Click here to view past articles in the News Archive
|
|||
|
Document Recording Fee Moves Forward as HB 3551; Your Help Needed Senate Bill 38, a key component of the Housing Alliance $100 Million for Homes platform, has now been re-incarnated on the House side as HB 3551. HB 3551 would increase Oregon’s document recording fee by $15 and dedicate the new revenue to housing. HB 3551 has changed slightly from SB 38, and can be viewed online at by clicking here. HB 3551 has changes in percentages of the fee that will be allocated to the four categories of uses agreed upon by Housing Alliance members. The percentage to homeownership has now increased to 13.25%. The percentage to homeless programs remains at 10%, and capacity building at 6%. Multi-family rental housing has decreased to 70.75%. The Housing Alliance continues to be encouraged by the overwhelming level of support we have throughout the legislature for increasing funds for affordable housing. Governor Kulongoski spoke about the Alliance $100 Million for Homes to the state Housing Conference last week, and has pledged his support as well. HB 3551 will eventually end up in Ways and Means. This is the committee that will also decide on the rest of the Housing and Community Services Department budget, and the additional funds that we hope to get from Lottery proceeds and the General Fund to round out the $100 Million for Homes. The bill that continues the public purpose charge allocation to affordable housing is moving smoothly through the Legislature. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT HB 3551: Ways and Means support for our agenda is CRITICAL. Please contact the member of Ways and Means member (listed below) that represents your home or work. Send an e-mail asking for their support of HB 3551. Even if you have already emailed once or twice already this session, please do it again! Your email should: * Outline the need for increased housing opportunity in your area (click here for helpful background info) * Tell them what increased funds for housing will allow your community to thrive * Thank them for making the $100 Million for Homes their second highest priority * Repeat that HB 3551 is crucial for the $100 Million for Homes
Ways and Means Committee Members (click on name for email): Senator Kurt Schrader, Co-Chair Representative Mary Nolan, Co-Chair Sen. Margaret Carter, Vice-Chair Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Vice-Chair Know someone else who supports housing opportunity? Pass this information along and get others to email in their support.
For more information about the progress of the Housing Alliance Housing Opportunity Agenda, including news on the condo conversion bill, the inclusionary zoning bill, and more go to: http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/updates.html The Housing Alliance brings together advocates, local governments, housing authorities, community development corporations, environmentalists, service providers, business interests and all others dedicated to increasing the resources available to meet our housing needs to support a common statewide legislative and policy agenda. To find out more about the Housing Alliance, go to: http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/ Governor, Congressional Delegation Try to Save Weatherization Assistance Governor Ted Kulongoski and members of Oregon’s congressional delegation have urged the Bush administration not to carry out its plan to slash funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the federal Weatherization Assistance Program. In a letter to the congressional leadership in February, the Governor noted that the LIHEAP program provides important help to low-income households, the elderly, disabled and families who make tough financial choices like paying for groceries, prescription drugs or utility bills. The Governor praised Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Darlene Hooley, Peter DeFazio and David Wu for protesting the administration’s plan to cut the Weatherization Program by $38 million. "The federal government must not back away from its partnership with Oregon and other states—a partnership that provides help to vulnerable, hard-working families who can’t afford to weatherize their homes and still put meals on the table," Kulongoski said. "It’s a matter of doing what’s right." The Bush Administration recently revised the Energy Department’s 2007 spending plan to 14 percent from the local weatherization program managed by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). Earlier this month, Senator Wyden and Representatives Blumenauer, Hooley, and Wu signed a letter sent to Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman and Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman, urging them to maintain or increase the weatherization program as authorized in the 2005 Energy Policy Act. Representative Peter DeFazio also supported this effort. "We hope Congress will reverse this cut before the year moves very far," said Dan Elliott, Oregon’s Weatherization Assistance Program Manager. "We are grateful for Senator Wyden, who co-sponsored the amendment. We’re also grateful to Representatives