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"CARH is effective and has, over the years, been successful at keeping affordable housing issues in the discussions on [Capitol] Hill."
~~ CARH Member -- 2010 Membership Survey
For over 30 years, the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), a non-profit trade association, has served as the nation's premier advocate for participants in the affordable rural housing profession. No other association solely represents the needs of the affordable rural housing industry.
TO JOIN CARH:
CARH Membership Benefits
Expert Staff and Legislative Representation
Members have access to CARH's executive director, with years of experience in Washington, and staff who are well versed on industry-related issues. CARH's National Office responds quickly and accurately to your questions and concerns. Members are formidably representated in Washington, DC. The executive director, who receives input from CARH's Board of Directors, committees and members, is a skilled communicator and negotiator with years of experience in working effectively on Capitol Hill. The nationally respected law firm, Nixon Peabody, LLP, which is also a leader in affordable housing advocacy, including federal tax credit HUD and USDA programs, provides general councel and legislative representation to CARH.
Networking Opportunities
CARH is comprised of a dedicated, intelligent membership base, which is motivated to share professional ideas and resources. CARH members gather at least twice each year during CARH's annual meeting and legislative conference in Washington, DC, and CARH's mid-year meeting held in locations ranging from coast to coast. Exclusive access to an online member directory allows quick access to the membership.
Invaluable Resources
CARH members gain access to the most up-to-date resources in the industry through a variety of media.
CARH Website
The members' only section of CARH's website provides legislative updates, membership and vendor directories and detailed information about all membership benefits. The website provides current tax-credit rates, industry news briefs, links to Congress and other industry related news, in order to ensure that our members receive the most thorough and updated information.
CARH’s Broadcast E-mail System
Through CARH’s Broadcast E-mails, members are informed, literally up-to-the minute, on breaking legislative and regulatory news from the national CARH office. This rapid-response system keeps members up-to-date on legislative and regulatory news from our national office.
CARH News
All members receive CARH News, the association's bi-monthly electronic newsletter. For years, CARH members, congressional staff and HUD and Rural Development officials have relied on CARH News for timely, insightful information on essential rural housing issues.
Insights for On-Sites
Insights for On-Sites is a quarterly newsletter published for on-site property managers who work at CARH-member properties. The newsletter is a helpful resource that contains information pertaining to all management aspects including building and grounds maintenance, safety regulations, resident issues, administrative tips, and more.
Electronic AN Express
The Electronic AN Express, CARH’s subscription-based publication, contains key Federal Register excerpts from the RD, HUD, FEMA, Department of Treasury, IRS and other agencies that impact the industry. It also inlcues RD Administrative Notices (ANs), procedure manual changes, data sets, such as Income Limits and Difficult Development Areas. The Electronic AN Express sends these documents to your e-mail inbox the day they are released.
CARH Meetings
CARH’s Mid-Year and Annual Meetings allow members to hear directly from industry leaders, who provide the most up-to-date information on important policy issues. CARH’s reputation attracts the industry’s most influential speakers. CARH speakers often include people who oversee state-level housing finance and tax compliance, officials from federal agencies and key member of Congress and their staff.
Meeting these industry representatives and other CARH members also ensures that members' voices are heard where they matter most. At these events, members can also participate in committee meetings, which help establish CARH’s policies and priorities.
Education
Members gain the knowledge and skills necessary for success by attending training programs and seminars and participating in online training programs. Courses available to members include tax credit certification, Section 515 certification, fair housing compliance and Basic Apartment Management. CARH is fortunate to have nationally recognized trainers as members. By being a member, you and your employees will save thousands in training fees as members receive reduced rates when attending these training programs.
Receive industry recognition you deserve. CARH rewards you for your training and experience with the nationally-recognized education designations: the Rural and Affordable Housing Professional (RAHP) for on-site property managers; and the Rural and Affordable Housing Executive (RAHE) for supervisors and executives.
Savings
Members can receive unprecedented savings thanks to the CARH Preferred Buyers Program. As CARH combines the size and strength of our membership, we are able to negotiate national supplier agreements with large national suppliers at preferred pricing. CARH members often save enough money through their CARH discounts to more than cover the cost of their membership dues! CARH’s Preferred Buyers include Wells Fargo Insurance Services, HD Supply, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Staples and Online Rental Exchange.
Wells Fargo Insurance Services offers CARH members individually tailored packages for property and casualty insurance. HD Supply provides CARH members with the lowest catalog pricing, enabling CARH members to save an dramatically on HD Supply products. CARH members additionally receive free shipping, next day delivery, unequaled customer service, and other “VIP” advantages from HD Supply. Members receive the lowest pricing on paint, paint supplies, and floor coverings though CARH’s affiliation with The Sherwin-Williams Company. Sherwin-Williams is renowned as the leading supplier in the industry for quality paint products. Staples offers CARH members significant discounts on all office supply products, which can significantly reduce the overhead costs for both members’ offices and on-site management offices. Staples offers customized company accounts, allowing CARH members to place orders, track orders, and get a spending analysis for their entire company and all of their properties through a customized web-based account. The Online Rental Exchange offers CARH member properties a tenant screening solution, that includes credit, criminal and eviction reports.
The responsibilities of CARH’s Initiatives Committee include adding new vendors and expanding the Preferred Buyers Program so that CARH members can receive more discounts from the vendors they use most.
CARH members also always receive discounted rates on CARH’s meetings, seminars, and training courses.
State Affiliated Associations
Reduced individual membership rates are offered to members in those states and regions that have formed CARH state affiliated associations. Organizations affiliated with CARH are in the following states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Click here to view the State Affiliated Associations Directory!
Property Benefits
Thanks to CARH’s urging, in 1999, the then-Rural Housing Service released a critical Administrative Notice that permits properties to pay a training and education fee and thus employees of these properties can take advantage of our important professional development and education tools. Through CARH membership, on-site property managers receive an exclusive newsletter, Insights for On-Sites; they also receive discounted rates for the many training courses offered throughout the country and become eligible for CARH's education designations. This training and education fee also enables properties to take advantage of CARH's Preferred Buyer Program, which provides substantial discounts for products and services purchased from these suppliers to the industry.
Basic vs. Associate Members
Basic CARH Members include developers, equity financiers, lenders, management companies, owners, syndicators, and nonprofits that manage and own rural housing.
Associate CARH Members include accountants, architects, attorneys, computer and software vendors, market analysts, site inspection services, and other companies that provide services to the rural housing industry.
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