On November 16, Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced the Affordable Housing Expansion and Public Safety Act of 2006 (S.4063), which calls for an additional 100,000 incremental vouchers for tenant based rental assistance in 2007.

The bill also would authorize $400 million in new funding as a set-aside in the HOME program to produce housing for extremely low income (ELI) families and that limit tenant contribution to rent to 30% of income. Communities will still be required to use their non-set aside funds to provide assistance to ELI households. These funds will be distributed and administered under current HOME guidelines.

“Many communities across our country are facing a housing affordability crisis,” said Senator Feingold.  “My bill is a step toward combating the housing crisis and helping our cities and towns build, supply and preserve affordable housing.”

The bill reauthorizes the Public and Assisted Housing Crime and Drug Elimination Program at $200 million per year for five years. Senator Feingold’s bill also calls for a Sense of the Senate resolution to create a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund that would supply 1.5 million additional affordable housing units over the next 10 years.

Among the groups that endorsed the legislation are NLIHC, the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities and the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Inc.

With only a few weeks left in the 109th Congress, no action is expected on the legislation. However, Senator Feingold plans to pursue these issues again in the 110th Congress, which begins in January.

To read Senator Feingold’s entire statement on the Affordable Housing Expansion and Public Safety Act of 2006 is available online, at http://feingold.senate.gov/housingbill_111606.pdf.

AHN Recognizes, Thanks Mayor Potter, Council Leaders

Leaders and key allies of Affordable Housing NOW! presented Mayor Tom Potter and his lead housing staff Sara Culp with plaques recognizing their work to “open the doors of housing opportunity” in Portland. In the Mayor’s first two budgets (2004-05 and 2005-06), the City allocated nearly $8 million in general funds to affordable housing programs serving working people, seniors, people with disabilities and other vulnerable Portlanders.  On October 28, the City Council unanimously passed a housing set aside that will direct 30% of urban renewal revenues to housing affordable to people under 80% median family income.

“Portland is very fortunate that this Council is great on housing,” said Sam Chase, the executive director of the Community Development Network.  “But we wanted to particularly acknowledge Mayor Potter for the progressive spirit he has fostered in City Hall.”

The delegation from Affordable Housing NOW! included Chase, Ian Slingerland (Community Alliance of Tenants), Kate Allen (Enterprise), Debbie Aiona (League of Women Voters), Mary LaTourette (Community Alliance of Tenants), and Bob Sallinger (Audubon Society of Portland).  In the next week, AHN delegations will be presenting plaques to Commissioners Erik Sten, Sam Adams and Randy Leonard for their outstanding leadership as affordable housing champions.

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

CCC, El Programa Hispano Celebrate Successful FLOAT Program

Central City Concern and Catholic Charities el Programa Hispano cordially invite you to an open house celebrating the success the FLOAT program on December 12. 

FLOAT is a unique community partnership between Central City Concern (CCC) and El

Programa Hispano, a project of Catholic Charities. Funded by CSAT, FLOAT brings comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment services to Spanish-speaking families and adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and who have substance abuse or mental health problems. 

The FLOAT program is part of the CCC continuum of affordable housing integrated with supported services designed to provide homeless and low income people with the tools and support they need to become self-sufficient. The agency believes that in order to be successful, people must have access to housing, support services, and employment opportunities, and must be able to build healthy relationships with people who have shared similar experiences. The agency has developed a wide range of programs, many involving innovative community partnerships, focused on housing, healthcare and recovery services, and employment.

What:  An open house for the Family Latino Outreach Addictions Treatment (FLOAT) program

When: December 12, 2006 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm

Where: 901 S.E. Oak St., Suite #106, Portland

For more information: e-mail Christine Appleberry

Sabin Teams with Local Businesses, Neighbors for Alberta Street Christmas Drive

With the success of last year’s Alberta Street Christmas Drive, participating merchants (Alberta Co-op Grocery, Grasshopper, Star E. Rose, Onda Arte Latina, Fuel Café, Origin Flowers, Office and Sabin Community Development Corporation) and neighbors from all 6 neighborhoods that surround the Alberta corridor provided a weeks worth of groceries for 4 identified community families and toys for their children. Christmas Drive sponsors ask again in 2006 that our local merchants and community members who have given so generously throughout this year to help 4 more families by donating canned goods and non-perishable food items, grocery store gift cards, along with toys to benefit those in our area.

Donation Drop Off Sites:

Alberta Coop Market (NE 15^th and Alberta)

Sabin CDC (NE 15^th and Alberta)

Fuel Café (NE 14^th Pl and Alberta)

Lagniappe Restaurant (NE 20^th and Alberta)

Black United Fund (NE 29^th and Alberta)

For Toy Donations:

Grasshopper (1816 NE Alberta St)

Christmas drive ends 12/15/06, baskets will be delivered to local families 12/19/06 for info 503-287-3496 x27

Enterprise Pulls Off 'Koo' with Appointment of New President and CEO

The Board of Trustees of Enterprise Community Partners announces its selection of Doris W. Koo as president and chief executive officer effective January 1, 2007. With the Trustees’ unanimous decision following an extensive national search, Ms. Koo will assume leadership at the start of Enterprise’s 25^th anniversary year.

