The Oregon Senate Revenue Committee sent bill SB996, legislation that would provide a needed increase to the cap on the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit, to the Senate floor with a ‘Do Pass’ recommendation yesterday, April 4 in Salem.  A key part of the Housing Alliance’s Housing Opportunities Legislative Agenda, SB 996 would raise the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit (OAHTC) to $11 Million. The OAHTC reduces rents for low income renters in affordable housing through a partnership with Oregon banks and financial institutions.

SB 996 will likely be up for a vote on the Senate floor by Friday at the earliest, but most likely sometime next week.  If SB 996 passes, the bill moves to a House committee, and then to the floor of the House for a vote, and finally to the Governor to sign (or veto).

SB 996 would increase the current cap on the tax credit program from $6 million per year to $8 million per year now, and $11 million per year beginning in 2007. After two hearings in the Senate Revenue Committee, SB 996 was recommended to the Senate Floor with a ‘Do Pass’ recommendation by Revenue Committee Chair Ryan Deckert on April 4.

The OAHTC is nearly fully committed under its current cap, resulting in a back log of pending affordable housing projects in communities around Oregon. The OAHTC is one of the best tools to make rents affordable to Oregonians earning less than 50% MFI. The OAHTC allows banks to reduce interest rates on loans for affordable housing by 4% and claim a state income tax credit equal to the lost interest income caused by the lower interest rate.  Property owners must agree to pass through all of the interest savings to low income tenants in the form of permanent rent reductions.

The OAHTC is extremely efficient in meeting its stated public purpose: The beneficiaries are low income and very low income renters.  The lenders and property owners get no direct financial benefit. Nearly all households that benefit from this program earn less than half of Area Median Income (AMI), and in many cases, they earn below 30% of AMI.

CALL YOUR SENATOR THIS WEEK: The Housing Alliance is asking housing supporters to call their Senator this week and ask them to support SB 996. 

TALKING POINTS:

· Please support SB 996

· Housing gives people an opportunity to build better lives. SB 996 would increase access to housing for Oregonians currently being left out in the cold.

· SB 996 expands a proven tool to making housing affordable for Oregonians left behind by the rental market: hard working families, and seniors and people with disabilities relying on fixed incomes.

· SB 996 is extremely efficient, requiring property owners to pass through all of the interest savings to low income tenants in the form of permanent rent reductions

· To succeed you need a place to call home.  SB 996 will make a home a reality for vulnerable Oregonians.

To find out how to contact your Senator, go to: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/.

For more information about the Housing Alliance’s OAHTC proposal, go to: http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/agenda_pro_02.html

$3 Million in New Housing Funds Proposed at Portland City Budget Forum

Members of the Portland City Council presented their ideas for 2005-2006 City Budget at a public forum on March 31. The City Council reported on their preliminary recommendations for cutbacks in City spending to meet their budgetary goals and on new proposals for ‘one-time’ City funding.  Among the proposals for new spending was a $3 million affordable housing allocation recommended by Commissioners Erik Sten and Sam Adams.

Hundreds of Portland citizens of all ages and of many ethnic and racial backgrounds participated in the interactive Budget Forum, which was held at the Mt. Scott Community Center.  The public weighed in on issues ranging from Parks, opening jail beds, youth programs, public safety, the arts, housing and small business development. 

Many Affordable Housing NOW! supporters attended the forum, including several who spoke up during the public comment period. Including those from Affordable Housing NOW! supporters, comments relating to housing included the importance of housing related for people in recovery, a request that the City help off-set federal cuts to Section 8, a call to focus resources on the most economically vulnerable, and the importance of viewing funding for housing as a long term investment in the community. Council members were very receptive to the call for the City to become more involved with housing.

The next step in the budget process is the release of the Mayors Proposed Budget April 7. The next public hearing is May 14.

To view the full set of recommended cuts and proposals for new spending, go to: http://www.portlandonline.com/omf/index.cfm?&a=75867&c=31340. To get more information on the 2005-06 Budget Process, go to: http://www.portlandonline.com/omf/index.cfm?c=26061

Vulnerable Oregonians Lose Up To $422 Million in US House Budget Plan:
Oregonians Call on Senator Smith’s Continued Leadership

(Oregon Center for Public Policy Update)--Oregon’s share of federal funding cuts in key programs that assist Oregon’s low-income working families, children, elderly and disabled residents could be as much as $422 million over the next five years under the budget plan passed by the House earlier this month, according to a new report by the Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). In the Medicaid program alone, the study estimates the potential cuts for Oregon range between $159 million and $213 million over five years.

