The 30% set aside policy is gaining momentum both on City Council and the PDC Commission.  Despite that the City Council hearing on the set aside being delayed until October 18, there is growing support for a 30% set aside of urban renewal funds to meet the housing needs of families earning low wages and seniors, people with disabilities and others on fixed incomes. Though encouraged by the momentum, Affordable Housing NOW! remains focused on crucial details such as ensuring accountability to the set aside policy and specific criteria that will mandate housing resources are used to house the lowest income Portlanders remain undecided.

During a Council hearing last week approving the Tram financing package in the Southwest Waterfront URA, Commissioner Erik Sten said the City Council was moving favorably towards agreement on the establishment of the 30% set aside. On Friday, the Portland Development Commission staff released a draft proposal for the implementation of a 30% set aside.  Though Commissioners Sten, Sam Adams and Randy Leonard have long supported the set aside, the reported movement from the rest of Council and the PDC Commission is welcome news to AHN and the housing advocacy community.

None the less, AHN still is concerned about several essential details: Establishing the 30% set aside so it is binding City policy and instituting income based allocation guidelines so that an adequate portion of the housing set aside funds are used to meet the areas of most urgent housing need (i.e. serving families, seniors and people with disabilities at the lowest incomes).  Additionally, concerns about exempting industrial and ‘expiring’ districts from the set aside, including non-residential community facilities as an eligible expense for the housing funds, and other implementation details remain important issues as City Council and the PDC Commission decide the details for the set aside.

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

Help Expand Housing Opportunity in Oregon: Endorse the Housing Alliance Proposal for $100 million for Affordable Housing

The Housing Alliance needs your help! We are asking the Legislature to take bold action to address the affordable housing crisis that is gripping out state. Oregon has the tools to provide needed housing for working families, seniors, people with disabilities and other that have been left behind by the inflating housing market.  But in order to access those tools, we need to commit the necessary funding. With your help, we can win $100 million for affordable housing in 2007.

Endorse our proposal for $100 Million for Affordable Housing!

The Housing Alliance is gathering endorsements of our proposal for $100 million for Affordable Housing.  If your organization, business, or congregation supports housing opportunity for Oregonians, join hundreds of other organizations in endorsing the $100 million for Affordable Housing.  The Housing Alliance’ goal is to gather 500 endorsements before the 2007 Legislative session begins in January.

If the endorsement strategy worked in Ohio, we can make it work in Oregon! In 2005, the State of Ohio passed a similar funding package for housing. In their successful campaign, they gathered over 800 endorsements and won broad, bi-partisan support of their agenda before their 2005 Legislative session began. Since Oregon is smaller than Ohio, we figure that we need 500 endorsements by January 2007 for similar success here.

Who can endorse?

The Housing Alliance is seeking the endorsements of organizations, businesses, religious congregations, social clubs, elected officials and prominent individuals. What is most important is that we show a broad range of support across the state. All endorsements are welcome!

To download the endorsement form, click on the link below:



$100 million for Homes for hardworking families and our neighbors on fixed incomes



For more information on our agenda, please visit us on the web at http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org. There you’ll find background on our proposals, our agenda, and endorsement forms.

Need more information before endorsing? Give us a call.

We need your organization to sign on! The Housing Alliance will gladly send a representative to your organization to explain the 2007 Housing Opportunity Agenda and to answer any questions. To arrange for a speaker to come to your organization, contact Michael Anderson at (503) 335-9884 or via email or Amy Fauver at (503) 226-3001 x-102 or via email.

Case Study Highlights Housing Messaging, Media Advocacy Work in Oregon

The Berkeley Media Studies Group has just released a case study on the effectiveness of the housing messaging and media advocacy work in Oregon over the past 3 years.  Highlighting the work of the Housing Alliance, Affordable Housing NOW!, CDN, and the Neighborhood Partnership Fund (NPF), the study examines the evolution and application of housing messaging and media advocacy from the NPF initiated “Talking About Housing: A Media Working Group” through AHN’s current advocacy for an 30% Urban Renewal Housing Set Aside, and the Housing Alliance 2007 Housing Opportunity Agenda.

