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| Midland Commons Housing Opens New Opportunities for Residents Described by officials as “breathtaking, “ a major flagship in efforts to end homelessness,” and a prime example of a successful collaboration, Midland Commons opened on October 28th with more than 100 people turning out for the celebration. A project of Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Midland Commons is a 46 unit apartment complex in East County that will be come homes to low income community members with mental illness. Cascadia BHC has almost 700 units throughout Multnomah County that provides housing for those with mental health and addictions concerns. “Stable housing is often the first step in recovery,” said County Commissioner Lisa Naito, both from her perspective as a commissioner, and someone who has a mentally ill family member, “Congratulations to everyone. We all worked together to make something great happen.” Cascadia President and CEO Leslie Ford noted how federal, state, county officials, as well as the private sector, joined with non-profit Cascadia to create Midland Commons. She discussed the complexity of the funding, with nine different sources, and how government officials, neighbors, and Cascadia staff worked hard to make it successful. Multnomah County Chair Diane Linn echoed her words and spoke of “the longstanding successful partnership between Cascadia and the County.” HUD's Paul Carlson, the regional director for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, also drew loud applause when he called for an end to “the tragedy of homelessness. I know what a great change agent having a place like this to live can be.” Fourteen of the apartments at Midland Commons are designated specifically for those who have been chronically homeless. Other targeted special populations include families and those with a serious, chronic illness (in addition to mental illness.) There were roughly 250 applicants for the apartments, with the successful tenants being selected by lottery. Cascadia staff estimate that the apartments at Midland Commons will be filled before the end of December. The 1.38-acre site is landscaped with native vegetation and designed to provide variety of large and small outdoor spaces. The two buildings, totaling 39,500 square feet of space, include amenities such as high speed internet access, a gas fire place, a large community room with kitchen, several smaller lounges and large balconies. Award-winning architect William Wilson maximized possibilities for socialization. In the spacious main hallway and atrium, consumer artwork was on display. HUD Programs Get Squeezed in Final Appropriations Bill On November 20, Congress released the numbers for its omnibus appropriations package for fiscal year 2005, including funding for the departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and Health and Human Services HHS). The legislation reflects a major change in priorities, with overall cuts in federal housing programs including HUD homelessness funding. Homeless Assistance Grants were funded at $1.241 billion, a cut of $19 million from last year's level -- the first cut to the program since 1995. The Homeless Assistance Grants are the primary source of funding for communities' efforts to address homelessness through the Continuums of Care. While the allocated funding will likely be adequate to cover permanent housing renewals, the brunt of the cut will be felt by communities seeking to fund new projects through the SuperNOFA process this coming Spring. After the across-the-board cuts, the funding level for Section 8 appears barely adequate to keep the program at its current levels. In addition, the bill makes changes in how the program is to be administered by HUD. And based on last year's problems with the new renewal formula, it appears likely that many PHAs will be under pressure to serve fewer families, especially larger families and those with the lowest incomes. The effect of these policy changes may well be that the amount made available by Congress for Section 8 will not in fact be spent, and some of the funds will have to be returned by PHAs to the treasury at the end of the year. The complete figures relating to homelessness, adjusted to incorporate the 0.83 percent across-the-board cut, are as follows: * The overall HUD budget is funded at $37.2 billion, which is $618 million below last year's level. * Homeless Assistance Grants is funded at $1.241 billion, a cut of $19 million from last year. * Section 8, including both tenant-based and project-based assistance, is funded at $20.058 billion total, which is $1.6 billion above the Administration's request and $800 million above last year. * HOPWA is funded at $282 million, a cut of $13 million from last year. * Community Development Fund, which includes CDBG, is funded at $4.67 billion, a cut of $264 million. * HOME is funded at $1.899 billion, a cut of $107 million * Elderly housing is funded at $741 million, a cut of 33 million. * Disability housing (section 811) is funded at $238 million, a cut of $11 million. * Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program is funded at $20.8 million, an increase of $2 million over last year's