SpicaBooks.Com/Housing.html - Alternative Housing Institute - experimental construction job training & coop housing development

02 Aug 09 - SpicaBooks.Com/Housing.html

Founded by Andrew Homer

Ecolonomics

Alternative Housing Institute

Alternative Energy

Recent finds: Buma Group (Poland) - kitHAUS (California) - Coin Street (affordable) Housing, London.

VERY affordable homes are now being made out of unused ship cargo containers which can be bought for only $500-$2000. Home construction costs are reduced by 60% and construction time reduced by 50%.

"Government must do more to encourage construction of affordable housing through zoning regulations. Communities need to work with developers and allow them to increase the density for market-rate housing. In exchange, the developers have to allow for a certain amount of houses to be sold at affordable rates." - Barbara Lipman, research director, Center for Housing Policy

Building Green Has Financial Benefits

Research by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Green Building Council reveals that energy-efficient construction compliant with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Energy Star standards produces annual energy savings of 20 percent to 50 percent. Commercial developers can recoup a project's cost in as few as two years, while residential builders earn their payback within five years. LEED certified buildings offer other benefits as well, such as lower operating costs and higher asset values. In addition, better indoor air quality and natural light boost worker productivity, improve employee attendance, and even drive up sales. New York, Maryland, and Oregon already offer green-building incentives; and experts believe these research findings could prompt other states and local governments to follow suit. Among the cities offering grants and private loans for green projects are Portland, Seattle, Pittsburgh, and Columbus, Ohio.

- 5 Jan 04 Tim Welsh - Columbus Business First

The Enterprise Foundation

The Enterprise Foundation, based in Columbia, Maryland, was founded in 1982 to create new housing opportunities for low-income people. Enterprise works with more than 700 nonprofit organizations in more than 200 locations. Since its inception, Enterprise has raised and committed more than $2.1 billion in grants, loans, and equity investments for the development of more than 72,000 homes for low-income people across the country.

Peter Werwath, senior program director for The Enterprise Foundation, was instrumental in getting the Roundtable and Strategic Housing Plan for Santa Fe off the ground. The Community Development Division contracted Enterprise, with the aid of a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant, to provide technical assistance to address the city’s housing problem. As they have in other communities, Enterprise offered to: (1) assess the climate for the development of a public/private partnership in Santa Fe, (2) assist in creating a community-wide strategic plan; and (3) help implement the plan through funding and technical assistance to newly created programs and partnerships.

Enterprise played an integral role in developing the Strategic Housing Plan for Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Affordable Housing Roundtable.

In addition to facilitating the strategic planning process, Enterprise helped to finance and implement new affordable housing activities called for in the Strategic Housing Plan. Enterprise helped structure the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, advised on HOME Program applications, advised on the structure of the Tierra Contenta purchase, and assisted with several successful funding applications for specific projects. Enterprise was also hired by the City to build the capacity of the Santa Fe Community Housing Trust.

Enterprise helped the Housing Trust develop a business plan, hire and train initial staff, create a home ownership education program, advise on development projects, and prepare funding applications.

Roundtable Role: Member, administrator, funder, technical assistance provider; serves on Allocations Committee. More specifically, Enterprise:

* Provides technical assistance to all Roundtable agencies for their projects.
* Provides low-interest loans for pre-development expenses.
* Has provided pass-through operating grants of HOME funds—under agreements with HUD—to Community-based Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs).
* Arranges meetings and prepares and distributes minutes.
* Maintains files and records of: Roundtable Steering Committee meetings; Allocation Committee meetings; and Policies and procedures governing Roundtable activities
* Administers the Trust Fund allocation process.
* Monitors federal, state, and other relevant developments that could affect members.
* Helps prepare funding applications.

