Affordable Housing Management Association
Fact Sheet and New Initiatives
JUST THE FACTS
TODAY:
* AHMA
is the premiere organization of managers, owners, and professional service
providers who are committed to maintaining excellence in affordable housing
communities.
* AHMA
is the local chapter of the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA),
which represents over managers and owners of over 1 million units of assisted
housing throughout the US. AHMA members own/manage or otherwise serve over
20,000 units of HUD-assisted or HUD-subsidized multifamily housing projects in
the States of WA, OR and ID.
* AHMA
works with State and Federal congressional delegates to support and preserve
safe, clean and affordable housing for low-income, elderly and disabled
residents.
* AHMA
provides legislative and regulatory updates to its members on a continuous
basis, through its newsletters, E-mails and faxes. NAHMA’s “NAHMAnalysis”
delivers breaking news directly to your e-mail address.
* AHMA
members can access areas in the NAHMA
web site reserved for members only,
at
www.nahma.org.
* AHMA
offers from ½ day to 2 ½ day trainings, focusing on relevant issues for
management companies, owners, and on-site resident managers. AHMA members pay
reduced registration fees at most trainings.
* AHMA
offers an annual conference to sharpen member’s skills and expand their
knowledge about the industry. National and local speakers and trainers provide
hands-on training for your staff.
* AHMA
encourages the achievement of excellence
by offering professional designations for its members. The NAHMA
Certified Professional of
Occupancy course is the flagship
training program for the organization’s managers and the prestigious designation
– the National
Assisted Housing Professional – is can
be earned by members completing the program’s prerequisites. AHMA Northwest
offers courses and designations, too.
* AHMA
links members and key government agencies such as the U. S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development, WA State’s Community, Office of Community
Development (formerly CTED), U S Department of HUD (through periodic HUD Liaison
Meetings), the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the Department of
Agriculture’s Rural Development (Rural Development), Oregon Housing and
Community Services, the Idaho Housing Finance Association, and other affordable
housing agencies. It also was a founding member of the “Coalition to Preserve
Low-Income Housing” and participates on a variety of preservation teams.
* AHMA
offers tenant involvement at member
properties in NAHMA’s annual Poster and Calendar contest, and through HUD’s
Neighborhood Networks computer learning center program.
* AHMA
provides opportunities to exchange information and network among the owners and
property management agents of assisted housing throughout the Pacific
Northwest. Members are listed in the Annual Membership Directory. AHMA
distributes job announcements on behalf of members, refers members to available
resources in the housing community, and provides trade references on behalf of
members. Our web site: www.ahma-nw.org
* AHMA
presents a united voice on behalf of
owners/managers on emerging issues. For example, in 1997-1999, AHMA members
testified before the
Seattle City Council
and the King County
Council, before Senator Patty Murray’s
Affordable Housing
Forum, and successfully advocated on
behalf of owners for the elimination of $3.7 million in claims which HUD made
against owners for alleged overpayments of rent subsidies dating back to 1989.
* AHMA supports continued professionalism through its BEST PRACTICES AGREEMENT with HUD, and promotion of its Code of Ethics.
TOMORROW:
New Initiatives:
-
Occupancy & Compliance College
-
Formation of a New Chapter in Alaska
REGIONAL STRATEGIES AND NEXT STEPS:
STRATEGIES:
Develop a regional agenda
Clarify common mission
Create greater freedom to act
Have greater impact through grass roots efforts
Determine an appropriate legal framework for the new multi-state entity
Create centralized, regional administration
Establish a regional Board with representation from each partner state
Determine whether the Board will be a Policy vs a Working Board
Develop an AHMA NW chat room and bulletin board where members can share best practices and answer each other’s questions
Encourage collaboration among Housing Commissions in different states
Encourage a standardization of inter-agency rules
Move towards a standardization of common policies with AHMA’s and funding sources
Support individual states in strengthening their membership recruitment and retention
Create an umbrella organization that might have greater impact nationally without any individual AHMA suffering reprisal
Provide acceptable solutions for all parties involved
NEXT STEPS::
Explore other multi-state and regional AHMA’s to learn how they are structured
Explore other multi-state and regional AHMA’s to learn what models are working and what are their best practices
Identify common areas of concern
Examine regional conflicts and to encourage prevention at AHMA NW