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State Awards Funds for Housing Rehabilitation Non-metropolitan areas across Oregon are in store for federal housing rehabilitation funds distributed by the state. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) recently awarded more than $2.7 million in federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds under the “non-entitlement” Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to fix low-income, owner-occupied homes. Separately, metropolitan areas, dubbed “entitled,” receive rehabilitation funds directly from HUD. Each year OHCS awards federal CDBG funds to rural cities and counties to implement home repair programs. Generally, cities and counties that receive funds hire local nonprofit agencies to manage the programs. The nonprofit agencies work with low-income households to determine their eligibility, develop a scope of work, select a qualified contractor and assist through the completion of home repairs. Eligible home repairs must address health and safety concerns such as weatherization, electrical and plumbing upgrades. Deferred home maintenance is also eligible. This may include roofing, siding, insulation, dry rot repairs, heating systems, light fixtures and the installation of built-in appliances. OHCS received 14 applications this year. Given the limited availability of funds, OHCS has made the following awards: Community Action Team, Inc. (Astoria): $325,000 Community Connection of NE Oregon, Inc. (Wallowa County): $400,000 Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation (Hermiston): $400,000 Umpqua Community Development Corporation (Sutherlin): $350,000 Yamhill County Affordable Housing Corporation (Sheridan): $400,000 Community Housing Services (Benton County): $259,264 Pioneer Community Development Corporation (Gilliam County): $300,000 St. Vincent De Paul (Junction City): $300,000 In addition to this CDBG funding for non-entitlement areas, “entitled” counties of Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah as well as the cities of Ashland, Bend, Corvallis, Eugene, Portland, Salem and Springfield receive federal CDBG funding directly from HUD. The communities have the discretion to use this money for home repairs. To find the local contacts for the areas where OHCS does not have funding to offer a home repair program, click here. More information on the rural CDBG housing rehabilitation program is available through Ernie Kirchner: (503) 986-2136 or via email. Impressive Attendance at the May 1st Mayoral Candidate Forum Three City of Portland mayoral candidates participated in the Community Development Network’s second, in a series of three, Portland City Council candidate forums. Our staff estimated an unexpected 200 people in attendance. We were successful in getting the forum in just before the ballots went out for the May 20th election. Sho Dozono, Sam Adams and Jeff Taylor faced questions from each other and selected questions from the audience. Sam Adams and Sho Dozono both pledged support for the 30% TIF Set aside. Dozono said that if he were elected, he’d push for a 35% TIF Set aside with 5% going toward homeownership. Mayoral candidate answers to our questionnaire will be available on the Community Development Network website within the coming weeks. Human Solutions Celebrates 20 Years of Empowering Families Join Human Solutions as we celebrate 20 years of empowering families! On May 30 Human Solutions will honor significant Board Members, Staff, Volunteers and Business Supporters who have helped HSI serve more than 734,000 people since 1988. The event will take place in OMSI’s Turbine Hall from 6:30-9:30 and will feature live music, food and refreshments. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by clicking here. 100% of event proceeds will benefit impoverished families in our community. For more information on the event please contact Wes Namba at 503.548.0221 HOST Homes Featured in Green Living Street Fair The Helensview neighborhood is LEED certified and affordable. Come learn how to live more sustainably at the Helensview Green Living Street Fair on May 31, 2008. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, and inside HOST Development’s Helensview homes are environmentally-friendly building materials and designs that help conserve natural resources and keep utility bills low. HOST, which stands for Home Ownership a Street at a Time, built the Helensview neighborhood with affordability in mind, and on Saturday, May 31 will open Helensview to the public during a Green Living Street Fair where local residents can learn how to live green and save green. This free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Helensview, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) certified community, located at NE 64th Avenue and NE Killingsworth Street in the Cully Neighborhood of Northeast Portland. The Helensview Green Living Street Fair will provide information about affordable homeownership opportunities, workshops and information about sustainable living practices. Whether you are interested in owning a newly constructed LEED certified home or want to learn about native plant landscaping, the Helensview Green Living Street Fair will include a free workshop series on a variety of topics, including composting, first time homebuyer 101, backyard garden medicinals, rainwater catchment, and more. You are invited to tour a Helensview model home with HOST sales and local bank representatives available to answer all your questions. Sample local products and services that can make your home and garden more eco-friendly and meet local organizations dedicated to improving Portland’s community! Helensview is features 40 single-family homes and 12 condominiums. This will be Portland’s first neighborhood to earn the LEED-ND certification, with homes ranging in size from 966 to 1636 square feet and prices starting at $196,000. For more information on the Helensview Green Living Street Fair please contact, Holly Wilkalis via email. To find out more about HOST Development, Inc. please visit click here. HOST Development (Home Ownership a Street at a Time) has helped Portland families realize the dream of homeownership since 1989. HOST uses a private sector model to acquire and develop land. It builds energy-efficient homes and markets them to first-time homebuyers earning between 70 percent and 100 percent of the area’s median family income. For more information, click here or call Holly at (503) 331-1752 ext. 105. 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 serving Oregonians of lower and moderate income, and administers federal and state antipoverty, homeless, energy assistance and community service programs. For more information, click here.
