Communication Tools To Help You Counter NIMBYism

1. Communication Tools To Help You Counter NIMBYism

2. Communications 101: A refresher • Key messages • Telling your story • Social math • Choose your messenger • Importance of Visuals • Writing tips 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

3. Four Key Messages • People who need affordable housing are working • families with children, young adults, seniors and persons with disabilities • Too many people can’t find an affordable place to live • Our children deserve a safe, stable home • Communities that offer more affordable housing options are stronger economically 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

4. Telling your story • Characters you can relate to • A plot you can believe in • Well executed • A call to action that moves you 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

5. Social Math • Put large numbers in social context • Use situations/contexts that your audience is • familiar with • Popcorn example 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

6. Choose your messenger • Tell your story in person • Choose an “indigenous” messenger 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

7. Importance of Visuals • Visuals help reality set in • Visuals can change someone’s perspective • Once someone has a picture in their head, it’s hard • to replace it. 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

8. 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

9. 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

10. Writing Tips • Press release • Letter to the Editor • Op-ed 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

11. Press Release • Have a good reason for sending out the release • Keep it short • Follow the format • Include quotes • Email (pdf attachments) • Distribute (good time to update your list) 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

12. Letter to the Editor • Keep it short (200 words) • Timely (get it out within 24-48 hours) • Take a stand • Refer to the article to which you’re responding • Don’t send on Friday 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

13. Op-ed • Timely, must be in response to current issue • Write exclusively for one paper • Keep it between 700-800 words • Stay on point • Follow up • Write with reason and logic, not emotion 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

14. Communications 101: A refresher • Any questions? 118 St. Mary’s St Raleigh, NC 27605 ◊ 919-881-0707 ◊ www.nchousing.org

15. 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

16. NIMBY, BANANA & LULU 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

17. Not In My Backyard Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone Locally Undesirable Land Uses 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

18. Who are we? Mission: To expand affordable and well-maintained housing and promote stable neighborhoods for low and moderate income families with a continuing interest in the ability of occupants to more fully enter the economic mainstream.Vision: That everyone in Mecklenburg County live in a decent, affordable home. 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

19. History Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Inc. (The Housing Partnership) started with the seed of an idea and a selfless group of people appointed to a Charlotte city-wide task force. Incorporated in 1988, The Housing Partnership is now a broad-based, private, nonprofit housing development and finance corporation. 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

20. Overview The Housing Partnership has 3 main focus areas: Revitalization – Giving new life to targeted neighborhoods. Education – Educating homebuyers, homeowners and the community. Development – Providing affordable for-sale and rental homes. 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704. 42.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

21. Approach • Work with neighborhood leaders • Develop a plan • Rehab + new construction • Homeownership + rental • Target hot spots and phase • development for maximum impact • Long-term commitment • Exit strategy • Sustainability of investment Overview • Greenville – 100+ new and renovated houses • Genesis Park – 100+ new and renovated houses • Seversville – 50+ new and renovated houses and 47 new rental units • Park at Oaklawn – 178 new rental units, 71 new house and 83 new senior units • Currently working in Druid Hills and Double Oaks Revitalization 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

22. Services • Pre-Purchase Individual Advising • Budgeting • Credit Analysis • Mortgage Recommendation • Homebuyer Education Classes • Licensed Mortgage Company • Delinquency/Foreclosure Prevention • Post-Homeownership Classes • Financial Literacy Classes • Community Outreach Seminars • 2009 Homeownership Data • Financial Literacy Classes - 91 participants • Pre-Purchase Individual Advising – • 746 participants • 131 new homeowners • Homebuyer Education Classes - 342 graduates • Delinquency/Foreclosure Prevention Advising - • 302 participants in system • 80 workouts • Community Outreach Seminars - 885 attendees Education 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

23. Principles • Mixed-Income • Quality Management & Maintenance • Great Locations • Provide Financial Literacy and Support Homeownership • Create stable rental home communities • WHO ARE THEY? • Workforce Families • (i.e. bank tellers, pharmacist assistants, LPNs, school bus drivers, daycare workers, truck drivers and warehouse employees, etc.) • Seniors • Persons with disabilities • Homeless under state targeted plan Portfolio • 17 Developments owned & managed • 1,372 units total Development 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

