HRSR INFORMATION 05-27-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 PRESERVING HOUSING: A BEST PRACTICES REVIEW • county. In doing so, the HRA works with a different times. Effective housing city to identify housing needs and then preservation recognizes and tailors financing plans to meet them. The accommodates these differences. HRA has experience with federal and state housing programs, and its Example: Richfield and the Richfield HRA knowledge benefits the cities, which lack use many different ways to communicate the resources to develop their own housing-improvement information to housing expertise. residents. Written materials include a remodeling planbook, a contractor referral Another best practice tied to offering list, and numerous tip sheets on topics financial assistance is following such as how to secure bids from management controls to minimize the contractors. The HRA offers the services risks posed by expensive,time-consuming of a Remodeling Advisor, who meets with projects. Matching project cost estimates homeowners to discuss renovation with available financing and inspecting options. Richfield sponsors an annual work before paying contractors are remodeling fair, and it publicizes housing examples of these controls. It is also information using the city newsletter, Web important to identify and communicate site, and utility bill inserts. with prospective clients. Some communities' housing may need Example: The Central Minnesota direct repair and rehabilitation services, Housing Partnership, a nonprofit housing such as weatherization or acquiring and organization serving 16 counties, takes a rehabilitating rundown properties for "hands on"approach to administering the resale. Best practices vary by the service HOME Rental Rehab program. The but cover program planning, Partnership identifies and inspects implementation,and marketing. potentially eligible properties, develops the scope of the work, monitors the work, Example: For decades, Semcac, a • conducts final inspections, and disburses community action agency in southeast money to contractors. Its active Minnesota, has offered weatherization management role helps it meet program services to qualifying households. requirements and ensure quality Semcac's rehabilitation specialists conduct outcomes. energy audits. its work crews insulate and weather-strip eligible homes and clean Access to Providing access to housing information and tune a home's furnace when and expertise is another strategy that necessary. Crews are familiar with the housing supports housing preservation. Related agency's other housing preservation information best practices include: working programs and refer eligible property and expertise collaboratively with other organizations, owners to them. supports housing identifying unmet information needs,and Finally,cities should periodically review preservation. tailoring information to meet those needs. their strategies to determine how well Example: As part of implementing a housing objectives are met. Effective program to license and improve rental evaluation reveals whether to modify or units, the Morris Housing Authority discontinue a strategy. became an information resource for landlords. Besides offering information about the rental program and available rehab financing, the Authority provided a sample damage-deposit form and a checklist to assess rental unit conditions. Offering useful information lessened resistance to the rental licensing program. The full report, Preserving Housing: A Best Practices Cities or their agents should use a variety Review (#pe03-05), is available at of means to communicate housing 651-296-4708 or: • information. People learn in different www.auditor.Ieg.state.mn.us/ ways and are looking for information at ped/2003/pe0305.htm