Blumenauer, Hooley, Wu and DeFazio’s commitment to the low-income energy consumers in our state. We appreciate their effort to prevent these cuts, and we are confident they will do everything in their power to turn this decision around." After the Energy Department announced the cuts, the Senate amended the Iraq war supplemental emergency spending bill, instructing the Secretary of Energy to restore the program to nearly 2006 levels with funds originally designated for this purpose. However, with the fate of the supplemental spending bill caught between the White House and Congress, the future of Oregon weatherization assistance program is uncertain. Local agencies and contractors weatherize low-income households and upgrade heating systems each year. The Department of Energy estimates these investments reduce energy use by 20 to 30 percent for at least two decades and lower home energy bills an average of $358 each year after the improvements are made. "Until a few weeks ago, Oregon anticipated full funding for the weatherization program year, which begins April 1," Elliott said. "Our weatherization crews are ready to go, and we are prepared to weatherize as many homes this year as last. Now we’re unsure how the federal funding situation will affect us. If these cuts are not reversed, there will be many disappointed families and households in Oregon who are currently on weatherization waiting lists." For more information on the OHCS low-income weatherization program, contact Dan Elliot at 503-986-2016 or via email. OHCS is the State’s housing finance agency and community services program administrator. The Department provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of lower and moderate income and administers federal and state antipoverty, homeless, energy assistance and community service programs. The OHCS mission is to "Reach out for opportunities to create partnerships that improve Oregonians' lives, and the quality of our communities." For more information, visit our web site at www.ohcs.oregon.gov.
Portland Housing Center Helps 303 Families Become Homeowners since July 06 Portland Housing Center (PHC), a nonprofit NeighborWorks America homeownership center and CDN Voting Member, is please to report that it facilitated $53.2 million in home loans between July 1st, 2006- March 31, 2007 which translates into 303 new first time home buyers in the Portland Metropolitan Area. The Portland Housing Center places special emphasis on meeting the home buying needs of low and moderate-income first time home buyers. To do this, not only do they gear products and services to these home buyers, but also analyze the outcomes of their work. "In 2007, we made significant progress in achieving key operational milestones and now are beginning to more fully leverage the system and infrastructure we have built over the last three years," said Peg Malloy, Executive Director. "As the overall size of the housing market declines, our broad product menu to serve the needs of diverse homebuyers along with our ‘one-stop shopping' model will help to differentiate PHC in this new market climate." Established in 1991, the Portland Housing Center works in conjunction with Portland city government, financial institutions, social service organizations, and other civic, public and private stakeholders. Portland Housing Center provides debt and credit counseling, financial fitness and home buying classes, down payment loans and homeowner workshops. In the past three years the Portland Housing Center has helped more than 1,200 families purchase their first home. A third of the new homeowners were people of color. For more information, please visit www.portlandhousingcenter.org or call 503-282-7744 x108.
Portland Water Bureau Offers a Low Income Discount for Qualifying Customers People responsible for paying their water and sewer utilities bills to the City of Portland may be eligible for financial assistance! Household income determines eligibility. To view the qualifications, go online to http://www.portlandonline.com/water and select the customer services tab or email Shaunna Sutcliffe at the email address below for more information. The discount is $70 per quarter this fiscal year. Once in the program, customers may qualify for leak and fixture repairs as well as crisis vouchers. The Bureau of Environmental Services also offers a discount on stormwater management charges for all City of Portland ratepayers who maintain their stormwater onsite. It is called Clean River Rewards. Read about this at www.cleanriverrewards.com. Do you work with or know people who could use help paying their water and sewer utilities bills? The Water Bureau would love to tell you more. Please email Shauna to set up a meeting or presentation.
New IRS, HUD Policies Can Mean More Green Buildings New actions by the IRS and HUD may encourage more efficient affordable housing. The May issue of Green Communities News reports on how these actions could motivate more affordable housing developers to incorporate cost-saving, energy- and water-efficient technologies, systems and appliances into their developments. To learn more about the proposed changes at the IRS and HUD, click here.
