Isn't that the way of things?
That a government department or agency takes offense and jumps to conclusions without really listening to what the folks are just sayin?
Oh, the plight of the government worker. It must be tough to take the time to actually read all the facts and look at things from the perspective of 'outside the box'.
Good idea for Erin Smiddy of APCHA to line out the facts for the folks.
Shame she had to do it with the tone of condescending. Shame that someone like Andy Stone had to encourage and fuel animosity against APCHA with his recent column.
Most folks fully understand that APCHA isn't the bad guy.
The real bad guy is the entrenched power of developers and builders who have been cashing in on the subsidies, tax credits and lower-tier building standards these developments hold. And the politicians fueled by special interests that advocate it all.
Of course the little guy and the originally well-intended agency are going to ultimately be the only ones left out in the cold.
Too bad the flamers like Andy Stone and the Aspen Times encourage such a travesty of justice and too bad that any government worker becomes so apathetic they can no longer hear what the folks are really just sayin.
Read the rules and regs of APCHA? Click title.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label employee housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label employee housing. Show all posts
April 3, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Homeless group aims to reform ‘broken’ local housing rules"
"They are treated like chattel."
Yes, they most certainly are. Think about that angle of the current conversations on "deed-restricted" land use codes, "affordable" housing and "employee housing" from the construction, development, government and surrounding neighborhoods end.
"Anonymous" tips, indeed. Who benefits the most if those housing units go empty?
Great question.
Andrw Travers:
"The Regional Homeless Coalition, which focuses on homelessness from Aspen to Parachute, addressed the issue briefly Monday at its biannual meeting. Members discussed whether the housing authority may be contributing to homelessness in the Aspen area.
Aspen- and Pitkin County-based members of the group will meet again next week, in the hopes of formulating specific proposals for changes in the housing authority rules.
“I think we can articulate what our concerns are and productively move them forward to APCHA and the city and the county,” said Nan Sundeen, Pitkin County’s director of health and human services.
The Aspen City Council and Pitkin County commissioners oversee the housing rules, which are then administered by APCHA.
In February, the housing authority served Truscott resident Susan Johnson with an eviction notice for not being employed, and later upheld the eviction. In the second case, against Heidi Mines, who owns an APCHA home on East Hopkins Avenue, the board opted last month to grant a four-month eviction delay to give her time to find a job.
Both cases arose from anonymous tips to APCHA, which enforces compliance with housing rules through complaints. To qualify for local government affordable housing, residents must work a minimum of 29 hours per week in Pitkin County.
“That’s probably why people choose to break them, because the rules are broken,” said Vince Savage, director of the Aspen Homeless Shelter.
Savage expressed frustration with the housing rules and their narrow focus on housing employees.
“Is it a community for rich people and people willing to work 29 hours a week to serve them? Or is this a place that people can come to live?” Savage asked the group.
He compared the housing system to a college campus, where one can’t keep housing without staying in school, and characterized it as an exploitative 21st century feudalism.
“They’re treated like chattel,” Savage said of APCHA tenants......"
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Yes, they most certainly are. Think about that angle of the current conversations on "deed-restricted" land use codes, "affordable" housing and "employee housing" from the construction, development, government and surrounding neighborhoods end.
"Anonymous" tips, indeed. Who benefits the most if those housing units go empty?
Great question.
Andrw Travers:
"The Regional Homeless Coalition, which focuses on homelessness from Aspen to Parachute, addressed the issue briefly Monday at its biannual meeting. Members discussed whether the housing authority may be contributing to homelessness in the Aspen area.
Aspen- and Pitkin County-based members of the group will meet again next week, in the hopes of formulating specific proposals for changes in the housing authority rules.
“I think we can articulate what our concerns are and productively move them forward to APCHA and the city and the county,” said Nan Sundeen, Pitkin County’s director of health and human services.
The Aspen City Council and Pitkin County commissioners oversee the housing rules, which are then administered by APCHA.
In February, the housing authority served Truscott resident Susan Johnson with an eviction notice for not being employed, and later upheld the eviction. In the second case, against Heidi Mines, who owns an APCHA home on East Hopkins Avenue, the board opted last month to grant a four-month eviction delay to give her time to find a job.
Both cases arose from anonymous tips to APCHA, which enforces compliance with housing rules through complaints. To qualify for local government affordable housing, residents must work a minimum of 29 hours per week in Pitkin County.
“That’s probably why people choose to break them, because the rules are broken,” said Vince Savage, director of the Aspen Homeless Shelter.
Savage expressed frustration with the housing rules and their narrow focus on housing employees.
“Is it a community for rich people and people willing to work 29 hours a week to serve them? Or is this a place that people can come to live?” Savage asked the group.