The case study is available a both at the Berkeley Media Studies Group website (http://www.bmsg.org/pub-issues.php) and Media Evaluation Project website (http://mediaevaluationproject.org/).

After years of volunteer service with the Coalition for a Livable Future (CLF), Ron Carley will join long time director Jill Fuglister to lead the Coalition. Ron helped found CLF in 1994 and has been involved ever since, most recently as the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

This month Ron took the brave and bold step to join the CLF staff as Co-Director. Ron brings a wealth of experience to the organization. Before joining CLF staff, Ron spent 2 years with Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services and over 10 years as the Urban Conservationist with Audubon Society of Portland. His strong background in environmental advocacy and natural resource issues as well as his longtime knowledge of CLF will serve the Coalition well as it continues to expand its work for livable communities.

Both Jill and Ron are excited about the new Co-Directorship arrangement. Each are parents of small children and feel like job sharing will provide them the ability to serve both CLF and their families well.

OMB Watch: Nonprofits Mobilize to Fight Voter Suppression

A growing body of state laws and regulations governing voter registration and the voting process create barriers to voting that discriminate against minorities, new citizens and the elderly. Nonprofits are challenging these new voter suppression tactics, including filing several lawsuits. These voter drives build off efforts that support election reform programs mandated by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, and these developments illustrate just how important nonprofit organizations are as vehicles of civic participation.

Recently federal courts have struck down state rules limiting the ability of nonprofits to register voters in Florida and Ohio. In Florida the League of Women Voters, the AFL-CIO, and American Federation of State and Municipal Employees were forced to stop registering voters until the court blocked enforcement of a new state rule. The rule mandated that nonprofits turn in voter registration cards within 10 days or pay stiff penalties for late submission. Groups were engaged in statewide voter registration drives and said the law created a logistical impossibility.

In Ohio, Project Vote, People for the American Way Foundation, and Common Cause Ohio successfully challenged a law that would have required all voting registrars (including nonprofit volunteers) to complete an online training course and to submit the registrations personally instead of through the nonprofit sponsor, or face criminal penalties. A similar proposed rule in New Jersey requiring forms to be turned in within five days of registration is being challenged by the Brennan Center for Justice.

New, stringent voter identification requirements are also being challenged. In Ohio the Brennan Center has filed suit on behalf of naturalized citizens challenging a law that allows poll workers to request that voters produce documentation proving their U.S. citizenship. The law does not apply to citizens born in the United States.

In Washington the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), Service Employees International Union, Washington Citizens Action, and the Washington Association of Churches won a case challenging a state law that would have kept citizens from voting if their identification information did not match government databases exactly. This would have kept otherwise eligible voters off of voter rolls if there had been even a minor typographical error. However, in Missouri a state judge recently sided with the state on a similar issue, even while acknowledging the potential high cost of compliance with the law by several voters.

In Congress, a bill (H.R. 4844) would require all citizens that want to register to vote to show proof of citizenship. It is possible the bill could come up for a floor vote in the House of Representatives during the week of Sept.18. This action follows up on an effort by a group of Republican lawmakers to hold up the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act Reauthorization this summer. It was eventually passed, but not before an attempt to limit its scope and protections was made.

OMB Watch is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting government accountability, citizen participation in public policy decisions, and the use of fiscal and regulatory policy to serve the public interest.

OMB Watch was founded in 1983 to lift the veil of secrecy shrouding the powerful White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The organization has since expanded its focus to include the substantive areas that OMB oversees:

·       federal budget, taxation and government performance;

·       information and access;

·       nonprofit action, advocacy, policy and technology; and regulatory policy.

Portland Habitat for Humanity and our partner families in celebrating the completion of 16 new homes in SE Portland TONIGHT, September 14 from 6:00-7:30 pm at 8327 SE Lambert Street. Come and welcome the new families into their homes, enjoy some delicious food courtesy of Romano's Macaroni Grill and help us say thank you to everyone who made it happen!

Directions to 8327 SE Lambert Street from I-205, take the Johnson Creek Blvd exit, travel north on 82nd Ave for about a half-mile; turn right at Lambert Street.  Lambert is a small side street off 82nd, look for Tanner's A-1 Automotive and Habitat signs.

