Upcoming Trainings
“Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners” Course
The training complements hazard-specific training in lead-based paint, radon, mold, pests, and asbestos. It identifies root causes of health problems in a home and links them to seven principles of healthy housing: Keep it dry; Keep it clean; Keep it pest-free; Keep it ventilated; Keep it safe; Keep it contaminant-free; and maintain the house.
Course participants will have a better understanding of how to collaborate to make healthy homes a reality in their community. To learn more, please visit the National Healthy Homes Training Center and Network website: http://healthyhousingsolutions.com/hhtc/
Date: January 15 and 16, 2019; Time: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Cost: $200 for government and non-profits; $230 for all others.
Healthy Homes: Assessment and Interventions
During this course, you will learn about the importance of conducting an assessment and resident interview using solutions-based approaches and tools. Likewise, after developing strategies for assessing the health-related hazards in a home, you will learn to conduct an onsite inspection, from which you will develop a comprehensive action plan. You will learn about identifying responsible parties, estimating costs, handling the bid process, communicating with residents, managing quality control and keeping adequate records.
For more information, contact: Colleen Loveless from Revitalize CDC at (413) 788-0014 – CLoveless@RevitalizeCDC.com
Click here for Training Flyer.
Making Homes Healthier for Residents with Limited Finances
This free, one-hour webinar, presented by the Healthy Homes Training Center with funding from HUD, addresses the problem of working with residents who have limited finances to cover the cost of healthy homes fixes. The session encourages participants to think about how the healthy homes approach of “what can my program fund?” may not work well. Instead, students should think about an approach that involves identifying the highest priority fixes for a house and considering the variety of programs that might be able to fund those fixes. This webinar covers how to look for possible sources of funding.
Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2018; Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT; Cost: Free
Register by going to http://healthyhousingsolutions.com/register, scroll down to Making Homes Healthier for Residents With Limited Finances, click Schedule, click Add to Cart.
Click here for the webinar flyer.
Construction Skills Training Program
8-week, 200-hour construction skills training program this fall (start date to be announced). Free for unemployed or underemployed Springfield residents who live in the following neighborhoods: Brightwood, Memorial Square, Six Corners, South End, Old Hill, Upper Hill, Metro Center, and portions of Liberty Heights and Forest Park.
For more information contact: Joe Mineo from FutureWorks at 413-858-2845 or jmineo@futureworksjobs.org
Ongoing Trainings
Training for Landlords
Basics of Rental Property Management
This workshop includes an overview of basic residential rental property management in Massachusetts that provides an introduction to the Massachusetts laws that govern the rental relationship. Important for all owners of rental properties, including owners of 2-4 family homes.
Topics covered include:
• proper tenant screening
• relations with tenants
• lead paint laws
• types of tenancies
• State Sanitary Code
• fair housing laws
• the eviction process
• how to deal with drug problems
Trainer: H. John Fisher
Certificates of completion are awarded at the end of the session; this workshop satisfies the course requirement for first-time buyers of multi-family homes. Registration fee is $90 (includes WayFinders‘s Property Management Manual).
Click here for upcoming dates and information on how to register.
Financial Training for Residents
Financial Literacy Workshop
Springfield Partners for Community Actions holds FREE Financial Literacy Workshops to help residents set up household budgets, establish savings accounts, reduce debt, build and maintain credit and more. New sessions begin every month, and consist of four classes each. Workshops are free and open to all Springfield residents of moderate or low incomes.
Click here for workshop calendar and information on how to register.
Financial Fitness Education
Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services provides FREE Financial Fitness education to identify the obstacles that prevent people from buying a home, helps them develop a plan and budget, and monitors the customer’s progress towards overcoming the obstacles. The workshops are ten hours of intensive education covering topics including:
- Credit Issues
- Getting and Staying Out of Debt
- Managing Your Money
- Beginning a Banking Relationship
- Creating Wealth for You and Your Family
- Predatory Lending Tactics to avoid
Click here for the class schedule and information on how to register.
Previous Trainings
The Springfield Healthy Homes Collaborative has coordinated and convened numerous trainings over the past few years. Click here for information about previous trainings.