“We are counting on Senator Smith to continue to lead the fight in Congress to protect Medicaid and other key programs that are vital to Oregonians,” stated Janet Bauer, federal budget coordinator for the Oregon Center for Public Policy. “Oregon’s most vulnerable populations simply cannot afford to shoulder the federal budget cuts required to pay for additional tax cuts for the well-off.”

Nationwide, the House budget plan could result in an estimated $30 billion to $35 billion in cuts in key low-income “mandatory” (also known as “entitlement”) programs that assist working families, children, and the elderly. The House-passed cuts are at least ten times larger than cuts to these programs proposed by the Senate.

Oregon Senator Gordon Smith’s leadership in protecting the Medicaid program in the Senate-passed budget accounts for a large part of the difference between the House and Senate versions. Since the House and Senate are far apart on funding levels for mandatory programs, cuts in all low-income mandatory programs, including Medicaid, will be a key issue when House and Senate negotiators try to agree on a final budget plan in conference committee over the next few weeks.

The House and Senate budget plans are much closer on the issue of tax cuts, with both plans including more than $100 billion in tax cuts, primarily for upper-income households. Both plans also contain significant reductions in funding for domestic discretionary (also known as “non-entitlement”) programs including housing, education, veterans’ health benefits, child nutrition, and environmental protection and significant increases in defense spending.

“Saving Medicaid from deep cuts is by no means assured,” said Ellen Lowe, legislative advocate for the Oregon Law Center. “If the House gets its way, Oregon faces cuts not only to Medicaid but to other programs that help low-income families succeed, such as child care and the Earned Income Tax Credit program. Working families may get ‘half of a loaf’’ in this budget. We do not want Senator Smith’s efforts to go for naught,” she added.

Many programs for low-income Oregonians are jointly funded with state and federal dollars. Reducing the federal commitment will effectively shift the burden of funding the programs to state resources. Given the state fiscal picture, reductions in the federal share of these programs will likely mean vulnerable Oregon residents – including low-wage working families, the elderly poor and those with disabilities – will lose the assistance they need to pay for essentials such as housing, groceries and health care.

“The impact of the proposed federal cuts for Oregon’s health care system is just unacceptable,” said Ellen Pinney, executive director of the Oregon Health Action Campaign (OHAC). “Over six hundred thousand Oregonians currently go without any sort of health coverage. Reduced federal support will certainly cause the number of uninsured to increase, which is not the outcome Oregonians overwhelmingly want. It is bad for individual Oregonians and bad for our economy, as well.”

The cuts in low-income programs in the House budget plan would come from Medicaid, food stamps, and a set of programs overseen by the House Ways and Means Committee, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income working families, the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI) for the elderly and disabled poor, assistance and services for abused and neglected children and foster and adoptive families, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and child care.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that as a result of these cuts, over the next five years, Oregon residents could lose:

             • Between $159 million and $213 million in Medicaid funding. Approximately 400,000 children, low-income working adults, elderly, people with disabilities, and other Oregon residents rely on Medicaid for their basic health care.

             •  $37.8 million in EITC benefits. Roughly 204,000 working families in Oregon receive the EITC, which provides low-wage workers with tax relief and wage supplements.

             •  $37.3 million in SSI benefits. Roughly 58,000 poor elderly and people with disabilities in Oregon receive modest monthly SSI payments to help them cover their basic expenses.

             •  Up to $89 million in food stamps. Roughly 420,000 Oregon residents receive food stamp assistance that helps them afford a basic diet.

             •  $24.2 million in TANF funding. Oregon uses TANF funds to provide income assistance and welfare-to-work programs for 45,000 Oregonians, as well as child care and other welfare-to-work services.

             •  $8.6 million in foster care and adoption assistance funding. Each month, these programs assist 10,600 Oregon children in foster and adoptive families, fund efforts to find appropriate foster care placements for children, and help prepare older children living in foster care for independent living.

