What does that acronym stand for? ABC’s of the Coalition for Home Repair

What does that acronym stand for? ABC’s of the Coalition for Home Repair.

If you work in community development, the blog Alphabet Soup: Breaking Down All Those Housing and Community Development Terms by Shelterforce is a must-read. 

We were inspired to take it one step further and build a list of acronyms and explanations relating to home repair, public housing funds, and our even own programs.

502 Loan

Also known as the Section 502 Direct Loan Program, this program assists low- and very-low-income applicants obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing in eligible rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase an applicant’s repayment ability. Payment assistance is a type of subsidy that reduces the mortgage payment for a short time. The amount of assistance is determined by the adjusted family income.

504 Loan

Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.

AMI, Area Median Income

The median household income for a given area. Often used to determine both eligibility for affordable housing and what constitutes affordable rents or prices. Many members serve households at 80% AMI or below.

CAA, Communtiy Action Agency

Community Action Agencies (CAA) are non-profit organizations fighting poverty at the local level. Established by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, CAA's operate in 96 percent of all cities and counties across the country. The nation's Community Action Agencies were the centerpiece of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty".

CAGE, Commercial and Governmnet Entity Code

The Commercial and Government Entity Code, or CAGE Code, is a unique identifier assigned to suppliers to various government or defense agencies, as well as to government agencies themselves and various organizations. A CAGE code is usually needed before receiving federal funds.

CAPS, Certified Aging in Place Specialist

The program is designed to teach the business management, customer service and technical information a business needs to serve the needs of seniors or the elderly. This is a certification program.

CDBG, Community Development Block Grant

A block grant administered through HUD to municipalities or states that can be used for a wide range of purposes that are supposed to further community development in some way.

CDC, Community Development Corporation

A type of placed-based nonprofit organization that uses tools of planning and real estate development to support its community. The certification might be issued through a state or a local economic development entity. 

CDFI, Community Development Financial Institution

A designation for community lenders that have met the standards to qualify to apply for funds from the federal CDFI Fund, housed at the Treasury Department.

CHDO, Community Housing Development Organization (often pronounced like CHEEDO)

A designation for community-based organizations allowing them to access a portion of federal HOME funds set aside just for them. CHDOs—which overlap heavily with CDCs—must, among other things, be private nonprofits with designated geographic areas and least one-third of their board composed of representatives of the low-income community.

CRA, Community Reinvestment Act

A law passed in 1977 designed to rectify discrimination on the part of financial institutions by requiring them to make loans and investments in all places where they take deposits.

CRM, Customer Relationship Manager

A software product to help track and manage customer relationships.

ELI, Extremely Low Income

Usually refers to households earning less than 30 percent of the area median income.

ER, Environmental Review

An environmental review is the process of reviewing a project and its potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets federal, state, and local environmental standards.

Fahe

A network of 50+ nonprofits across the Appalachian portion of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Alabama, and Maryland. Fahe offers resources relating to housing, education, health and social services, and economic opportunity.

HAC, Housing Assistance Council

National organization advocating for affordable housing in rural areas.

HEROS, HUD Environmental Review Online System

The online system used by HUD for developing, documenting, and managing environmental reviews. It covers all levels of environmental reviews for both Part 50 and Part 58 projects.

HHP, Healthy Home Production

The Healthy Homes Production Program (HHP) is part of HUD’s overall Healthy Homes Initiative.The grant program aims to reduce home health hazards through funding repairs with health related outcomes.

HOME Funds, HOME Investment Partnership Program

The largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. HOME is a HUD program.

HPG, Home Preservation Grant

A funding opportunity offered by the USDA for repair homes for very-low income households.

HUD, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

A federal agency formed in 1965. HUD oversees public housing and vouchers, federal anti-homelessness efforts, fair housing enforcement, HOME funds, CDBG, and the FHA.

LMI, Low to Moderate Income

Typically used as an adjective, such as “LMI communities.”

NFHA, National Fair Housing Alliance

National advocacy and legal organization.

NLIHC, National Low Income Coalition Housing Coalition

NOFA, Notice of Funding Availability

A formal announcement that government funds are available to be applied for. The government version of a request for proposals or a grant application.

NRHC, National Rural Housing Coalition

OAHMP, Older Adult Homes Modification Program 

A funding program offered by HUD that focuses on low-cost, high-impact home modifications and supports partnership with licensed occupational therapists.

OT, Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists are licensed health care professionals who help people find ways to do daily activities that they need or want to do. Most occupational therapists need to be board certified in their state and pursue continuing education.

OZ, Opportunity Zone

Federally designated areas determined by states, which under the 2017 tax bill, are eligible for tax advantages for those who invest in them.

PZ, Promize Zone

Promise Zones are high poverty communities where the federal government partners with local leaders to increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, leverage private investment, reduce violent crime, enhance public health and address other priorities identified by the community.

ReFrame Conference

The annual conference hosted by the Coalition for Home Repair.

RRP, Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule

The Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule establishes requirements for firms and individuals performing renovations, and affects contractors, property managers and others who disturb painted surfaces. It applies to work in houses, apartments and child-occupied facilities (such as schools and child care centers) built before 1978. It includes pre-renovation education requirements as well as training, firm certification and work practice requirements. 

RRP Certification, Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Certification

RRP Certification is the Lead Based Paint Certification required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since April 22, 2010 for all individuals, companies, organizations, firms or agencies who work-in or offer to perform work in buildings built before 1978. The EPA calls this program the Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair & Painting or RRP Certification.

SAM, System for Award Management

SAM is a huge database that includes every entity that is registered to do business with the federal government. The SAM number actually is known as a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code.

SDoH, Social Determinants of Health

All the factors beyond medical care and genetics that affect a person’s health. Notably includes things like stable, healthy, and affordable housing; access to transportation; and a safe neighborhood.

SHPO, State Historic Preservation Office

USDA, US Department of Agriculture 

VHRMP, Veteran Home Repair and Modification Pilot Program

A funding program offered by HUD to repair homes for low-income veterans with disabilities. 

WAP, Weatherization Assistance Program

DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program provides grants to states (Grantees), and states provide grants to local weatherization agencies (Subgrantees) to weatherize homes occupied by income-eligible households. The program serves a very diverse client-base residing in a wide array of housing types located across a range of climate zones.

What acronyms relating to home repair and rehabilitation do you think could be included? Let us know.