LOW COST LOW COST HOUSINGHOUSINGFOR BHUTANESE FOR BHUTANESE

REFUGEES IN THE UNITED REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICASTATES OF AMERICA

Presented by – Amol VicharePresented by – Amol Vichare

SHREE GANESHAYA SHREE GANESHAYA NAMAH:NAMAH:

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• I am a Civil / Structural Engineer I am a Civil / Structural Engineer working with CH2M HILL and a working with CH2M HILL and a volunteer/ member of various volunteer/ member of various organizations like organizations like – SEWA InternationalSEWA International– Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity– Internal Revenue ServiceInternal Revenue Service– American Society of Civil Engineers – American Society of Civil Engineers –

Georgia ChapterGeorgia Chapter– American Society of Steel ConstructionAmerican Society of Steel Construction

DISCLAIMERDISCLAIMER• This presentation is intended to spread awareness, This presentation is intended to spread awareness,

throw some ideas on the table and to initiate a thought throw some ideas on the table and to initiate a thought process or discussion about low cost housing options process or discussion about low cost housing options available in the USAavailable in the USA

• Some of the information presented here may not be Some of the information presented here may not be applicable to Bhutanese refugees at the moment but applicable to Bhutanese refugees at the moment but could be used in the later yearscould be used in the later years

• SEWA International - Atlanta chapter does not SEWA International - Atlanta chapter does not represent any of the organizations mentioned in this represent any of the organizations mentioned in this presentationpresentation

• This presentation is intended for educational purposes This presentation is intended for educational purposes only and do not replace independent judgment. only and do not replace independent judgment. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are those of Statements of fact and opinions expressed are those of the individual participant/ presenter and not the opinion the individual participant/ presenter and not the opinion or position of SEWA International (Atlanta chapter) or or position of SEWA International (Atlanta chapter) or its co-sponsors or its committees. SEWA International its co-sponsors or its committees. SEWA International (Atlanta chapter) does not endorse or approve, and (Atlanta chapter) does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, accuracy or assumes no responsibility for, the content, accuracy or completeness of the information presentedcompleteness of the information presented

Today we are going to talk Today we are going to talk about…about…

• The need for HousingThe need for Housing• Federal Government Initiatives for Federal Government Initiatives for

Low Cost HousingLow Cost Housing• Various other organizations that can Various other organizations that can

help in providing low cost housinghelp in providing low cost housing• Applicability of information Applicability of information

presentedpresented• Questions / Comments / DiscussionsQuestions / Comments / Discussions

EXISTING LIVING EXISTING LIVING CONDITIONSCONDITIONS

• Most Bhutanese Refugees live in old and Most Bhutanese Refugees live in old and dilapidated apartments in high crime zone dilapidated apartments in high crime zone areasareas

• More family members live in one or two More family members live in one or two bedroom apartment than most American bedroom apartment than most American familiesfamilies

• Water seeping from roof, heaters not working, Water seeping from roof, heaters not working, window panes broken… etc…!window panes broken… etc…!

A habitable living condition is A habitable living condition is important to improve their Self-important to improve their Self-

respect, and give them a sense of respect, and give them a sense of belonging towards the USAbelonging towards the USA

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVESINITIATIVES

• U.S. Department of Housing and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development has three Urban development has three separate programs for affordable separate programs for affordable housinghousing1. The HOME Investment Partnerships1. The HOME Investment Partnerships

2. Self-Help Homeownership (SHOP)2. Self-Help Homeownership (SHOP)

3. Homeownership zone3. Homeownership zone

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

The HOME Investment Partnerships

SHOPHOME

Ownership Zone

Habitatfor

Humanity

HousingAssistance

Council

ACRON Housing

Corporation

Community Frameworks

PPEP PPEP MICROBUSINESS MICROBUSINESS

& HOUSING& HOUSING DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONCORPORATION

U.S. Department of Housing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development and Urban development

(www.hud.gov)(www.hud.gov)

1. The HOME Investment 1. The HOME Investment PartnershipPartnership

• HOME is the largest Federal block HOME is the largest Federal block grant to State and local governments grant to State and local governments designed exclusively to create designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income affordable housing for low-income households households

• Each year it allocates approximately Each year it allocates approximately $2 billion among the States and $2 billion among the States and hundreds of localities nationwide. hundreds of localities nationwide.

2. SELF-HELP 2. SELF-HELP HOMEOWNERSHIP (SHOP)HOMEOWNERSHIP (SHOP)• Provides funds for non-profit organizations Provides funds for non-profit organizations

to purchase home sites and develop to purchase home sites and develop infrastructureinfrastructure

• Based on sweat equity and volunteer-based Based on sweat equity and volunteer-based for low income familiesfor low income families

• Current SHOP GranteesCurrent SHOP Grantees– Habitat for Humanity - NationwideHabitat for Humanity - Nationwide– Housing Assistance Council - NationwideHousing Assistance Council - Nationwide– Acorn Housing Corporation – IL, AZ, AR, NY, Acorn Housing Corporation – IL, AZ, AR, NY,

LA, TXLA, TX– Community Frameworks – WA, OR, ID and MTCommunity Frameworks – WA, OR, ID and MT– PPEP Microbusiness And Housing Development PPEP Microbusiness And Housing Development

Corporation – AZ, CO and NMCorporation – AZ, CO and NM

HABITAT FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITYHUMANITY

WHO CAN WHO CAN BUYBUY A HOUSE FROM A HOUSE FROM THEM?THEM?