Miller Nash 14th Annual Affordable Housing Conference May 7 Miller Nash would like to invite you to their 14th Annual Affordable Housing Conference on Monday, May 7, 2007, at the Oregon Convention Center. This seminar features regional and national low-income housing experts speaking on a variety of topics related to developing or investing in low-income housing. For more information about the speakers and presentation topics, please view the attached invitation in PDF format. If you would like to register, click the following link: http://www.millernash.com/showevent.aspx?Show=1890 You may also register by contacting Miller Nash Client Services at 503-205-2608 or affordablehousing@millernash.com
Enterprise Online Events: Green Communities May 8, Year 15 Strategies May 16 Green Communities Live Online Event Designing Efficient, Affordable Multifamily Housing Tuesday, May 8, 2007 Nationally, affordable multifamily housing can be more efficient than single-family, but most is overheated and poorly built, and as such, over-consumes fuel. In this event, we will look at the 8 to 10 main design flaws that many teams miss in multifamily design, and the solutions to avoiding this in future. Participants will walk away with the smart design differences that cost nothing to very little, and are the first step in high performance affordable housing design. National expert, Andrew Padian of Steven Winter Associates, Inc. will discuss these issues in this highly informative Live Online Event. Please join us. Registration takes place 20 minutes prior to the event. More information on how to participate can be found at http://webinars.enterprisecommunity.org/ If you have any questions or would like to removed from this mailing list, please send an e-mail to resources@enterprisecommunity.org Please forward this email to all others on your staff who might be interested Year 15 - Nonprofit Transfer Strategies For Expiring LIHTC Properties Live Online Event Wednesday, May 16 Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties are reaching the end of the 15 year LIHTC compliance period, and are eligible for sale to their nonprofit sponsors. Year 11 in the life of a tax credit deal is an ideal time to begin planning and taking action. We will discuss disposition strategies for the nonprofit sponsor, and review partnership provisions including rights of first refusal, purchase options, exit taxes, and preservation of affordability. Registration takes place 20 minutes prior to the event. More information on how to participate can be found at http://webinars.enterprisecommunity.org/ Second Annual Lents Home Buying Fair May 12 The Lents Homeownership Initiative (LHI) and Kelly SUN Community School once again presents the 2nd annual Lents Home Buying Fair after successfully helping a family buy a home within six months of their attending last year’s fair. This FREE event is Sat., May 12 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Kelly Elementary School, 9030 Cooper St., Portland and is open to anyone who wants to learn about buying their own home. Lenders, Realtors, title companies, developers, home buying counselors, businesses, and non-profit organizations will provide plenty of helpful information about their services and programs. The highlight of the day will be a drawing for three $5,000 down-payment assistance grants to be given to qualified potential homebuyers. Last year, Crystal Andrews and her family won a $2,000 down-payment assistance grant, which they immediately used to buy their home in the Lents neighborhood. Home buying orientations will be presented in English, Vietnamese, Russian, and Spanish. In addition, there will be children’s activities, free food and beverages. "Before the fair, we were trying to figure out if it was possible that some day we would be able to own a home again,” Andrews said. “The fair was definitely something that we needed. And it was a savior in some ways because it helped us realize that we can do this – and here we are!" LHI is a partnership of more than 40 organizations ROSE Community Development Corporation brought together in Lents. Launched in 2005, the LHI mission is improve the quality of life in the Lents neighborhood through community involvement, outreach and education. After two years, LHI has exceeded its initial goals with 130 homes purchased in Lents and over 900 low- and moderate-income potential homeowners identified. In addition, 158 home repairs were completed. LHI partner organizations also work to organize neighborhood cleanup weekends during the spring and summer, and are working to develop Neighborhood Watch training sessions in hopes of establishing five Neighborhood Watch programs. “It was really great to partner with LHI in presenting the first fair,” said Christine Rhoney, SUN Coordinator at Kelly Elementary School. ”Providing this opportunity to the Lents community