RAAH’s 7^th Annual Membership Meeting Thursday June 29, 2006 at 7 p.m

You are invited to join us in the lovely new wing of The Church of the Good Shepherd, 2145 Independence, off of Packard for an evening of food, fellowship and celebration. Look for more details & agenda soon!

Thanks to many of you, the fruits of RAAH’s first $200,000 Capital are now being realized. If you did not have a chance to attend one of the several open house events held by Avalon Housing, the 30 apartments on Dhu Varren Road are now fully occupied. Community programs for the residents are beginning this summer, with a kick-off Easter Egg hunt jointly sponsored by RAAH and St.Aiden’s Episcopal Church on April 15^th. For more information, visit www.avalonhousing.org

Homeplace Community Land Trust (HCLT)

HCLT received approval from Washtenaw County to purchase a lot that it owned on Burton Road. It is anticipated there will be 2 new affordable homes available for sale sometime in early 2007. RAAH has about $18,000 left to raise of its $100,000 Capital Campaign for HCT. For more information visit www.homeplaceclt.org

News on the Affordable Housing Front-

The five restricted equity cooperatives built with low interest Federal 40 year mortgage loans in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s make up about half – around 1800 units – of Ann Arbor’s supply of affordable housing units. Colonial Square, the oldest cooperative with 427 housing units, voted April 8 on their future form of ownership when their Federally restricted mortgage expires in July. The shareholders voted to remain a cooperative—not convert to condominiums—but they chose to become a market rate cooperative. The details of this organizational form are still to be worked out by the Colonial Square Board of Directors.

Housing Needs Assessment Study

The Joint City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County Office of Community Development has contracted with the firm of J-Quad & Associates based in Dallas, Texas, to do a comprehensive assessment of Washtenaw County housing needs followed by strategic planning. Part of the study will focus on housing in both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. It is expected there will be a number of opportunities for public feedback and involvement during the course of the study. RAAH looks forward with interest to its findings.

Video

On April 18^th Cathy St. Clair, RAAH Fundraising Chair, announced that the LaSalle Bank Community Development fund awarded RAAH a $5,000 grant to edit and (finally)finish our educational video. The eight minute video will illustrate affordable housing issues and "get the conversation started" at future outreach presentations. Good job everybody and thank you Ashley Zwick at LaSalle Bank!

The Education and Advocacy Committee monitors housing policy at the City and County level. RAAH Board member Mary Browning spoke midwinter at the City Council meeting discussing the Calthorp Report: Mary spoke out of concern for the thousands of people who can’t afford to live in Ann Arbor but have to commute to jobs here. "Since I moved here in 1959 I have seen the income level of this city climb higher and higher and the housing costs proportionately even higher.  At this time, if Downtown housing matches the rest of Ann Arbor there still will be little workforce or low income housing available in the city…"

WHO NOW QUALIFIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has just released the Washtenaw County household Area Median Income limits for 2006.
 

# in Household	1	2	3	4
Area Median	$57,700	$65,900	$74,200	$82,400
Low Income (80% AMI)	$41,700	$47,700	$53,650	$59,600
Very Low (50% AMI)	$28,850	$32,950	$37,100	$41,200
Ext. Low (30% AMI)	$17,300	$19,750	$22,250	$24,700

GIFTS FOR THE CAPITAL FUND

You can help us fulfill our pledge to Homeplace Community Land Trust. All donations are held for RAAH by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. Please mail checks marked: RAAH Capital Fund, c/o AAACF, 201 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

RAAH is a 501 (c) 3 corporation and all gifts are tax deductible.

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Thanks to all who are supporting RAAH by becoming a member! To join or renew your individual membership for FY 2006/07, please send $10 to: RAAH, c/o St. Andrews Church, 306 North Division, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Organization dues are based on size, for more details call (734) 821-0345. Thank you for your support!

CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS

Susan McGarry and Shari Osojnak, Co-Moderators :
Mary Browning, Secretary
Tamara St.Clair-Williams, Treasurer
Barbara Wykes, Education & Advocacy
Cathy St.Clair, Finance & Fundraising
Lise Anderson, Communications & Publicity
Michael Appel
Amy Booker-Hirsch
Carol Campain
Rev. Robert Connors
Rev. Irvin Green
Kimberly Green
Edith Hurst
Marian Laughlin
Jan Little
Jim Mogensen
Rev. John Nieman
John Rasmussen
Joan Scott
Catherine Stephens

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Thanks to several of our current board members who have provided so much help in making RAAH a success! There are several openings on the board and WE NEED YOU to consider being a representative for your congregation. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and join RAAH’s efforts to advocate and raise money for upcoming affordable housing projects. Please contact Angela Williams, Chair of the Nominating Committee at (734)662-9373 for more information.

MONTHLY MEETINGS – YOU ARE INVITED!

You are invited to attend the monthly RAAH meetings held the third Thursdays, alternating mornings from 8:00 – 9:30 am and evenings from 6:45 – 8:00 pm. We also welcome new congregations. (Thirty-five congregations of many faiths are currently members.) Monthly meeting rotate monthly among area churches. Please call (734) 821-0345 for meeting info.