YES… YOU HAVE TO BUY A YES… YOU HAVE TO BUY A HOUSE FROM THEM… ITS HOUSE FROM THEM… ITS

NOT FREE…!NOT FREE…!

Do Bhutanese Refugees Do Bhutanese Refugees Qualify?Qualify?

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIAELIGIBILITY CRITERIA• First time home buyersFirst time home buyers• Citizen or legal resident lived in Citizen or legal resident lived in

the area for the past yearthe area for the past year• Have at least 2 and less than 8 Have at least 2 and less than 8

people in the householdpeople in the household• Steady income for at least 2 yearsSteady income for at least 2 years• Good creditGood credit• No bankruptciesNo bankruptcies• Hold a bank accountHold a bank account

YESYES YESYES

YES YES

MAY BE?MAY BE? MAY BE?MAY BE? YESYES YESYES

BENEFITSBENEFITS

• No Interest MortgageNo Interest Mortgage• Low Monthly Payments $550 - $650/ Low Monthly Payments $550 - $650/

MonthMonth• Low Down Payment (~$750)Low Down Payment (~$750)• Energy Efficient HomeEnergy Efficient Home• Attractive Well Built HomesAttractive Well Built Homes• Brand New AppliancesBrand New Appliances• Handicapped VisitableHandicapped Visitable

SAMPLE HOUSES BUILT IN SAMPLE HOUSES BUILT IN USAUSA

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF HOMEBUYER?WHAT IS EXPECTED OF HOMEBUYER?

• Invest 250 “Sweat Equity” HoursInvest 250 “Sweat Equity” Hours• Live in the House For at least One Live in the House For at least One

YearYear• Make Timely PaymentsMake Timely Payments• Attend 12 Home Buyer Education Attend 12 Home Buyer Education

ClassesClasses

IT’S A LOT OF WORK…!

WHATS THE CATCH???

Some Experiences…Some Experiences…• Worked as a nursing Worked as a nursing

assistantassistant• Tragedy struck her Tragedy struck her

when her daughter was when her daughter was killed in a car accidentkilled in a car accident

• Leaving 3 grand kidsLeaving 3 grand kids• She lived in a small She lived in a small

house with several other house with several other relatives – No room for relatives – No room for the kids…!the kids…!

• Applies for Habitat for Applies for Habitat for Humanity homeHumanity home

• All-woman team along All-woman team along with other nurses and with other nurses and doctors with whom doctors with whom Virginia works came out Virginia works came out to help her build her to help her build her new home…!!!new home…!!!

Virginia Burden

My personal My personal experience…!experience…!

• I have worked on several houses in Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, I have worked on several houses in Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA areaGA area

• As a corporate volunteer through my company and also through As a corporate volunteer through my company and also through my university programmy university program

• There’s satisfaction in knowing that you’re working virtually with There’s satisfaction in knowing that you’re working virtually with strangers on a team project, helping someone else achieve a strangers on a team project, helping someone else achieve a dreamdream

• Everybody can participate in some way. Everybody can serve out Everybody can participate in some way. Everybody can serve out there, with a little bit of training and confidence in yourselfthere, with a little bit of training and confidence in yourself

Loans For Self-Help Loans For Self-Help Housing From Housing Housing From Housing

Assistance CouncilAssistance Council• HAC makes short-term loans at below HAC makes short-term loans at below

market interest rates to local nonprofits, market interest rates to local nonprofits, for profits and government entities for profits and government entities developing affordable housing for low-developing affordable housing for low-income, rural residentsincome, rural residents

• Self-help process enables low-income Self-help process enables low-income participants to build their own homesparticipants to build their own homes

• Homebuyers use their own “sweat equity” Homebuyers use their own “sweat equity” to reduce the cost of their hometo reduce the cost of their home

• When a SHOP borrower meets its When a SHOP borrower meets its production goals and other requirements, production goals and other requirements, up to 80% of its loan is forgivenup to 80% of its loan is forgiven

HOME Training offered via HOME Training offered via HUD.GOVHUD.GOV

• Instructor-Led trainingInstructor-Led training– CDP Training InstituteCDP Training Institute– Over two dozen courses designed to share Over two dozen courses designed to share

information with community development information with community development professionals, HUD staff, and other stakeholders professionals, HUD staff, and other stakeholders as they work together to improve and renew as they work together to improve and renew America’s communitiesAmerica’s communities

• Web-based trainingWeb-based training – –– HUD's Web-based training and technical HUD's Web-based training and technical

assistance site (HOME Front )assistance site (HOME Front )– HOME Front has a series of interactive training HOME Front has a series of interactive training

and technical assistance modulesand technical assistance modules– Each module allows you to explore useful HOME Each module allows you to explore useful HOME

topics in your own way and at your own pace topics in your own way and at your own pace

More alternatives for Low Cost More alternatives for Low Cost HousingHousing

Prefab / Modular HomesPrefab / Modular Homes Pre-engineered buildingsPre-engineered buildings Architecture for Humanity – Non profit Architecture for Humanity – Non profit

design services firmdesign services firm Housemate matchHousemate match Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

References used for this presentationReferences used for this presentation• www.hud.govwww.hud.gov• www.habitat.orgwww.habitat.org• www.ruralhome.orgwww.ruralhome.org

Thank youThank youQUESTIONS ???QUESTIONS ???

COMMENTSCOMMENTS

Lets try and help them make the USA their HOME by

helping them build a HOUSE…!!!