive Director. “HAC is proud to work with local organizations across the nation and help families reach their dreams of homeownership.”

Local affiliates leverage resources from a variety of private and public sources to provide this affordable housing opportunity to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. Many of the families participating in HAC-funded SHOP projects obtain low-interest mortgage loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s homeownership program. By leveraging critical resources, including use of volunteer labor when possible, self-help housing producers are able to create affordable, sustainable homeownership opportunities for low-income homebuyers.

SHOP funds cover costs associated with land acquisition and infrastructure improvements. Community-based organizations will supervise homebuying families who work together in groups to construct their own homes and their neighbors’. HAC’s local SHOP affiliates can use up to $15,000 per unit for eligible development. They are responsible for all construction activities, including securing additional funding, preparing sites, training families, and managing the self-help process.

Since the inception of the SHOP program, HAC has been awarded funding to produce 9,827 units of affordable housing for families. To date, HAC’s local partners have completed 9,124 homes.


About the Housing Assistance Council
HAC, founded in 1971, is a nonprofit corporation that supports the development of rural low-income housing nationwide. HAC provides technical housing services, loans from a revolving fund, housing program and policy assistance, research and demonstration projects, and training and information services. HAC is an equal opportunity lender. [tdborder][/tdborder]

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ORGANIZATION

STATE

TOTAL UNITS

Creative Compassion, Inc.

TN

5

Housing Development Alliance

KY

13

Northwest Regional Housing Authority

AR

5

Self-Help Enterprises

CA

27

Kentucky Highlands Community Development Corporation

KY

10

Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc.

AK

7

Grand Total

67

HAC to Collaborate on Rural Placemaking Effort

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Re-posted from buildingcommunityWORKSHOP
Contact: Dan Stern, (202) 842-8600 Ext. 137
Stephen Sugg, (202) 842-8600 Ext. 159

buildingcommunityWORKSHOP [bc] is one of 64 National Endowment for the Arts Our Town projects selected nationwide

National Endowment for the Arts 2016 Our Town Awards

Washington, DC: May 11, 2016 – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced 64 awards totaling $4.3 million supporting projects across the nation through the NEA’s Our Town program. [bc] is one of the recommended organizations for an award to support the integration of creative placemaking and design strategies into the work of the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) and their community-based partner network. The Our Town grant program supports creative placemaking projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. The NEA received 240 applications for Our Town this year and will make awards ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.

“For six years, Our Town has made a difference for people and the places where they live, work, and play,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Projects such as the one led by bcWORKSHOP help residents engage the arts to spark vitality in their communities.”

“HAC is excited to help bring Creative Placemaking, affordable rural housing, and community development together. The NEA funding will provide needed resources to communities and local artists alike. HAC looks forward to sharing these innovations with community-based rural housing organizations across the country.” says Moises Loza — Executive Director, Housing Assistance Council

[bc] will provide training to a core group of HAC regionally based housing specialists, develop a repository of best practices, facilitate a peer-exchange program, and publish articles that reach rural housing developers. Through training and demonstration projects, affordable housing developers and residents will be empowered to participate in the community design process and ultimately create more livable, vital places that celebrate the unique culture of the community. HAC reaches 6,500 rural practitioners and helps build the capacity of local organizations to develop affordable homes in rural America, and maintains a special focus on particular groups and regions such as Indian country, the Mississippi Delta, farmworkers, the Southwest border colonias (communities within the mainly rural US-Mexico border region with marginal conditions related to housing and infrastructure), and Appalachia.

For a complete list of projects recommended for Our Town grant support, please visit the NEA web site at arts.gov. The NEA’s online resource, Exploring Our Town, features case studies of more than 70 Our Town projects along with lessons learned and other resources.

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Over 50 years HAC has worked in every U.S. state and the territories. Learn more about what our work means for rural communities.

Board Portal

Housing Assistance Council   |  1828 L Street. N.W., Suite 505, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 842-8600  |  (202) 347-3441  |  hac@ruralhome.org

HAC is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.