State Agency Housing Efforts

Representatives from state agencies will discuss their housing programs and interaction between programs and agencies. Hear how stakeholders can access these resources and how state agencies are working together to make programs more effective.

Moderator:

Blaine Brockman, Ohio Housing Finance Agency
Blaine Brockman joined the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) in April 2004 as the Chief of Staff and was later promoted to Assistant Executive Director. Mr. Brockman oversees the programmatic and financial activities of the Agency. Prior to joining OHFA, he worked at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a Law Enforcement Officer and in Labor Relations and for the Ohio Department of Development as the Assistant Human Resources Administrator. Most recently, he worked at the Ohio Department of Commerce as the Human Resources Administrator. Mr. Brockman earned a Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University and his Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from Capital University Law School. He is a member of the Governor's Interagency Council for Homelessness and Affordable Housing Policy Team, the Madison County MR/DD Board, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Association of County Boards of MR/DD. He is a practicing attorney and volunteers with the Habitat for Humanity of Madison County.

Speakers:

Kevin Aldridge, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
Kevin Aldridge is the Assistant Deputy Director of Policy and Constituent Services at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities in charge of operational policy in areas such as Housing, Employment, Autism, MI/DD Dual Diagnosis and Children Services. Prior to joining the Department in 2007, Mr. Aldridge was the Senior Director of Ohio operations for a national provider of disabilities and behavioral health service. Kevin also has extensive service with a County Board of DD and was instrumental in the formation of the Family and Children First Council in Franklin County.

Sara Andrews, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
Sara Andrews has served as the Superintendent of the Adult Parole Authority (APA) for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) since 2003. She has been employed with DRC since 1991 and has served in a variety of positions including Parole Officer, Hearing Officer with the Ohio Parole Board, Deputy Superintendent of the APA, Assistant to the Chief of the APA, and Assistant to the Deputy Director of the DRC Division of Parole and Community Services. Ms. Andrews' academic background includes a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Colorado and Master of Science from the University of Dayton, Ohio. She has authored and co-authored articles for the Ohio Community Corrections Organization (OCCO) newsletters (2005-2007), the Ohio Judicial Conference "For the Record" publication (Spring 2007), the Ohio Judicial Conference Bill Board publication (2007), and the National institute of Corrections, "Ohio's Evidence-Based Approach to Community Sanctions and Supervision" (January 2007). Ms. Andrews is a member of the Ohio Community Corrections Advisory Board, Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections, American Probation and Parole Association, Appointed member of the Ohio Council of Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision, and the Interagency Council on Homelessness and Affordable Housing.

William J. Graves, Ohio Department of Development
As an employee of the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) for more than 25 years, William J. Graves has served the department in several positions including: Development Specialist, Development Specialist Supervisor, Office Manager and Assistant Deputy Director. After two years as the Housing Administrator for the city of Columbus, Mr. Graves returned to ODOD as the Community Development Division Director in February 2007. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University receiving a Master of Arts in Public Administration, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering, a Master's degree in City and Regional Planning, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Ohio Planning Conference, and serves as the ODOD representative on the Ohio Housing Finance Agency Board. The Community Development Division coordinates program policy for the following two offices: Housing and Community Partnerships and Community Services. With 110 staff members, the division administers more than $700 million of state and federal funds targeted to improving the quality of life for low- and moderate-income Ohioans. The division designs, develops and implements financial strategies ensuring appropriate internal controls and efficient operation, policies and procedures for the following programs: Community Development Block Grant Program; HOME Investment Partnerships Program; Emergency Shelter Grant Program; Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program; Neighborhood Stabilization Program; Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program; Community Services Block Grant Program; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; Home Weatherization Assistance Program; Electric Partnership Program (EPP); Percentage of Income Payment Plan; Ohio Housing Trust Fund; and other state-funded programs. The division is also actively engaged in a number of statewide initiatives including the state's Save the Dream foreclosure prevention efforts, the Interagency Council on Homelessness and Affordable Housing, and the Governor's Anti-Poverty Task Force.

Brock Robertson, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Brock Robertson graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. While going to school full-time, he worked as an intern in the Director's Office for the Ohio Department of Development. He subsequently pursued an internship in the Technology Division for the Ohio Department of Development, where he reviewed grants for the Technology Investment Tax Credit Program. Following his internship, he was hired by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) where he worked for five years. Mr. Robertson worked as an Internal Auditor reviewing the Section 8 portfolio for OHFA. He was then promoted to Compliance Analyst within the Office of Program Compliance where he reviewed tax credit properties. With his team, Mr. Robertson was in charge of the annual reports for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program and reviewing all troubled properties. Mr. Robertson holds various certifications in the housing industry including, AHM® (Assistant Housing Manager) Certified, Low Income Housing Tax Credit-TaCCs®, HCCP® (Housing Credit Certified Professional), and SHCM™ (Specialist in Housing Credit Management). Currently, Mr. Robertson is the Housing Coordinator for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Bureau of Community Services Policy. In this position he specializes in accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities throughout the state. Currently, he is the Housing Director for the HOME Choice program (federally known as Money Follows the Person). This program assists Ohioans who wish to leave an institutional setting and return to live in the community. An intricate part of this process is housing and the barriers these consumers face. He helps bring awareness of current housing issues to the housing industry leaders to help develop change on a policy level. He is a member of the Policy Team of the Inter-Agency Council on Homelessness and Affordable Housing and is the Co-Chair of the Ohio Access Housing work group within the council. He manages the development and daily operations of the "Ohio Housing Locator" web site.

Kevin Shepherd, Ohio Department of Youth Services
Kevin Shepherd is the Chief of Parole for the Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS). In this role, Mr. Shepherd oversees the operations of six regional offices located throughout the State of Ohio, as well as all Central Office Bureau personnel. He is responsible for all community residential and non-residential services and programs, including specialized placement needs and the cost effective use of contractual services. Mr. Shepherd also serves as the administrator for numerous other large initiatives serving youth on parole. He has served in several other positions within ODYS including: Juvenile Parole Officer, Juvenile Parole Services Supervisor, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director, and Parole Services Manager. Mr. Shepherd received his Bachelor's degree from Kent State University in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. The American Correctional Association currently certifies him as a Certified Corrections Manager-Juvenile.

Jeanette Welsh, Ohio Department of Mental Health

 

 

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