He compared the housing system to a college campus, where one can’t keep housing without staying in school, and characterized it as an exploitative 21st century feudalism.
“They’re treated like chattel,” Savage said of APCHA tenants......"
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
March 30, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Delinquent APCHA affidavits are tough to track down"
Could it possibly be that the issues we are seeing with deed restricted housing are the result of a market that has been gutted with the shell game sham of developers that affordable and employee housing really is?
"Where are the jobs?"
Dorothy Atkins:
"There are about 194 people who own local affordable housing units who have not signed affidavits saying they are still in compliance with the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority’s (APCHA) employee housing guidelines.
The housing authority sends out requalification affidavits every two years that must be signed, notarized and returned to the housing office in order for the owner to be considered in compliance.
The three main qualifications to live in affordable housing are that the individual must work a minimum of 1,500 hours a year in Pitkin County, not own other property in the valley and maintain that the unit is his or her sole residence.
In February of 2011, APCHA sent out approximately 1,500 affidavits and received about 1,119 back by the summer. In July, a second notice was sent to those who didn’t reply and in November, more owners received a third request. By the end of the year there were about 194 people who didn’t return the affidavit, some intentionally, said Julie Kieffer, APCHA qualifications specialist.
There are a handful of residents who called the housing authority and said they were in compliance but refused to sign the affidavit based on moral grounds, Kieffer said.
“They’re saying they’re following the rules but they won’t sign it,” Kieffer said. “They think government is over-stepping...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Where are the jobs?"
Dorothy Atkins:
"There are about 194 people who own local affordable housing units who have not signed affidavits saying they are still in compliance with the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority’s (APCHA) employee housing guidelines.
The housing authority sends out requalification affidavits every two years that must be signed, notarized and returned to the housing office in order for the owner to be considered in compliance.
The three main qualifications to live in affordable housing are that the individual must work a minimum of 1,500 hours a year in Pitkin County, not own other property in the valley and maintain that the unit is his or her sole residence.
In February of 2011, APCHA sent out approximately 1,500 affidavits and received about 1,119 back by the summer. In July, a second notice was sent to those who didn’t reply and in November, more owners received a third request. By the end of the year there were about 194 people who didn’t return the affidavit, some intentionally, said Julie Kieffer, APCHA qualifications specialist.
There are a handful of residents who called the housing authority and said they were in compliance but refused to sign the affidavit based on moral grounds, Kieffer said.
“They’re saying they’re following the rules but they won’t sign it,” Kieffer said. “They think government is over-stepping...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
March 29, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Carbondale deed-restriction changes on hold"
Why do the folks fuss so much over so-called 'affordable housing', 'employee housing' and other deed restricted development?
You would think they would be happy, grateful for the ability to rent or purchase a home.
Think again.
In a certain number, deed restricted homes make sense. But, in order to make such a system work there has to be jobs that go along with them. When big chunks of these so-called employee housing units are bought up by an employer like the Aspen Ski Corp and then the creative uses of J-1 and H2B Visas are used by that same employer to pump in temporary immigrant workers; there is nothing of worth for the local and legal citizen.
On another note, think of how much power there is for a developer in being able to literally hold hostage the real estate market by working in sync with politicians to control moratoriums on building and deed restricted developments. If it was the Federal Reserve or Wall Street (or even the hallowed halls of Congress) we would be shouting out those dark words: "Insider Trading!!!!"
Think about that much power and control over the lives of the folks.
Will BoneDale Trustees continue the sham, the farce of 'deed restricted' building?
Hmmmm....maybe that depends on who they elect to office shortly. If you are for common sense, then for sure forget about voting for Bill Lamont (you remember him...the old Judy Haptonstall crony and recent loud voice for pro-VCR).
John Colson:
"CARBONDALE, Colorado — The town's trustees are worried that changes proposed for the rules at one affordable housing complex, Keator Grove, might spell disaster for other such projects or for the town's overall affordable housing guidelines.
So the board of trustees will sit down at a work session in May to review the relevant town codes and other documents, before turning back to the Keator Grove situation.
“I need more time to make sure there's no unintended consequences,” said Trustee Frosty Merriott at the board meeting on Tuesday.
At that meeting, the trustees reviewed the latest request from the Aspen Skiing Co. and individual owners of homes in Keator Grove, seeking changes to the deed restrictions governing resale of certain homes and townhomes in the project.
The Skiing Co. owns 16 of the 52 units in the complex, and has formed a sort of partnership with individual homeowners. Together, they are hoping to eliminate price caps for resale of some units.
The price caps limit the yearly appreciation in the prices of homes, as a way of keeping the units affordable. But when prices plummet due to the economy, the caps are seen as a threat to the owners' equity.
