A City Council hearing on August 16 and a joint Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC)-Portland Development Commission (PDC) hearing on August 28 demonstrated strong support from both elected officials and the public at large for the adoption of 30% set aside of urban renewal funds for affordable housing. Advocates for schools, livability, labor, the disability community, and seniors as well as several members of Real Estate Professionals for Building Community turned out unity with housing advocates at the August hearings to applaud the leadership of the Portland City Council and the Portland Development Commission for developing an implementation plan for the housing set aside, which will provide an estimated $23 million in funds for needed housing.

The Council chambers were packed on August 16 for a PDC report to City Council on Urban Renewal Housing Expenditures.  There were many City Council staff, PDC staff, and representatives from the Urban Renewal Advisory Committees (URACs), but the largest contingent of people present were supporters of 30% set aside, all of whom stood in unison while Community Alliance of Tenants Director Ian Slingerland made a brief public comment on behalf of the Affordable Housing NOW! coalition. 

After hearing the PDC report, and brief public comment, the Commissioners weighed in on the pending set aside. Commissioners Sam Adams, Randy Leonard and Erik Sten were all very clearly in support of the 30% set aside, whereas Mayor Tom Potter and Commissioner Dan Saltzman said that they supported the set aside concept, but had some concerns as to whether 30% was the appropriate level.

Over fifty people turned out for the HCDC-PDC hearing on the housing set aside, with thirty of the thirty-two people submitting testimony expressing overwhelming support for 30% set aside. Supporters of the set aside included representatives from Stand for Children, Sisters of the Road, the League of Women Voters, the Community Alliance of Tenants, REACH CDC, Central City Concern, the Coalition for Livable Future, City Club of Portland, the Recovery Association Project, the Community Development Network and members of the Affordable Housing NOW! coalition.

On September 27, the Portland Development Commission will meet to make a recommendation on the set aside for City Council to consider on October 4.

To read PDC's report on historical urban renewal spending on housing, go to: http://www.pdc.us/housing_serv/tif-setaside.asp.  

For more information on the set aside, click here, or contact Michael Anderson via email or at (503) 335-9884.

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

Get Your Ticket: 2006 CDN Annual Awards Banquet Sept 21

With the theme of “Putting the Pieces Together” the 2006 Community Development Annual Awards Banquet will feature speaker Donna Beegle, author of “Ending the Silence of Generational Poverty”.  The banquet will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2006, 5:30 – 9 pm at the Oregon Zoo, Cascade Banquet Center.

Ryan Deckert, Oregon State Senator, will be our Master of Ceremonies and Gretchen Kafoury from the College Of Urban And Public Affairs at PSU, returns as Award Presenter.  Both bring a level of fun to the gala evening celebrating the work of CDN members and partners.

Tickets to the Banquet cost $50. To get your ticket, please contact Karen Walker at (503) 335-9884 or via email. 

Governor Appoints Victor Merced Director of Housing and Community Services

Governor Kulongoski selected Victor Merced as the new Director of the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department on August 11, 2006.  “I am confident that under Victor’s leadership, Housing and Community Services will continue to create partnerships that improve Oregonians’ lives and communities,” the Governor said.  “I know he will help achieve my goal of improving housing opportunities for the people who need them most—Oregonians with low and moderate incomes.”  Mr. Merced comes to the position with previous experience at Meyer Memorial Trust and as a philanthropic advisor and organizational consultant to a variety of nonprofit organizations.

To read more, click here.

Measure 48 will be on the November ballot and if passed by the voters, will impose significant limitations on the state's budget. The Measure's limitations on the state's budget includes restrictions on the ability to issue bonds for many activities. Those limited activities include bonds to finance homeownership under the Oregon Bond program. Because issuing bonds today affects the state's budget over the long term under Measure 48, the State Treasurer is concerned regarding issuing state bonds for the home buyers program until the passage or failure of Measure 48 is determined by the November election.

Because Oregon Housing and Community Services is not able to determine when we will be able to issue bonds to purchase loans resulting from future reservations, as of 5:00pm on August 16, 2006 OHCS suspended accepting reservations for the Oregon Bond program. The suspension of taking reservations will remain in effect until the outcome of the November election. OHCS will continue to process the purchase of submitted loans if the loan is based upon an existing program reservation currently in our computerized list

If you have any questions regarding the impact of this action on your current reservations, please contact OHCS program staff - Kari Cleveland @ 503 986-2046, Craig Tillotson @ 503 986-2037, or Debbie Roberts@ 503 986-2057.