Parking is limited.  Please carpool or take the bus if possible.

See you there!

Visit www.pdxhabitat.org for more information

Please join us to celebrate Annie Ross House and 20 years of helping homeless families with children

What:   Annie Ross House 20th Anniversary “Luminaries” Event 


When:   Wednesday, September 20th from 4 to 7pm        

“String Connection” youth musicians from 4 to 5pm        

Premiere of the Annie Ross House video at 5pm

Where:  Abernethy Center, 606 15th Street, Oregon City

Please join us to celebrate twenty years of shelter and services for homeless families, and to honor “luminaries” – the people who bring light, warmth, hope and goodness to our program.  You’ll be inspired by “Annie Ross” families, and by the volunteers, donors and staff who have made it all possible.  Keeping with the “luminaries” theme, students from the Arbor School have created beautiful handmade lanterns, which will be available by donation.

Annie Ross House was created in 1986 by Northwest Housing Alternatives.  The shelter is located in Milwaukie and offers a home-like setting with support services to help families with children as they transition out of homelessness.  Families are offered food boxes, nutrition information, and access to community and health resources, social services, mentoring and life-skills training.  Each night, the Annie Ross program serves five families in shelter and six families in nearby transitional apartments. 

For more information, see www.nwhousing.org, or call Northwest Housing Alternatives at 503-654-1007 

Trainings: Construction Management (9/28), Planning & Managing Growth (10/5)

The Neighborhood Partnership Fund is offering trainings on Construction Management on September 28, and Planning and Management on October 5. Class size is limited so register early!

Construction Management, September 28, 2006

Charlie Harris, CASA of Oregon

Leon Laptook, Community Development Law Center

Rob Prasch, Housing Development Center

Oversight of construction is critical to the success of your affordable housing projects and the long-term health of your organization. With scores of professionals and tradesmen involved, who will oversee the hundreds of construction documents, the materials and equipment, and the thousands, if not millions of dollars needed for the success of a project? This training will cover the basic skills and processes needed for effective project oversight. It will discuss the phases of construction, the roles of the various participants, and techniques to ensure that projects are developed, on time, within budget and as planned. Topics will include: construction planning, procurement, construction contracts and related documents, inspections, coordination, change orders, resolving disputes, etc. In addition a panel consisting of an architect, general contractor and construction manager will present a case study of a project that they successfully completed.

Presenters:

Charlie Harris, Housing Program Manager at CASA of Oregon, has been in the affordable housing field for 29 years as a consultant for lenders, investors, and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Harris co-founded the Community Development Law Center.  He also founded and served as the first executive director for CASA of Oregon, a statewide nonprofit housing organization specializing in farm worker housing development, and as a legal services attorney and private real estate attorney.  Mr. Harris has been involved in the development of approximately 1500 units of affordable housing. He has extensive experience in housing finance and providing technical assistance and training to rural community development organizations. He is the author of the Nonprofit Rural and Farmworker Housing Finance Manual and Managing Farmworker Housing:  A Guide to Asset and Property Management. Most recently he was the principal author of 2003 CDLC’s study, prepared for the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department, titled Oregon’s Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Projects: An Analysis of Income and Expenses.

Leon Laptook has been in the affordable housing field for 25 years, as a manager and director of public and non-profit agencies serving the low-income community. He has expertise in housing development, land use, and providing training and technical assistance to CHDOs and community-based organizations. He has managed the federal housing and redevelopment programs for the City of Corvallis and prior to co-founding the CDLC was the Deputy Director for a large community action agency in the Portland area.

Rob Prasch, as Housing Development Center’s Housing Program Manager, he not only oversees construction management of affordable housing projects, but also supervises other construction-related Project Managers, overseeing workload and scheduling, and building HDC’s housing development program.  While at HDC, Rob has provided construction management on over 200 completed units, with another 230 units underway.  Prior to joining HDC, Rob spent six years with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development working in the Multifamily Division as an Asset Manager and the Preservation Program Coordinator. During his tenure, 65 multifamily projects in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were processed under HUD’s Preservation programs including the transfers of 32 properties to non-profit sponsors.  Before he joined HUD, Rob worked as a general contractor specializing in residential and commercial renovation and new construction subcontracting.