Program Cuts Go to Pay For New Tax Cuts, Not to Reduce the Deficit

 “What makes these cuts even more disturbing is the fact that they won’t bring down the deficit,” said Bauer, the federal budget coordinator. “House and Senate budgets include more tax cuts focused on high-income households, paid for with these cuts to programs for vulnerable Americans,” she added.

 Over the next five years, both budget plans would result in deficits more than $100 billion larger than if no policy changes were made. The reductions in assistance for poor Oregon residents would be used in part to help finance tax cuts going disproportionately to those at the higher end of the income scale.

 “Increasing taxes for low-income working Oregonians by cutting the Earned Income Tax Credit while simultaneously serving up more tax cuts to the well-off would run afoul of the priorities and values of Oregonians,” said Bauer.

The Oregon Center for Public Policy uses research and analysis to advance policies and practices that improve the economic and social opportunities of low- and moderate-income Oregonians, the majority of Oregonians. The OCPP is involved with the Oregon Federal Budget Coalition, a diverse group of service and advocacy organizations working together to promote federal budget priorities that protect and defend Oregon's most vulnerable residents. To learn more, go to: http://www.ocpp.org/index.htm

The Portland Development Commission through its Federal funds contract with City of Portland, Bureau of Housing and Community Development announces the 2005 Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing RFP to provide direct financial assistance to eligible developments citywide.  The purpose of this RFP is to provide a streamlined application process and best leverage the limited financial resources available for the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing.  Proposals will be due in late May, with the announcement of projects to be funded anticipated for early July

The RFP will be issued for:

* $4.35 million Financial Assistance for the construction or rehabilitation of housing;

* Seeking interest and intent to own and operate a 30+ unit building where all or some portion of the units are available to homeless individuals.  Interested parties must demonstrate ability to secure and provide adequate and appropriate services to residents transitioning from homelessness.

Each of these offerings has unique selection criteria and process.  All interested parties are highly encouraged to attend a Customer Meeting in which the process and criteria will be explained and questions can be answered.  PDC is working jointly with BHCD on the RFP and project selection, which will be assisted by a committee of county social service funders, lenders, and affordable housing developers. The projects selected will meet the policy criteria articulated in the City's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness which was released in December 2004 after an extensive public involvement process.  There will be an emphasis on Permanent Supportive Housing unit development and on housing that matches homeless services funding that the County will be providing to support the residents.

Customer Meeting

Wednesday, April 20th, 2005, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

222 NW Fifth, 1st Floor, Portland, OR 97209

The RFP document will be posted on the PDC website prior to the Customer Meeting. Go to:  http://www.pdc.us/. Limited hard copies will also be available at the meeting.  For more information contact John Cardenas (PDC) at 503-823-1353 or cardenasj@pdc.us.

Completed proposals will be due to PDC on May 31st, 2005 by 5:00 p.m.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today unveiled this year's "SuperNOFA," a notice that makes available $2.26 billion in funding through 53 grant opportunities. HUD's Fiscal Year 2005 Notice of Funding Availability significantly reduces the paperwork burden on grant applicants while moving toward President Bush's goal of creating a more citizen-focused, user-friendly electronic government.

With the exception of those applying for funding through HUD's Continuum of Care homeless assistance programs, HUD now requires all applicants to submit their funding requests electronically through www.grants.gov. This electronic submission process is part of the President's management agenda and will significantly streamline funding for states, local governments and nonprofit grassroots organizations that house and serve lower income families living in their communities.   Applicants unable to apply electronically must ask for a waiver of this requirement.  See the General Section of the SuperNOFA for waiver requirements.

"HUD continues to improve the way we do business with those providing housing and services to the people and places that need it most," said Jackson. "In the end, this electronic submission process will speed the delivery of resources to create better communities, help those without a home of their own and promote affordable housing."

The grant opportunities announced today are in addition to the $25.3 billion HUD allocates to state and local communities, public housing agencies, and Native-American Tribes in the form of block grants, housing choice vouchers and other formula-based funding.

This year, HUD continues to place a premium on funding local communities and organizations that are working toward removing excessive and burdensome regulations that restrict the development of affordable housing at the local level. Last month, HUD released a report entitled Why Not in Our Community? that found many working families are forced to commute long distances or live in substandard or overcrowded housing because excessive regulations are artificially driving up the cost of housing. To help reverse this trend, HUD will award priority points to certain applicants in communities that can demonstrate successful efforts to reduce regulatory barriers that prevent many families from living in the communities where they work. For more information about HUD's Affordable Communities Initiative, visit HUD's website.