Big Times at Hacienda: CDC Join Forces with SMG Foundation, Awarded Meyer Memorial Trust Grant

The staff, programs, and associated grants of the non-profit Susannah María Gurule (SMG) Foundation have moved across town to join the non-profit Hacienda Community Development Corporation (CDC).

On July 20 the Board of Directors of Hacienda CDC approved an asset transfer that resulted in Hacienda’s absorption of all of the SMG Foundation programs except its name and its building in Southeast Portland which was not part of the transaction. The building is currently on sale and a portion of the proceeds will be reinvested to support the newly acquired programs at Hacienda CDC.

Pietro Ferrari, executive director of Hacienda CDC, calls this “an unprecedented program integration between two Latino-oriented organizations to serve the community in a holistic and efficient way.” Hacienda’s focus on housing, community building, and economic development will be expanded to include the SMG Foundation’s health, wellness, education, and leadership programs, creating a regional model for community service.

While the asset transfer proposal was officially presented to the boards of the SMG Foundation and Hacienda CDC in May of this year, and signed on August 10, 2006, discussions about a possible asset transfer began between the boards in fall of 2005.  In April of this year, Rebecca Hernández, PhD, then SMG’s executive director, sent a letter to the Hacienda board to officially inform them of the foundation’s interest in the transfer.

 “In today’s non-profit environment we understand that in order to flourish in our programming we would be better served by aligning our two organizations to create a stronger, holistic community building organization that Latino families need,” Hernández wrote in the letter. Hernández, now the director of community building for Hacienda, and five other former SMG staff are now working out of Hacienda’s corporate offices at NE 42^nd and NE Killingsworth and onsite at all Hacienda housing developments.

Clara Padilla Andrews, founder of the SMG Foundation and co-founder of Hacienda CDC, sees the transfer as a chance to fully realize SMG’s potential to help the community by allowing staff to focus on programs, rather than raising funds for capital. “I am so happy to see two great organizations and two wonderful staffs coming together to become something even greater,” Padilla Andrews says.  Padilla Andrews has resigned from the Hacienda Board of Directors but will serve as a member of a founders & resource council of the newly expanded Hacienda CDC.  

Hacienda CDC Awarded Meyer Memorial Trust Grant

Hacienda CDC received one of eleven grants handed out by Meyer Memorial Trust in August. The $130,000 grant will increase Hacienda’s capacity by diversifying funding streams and resident program offerings.

Pietro Ferrari, Hacienda’s executive director, labeled the grant “a significant boost to Hacienda’s newly expanded mission to offer a holistic approach to community building.” More than affordable housing, Hacienda provides residents—upwards of 1,200—with asset building opportunities and a variety of social service programs for all ages daily on site. Hacienda’s culturally-specific healthcare awareness and education programs reach an additional 1,800 Latinos in Portland and close-by rural communities. “This grant will enable us to deepen our relationship with the resident community through meaningful community building activities for youth and adults and grow our network of support,” said Ferrari. 

REACH Community Development Corporation’s new six unit rowhouse project will be featured on the Sept 16 Build It Green Tour organized by the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development.  The row house project is affordable targeted for first time homeowners who are making less that 80% of median income One of the homes will be complete and open for the tour. 

The 2006 Build It Green! Tour of Homes and Information Fair will be held on Saturday, September 16, with the tours taking place from 11am - 5pm, followed by the Information Fair, which runs from 4:30pm - 7pm. Admisssion is $15 for adults, and $10 for people who are carfree, students or seniors. Childrne under age 14 are free.

The self-guided tour welcomes visitors into twenty new and remodeled homes throughout the Portland Metropolitan Area. The afternoon information fair gives tour-goers a chance to talk directly to vendors about green building products and services. Launched in 2002, BIG! is for those interested in exploring green building practices and the latest products and technologies.

REACH’s rowhouses are built to meet three different green certifications: Earth Advantage, LEED-H Silver and Enterprise Foundation standards for Green Communities. The Portland Office of Sustainable Development, Earth Advantage, Northwest Natural, and the Enterprise Foundation provided grants to support additional green features such as eco-roofs, Energy Star lighting and appliances, structural insulated panel (SIP) roofs, low flow plumbing fixtures, tankless water heaters, and hydronic ducted heat systems. Kevin Kraus, REACH project manager, learned that "green building does not have to be very hard or much more expensive than conventional building."