Traci Manning New Chief Operating Officer at CCC Traci Manning was recently promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Central City Concern (CCC), a Portland non-profit organization serving homeless and very low income individuals and families. As Chief Operating Officer, Manning will oversee operational functions of Housing, Health Services, Supportive Housing and Employment, and Recovery and Engagement. For the past eight years, Manning was Director of Housing Development at CCC where she led the development of six major properties and implemented a plan to separate resident services from property/asset management. “We are pleased to have Traci’s leadership,” said Richard Harris, Executive Director. “She brings tremendous experience and passion for affordable housing to Central City Concern and will be pivotal in charting a strong future for the organization.” Manning has worked with Central City Concern for more than 15 years and holds a B.A. in Planning, Public Policy & Management from the University of Oregon. Central City Concern’s mission is to provide pathways to self-sufficiency through active intervention in poverty and homelessness. CCC operates more than 1,300 units of affordable housing and provides health, recovery and employment services to thousands of individuals in the Portland metro area every year. Portland Development Commission Restructuring On April 17th Portland Development Commission (PDC) announced a change in its administrative structure. PDC's Executive Director Bruce Warner spoke about a consolidation in the group's Development, Housing and Economic Development departments into one unit. Erin Flynn, who led the Economic Development Team, will lead the new division, tentatively called the Urban Department. Andy Wilch, the Housing Director, and Cheryl Twete, the Development Director, left the agency and will seek positions outside of PDC. Warner said the change will make PDC more efficient. With all of the changes at PDC, Community Development Network (CDN) has done its best to weigh-in quickly on where we believe Tax Increment Financing generated funding should be administered. On April 23, 2008 PDC Commissioners passed Resolution No. 6568. The resolution requests that the PDC Executive Director and its Economic Development Director examine alternative options for the administration of 50% and below MFI housing by an entity other than PDC. CDN Voting Members met with the PDC, Housing Authority of Portland and Bureau of Housing and Community Development-hired consultant Judy Clegg, who is currently overseeing a Portland housing delivery system evaluation known as the “Clegg Study”. The productive meeting resulted in a quick response letter to PDC with 4 recommendations. Next steps will be to develop points around our recommendations to deliver to City Council Members that solidify our position, affirm City Council’s role in guiding the process and point to the Clegg Study as the appropriate starting point for discussions about a possible change. CDN previously had one representative on the “Clegg Study” leadership panel. We will now have 2 representatives for full and equitable coverage of the changes as they occur.
CLF Regional Livability Summit An Inclusive Agenda for Sustainability May 28 Brought to you by the Coalition for a Livable Future (CLF) and this year's Summit co-hosts, the Social Equity and Opportunity Forum of Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs and the Sidney Lezak Project. May 28, 2008 - Portland State University Smith Center Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway, third floor Click here to register using CLF's secure online site! There is growing recognition of the interconnectedness of todays issues and the need to simultaneously address economy, environment, and equity in order to achieve sustainability goals. Yet, we still have much to learn to broaden our region's sustainability agenda beyond just being green. Using the ground-breaking Regional Equity Atlas Project as a point of departure, and knowing that we can and must do better, leaders from across the bi-state metropolitan area are coming together at the 2008 Summit to advance an agenda for true sustainability in the region; one that harnesses our desire for positive change, recognizes our interconnectedness, and lives up to the promise of our people and our place. Join us! Daytime Program: 8:00 a.m. registration & continental breakfast opens 8:30 a.m. program begins Opening Keynote by Maya Wiley "Equity for Opportunity: The history and current context for our struggle for a better life" Plenary Panel Nichole Maher, Native American Youth and Family Center Framing Presentation "Regional Equity Action Agenda: Emerging Strategies and Point of Departure" Networking Lunch Equity Action Strategy Breakouts and Caucuses 4:30 p.m. Conclusions from the day Evening Program: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Organizing for Change: Expanding the Sustainability Agenda Maya Wiley will present on how to develop an inclusive regional sustainability agenda that unites our communities and creates a positive future. Leadership Response Panel Following Ms.Wiley's presentation a panel of community leaders from different sectors will share their perspective on moving the regional equity agenda forward in our region.
