The Portland Development Commission passed the PDC staff recommended TIF Affordable Housing Income Guidelines on February 28 which will "double TIF for affordable housing."  At least 48% of the set aside resources will be committed to housing serving working families, seniors and people with disabilities with the lowest incomes (under 30% MFI), and up to 25% of the set aside will be used to create affordable home ownership opportunities for households earning under approximately $55,000 annually. The income guidelines were approved by a 3-2 vote margin, with PDC Chair Mark Rosenbaum and Commissioners Charles Wilhoite and John Mohlis voting to support the historic housing resolution.

“On behalf of the hundreds of individuals and over 40 organizations that advocated for a housing set aside, we would like to thank the Portland Development Commission and Chair Rosenbaum for establishing income guidelines that will assure that public funds for housing are used where the need is greatest,” said Sam Chase, the Executive Director of CDN.  “This is a victory for the whole City because we will all reap when we investment in housing opportunity.”

Though the City Council is expected to take some action to acknowledge the approved income guidelines, the PDC vote on February 28 ends 13 months of advocacy by the Affordable Housing NOW! coalition to establish a set aside that will both help mitigate the impact of urban renewal related displacement and align PDC housing goals with the larger housing goals of the City as whole.

To read the approved income allocations, click here.

Affordable Housing NOW! is a coalition of over 40 organizations and hundreds of individuals whose goals are to secure new resources for affordable housing for the Portland Metro area by building a movement large enough to make funding for affordable housing for people with low incomes a political priority in the Metro area. To learn more about Affordable Housing NOW!, go to: http://www.cdnportland.org/ahn.html

Need for Federal Housing Assistance Increases as Funding Declines

The Effects of the Federal Budget Squeeze on Low-Income Housing Assistance, a study released on February 1, 2007 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), found that while the number of low income families with severe housing affordability problems increased 33% between 2000 and 2005 to 8.8 million, funding for federal housing assistance in 2006 was $3.3 billion (8%) less than in 2004, adjusted for inflation.

Budget cuts have led to an unprecedented loss of 150,000 Section 8 housing vouchers over the past two years. Funding for public housing declined 25% (adjusted for inflation) between 1999 and 2006 and the number of public housing units fell by 170,000 over the past 10 years. During the same time period, 300,000 units of privately owned housing supported by federal subsidies were lost to expiring contracts. Without an additional $2 billion to renew long-term contracts, another 300,000 units will be lost over the next five years.

The authors predict that the budget squeeze on discretionary programs will tighten as deficits persist over the next 10 years, then grow because of increasing health care costs, the aging of the population and the effects of recent tax cuts. At the same time, demand for rental housing is expected to rise even as 200,000 units are lost every year.

The authors argue that the administration’s tax cuts are the single largest source of the budget squeeze. When fully in effect, the annual tax cuts for only the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers will cost nearly twice as much as HUD’s entire budget. Policy recommendations include reinstating pay-as-you-go rules in which the costs of entitlement increases and tax cuts must be offset and enacting deficit-reduction packages similar to those of 1990 and 1993 that combined spending reductions, tax increases and anti-poverty initiatives.

The report also includes state level breakdowns of subsidized units. The full report is available from www.cbpp.org/2-1-07hous2.pdf.

Special Report on Green Built Affordable Housing Highlights Enterprise, CPAH

A special report from The American Prospect examines the efforts of Enterprise and other organizations, including CDN member Community Partners for Affordable Housing, to create greener communities throughout the country. According to the report's introduction, the environmental and new urbanism movements are meeting in a quest for cities that are both affordable and sustainable. Leading the way are state and local government, plus private foundations and businesses. The "Emerald Cities" report features a roundtable discussion with Enterprise Chairman Bart Harvey and Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke.

A Greener Future for Affordable Housing Workshop Series Begins March 7

What: You are invited to participate in a workshop series highlighting initiatives to integrate sustainable & green design into affordable housing developments and provide the public with equal access to healthy environments.

When: Every Wednesday from 6:00-7:30 pm in March 2007

Where: All workshops will be held in the Smith Memorial Student Union Building (Room 327) at Portland State University

Who: These events are FREE & open to all that are interested.(light snacks will be provided)

Wednesday March 7th

Topic: Developing Green Affordable Housing / Partnerships with the City of

Portland  Speakers: REACH Community Development  and Office of Sustainable Development

Wednesday March 14th

Topic: Funding for Green Affordable Housing Projects / Sustainable Landscape Design

Speakers: Green Communities and Macdonald Environmental Planning

Wednesday March 21st

Topic: Environmental Justice Issues / Equal Access to Natural Areas and

Greenspaces Speakers: Environmental Justice Action Group and Coalition for a Livable Future

Wednesday March 28th

Topic: Designing Green Affordable Housing / Environmental Jobs for Disadvantaged Communities

Speakers: Carleton Hart Architecture and VERDE

Sponsored By: Americorps, PSU Emerging Green Builders, and PSU Community Development Student Group

Limited Space - Please RSVP: greenerfuture@hotmail.com

For directions or more information: greenerfuture@hotmail.com

Michael Shuman, noted author and advocate for locally-owned businesses, is coming to Portland on Thursday March 15th.  Shuman is the author of several books, including "Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age."  He has published articles in The Nation, Utne Reader, BusinessWeek, The Progressive, and is a frequent commentator on NPR.  Shuman's most recent book is "The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses are Beating the Global Competition."  In his book, Shuman notes how local businesses actually out-perform their competition, both in outright profitability and in the value they bring to consumers, workers and communities.