24. Why NIMBYism? FEAR Most people fear what they don’t know & don’t understand. 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

25. What Fears? Multifamily/attached housing Depreciation of home values Public safety concerns Affect on future investments Poorly managed units 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

26. Prep Work Smart site selection Good design and development plan Community background research (i.e., politics, community history, current events, timing, etc.) Regulatory pressures and issues 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

27. Communications 101 - Case Studies • Key messages • Telling your story • Social math • Choose your messenger • Importance of Visuals • Writing tips 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

28. Facts • $17 million development • Completed in 2005 • 192 units (2 & 3 bedrooms) • 100 affordable/ 92 market units • Tax credit/bond financing • Statistics • Average Income - $30,404 • Average Rent - $676 • Average Family Size - 2 • % of AMI Served - 57% Rivermere Apartments

29. Prep Work – • No rezoning required • Approved for City Trust Fund • financing • No waiver needed for City’s Locational Policy • Some public safety concerns around development growth in area • Researched and spoke with key community leaders • Lack of affordable rental housing in this area of city • Communications 101 – • Messages • Our strict screening policies and rules • Our rigid management policies and the fact that we strictly enforce them • Telling Your Story • Our history and sterling reputation of quality development work and service • Social Math • Messenger(s) • Visuals • Color renderings and sites plans • Pictures of other successful developments Rivermere Apartments

30. Facts • $8 million development • Completed in 2009 • 50 units (1 & 2 bedrooms) with structured parking • Part of a redevelopment master plan • Co-developed with Housing Authority • Statistics • Average Income - $13,955 • Average Rent - $471 • Average Family Size - 1 • % of AMI Served – 30% SpringCroft Senior Apartments

31. Prep Work – • Rezoning required • Approved for City Trust Fund financing • Development in higher-inc. area of city, but replacing older public housing • Part of development team, not lead in community outreach • Lack of affordable rental housing in this area of city • Affordable senior apartments not as controversial most times • Spent a great deal of time and money on getting the design right • Communications 101 – • Messages • Our strict screening, management and enforcement • Telling Your Story • Our history and reputation • Social Math • Need for affordable housing for aging in city • Messenger(s) • Visuals • Color renderings and sites plans • Pictures of other successful developments • Writing • Op-eds, emails to politician, showing-up SpringCroft Senior Apartments

32. Facts • $10 million development • Not started • 90 units (2 & 3 bedrooms) • Serving 60% & below of AMI • Tax credit financing Westinghouse Apartments

33. Prep Work – • No rezoning required • Denied waiver of City’s Locational Policy, and thus received no City Trust Fund financing • Some public safety concerns around development growth in area • Community hired attorney to fight • Lack of affordable rental housing in this area of city • Bad economy and fear of additional depreciation of property values • Political atmosphere not good for affordable development in city (timing) • Communications 101 – • Messages • Our strict screening, management and enforcement • Telling Your Story • Our history and reputation • Social Math • Need for affordable housing in area • Messenger(s) • Visuals • Color renderings and sites plans • Pictures of other successful developments • Writing • Op-eds, emails to politician, showing-up Westinghouse Apartments

34. Closing Thoughts Know your record; guard your reputation; and know your audience Presentation is everything (i.e., color renderings, professional photography, top-notch architectural designs, etc.) Control your community meetings…don’t‘ be rude, but don’t back-down all the time either Building key community alliances are important Get to know policy-makers and politicians before you need a vote (i.e., meetings, lunch, property tours, support and showing-up for key public policy issues, etc.) Control the media – you do not HAVE to talk if they call…don’t let your development fight play out only in the media Use new media technology to your advantage – email, Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. 4601 Charlotte Park Dr., Ste. 350, Charlotte, NC 28271 ◊ 704.342.0933 ◊ www.cmhp.org

35. Questions and Discussion