Barney Frank's Economic and Housing Rescue Legislation Moves Forward In response to the nationwide economic downturn caused by the housing and credit crisis, members of the House Financial Services Committee today introduced legislation to combat the unprecedented rise in foreclosures, and the associated impact on cities and states. The legislation first announced by Chairman Barney Frank in March, will be divided into two measures: - H.R. 5830, the FHA Housing and Homeowner Retention Act, to expand the FHA program to help refinance at-risk borrowers into viable mortgages and also requires the Federal Reserve Board to conduct a study on the need for an auction or bulk refinancing mechanism. The House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 5830 by a bipartisan vote of 46 to 21. The legislation now moves to the full House for consideration. - H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008, was introduced by Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Chairwoman Maxine Waters, will provide loans and grants to states and cities to deal with problems associated with large numbers of foreclosures in neighborhoods across the country. HAC will report results at http://www.ruralhome.org. IRS Proposed New 990 Instructions Comments are due June 1 on draft instructions for the new Form 990, the return most nonprofit organizations will file for tax year 2008. The new form was released in December after a comment period last year. For more information, click here.
Report: Preserving Affordable Multifamily Housing The spring 2008 issue of Community Developments, a newsletter from the Comptroller of the Currency, focuses on the preservation of affordable multifamily housing by examining how four banks of various sizes and several multi-lender consortiums have invested resources in preserving the affordability of multifamily housing units. Barry Wides, Deputy Comptroller for Community Affairs, says that "banks that invest their resources in affordable multifamily housing preservation can receive not only a market-rate return on their investments, but may also obtain positive Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) consideration for these activities." For more information about the issue, click here. Research Report Examines Housing Crisis Impact on Rental Market New research on rental housing from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies finds that the current housing crisis has increased competition for low-cost rentals while adding the threat of eviction for renters living in foreclosed properties. America's Rental Housing: The Key to a Balanced National Policy calls for policymakers to focus more attention on renters being put at risk by the mortgage crisis. Because of foreclosures and decreasing home sales, homeownership is declining while the number of renters is increasing dramatically - by almost a million just last year, which is four times the pace of renter growth from 2003-2006. For more information and to download the report, click here.
Celebrate Portland’s Economic Opportunity Initiative Graduation May 10 Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Development invites you to join in the celebration of the first graduation of participants in the Portland Economic Opportunity Iniatiative on Saturday, May 10, 9-10 am at City Hall in the Council Chambers. The Economic Opportunity Initiative was started three years ago by BHCD in partnership with dozens of community organizations, employers and low income residents. It is a poverty reduction program with 34 coordinated projects. The projects provide about 2000 active participants, comprehensive personal support and career training to increase their incomes in the workforce or small business. Each participant receives three years of service, so this is the first graduation celebration. About 95% of three year completers will meet the program goal of increasing their incomes by a minimum of 25% from enrollment. In fact, for employed participants the average increase is close to 100% since enrollment and for completing microenterprises the average revenue increase is close to 300%. Many of the 34 coordinated poverty reduction projects that make up the Economic Opportunity Initiative have waiting lists of low income residents interested in having the same opportunity. The only increase in funding awarded to the program for 08/09 is from the NW Health Foundation. Average cost per successful participant is around $9,000 over three years. This investment results in an increase in the local tax base, money circulated in the local economy and a reduction in the demand on public services--dwarfing that low per participant investment. BHCD is proud of the program graduates and the results of the pilot class. Poverty is not destiny. Together hard work and community investment can make a difference. BHCD invites you to celebrate May 10! For more information contact Lynn Knox, Economic Opportunity Program Manager, 503-823-2385 or via email. Community Alliance of Tenants Renter Rights Hotline Training May 17-18 The time is coming up for the next volunteer training for the Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT) Renters' Rights Hotline. On May 17th and 18th, from 2:00-6:30 on Saturday and Sunday, CAT will be training folks to answer calls on the Renters' Rights Hotline. It's a great way to learn about your rights as a renter. So if you're interested, or know someone who might be, please contact Ari for more information and details via email or at (503) 460-9702.
PDC Training for LEED for “Accredited Professionals” Exam May 27 The Portland Development Commission is offering training for developers, contractors and others who want to learn more about sustainable development, the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification for green buildings, and how to prepare for the LEED for “Accredited Professionals” exam. When: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, May 27, 2008 Where: Portland Development Commission (222 NW Fifth Ave. Portland OR, The Commission Room, First Floor) Who: This training is primarily for affordable housing developers, sheltered market and MWESB construction trades, and city staff Cost A: $50 plus $12 for materials Cost B: $200 for all other attendees Limit: 60 people – selection will be based on a first come, first served basis To register, please email wilcoxw@pdc.us or bethellc@pdc.us with subject line: LEED AP Training Registration deadline is May 22 Housing and Foreclosure Prevention Fair May 27 at PCC Cascade This is a free event on Tuesday May 27 from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Portland Community College, Cascade Campus Gym (705 NE Killingsworth Street Portland). Open to the public. Meet with credit counselors, home buyer counselors and educators, first-time homebuyer experts, foreclosure prevention specialists, non-profit housing staff, mortgage professionals. Learn more about local, state, and federal housing programs. Sponsored by Senator Gordon H. Smith, the City of Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development and the Portland Development Commission.
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