Date: Thursday, March 15th

Time:  11:00 a.m. to 12 noon

Location: Friendship Masonic Center, 5625 NE Alameda (57th and NE Sandy), Portland

Cost: Free (please RSVP)

OMEN is co-sponsoring this event, and brings this to OMEN members free of charge.  Please RSVP to OMEN if you're planning on attending the Michael Shuman talk.  

This event is part of the Sustainable Business Network's (SBN) half-day conference.  Should you choose to attend the SBN conference, you may register at the SBN member rate ($25 by March 5th, $40 after March 5th).  For more information about the conference, visit http://www.sbnportland.org/calendar/sbnpconf07.  If you only attend the Michael Shuman talk at 11:00, there is no charge and no need to register for the event. 

On Tuesday, March 20th, McMenamins Edgefield and Innovative Housing will team up to support youth! Through McMenamins’ generous Friends & Family Night program, the McMenamins Edgefield Power Station Pub and Theater will be donating HALF of the evening’s food and drink sales to Innovative Housing in direct support of its Youth Program! Please come out to the pub anytime between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20th, and have a good time for a good cause! Click here to download an event flyer.

Elders in Action Open House: Come Visit New Office on March 22

Please Join Elders in Action for an Open House on Thursday, March 22, 2007 from 2pm-5pm in their New Home at 411 SW Morrison St., Suite 290 in Portland. Help Elders in Action celebrate their 10^th Anniversary as a non-profit, and learn about their powerful programs… meet volunteers and staff… and have a good time.

Questions?  Call 503 235-5474.  To find our more about Elders in Action, go to: www.eldersinaction.org

OCHH "Bringing It All Back Home" Conference on Homelessness April 11-13

The Oregon Coalition on Housing & Homelessness (OCHH) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at their annual Conference at the Hood River Inn, April 11-13.  This year's theme is "Bringing It All Back Home."  As well as being a reunion for past OCHH/Oregon Shelter Network advocates, the conference will provide workshops and seminars for grassroots and state service providers and their administrators, as well as homeless persons, advocates, educators and activists.  The program and speakers will provide a broad spectrum of relevant information on strategies and skills, and update participants on current local and national legislation and proposals.  Registration is $225 per person, with some scholarships available.  Contact: John Chylek at via email or phone 541-686-6721 for registration and program information.

Don't Miss CLF’s 5^th Annual Livability Summit April 19

What:     Coalition for a Livable Future 5th Annual Regional Livability Summit

Where:    Portland State University Smith Center Ballroom

When:     April 19th, 2007, 8 am - 4 pm

Cost:       $45 for non-CLF members; $35 for CLF members;

Living lightly option allows interested individuals to participate at a price that meets their budgets. ($0 - higher)

CLF is delighted to feature Denis Hayes at this year’s Summit during Earth Week 2007. National Coordinator of the first Earth Day, Hayes has been at the core of the modern environmental movement since its launch. Hayes has served in top positions with numerous prominent academic institutions, non-profits and government agencies. As the current President of the Bullitt Foundation, he aspires to make the Pacific Northwest - the best-educated, most environmentally aware, most progressive corner of America - a global model for sustainable development

Along with an inspiring keynote address by Denis Hayes, the program will engage participants in developing collaborative strategies-for-action to address critical issues facing the Portland-Vancouver region.

To learn more about the Summit please call us at 503-294-2889 or visit: to www.clfuture.org. 

To hear OPB news story highlighting CLF’s Equity Atlas, click here.

Nominations for Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly Due

The Home Depot Foundation has launched its 2007 Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly competition. The award program seeks to identify, recognize and showcase the outstanding and innovative work of nonprofit housing development corporations engaged in green building/healthy home construction and rehabilitation. The deadline for submitting a letter of inquiry is March 31. More information is available at http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/awards_housing_apply.html

Apply for Rouse Award for Excellence in Community Revitalization

Once again this year, Enterprise’s Network Advisory Board is supporting the Jim & Patty Rouse Award for Excellence in Community Revitalization.

Enterprise has made some exciting changes to the Award program this year by modifying the criteria to reflect current best practices in the community development field, and have combined the two $5000 awards to one large award of $10,000!

Enterprise urges you to apply for this recognition for your organization. An award of $10,000 (in unrestricted funds) will be presented to a member of the Enterprise Network who develops and provides housing to low and very low-income people, and who also has worked to restore the fabric of its community and create a sense of place, with particular emphasis on community building and quality housing development.

Your organization must be a member of the Enterprise Network, must be financially sound, and must have a proven track record of housing development and other community services.

More information and the application, which must be postmarked by April 13, are online. Go to http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/programs/awards/rouse_awards/default.asp.

The rewards of winning go beyond the money. The winner also receives publicity, some well deserved recognition, and a free registration to the Enterprise Network Conference this November in Cleveland, Ohio.

Please consider applying for the 2007 Rouse Award!