The Enterprise Foundation Document Package: Santa Fe Affordable Housing Trust Fund

Waterproof Cardboard Shelters

Sanford Ponder: Icopod - If people have to live in boxes, at least someone should invent a better box. That was Sanford Ponder's inspiration for his shelter invention, the Icopod. It's a fold-up house made of cardboard that comes in two sizes. Sanford hopes to sell his creation to relief agencies and homeless organizations, but he's also building himself a new life by he and his wife selling their home and living in an Icopod village. - Dreamer.

CitiesFirst (US Conference of Mayors + Nehemiah Corp)

Affordable housing is the term used to describe housing opportunities that are available to households earning 80 percent or less of median family income that do not require more than 30 percent of gross monthly income be spent on housing cost.

Housing Affordability Hits 30-Year High Nationwide

8 May 2003 - Lower mortgage interest rates offset higher home prices, putting housing affordability conditions in the first quarter at their highest level in 30 years, according to NAR. The index shows the typical US household had 144% of the income needed to purchase a home at the first-quarter median existing-home price, which was $161,700. For more information, go to realtor.org/publicaffairsweb.nsf/Pages/HAI1qtr03.

House Hears Need for Rural Housing Assistance

27 Jun 2003 - The National Association of Realtors, in a written statement to a House Subcommittee on rural housing, last week voiced support for increases in the federal assistance program for rural housing for both homeownership and rental. NAR also encouraged support for the affordable housing development tax credit, which could help encourage development in rural communities. For more info, contact: Megan Booth 202/383-1222, mbooth@realtors.org.

Statement of Purpose Change

As of May 1, 2000; our new goal will be to provide training where it's really needed - for those with an urgent need for affordable housing: Kurdistan (northern Iraq & southeast Turkey).

Subject: Iraqi Ministry of Housing & Construction
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003
From: "Gomez, Patsky O., O3" <gomezp @ orha.centcom .mil>
To: Unicameral HQ @ yahoo .com

Sir:

I am a military engineer assisting the Iraqi Ministry of Housing & Construction and I have very limited knowledge of the alternative construction methods / materials that are available on the market. I am looking for methods and materials that will deliver durable housing facilities to Iraq in a timely manner. I would like to know more about your housing program in Iraq to see if we can bring it into the country and perhaps implement throughout the entire country. I appreciate any information and assistance you can provide.

Very Respectfully,

Patsky Gomez CPT, EN
CJTF-7 Infrastructure Action Officer
"Ministry of Housing & Construction"
DSN: 318-836-1010
DNVT: 302-559-7049
Cell: 1-914-360-2305

Episcopal Relief & Development

Flying Concrete

Dome Homes

I, now, have rammed-earth specialists available to build your home in central New Mexico -

Earthship Workshop

Have you seen the video of the Earthship home that was constructed for Dennis Weaver?

We're negotiating with Michael Reynolds of Solar Survival Architecture, in Taos, to conduct a six-day Earthship Workshop here in Albuquerque. For more information see . AHI Earthship Workshop.

Downtown Redevelopment Meets Its Skeptics

Any Progressives Out There?

If I don't mind saying so myself, my idea for the Alternative Housing Institute is one of the most ambitious, society changing, progressive prospects since the advent of the Roosevelt's Civil Conservation Corps and the Social Security System.

If there are any REAL progressives in cyberville who love this proposal and want to pump an essential ingredient needed to keep the AHI afloat, please send your checks to:

Alternative Housing Institute
c/o Andrew Homer
PO Box 3326
Moriarty, NM 87035-3326
USA

505-440-6818

Affordable Housing & Community Development

Thunderbird Plaza

The Alternative Housing Institute will conduct research and job training in alternative construction plus the planning and design of cooperative housing.

There will be two colleges of the Alternative Housing Institute.

College of Alternative Construction

The College of Alternative Construction will research and job train as regarding unconventional modes of low-cost, high insulation building construction. This college will also specialize in passive heating and alternative energy sources converted for domestic use.