level. * PATH is funded at $54.8 million, an increase of $5 million over last year's level. * Runaway and Homeless Youth programs, including Transitional Living Programs, are funded at $88.7 million, which is $725,000 below last year's level. * Street Outreach is funded at $15.2 million, roughly the same as last year's level. * Education for Homeless Children is funded at $62.5 million, an increase of $2.8 million over last year's level. The text of the conference report for the appropriations legislation is currently located at http://www.house.gov/rules/h4818crfulltext.htm. A final copy will soon be available at http://thomas.loc.gov Hunger in Oregon Improves; State Still Ranks Among Least Food Secure in Nation Data released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicate that Oregon's hunger rate has improved since the mid-1990s. However, Oregon's hunger and food insecurity rates remain significantly higher than the national rates. In the 2001-03 period, 4.3 percent of Oregon households included someone who went hungry at times during the year. This is an improvement from 6.0 percent in 1996-98, but still higher than the national rate of 3.4 percent. "Those fighting hunger in Oregon deserve credit for improving Oregon's hunger rate, primarily by increasing access to food stamps," said Michael Leachman, policy analyst for the Oregon Center for Public Policy. At the urging of advocacy groups, Oregon's Department of Human Services increased the income limit for accessing food stamps in 2000 and changed the rules to allow recipients to own a reliable car. An outreach effort, led by the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force, subsequently increased participation among eligible families. "The improvement in hunger shows that government programs work when they have enough resources. By increasing access to food stamps across Oregon, we've made a significant dent in Oregon's hunger problem." Leachman noted that food stamps are almost entirely paid for by the federal government, and therefore have not been subject to the state budget cuts that have diminished other programs. Leachman emphasized that Oregon has been improving access to food assistance at the same time that the state has been cutting access to the Oregon Health Plan and childcare subsidies. "We have made it easier for families to get food at the same time we've made it more difficult for them to get medical assistance or childcare," said Leachman. "Our gains against hunger may be offset in the longer term by backsliding in other areas." Leachman also pointed out that some of the improvement in Oregon's hunger rate is likely due to a change in the national hunger survey, rather than to actual improvement in the lives of Oregonians. Since 2001, the national survey has been conducted in early December. Previously, the survey had been conducted in April, August, or September. Research by the US Department of Agriculture has found seasonal variations in hunger rates nationally, depending on when the survey is conducted. "Early December may be a relatively good time for hunger in Oregon. Holiday and other seasonal jobs haven't yet disappeared, and school is still in session, so school lunch programs are available," said Leachman. 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. Affordable Housing NOW! Speakers Bureau Training Dec 14 Florida, Nevada Vote to Raise Minimum Wage by $1 Although both states went to President Bush on Nov. 2, voters in Florida and Nevada approved state initiatives significantly raising the minimum wage by one whole dollar. In Florida, 72 percent of voters supported raising the state minimum wage by one dollar an hour, bringing wage levels to $6.15 per hour. Perhaps even more importantly for workers, this amount will be indexed for inflation every year, which makes it more progressive than wage policies in many other states. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), along with a coalition of unions and other liberal groups, sponsored and promoted the measure. For more information on how the wage hike will positively impact Floridians, especially those with lower incomes, see a new report by the Center for American Progress (downloads/minimumwage_report.pdf). Nevada voters also passed an initiative to raise the minimum wage by one dollar an hour, and to increase the level annually with increases in the cost of living. The measure passed with 68 percent approval. Florida and Nevada join twelve other states that mandate a minimum wage above the level set by the federal government ($5.15). These victories will help millions of workers achieve a greater quality of life by giving them greater resources with which to face the rising costs of living. They also serve to bolster the economies of these two states and serve as a model to inspire other states to take similar action. OMB Watch Report: Nonprofits Came Out in Force This Election Season Nonprofits across the spectrum came out this election season to help voters have a voice. As a result, the United States had a voter turnout of almost 60 percent, the highest since 1968. This election proved nonprofits can "help America vote." When students at the State University College at Oswego encountered resistance from local