In addition, HUD is continuing to make it easier for faith-based grassroots and other community organizations to apply for grants. Applicants are asked to fill out a questionnaire that will help the Department to determine if it is meeting the goal of increasing the participation of these organizations in the its grant programs. For its part, HUD removed unnecessary federal regulations that previously prevented faith- and community-based groups from competing on an equal basis with other applicants seeking grants.

To increase energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and protect the environment, HUD is also promoting the Energy Star program in its grant programs. In 2002, the Department signed an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to promote energy efficiency in HUD's affordable housing programs, including public housing, FHA-insured housing, and housing financed through HUD formula and competitive programs. Applicants constructing, rehabilitating, or maintaining housing or community facilities are encouraged to promote energy efficiency in design and operations through Energy Star including the installation or replacement of light bulbs, water heaters, furnaces, etc. For further information about Energy Star, visit www.energystar.gov or call 888-782-7937 (8-888-588-9920 TTY).

Small, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses continue to be important partners with HUD. To ensure these applicants can access federal funding, the Department requires grantees to make every effort to contract with these business partners in their HUD-funded programs.

In order to use the Grants.gov system, potential applicants must go through a four-step registration process that can and should be accomplished before beginning the application process.  Potential applicants must:

1.        Obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet (unless they already have one.)

2.        Register with the Central Contractor Registry.

3.        Register with the Credential Provider.

4.        Register with Grants.gov.

Instructions for the process are available on the Grants.gov website, however, they describe these as steps 3 through 5 after downloading an application.  It is not necessary or desirable to wait, this process should be begun now.  The process is not specific to any application and once completed allows you to apply for any funding made available through the Grants.gov system.  To get the detailed instructions, visit the Grants.gov website.  

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: HUD will be providing training for potential applicants via satellite and webcast. To determine the schedule for applicant training, visit www.hud.gov/webcasts or contact Roy Scholl at 503.326.3985 or Roy_Scholl@hud.gov for details on how to view these sessions in the Portland Field Office.

McKinney Funds Available for Permanent Housing for Homeless Households

Last week the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced funds available through this year's Continuum of Care process. Each year this competitive process provides about $5 million to our community to help end homelessness. As in previous years, there is a bonus for a new permanent housing project. This year, the amount available is $527,880 and eligible persons served are chronically homeless persons. By HUD's definition, this is an unaccompanied adult who has experienced homelessness for a year or more or 4 episodes of homelessness in the last 3 years. Unfortunately, families and youth 17 & under are not eligible for this funding.

In addition, there may be additional funds available for another permanent housing project that served homeless individuals with disabilities or a household in which the head of household had a disability. Amount available will be unknown until early May.

For more information on the types of projects that would be considered, contact Sally Erikson at 503/823-0883 or serickson@ci.portland.or.us. A meeting to review the process will be Monday, April 11 from 11:30-1:00pm at the BHCD office.

Students from Portland State University, and the Coalition for Homeless Families are hosting a Photo Exhibit at the Alberta Arts Pavilion, 2315 NE Alberta, through April 26, 2005.  Local photographer, Melissa Hendricks has worked with the students to prepare and mount the exhibit.  The hope is to raise the visibility of homeless families, and increase political support for funding in the Multnomah County budget.

“Children and families deserve an opportunity to succeed in school and life, which is tied to having a stable home” is the message the students are using.  Visitors to the exhibit will be asked to send post cards to the Multnomah County Commissioners urging support for increased funding for families.

The class, the Homelessness & Poverty Capstone, is taught by Gretchen Kafoury of the Hatfield School of Government at PSU.

Alberta Arts Pavilion, 2315 NE Alberta

Exhibit Hours

Tuesdays-Fridays 1 pm to 5 pm

Saturdays 11 am to 5 pm   

Affordable Community Environments (ACE) invites you to join McMenamin’s Friends & Family Night Monday April 11 from 5-11 pm at McMenamin's East Vancouver Pub, 1900 NE 162^nd Avenue, Suite B107 in Vancouver.

Join ACE for the easiest fundraiser! You simply come to eat, drink and be merry!

