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Truckee-Tahoe’s affordable housing group continues to grow with new members and added responsibilities.
The Workforce Housing Association of Truckee Tahoe recently renewed its contract with the Town of Truckee, appointed new board members, and is seeking an upgraded status to take on new projects.
“We’ve got a good symbiotic relationship,” said David Griffith, redevelopment and housing coordinator for the town.
The Truckee Town Council, acting as the redevelopment agency board, voted on Nov. 15 to enter a second contract year with the association for $35,000, Griffith said.
“Basically we agree to maintain an office, to do community education and outreach, maintain an interest list for Truckee affordable housing, and looking for affordable housing opportunities,” said Tom Ballou, the association’s housing services director.
That interest list in low-cost housing is approaching 400 people at this point, Ballou said.
The dollar amount of the town contract is lower than last year, which included initial set-up costs not needed in this year’s narrowed terms, Ballou said.
One of the areas of cooperation between the nonprofit and the town is the creation of an inventory survey, which will canvass area employers to get a better grip on the supply and demand for affordable housing, Griffith said.
“We’ll get an idea on rental versus for sale, multi- versus single-family homes — we really want to know the true need out there,” Griffith said.
To grow beyond its existing roles, the group is applying for status as a community housing development organization, Ballou said, which will qualify them for additional state and federal funding.
The difference in standing will allow the association to partner with the developers of upcoming projects to create new affordable units, he said.
To qualify for the new status, Ballou said one-third of the board has to represent a cross-section of the community.
Ballou said out of 12 to 15 applicants, the agency selected five new board members. Robin Lewis, Anne Grogan, Elizabeth Balmin, and Maria Sandoval, and Emilio Vaca were chosen to represent the community on the nonprofit’s board, according to an agency release.
“We were able to select the five best representatives of the community,” Ballou said. “We got people that not only represent our income levels, but also cover our organization’s entire footprint.”
The Workforce Housing Association of Truckee Tahoe recently renewed its contract with the Town of Truckee, appointed new board members, and is seeking an upgraded status to take on new projects.
“We’ve got a good symbiotic relationship,” said David Griffith, redevelopment and housing coordinator for the town.
The Truckee Town Council, acting as the redevelopment agency board, voted on Nov. 15 to enter a second contract year with the association for $35,000, Griffith said.
“Basically we agree to maintain an office, to do community education and outreach, maintain an interest list for Truckee affordable housing, and looking for affordable housing opportunities,” said Tom Ballou, the association’s housing services director.
That interest list in low-cost housing is approaching 400 people at this point, Ballou said.
The dollar amount of the town contract is lower than last year, which included initial set-up costs not needed in this year’s narrowed terms, Ballou said.
One of the areas of cooperation between the nonprofit and the town is the creation of an inventory survey, which will canvass area employers to get a better grip on the supply and demand for affordable housing, Griffith said.
“We’ll get an idea on rental versus for sale, multi- versus single-family homes — we really want to know the true need out there,” Griffith said.
To grow beyond its existing roles, the group is applying for status as a community housing development organization, Ballou said, which will qualify them for additional state and federal funding.
The difference in standing will allow the association to partner with the developers of upcoming projects to create new affordable units, he said.
To qualify for the new status, Ballou said one-third of the board has to represent a cross-section of the community.
Ballou said out of 12 to 15 applicants, the agency selected five new board members. Robin Lewis, Anne Grogan, Elizabeth Balmin, and Maria Sandoval, and Emilio Vaca were chosen to represent the community on the nonprofit’s board, according to an agency release.
“We were able to select the five best representatives of the community,” Ballou said. “We got people that not only represent our income levels, but also cover our organization’s entire footprint.”
Meet the new board members
• Emilio Vaca lives in Kings Beach, works for Tahoe Women’s Services, and has a background in grassroots organizing, fundraising and community and youth development.
• Robin Lewis lives in Tahoma, works for the Early Head Start program and, on her own, sought and obtained an affordable-home loan from the USDA to purchase her home. • Anne Grogan lives in Truckee, works for the Sierra Sun, and brings with her a background in public relations and media management. • Elizabeth Balmin lives in Floriston, works for the Truckee Family Resource Center, has a law degree, and brings with her a strong advocacy background and an affinity for the underserved. • Maria Sandoval lives in King Beach, and works for the North Tahoe Boys and Girls Club. It took Maria more than five months to find a decent home to rent for her family, so she understands what it takes to find affordable housing in our community. <i>— From the Workforce Housing Association of Truckee Tahoe</i> |
