MAYBE WE COULD CALL IT RIVERSIDE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

A couple of weeks ago a TV show I was watching mentioned a program called "Mountain Housing Opportunities" in Asheville, NC. The show featured a young couple who had little money but were able to purchase a condo for $150,000 with payments as low as $560.00. Naturally this caught my attention so I googled "MHO" and asked for a brochure. They promptly replied to my email and said that a brochure would soon arrive.



I now have the brochure. It briefly explains the program, it's mission, and which citizens are helped. It is broken down into 10 segments, the last 2 are requests for volunteers and contributions. But MHO is all about volunteerism.



Following are brief quotes from the brochure:



"Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO) is a private nonprofit community development corporation serving Asheville and Buncombe County. We achieve our mission through.

1. Affordable Homeownership


2. Rural Home Rehabilitation


3. Community Rental Investments


4. Emergency Home Repair

To revitalize neighborhoods, restore the environment and build the local economy, MHO works with local volunteers, churches, businesses and individual donors. By providing an improved home environment to working families and individuals, retirees, and people with disabilities, we're giving them something even greater: the opportunity to help themselves and others."

MHO helps low and moderate households purchase a home using flexible mortgage financing. The homeowners "earn' their downpayment with sweat equity, helping to build or rehab the home themselves. The financing is through the US Department of Agriculture.

In addition to home owners, MHO also has a "Community Rental Investment program...develops safe, attractive, afforadble rental homes and apartment communities for working families and individuals, retirees and people with disabilities". "Each development offiers for its residents a unique setting in a good neighborhood, with innovative architecture and design, site planning with beautiful landscaping, floor plans that are spacious and flowing, and superior amenities such as play areas, walking trails and community centers"

There is even an "Emergency Home Repair" section which makes repairs for lower income people. The repairs include electrical repairs, unsafe furnaces, handrails, plumbing or roofing problems, ramps, etc.

"MHO is North Carolina nonprofit corporation with tax-exempt status, approved by the US Internal Revenue Service to receive tax-deductible contributions under sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to HMO are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law"

I don't know how to go about implementing something like this in New Albany but I plan to talk to as many people as possible who do have the needed knowlege. It all comes down to volunteers. Yes, many of us do a lot of volunteer work but I think we have an untapped resource. This organization will help a lot of people who maybe did not think they could buy a home. Yes we have Habitat for Humanity and CHODO but there is always room for another place for people to go for help. I believe this organization would be less restrictive and depend more on the contribution of the very people it helps. We all want to reduce the ratio of renters/homeowners. This is just another way to accomplish this goal.

I must clarify something. The condo mentioned in the first paragraph was valued at $150,000.00 but the amount of the mortgage was not mentioned. I thought at first that MHO helped with the down payment but possibly they helped with repairs or updates which raised the value of the condo. Either way this is a wonderful organization which helps a lot of people.

COMPUTER PROBLEMS

I will not be posting a new article for a few days. We moved my computer to a different room and now we are having problems with the internet.

We decided to change our phone and internet to Insight. I will post my new email address as soon as it is created.

A TERRIBLE LOSS

I just read this on a blog called the Hoosierpundit.



Baron Hill's son in law, Josh Huddleston, has lost his long and painful battle with leukemia.



A group that I belong to, Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Care Plan, met with Baron a few weeks ago to ask for his support for bill HR676. As we were discussing the problems with healthcare, Baron mentioned Josh. A few of us knew about Josh, but Baron went in to detail about his ordeal. He was scheduled for a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately the procedure was unsuccessful.



Please pray for the Hill and Huddleston families.

COUNCIL MEETING 7/17/08

Sorry everyone. I was unable to attend last night's City Council meeting (no I was not in Evansville). I had a meeting at church.

When I arrived at the meeting room everyone was just getting ready to leave. I was able to corner a couple of councilmen and learned that the bill on redistricting failed and President Gahan will appoint a committee of some of the council members. That's all I learned.

If anyone wants to contribute, please do so.

Thanks

FINALLY, A WEST END NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

A group of west end citizens met last night to reorganize our neighborhood association. The correct name is the West End Community Council and we will be meeting monthly in the New Albany Library. I will be posting the next meeting date later.



Our first order of business will be a cleanup of our neighborhood tentatively set for Augt 2.



Our thanks to Carl Malysz and Matt Dennison for your participation.

RANDY & KAREN

I just want to add my best wishes to the Stumler family. This is a wonderful opportunity for Randy and everyone.

Although I will miss you I am glad that you will be able to pursue this dream. The pictures on the website for the Azores were really beautiful.

We will be patiently waiting for your return. You will have a million stories to tell and Randy will certainly be happy to tell them all.

Be safe, Stumler family and God Bless You.

Shirley

TOWN HALL MEETING 7/12/08 PART II

Continuing with the report from the Town Hall meeting:



Sewers and Sewer Billing: Mayor England is not happy with the city's contract with EMC. He is bringing the sewer billing back to City Hall. This should bring $5 to $10 Mil. back in fees. I agree with this decision, I thought the council should have opened the contract for bids instead of just signing with EMC. With sewer billing back in NA there may possibly be an added plus of additional job openings, this was not mentioned at the meeting.



The privatization of Sanitation: Another idea the Mayor disagrees with. He wants to re-negotiate the contract with the garbage company so they will pick up trash and yard waste in addition to garbage. The street dept. can't make needed repairs to our streets because they are running around picking up trash and yard waste. The lines in the streets need to be painted and the stop signs need to be replaced.



Jesse Ford spoke about the Tri County Health organization. He said AIDS and HIV infections are growing in the 50+ population. There will also be an AIDS walk on the last Sunday in September. Please contact Jesse Ford 945-7265 if you want to participate or volunteer.



Joe LaRocca, Executive director of YMCA of Sou. IN spoke also. He was asked how the low income families will be able to afford a membership in the "Y". He discussed the "Open Doors" financial assistance program. He said no one would be turned away regardless of income. There will also be a program for childcare and day camps. They will have day passes but Mr. LaRocca wants everyone to purchase a membership. I am glad that people will be able to buy a day pass if they want to. Sometimes it is hard to commit to a membership because it makes you think that you have to attend almost every day to make it worth it. It is also good for families who have visitors.

He went on to discuss the financing:

• $20,000,000 from Caesar's.
• $160,000 yearly from EDIT funds.
• A steering committee raised $7,300,000.
• A challenge grant from Kresge for $1,000,000 which was matched by 50% with private donations.

I was a supporter of the YMCA but not the $17,000,000 swimming pool. But it is done and we must move on. I hope the "Y" is a success and helps a lot of children have a place to play and learn. Our kids need someplace to go where they will be safe and have a good time.

We may not agree with everything this administration is doing but I appreciate the fact that all of these city officials took the time to attend this two-hour meeting and listen to us. The next meeting is scheduled for the fall. I will give everyone the details as soon as I learn them.