One half of all purchases from 5-11PM will benefit ACE’s Community Center at Cascadia Village. Bring your family and friends for a delicious McMenamin’s meal. Celebrate a birthday or wind down with co-workers over a basket of McMenamin’s famous French Fries. Join ACE for an evening of friends, food and fun and share the vision of The Community Center at Cascadia Village.

HCDC Seeks Comments on Families with Special Needs Report April 19

The Families with Special Needs subcommittee of the HCDC Special Needs Committee is pleased to present this comment draft of the Families with Special Needs (FWSN) Report & Recommendations.  (It can be read on line at: http://www.portlandonline.com/bhcd/index.cfm?c=32805)       

This Report represents more than a year of work by a committed group of volunteers and government and non-profit agency staff, under the leadership of Human Solutions' Executive Director, Jean DeMaster.  Many local agencies serving extremely low-income families participated in the development of the FWSN report, by telling the subcommittee about their clients, their programs, and their wish-lists. 

The new FWSN Report estimates the number of extremely low income families with children that lack permanent housing and are affected by the disability of a parent.  It describes their housing and service needs, makes recommendations to address those needs, and suggests where further data and research are needed.  (This draft of the Report will be supplemented with data as available prior to the hearing.  Please check our website for updates.)

The FWSN Report supplements the 2003 Special Needs Report, an important policy document that focused government attention --and funding -- on the housing and service needs of very low-income adults with disabilities.  We are hopeful that this FWSN Report will be as influential as the Special Needs Report was in focusing attention on an under-served group. After finalizing it, we plan to present it to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, the Portland City Council, the Gresham City Council, and the HAP Board.  With your support, it can advance current policy and drive the allocation of public resources and the design of publicly-funded programs. 

Before we present the FWSN Report to these local governments, we would like to hear your comments and suggestions. We have scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, April 19, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at the Midland branch of the Multnomah County Library, on SE 122nd.    The Report and a very classy hearing notice are attached.  PLEASE CALENDAR THIS HEARING AND PLAN TO ATTEND.  PLEASE ALSO FORWARD THIS E-MAIL to your networks so that we can get the broadest possible community input.

If you cannot attend the April 19th hearing, please feel free to send your comments to:

Beth Kaye, HCDC

421 SW 6th Avenue, Portland OR 97204

bkaye@ci.portland.or.us

The FWSN Report will also be considered at an upcoming Housing and Community Development Commission meeting.   Please e-mail rbenson@ci.portland.or.us if you would like to be added to the e-mail distribution list for HCDC agendas.

Fair Housing Seminars on Segregation, Accessible Housing May 3, 4

The Fair Housing Council of Oregon presents two seminars on civil rights in housing on May 3 and 4 at the Portland Hilton Hotel.

May 3 RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION CONFERENCE: "A Dream Deferred: Residential Segregation in Oregon", 8:00-5:00, Hilton Hotel Portland.  COST: $25.00 per person.  Keynote speaker is Sheryll Cashin, author of "The Failures of Integration: How Race and Class are Undermining the American Dream". Conference will explore the roots of segregation in Oregon; the state of segregation here today; the role of policy makers, planners and community activists in removing regulatory barriers that perpetuate segregation and strategies for change.

May 4 ACCESSIBLE HOUSING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SEMINAR: 8:30-5:30, Hilton Hotel, Portland.  COST: $25.00 per person.  (Note: You can register for both conferences for $40, saving $10).  National trainers from "Fair Housing First" in Washington D.C. will address legal accessibility requirements for anyone involved in the design, development or construction of housing, housing consumers, and housing/disability advocates.  The seminar will provide specific information on public and common use areas, accessible routes, compliant bathrooms and common violations of the law.

April 26^th is the registration deadline for both seminars. For more information, go to : www.fhco.org or call(503) 412-6000.

10th Anniversary MetLife Foundation Awards Nominations Due May 15

Open to Enterprise Network Members, the MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing recognize achievement in two categories: supportive housing and property and asset management. Winners in each category receive $25,000 for first place, $15,000 for second place and $10,000 for third place. Applications are available now and must be submitted online by midnight May 15, with supporting documentation mailed to The Enterprise Foundation, postmarked by May 16. More information and the applications are available at http://www.enterprisefoundation.org/metlife