boards of elections when they tried to register to vote, they were not surprised. In response, a number of students founded SUNY Rock the Vote Challenge, a voter registration drive involving 20 of the 64 SUNY campuses, with help from the New York Public Interest Research Group and other nonprofits. This is one example of how nonprofits came out in force this election season, ranging from progressive election protection groups to evangelical churches. Nonprofits succeeded in getting people registered and out to vote, and serving as poll monitors. This election season nonprofits enabled people to give a voice to their beliefs. Many nonprofits offered resources to help other groups get involved. For examples see the NPAction website (http://www.npaction.org/helpUSvote). Electionprotection.org, a diverse coalition of nonprofits, gathered an unprecedented 25,000 volunteers who worked together to document thousands of voting problems around the nation and rectify many of them on election day. It remains to be seen how many of the flaws in the Nov. 2 vote were corrected in time to save legal votes, but there is no question that our election system is more robust due to the hard work and diligence of volunteers to not only "rock the vote," but to protect the vote. Churches, who are tax exempt under 501(c)(3) in the tax code, also worked hard to mobilize voters before and on Election Day. There was a huge leap in the intensity and breadth of involvement by religious organizations this election season. Said the Rev. Jerry Johnson, "I am going to try to motivate the pastors to do something, to not be silent, and to become engaged in a long-term process." However, some of this activity created controversy over whether it remained nonpartisan and consistent with the tax code. Increased nonprofit activity has led to increased IRS scrutiny. The IRS says it is currently auditing 60 groups for potential violations of the ban on partisan election activities, including 20 churches. Since March, when a church in Austin allowed the Republican Party to hold a fundraiser in its sanctuary, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (http://www.au.org/site/PageServer) has filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service against seven houses of worship, charging them with failing to observe the limits on political activity by a tax-exempt, nonprofit religious organization. Two of those complaints involved clergy endorsing candidates from the pulpit, with one minister backing Kerry and the other supporting Bush. There is a bright line drawn by the IRS on electioneering by 501(c)(3)s. Groups exempt under 501(c)(3) can talk about issues in an unlimited way, but they cannot urge people to vote for or against a candidate, directly or indirectly. To read the most recent IRS rule revisions relating to non-profits, click here: www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/2525/1/300 This has become a controversial issue for some churches that want to change the tax code to allow church electioneering. See the OMB Watch website (http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/2470/1/3?TopicID=1) for more background. “Proving the Results of Your Community Development Work” Jan 12-13 How do we go from anecdotal success stories to qualitative and quantitative measures of results and impact? How do we prove to ourselves, our communities and our funders that our work is having a positive impact? Who determines what “success” is, and how do we know when we've achieved it? What are some appropriate tools we can use to evaluate community development work? The Neighborhood Partnership Fund presents a highly interactive, intermediate-level course is designed for senior managers and executive directors seeking solutions to these questions. It will help you define how evaluation can be beneficial to your work and community, and you will review appropriate assessment tools and techniques to improve your organization's performance. It will also help you define the results of your work in the communities where you work and live and to communicate the impact to your funders and investors. You will leave this course with a better understanding of the critical concepts in the field of assessment, with new, practical skills and the design of an assessment strategy for your organization and community. Due to the interactive nature of this course, participation is limited to 24. The instructor, Fernando Menéndez, is principal of The Thinking Tools Group, a national consulting and training firm that specializes in community-development and organizational-management training and technical assistance. He also is the former director of Tufts University's Management and Community Development Institute, a nationally renowned learning center known for its excellent training programs. Registration Deadline: December 10, 2004 Cost: $150 Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Kennedy School Gym To register, contact Ruth Adkins at 503.226.3001 Ext. 100, or via email at radkins@tnpf.org 4th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Jan 27-29 in Miami TechSoup: Don't Mess with Unlicensed Software; Microsoft Discounts Available |
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