organizational development Archives

Rural Recap – The Importance of Board Service

September 26, 2024/in Impact, Rural Recap Capacity Building

David’s Take

A board of directors is essential to any organization, offering more than just advice—they provide guidance, leadership, and support that shape its direction and success. Their insights and commitment help ensure an organization stays true to its mission while also navigating challenges and driving innovation.

HAC’s board plays a vital role in guiding our mission. Their leadership and diverse perspectives keep us grounded in our values while driving innovation and lasting impact in rural America’s most vulnerable communities.

I’d like to give special recognition to two retiring board members, Peter Carey and Naomi Scipio. Their passion for our mission has left a lasting mark on HAC and the communities we serve, and we’re deeply grateful for their years of service.

Lastly, I’m excited to share that our recent staff retreat in California was a resounding success. It provided a valuable opportunity for HACsters to explore challenges and opportunities in rural housing, equipping us to move forward with a stronger mission. Thank you for your unwavering support as we continue this journey together!

HACtivities

Duty to Serve Comments

As part of the Duty to Serve program, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently published their proposed 2025-2027 Underserved Markets Plans for public comment. This program requires the GSEs to focus on historically underserved markets, including rural housing, affordable housing preservation, and manufactured housing. HAC provided feedback on these proposed plans, addressing various aspects and offering insights into each market. To read our full response and explore our detailed feedback, check out the article here: https://ruralhome.org/hac-comments-on-proposed-gse-duty-to-serve-plans-for-2025-2027/.

All Staff Retreat Recap Highlight

HAC’s annual all-staff retreat in Fresno, California, from September 15-18 was a transformative experience that strengthened team bonds and deepened our understanding of the communities we serve. A highlight of the retreat was touring Self-Help Enterprises, where we saw firsthand the impact of community-driven development in rural areas. We also explored the natural beauty of Sequoia & Kings Canyon, including a 45-minute walking tour of Grant Tree. The retreat reinforced our understanding that investments in the capacity of a rural organization like SHE can be transformative for communities across rural America.

HAC Staff learns about active development from Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) Executive Director Tom Collishaw

HAC staff at the construction site of a new Self-Help Enterprises development

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National Rural Housing Conference 2012

December 5, 2012/in National Rural Housing Conference


Materials from the 2012 HAC Conference Promises to Keep in Challenging Times Download materials from the Conference Taking Stock release Press Conference Webcast Discussion papers from the final Plenary Conference Program View photos from the Conference Storify, the social media story of the Conference

Thank You to everyone who attended the 2012 National Rural Housing Conference. Look forward to seeing you all again in 2014!
Join the National Rural Housing Conference group on LinkedIn and network with your fellow attendees before you even attend!		HAC’s National Rural Housing Conference is an expression of our continuing commitment to provide local organizations with the resources needed to build affordable housing in rural America. The Conference will bring together more than 700 community-based housing advocates for a celebration of our collective efforts to develop and sustain affordable housing in rural communities. Based on the theme, “Promises to keep in Challenging Times” the Conference will focus on the promise America made through the Housing Act of 1949 and how those promises still apply even in the face of America’s new fiscal reality. Scheduled events will include numerous workshops, networking sessions, peer-learning opportunities, our awards program and entertainment. The theme brings to mind the vision and promises America has made through the Housing Act of 1949 and all subsequent housing legislation and policy. While these promises, that include the opportunity for quality affordable housing, still remain the country continues to face a difficult fiscal situation with many questions or concerns about what can be done to protect affordable housing as an industry in the future, particularly in rural areas. Keeping the vision and promises is important, not just to increase the quality of life for low-income Americans, but also to build stronger and more sustainable communities as a whole.
Where:		The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill 400 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20001
When:		December 6-7, 2012 Pre-Conference Activities December 5
Stay Informed:		Sign up for the HAC News [vresponse][/vresponse]
Donate to the Conference:		Help HAC keep registration fees low for our participants. Please donate to HAC’s conference.
Join the Conversation:		Join the National Rural Housing Conference Group on LinkedIn and tweet your thoughts, expectations and ideas for the Conference using hashtags #nrhc12 and #rural2012. Don’t forget to Follow HAC for more on the Conference and all things rural housing. [addthis2][/addthis2]

Technical Assistance

April 28, 2009/in Technical Assistance

HAC’s Training and Technical Assistance assist rural organizations to improve housing conditions for the rural poor, with an emphasis on the poorest of the poor in the most rural places. The division focuses on developing the capacity of local leaders in nonprofit organizations to help their own communities. This is done by providing formal trainings, one-on-one technical assistance and connecting local organizations to resources which can build their capacity and strengthen their community.

board-retreat-mw HAC leads a board governance training for Community Housing Ministries in St. Joseph, MO

Technical Assistance

HAC offers a range of capacity building technical assistance services for organizations in rural areas. Unlike many national organizations, HAC is not a membership organization and has an “open-door” policy with regard to technical assistance. If your organization is looking for guidance on a housing project, organizational development or compliance issues, fill out our TA request and HAC will get back to you as soon as possible.

“But for” HAC our organization would not have been able to develop the housing that it has over the past 28 years. HAC has lent pre-development funds to “all but” every one of our developments in New York State. -Comment from HAC’s Stakeholder Survey

Contact HAC in your Area

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Rural Recap – The Importance of Board Service

David’s Take