is so important. Last May, a Kelly Elementary family won one of the down payment assistance grants.” Fair sponsors are: Portland Development Commission, Bureau of Housing & Community Development, ROSE CDC, HOST Development, NW Natural, Washington Mutual, American Pacific Mortgage, Oregon Housing & Community Services, Bank of America, US Bank, Umpqua Bank & Wells Fargo. (Kelly SUN Community School is a collaborative effort of Portland Impact, Multnomah County, and Portland Parks & Recreation) What: Lents Home Buying Fair When: Saturday, May 12th from 10 am – 2 pm Where: Kelly Elementary School, 9030 SE Cooper Street (south of Foster Rd off 92nd) Why: For the public to learn about home-buying information and resources in Lents. Notable: There will be a free raffle for three $5,000 down-payment assistance grants PSU to Recognize Gretchen Kafoury as Urban Pioneer May 17 Gretchen Kafoury is being honored at the Sixth Annual Urban Pioneer Awards Dinner by the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University. Gretchen Kafoury will receive the Nohad A. Toulan Urban Pioneer Award for Public Service. The Portland Gay Men's Chorus and Gerding Edlen Development are also being honored this year. The Urban Pioneer Awards honor community leaders who exhibit many of the ideals taught to students and valued by College of Urban and Public Affairs' faculty and community partners. The Details: · When: Thursday, May 17th. Reception at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. · Where: Portland Hilton Downtown, 921 Southwest Sixth Avenue Tickets: $125 and are available by contacting Rod Johnson: 503-725-4044 or rod@pdx.edu. Josiah Hill III Clinic Celebrates “Leaving a Legacy” May 22 Join Josiah Hill III Clinic on May 22nd, 2007 for the first annual “Leaving a Legacy” event. The event will be held in the Atrium of Legacy Emanuel’s Children’s Hospital(501 N. Graham) from 5:30-8:30pm. The event will pay tribute to the late community activist and physician assistant Josiah Hill III and discuss how the community can further his efforts of creating healthy environments, homes, and children. The former Governor John Kitzhaber M.D. will be the keynote speaker, discussing how the community is “Working Together for Equitable Health Care: The Archimedes Movement”. The event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $50. Reserve your space by May 13th. Please visit www.jhillclinic.org or call Erin McNally at 503.334.9694 Metro Hosts a Brownfields Recycling Workshop May 31 Metro is hosting a Brownfields Recycling Workshop on Thursday, May 31 from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Metro Regional Center (600 NE Grand) in Portland. The workshop will provide technical and procedural information on site identification and assessment, Metro Brownfields Recycling Program application process, site cleanup resources, technical and financial assistance resources - everything you need to know to begin recycling a potential brownfield. Many properties in communities throughout the metropolitan region sit underutilized because of real or perceived environmental contamination. Revitalization or expansion of these sites is often overlooked due to concerns about liability and the cost of assessment and cleanup. Through a $200,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Metro has developed a Brownfields Recycling Program to provide technical and financial assistance to local jurisdictions, landowners and other stakeholders. The workshop is free. Online registration is available at www.metro-region.org/brownfields. Space is limited so register early to reserve a seat. Who should attend? Property owners, developers, city planning and development staff, potential investors and interested community members. What will be covered? The workshop will provide technical and procedural information on site identification and assessment, Metro Brownfields Recycling Program application process, site cleanup resources, technical and financial assistance resources – everything you need to know to begin recycling a potential brownfield. Why should I be interested? Redevelopment potential equals profit. Properties with real or perceived petroleum contamination will not be able to be sold or redeveloped without a phase one site assessment. If there’s no contamination, you can move forward with sale or redevelopment. If there is contamination, Metro staff will work with you (if desired) to find resources for phase two assessment and clean up, if needed. Bottom line – grant funds are limited and this is your chance to get the initial site assessment provided at no cost to you and no obligation. Is there a cost for the workshop? The workshop is free. How do I register? Online registration is available at http://www.metro-region.org/brownfields. For more information: • call (503) 797-1839 • send e-mail to brownfields@metro.dst.or.us
|
|||