Class Date & Time:  Thursday, September 28, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Location:  LaSells Stewart Center (at OSU campus), Room: Agricultural Leaders

Directions:  http://oregonstate.edu/lasells/gettinghere.html

Meals: For those electing to pay the meal fee, morning coffee & pastries and a buffet lunch will be provided.  Please be sure to check the meals option box on the registration form and include payment with your registration.

Cost:  Free for the workshop.  Continental breakfast and lunch option is $25

Registration Deadline:  September 14

Cancellation Policy: If you are unable to attend a session that you have registered for, please contact NPF as soon as possible.  Refunds, minus a $10 processing fee, will be given for cancellations occurring five business days prior to the day of the training.  After that date, no refunds will be made.

Planning & Managing Growth October 5, 2006

Jim Morris & Alisyn Peters, MBL Group

Growing organizations bring with them their own set of unique challenges.  Sometimes it is difficult for leaders to take the time to assess and plan when they are driving a high growth organization. Unfortunately, that is when planning is needed more than ever. Join us for this one-day training and learn valuable strategies for planning for the future. You will learn techniques for identifying and addressing the current and future needs of your organization.  You will also learn how to identify which stage of growth your organization is in and how to best plan for the next stage. You will walk away from this training with the tools you need for managing your organization into the future.

Presenters:

Jim Morris brings over twenty-five years of human resources experience.  Prior to co-founding the MBL Group in 1992, Jim held senior human resources positions at PacifiCorp and Electro Scientific Industries.  He leads the firm's organizational development, team building and executive coaching practice. His client focus is the non-profit sector and mission driven sustainable companies. Jim completed the coursework for an MA in psychology.

Alisyn Peters has 15 years of broad-based human resources experience.  Her experience includes supporting and managing the various functions of human resources from within a small nonprofit organization to a large corporation.  Alisyn has experience partnering with leadership teams in developing and implementing human resources strategies linked to business strategic plans for an expanding nonprofit organization. She also has experience in training and developing diverse management teams. Alisyn has a BA in Human Resource Management and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Class size is limited so register early!

Class Date & Time:  Thursday, October 5, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location:  The Century Hotel in Tualatin, Century room

Directions:  http://www.thecenturyhotel.com/location.htm

Meals:  Continental breakfast and buffet lunch

Cost:  $100

Registration Deadline:  September 21

Cancellation Policy: If you are unable to attend a session that you have registered for, please contact NPF as soon as possible.  Refunds, minus a $10 processing fee, will be given for cancellations occurring five business days prior to the day of the training.  After that date, no refunds will be made.

Make a Difference as a Volunteer: CAT Renters’ Rights Hotline Training Oct 7,8

Help spread the word about the next volunteer training for the Community Alliance of Tenants Renters' Rights Hotline. Volunteers on the Renters’ Rights Hotline assist Oregon renters with understanding their legal rights and responsibilities as tenants.  Make a real difference for families, seniors, people with disabilities and other renters! The training will be Saturday and Sunday, October 7th-8th, from 9am to 2pm Saturday and 2pm to 6pm Sunday in northeast Portland.

Anyone who is interested can contact Ari Rapkin, the Education Program Director for the Community Alliance of Tenants at 503.460.9702 or via email (ari@oregoncat.org).

CDC’s and affordable housing developers are invited to a Bureau of Development Services Residential Forum on land division on October 16 from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, at 1900 SW 4^th Ave, Rm 2500B.  Topics will include an overview of the partition process, top ten causes for partition delay, and narrow lot strategies.

The Residential Forum is an informal event designed to offer customers and members of the public the opportunity to hear information, ask questions and interact with staff from the City of Portland, Bureau of Development Services.  For the October Residential Forum, staff from Land Use Services will present on topics related to lot division and narrow lot development and will be available to answer questions. Click here to download an informational postcard, or call Sally Peters at (503) 823-0682 for more information.