Courses will be about:

* Fiberglass-Teflon Fabric Tent Roofs w/ laminated PVC panels
* Fiber Cement Siding
* Foam insulated garage doors
* Zero Energy SIPs Cottage
* Lighting shelves
* Aerogel window insulation
* Extra white roofing
* Air crete wall insulation
* Steel walls
* Recycled construction
* Low cost, high insulation walls
* Straw bale adobe walls
* Prefab wall sections
* Insulating concrete forms
* Rammed earth tire walls
* RASTA block
* Cordwood walls
* Cement board
* Bondomass
* Advanced framing techniques
* Galvanized steel framing
* Structural insulated panels
* Thermal mass design
* TechShield radiant barrier structural panels
* Gunite domes
* Passive solar heating (south facing daylight window shelves & clerestories)
* Photovoltaics
* PV Roof Shingles
* Solar power
* Wind power
* Master water manifolds
* Solar hot water heating
* Water tower passive cooling
* Cool tubes
* Hydrology design (graywater system & rainwater harvesting)
* High-performance low-E heat mirror windows w/ argon
* Solar water distillers
* Skylight daylighting
* Non-voc paints
* Rust prevention of steel I-beams
* Wind brakes
* Xeriscaping
* Storm shelters

College of Cooperative Housing
Cooperative housing fills the valid and useful niche between single homes and duplexes on one end and apartments and quadplexes at the other end.

The College of Cooperative Housing will research and job train as regarding planning, design, management of cooperative housing. Also, negotiation skills, family dynamics, and first aid.

Affordable Housing Strategies: Lessons From Europe

"Most European countries have a sizeable social-housing sector, a network of large scale, nonprofit housing associations, to address the needs of people who are outside the mainstream economy.

"In the Netherlands and the United Kingdom there is very little rental housing that is owned by for-profit landlords. These nations have supported nonprofit housing associations for over 100 years as the primary way to provide housing for those who cannot afford escalating costs in the marketplace. These associations are large-scale, professionally run and mission-driven organizations, with a focus on the customer. Some are operating over 30,000 housing units. They have a contract with the government that allows them to receive substantial financial support in exchange for the value they bring to the marketplace.

"They have assets - both products and services - that give them bargaining power in the marketplace. They use the best technology in the best ways. They control market share and maintain a strong customer service culture. Product development reflects that customer-focused culture.

"One example is an innovative concept called “shared ownership,” a combination of owning and renting that lowers the housing cost for the consumer. In the United Kingdom, some associations are being asked to take ownership of locally owned council housing, which is comparable to our public housing stock. They are completing massive rehabilitation and financial restructuring programs to increase the value of this marginal housing. Additionally, they are developing mixed-income housing that builds community support and generates revenue. Housing with services for lower income people are an integrated part of this formula.

"The direct grant provided by the British government provides more than 70% of the total development cost of the housing. That’s an amazing contrast to the way we do it in the United States, where the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the primary source of federal support for affordable housing, provides only about 30% of the development cost.

"The European model is a true partnership with government, while the U.S. model tends to create a more adversarial relationship.

"The success of housing associations in Europe shows that the social housing sector in the United States is much too small to get the job done. We are not using the full potential of larger, regional nonprofit housing organizations to tackle the affordable housing crisis at a scale that will make a difference.

"We should reduce our dependence on for-profit developers to provide affordable housing. Most do not have a strong desire to sign up for the mind numbing experience of working with government regulators, fighting with neighborhood opposition and trying to assemble the complex financing packages required. Many who are already involved in the social housing sector would like to get out of the business. We should change tax laws and other regulations to make that process easier for them and turn that housing stock over to qualified, mission-driven nonprofit housing organizations. In tough economic times, bringing mission-driven nonprofit organizations to the table seems to be a more efficient and effective use of limited public resources.

- by Joseph Errigo

Kurd Construction Cooperative

Besides research and job training, as a resource for Alternative Construction and Cooperative Housing, our Kurd Construction Cooperative could provide consultants for projects for anywhere in New Mexico.