Homes that three years ago sold for $450,000, for example, might today sell for half that amount, according to Skiing Co. attorney Dave Myler and Keator Grove homeowners...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
You would think they would be happy, grateful for the ability to rent or purchase a home.
Think again.
In a certain number, deed restricted homes make sense. But, in order to make such a system work there has to be jobs that go along with them. When big chunks of these so-called employee housing units are bought up by an employer like the Aspen Ski Corp and then the creative uses of J-1 and H2B Visas are used by that same employer to pump in temporary immigrant workers; there is nothing of worth for the local and legal citizen.
On another note, think of how much power there is for a developer in being able to literally hold hostage the real estate market by working in sync with politicians to control moratoriums on building and deed restricted developments. If it was the Federal Reserve or Wall Street (or even the hallowed halls of Congress) we would be shouting out those dark words: "Insider Trading!!!!"
Think about that much power and control over the lives of the folks.
Will BoneDale Trustees continue the sham, the farce of 'deed restricted' building?
Hmmmm....maybe that depends on who they elect to office shortly. If you are for common sense, then for sure forget about voting for Bill Lamont (you remember him...the old Judy Haptonstall crony and recent loud voice for pro-VCR).
John Colson:
"CARBONDALE, Colorado — The town's trustees are worried that changes proposed for the rules at one affordable housing complex, Keator Grove, might spell disaster for other such projects or for the town's overall affordable housing guidelines.
So the board of trustees will sit down at a work session in May to review the relevant town codes and other documents, before turning back to the Keator Grove situation.
“I need more time to make sure there's no unintended consequences,” said Trustee Frosty Merriott at the board meeting on Tuesday.
At that meeting, the trustees reviewed the latest request from the Aspen Skiing Co. and individual owners of homes in Keator Grove, seeking changes to the deed restrictions governing resale of certain homes and townhomes in the project.
The Skiing Co. owns 16 of the 52 units in the complex, and has formed a sort of partnership with individual homeowners. Together, they are hoping to eliminate price caps for resale of some units.
The price caps limit the yearly appreciation in the prices of homes, as a way of keeping the units affordable. But when prices plummet due to the economy, the caps are seen as a threat to the owners' equity.
Homes that three years ago sold for $450,000, for example, might today sell for half that amount, according to Skiing Co. attorney Dave Myler and Keator Grove homeowners...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
March 20, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Unemployed affordable housing resident could lose her residence"
Curtis Wackerle:
"A woman who has been unemployed since battling cancer could be forced to sell her employee housing unit for not having a job.
Heidi Mines will go before the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority board on Wednesday evening to plead her case. The housing office sent Mines a “notice of violation” on Feb. 13, informing her that she would have to either sell her three-bedroom East Hopkins Avenue apartment or request a hearing before the APCHA board. The violation notice was a follow up to a January letter asking Mines to prove she had been working an average of at least 29 hours a week in Pitkin County, as residents of APCHA-controlled units are required to do.
Mines, 50, acknowledges that she has not worked for most of the last four years, beginning with her breast cancer diagnosis in October 2007. She was in treatment for two years, including numerous surgeries and chemotherapy. As she got back to being healthy enough to work, the economy was in the grips of a recession.
Mines said she’s applied for dozens of jobs since then, including positions with Pitkin County and the Aspen Skiing Co., but to no avail. Employers tend to look for younger people when they bring on new staff, she said.
Prior to battling cancer, Mines worked in retail, real estate and property management, among other lines of work. The Aspen native said that 80 to 90 percent of the job applications she has submitted are not acknowledged by the prospective employers...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"A woman who has been unemployed since battling cancer could be forced to sell her employee housing unit for not having a job.
Heidi Mines will go before the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority board on Wednesday evening to plead her case. The housing office sent Mines a “notice of violation” on Feb. 13, informing her that she would have to either sell her three-bedroom East Hopkins Avenue apartment or request a hearing before the APCHA board. The violation notice was a follow up to a January letter asking Mines to prove she had been working an average of at least 29 hours a week in Pitkin County, as residents of APCHA-controlled units are required to do.
Mines, 50, acknowledges that she has not worked for most of the last four years, beginning with her breast cancer diagnosis in October 2007. She was in treatment for two years, including numerous surgeries and chemotherapy. As she got back to being healthy enough to work, the economy was in the grips of a recession.
Mines said she’s applied for dozens of jobs since then, including positions with Pitkin County and the Aspen Skiing Co., but to no avail. Employers tend to look for younger people when they bring on new staff, she said.
Prior to battling cancer, Mines worked in retail, real estate and property management, among other lines of work. The Aspen native said that 80 to 90 percent of the job applications she has submitted are not acknowledged by the prospective employers...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
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