The Portland Habitat for Humanity Restore will be participating in the first annual Muddy Boot Festival on September 9th and 10th at 2408 S.E. 16th Ave (near 18th and Division) in Portland. This is an organic festival celebrating sustainable living and community. For more information about the festival, please visit their website at www.muddyboot.org.

This should be a really fun event and a great way to spread the word about the Restore and Habitat for Humanity! There will be music and food and lots of fun activities! The festival does take place outdoors so please dress accordingly.

For more information, please conact Shannon, our Customer Service/Outreach Coordinator, at shannon@pdxrestore.org

Saving Homes, Saving Money: Preserving Our Stock of Affordable Housing Sept 11

Michael Bodaken, President of the National Housing Trust, will give a presentation on preservation policy, need and strategy, followed by a question and answer period and reception on September 11 at the Downtown YWCA in an event sponsored by the Nieghborhodd Partnership Fund.

Mr. Bodaken has been head of the Trust for over 8 years. Under his guidance, the Trust has become the primary national nonprofit intermediary dedicated to the preservation and improvement of affordable multifamily homes. Mr. Bodaken is chiefly involved in administration, business planning, technical assistance and public policy. Mr. Bodaken has been directly involved in providing technical assistance to capable nonprofit organizations interested in purchasing affordable, multi-family housing developments. To date, his efforts have involved the preservation of over 5,600 affordable multifamily homes, requiring a combined acquisition and rehabilitation financing of over $180 million. He is a frequent moderator and panelist at regional and national housing conferences concerning the preservation of multifamily housing. He is proficient in investment, tax and legal matters concerning housing and community economic development.

For more information on the National Housing Trust go to: http://www.nhtinc.org/about_trust.asp

Presentation Date & Time: Monday, September 11, 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Reception with Michael 4:30 – 6:00 PM

Location: YWCA downtown (1111 SW 10th Avenue)

RSVP: Please send an email message to Nancy Warnock at nwarnock@tnpf.org to inform us of your attendance.

Celebrate 15 Years of Sabin CDC, Enjoy Regional Wines Sept 13

In 1991 Sabin CDC was formed when a group of concerned residents from our neighborhoods decided to address the needs in their community. Sabin’s first and foremost concern was how the rapidly rising housing costs were driving out many of their longtime neighbors. As a result of 15 years of dedicated commitment, we have successful homeownership programs, 190 units of affordable rental housing, 8 years of technology education and multimedia programming, finance literacy targeting 7 neighborhoods surrounding the Alberta Street Corridor, coupled with many awards for community impact and community service corporate support. We would like to once again encourage residents to explore the many ways Sabin CDC connects them to our community by featuring venues and events that focus on these distinctive elements; public spaces, affordable housing, community land use, neighborhood education and safety issues, public art and neighborhood festivals.

We would like to present MapClicks.com “Wine on Wednesdays” Event on September 13^th, 2006

This event will include up to 11 wineries from our region, 10 restaurants located within the Alberta Street business district with advance tickets sells supporting an educational program fundraiser. Community partner we are requesting your support and participation in our celebration as a valued sponsor.

Single Tickets for “Wine on Wednesday” are $22.50

The Special Value Package of 5 tickets is only $100.00 a savings of 12.50

Checks can be mailed to Sabin CDC  1488 NE Alberta Street  97211 and tickets will be on there way by next days mail.

For further information please contact: Sabin CDC 503-287-3496 Ext. 21 or 25.

Audubon Society of Portland, BridgePort Brewing Company and Urban Greenspaces Institute invite you to a fun(d) raiser to benefit the Vote Yes for 26-80, Natural Areas, Parks, and Streams Campaign on Wednesday, September 20th, 2006, 5 to 8pm

 at the bridgeport brewpub + bakery (1313 NW Marshall, at the corner of 14th and Northrup stop on the Portland Streetcar Line or TriMet bus #77).

$35 donation to the Campaign for Natural Areas, Parks, and Streams will be accepted at the door. Hors d'oeuvres donated by bridgeport brewpub + bakery. Sales of the featured beer, Blue Heron Pale Ale, will also benefit the campaign.

Music by Robert Moore and the Wildcats.

Pass the invitation on and encourage friends, family and jazz aficionados to join us.

Questions, contact Mike Houck at 503-319-7155 or via email.