Subsequently, additional income could be provided by tuition paid by students from outside of New Mexico or even from outside of the United States. Eventually, we could provide consultants for cooperative housing projects intended for anywhere, should they be in Pennsylvania, Algeria or Siberia.

While we can initially focus on cooperative housing, we'll have to defer on experimental construction techniques in Albuquerque until the antique building codes are changed.

Addenda
Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area

The Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area comprises about 11 precincts in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 100% of the Trumbull Village is within this MRA. About 60% of the area or about 40% of the population of the La Mesa Community Improvement Association is within this MRA.

There's the intention of spending $350 million over the next 10 years in the Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area.

AHI - Trumesa Projects

The Kurd Construction Cooperative will develop infill to revitalize the Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area. As an urban housing cooperative, our proposed Kurd Cooperative Housing Projects will have townhouses, garden parks, swimming pools, play grounds, arts-crafts rooms, greenhouses, meeting halls with kitchens. They'll be managed by the Kurd Housing Co-op.

AHI - Light Rail System Administrative Headquarters

A light rail system is on the drawing board that would go from Tijeras, which is east of Albuquerque, to Black Ranch, which is west of Rio Rancho. $214 million of Federal funds is earmarked for this light rail project. This light rail will be going through the Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area.

The Alternative Housing Institute will bid to build the rail system's administrative headquarters on Central Avenue (the historic Route 66), between Louisiana Blvd and Wyoming Blvd in the FUTURE when this light railway becomes realistic.

The only two persons I know who likes the idea of a Tijeras to Black Ranch connection are former Albuquerque City Councilor Ruth Adams and US Senator Pete Domenici who share property in Black Ranch. Everyone I know likes the idea of a Santa Fe to Albuquerque route. But any light railway proposal is unrealistic for at least the next 15 years. One - currently, there isn't the population density to make this economical. In-fill first. Two - the current population of Albuquerque is taking more water out of the local aquifers, then what water is going back into the aquifers. So, at this time,

the ONLY smart growth
is NO growth.

Two considerations for a future lightrail: Bus feeder lines intersecting the railway can expedite lightrail practicality. To reduce injures and deaths, the lightrail could be put underground.

The AHI game plan is to resourcefully in-fill and have CURRENT Albuquerque tenants become future homeowners.

Nada mas. Nada menos.

Alternative Housing Institute
c/o Andrew Homer
PO Box 3326
Moriarty, NM 87035-3326
USA

Country's Best Log Homes focuses exclusively on milled log homes. The magazine helps consumers fulfill their dreams of living in log homes by providing all the information necessary to design, buy, build, maintain, and decorate milled log residences. Informative feature articles, helpful columns, and beautiful photos fill each issue.

* Building Greener: Building Better

* Ralph Nader on Affordable Housing

* Common Bond Communities

* Village Homes

* Sustainable Building

* "24V Air 403 Wind Generator"

* McGill University's Affordable Home Program

* Institute on Race and Poverty

* Smart Growth Working Group

* Intentional Communities

* new technologies for home savings

* Earthfriendly & Self-Sufficient Architecture

* Mother Earth News

* Crestview Homes

* Sustainable Sources

* Health House

The Earthbuilders Guild

Solar Adobe School

Earthships

Eco Building Systems

Adobe Magazine

Arcosanti

* Civano

* Community and Environmental Defense Services

* Alternative Building Materials

* Solar Power System Components

* Solar Design Associates

* Photovoltaics

* WeckTech

* Straw Bale - Greenfire - The Source

Student Housing in Holland

* www.duwo.nl - www.haagwonen.nl

* Ralph Nader on Housing

* Xanadu_House

Zengerly sees that need daily in her job at Peanut Butter and Jelly, an Albuquerque group that helps people find ways out of poverty by providing low-cost housing, day care and other assistance.

"There are a lot of people in the program who are truly just trying to get on their feet," Zengerly said. "They just need a tiny little step to get over the hump. If they don't get it, they could go back."