Ms. Koo is a nationally respected leader with nearly 30 years experience in affordable housing and community development. She began her career as a community organizer, inspired by Jim Rouse, and has been a highly successful developer, public agency administrator and nonprofit executive. Ms. Koo is a leading voice for low-income people.

Ms. Koo is currently Executive Vice President at Enterprise Community Partners. In this capacity she oversees Enterprise’s Gulf Coast rebuilding initiative and activities in Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.

Prior to joining Enterprise in 2001, Ms. Koo was Deputy Executive Director of the Seattle Housing Authority. She oversaw municipal bond financing and all internal management and operations and led the agency’s groundbreaking HOPE VI redevelopment efforts. Previously, Ms. Koo was a community leader in New York City and founding Executive Director of Asian Americans for Equality, which became under her leadership the largest owner and developer of low-income housing in New York City’s Chinatown and Lower Eastside.

Ms. Koo is a member of the City of Seattle Housing Levy Oversight Committee, the Mayor’s Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection, and the National Community Council, Washington Mutual Bank. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago.

Upon Ms. Koo’s assumption of her duties January 1, 2007, Bart Harvey, Chairman and CEO, will remain the full-time chairman of the board of Enterprise Community Partners, Enterprise Community Investment, and Enterprise Community Loan Fund. 

HUD Publishes Best Practices for Effecting the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing

The rehabilitation of affordable housing faces many institutional and regulatory barriers. Because the existing stock varies so much in condition, age, and construction methods, the rehab process is far less predictable and in many ways more challenging than new construction. Nevertheless, the rehabilitation of the country's aging stock is a major resource for meeting the nation's affordable housing needs.

To date, however, there's been a lack of in-depth, practical guidance on the many regulatory and other factors that can serve as barriers to affordable rehab. A further challenge is the fact that barriers often vary from project to project and from community to community. To fill this information gap, and in so doing, empower decisionmakers and housing professionals to begin eliminating these barriers, HUD has published Best Practices for Effecting the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing. This two-volume report distills the practices that have been shown to work in many settings where renovation of affordable housing is the objective. These best practices address the challenges to rehab in the development, construction, and occupancy stages. Volume 1 is a comprehensive resource guide to state, local, and federal tools for overcoming barriers. Volume 2 provides analyses of key rehab resources and barriers, and case studies of state and local efforts to overcome major regulatory impediments.

Both volumes of Best Practices for Effecting the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing are available as free downloads at http://www.huduser.org/publications/affhsg/bestpractices.html. Print copies are available for a nominal fee from HUD USER by calling 800-245-2691, option 1.

Great opportunity to acquire funding natural resource projects located near the Eastside Big Pipe Project.  The Community Benefit Opportunity (CBO) Program will provide $2 million in grant funding for community projects in neighborhoods and business districts affected by the eastside combined sewer overflow (CSO) construction.

The Community Benefit Opportunity (CBO) Program provides funding for community projects in neighborhoods and business districts affected by the combined sewer overflow (CSO) construction program. During construction of the Columbia Slough CSO projects and the West Side Big Pipe Project, the program funded ten CBO projects with a total budget of $1 million. Projects included neighborhood tree plantings, revegetation, pedestrian and bicycle access, traffic calming, trail access to the Willamette River, a community garden, and a living water garden/schoolyard restoration.

With the construction of the East Side Big Pipe starting, the Bureau of Environmental Services is kicking off the East Side CBO Program. Environmental Services will distribute $2 million to fund selected community projects in the affected areas.

A CBO project can be identified and proposed by individual citizens, community groups or public agencies. Environmental Services has formed a CBO Advisory Committee with representatives from neighborhood and business associations, environmental groups and citizens from impacted areas. The committee will evaluate proposals, and recommend projects for funding. In addition, a Technical Committee, consisting of staff from Environmental Services, Portland Development Commission, Parks & Recreation, Office of Transportation, Planning, and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement will assist the CBO Project Manager throughout the process.

Project Criteria:

Environment: enhances community livability and protects the environment. Protects human health and safety, enhances natural resources, or improves water quality.

Location: located within the CBO targeted area, which is within a half mile of construction of the East Side Big Pipe Project, the Swan Island Pump Station, the Portsmouth Force Main, and the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Public Support: has demonstrated community support.

Community Benefit/Livability: helps solve an identified community problem and has high use potential by broad cross-section of the community.

Sustainable Redevelopment/Existing Development: positively impacts existing and future development and links to other improvement projects in the area (such as trail links to the river, revegetation, and street swales).

Impact: what neighborhoods/areas experience the greatest negative impacts - which will be impeded upon the most or put up with the greatest disruption from the construction process.

Feasibility: capable of being accomplished without altering project construction schedules.

Cost: has reasonable construction costs and possibly leverages additional funding and/or community resources.

The prioritized list of projects will be sent out for public review, and the

Portland City Council will review the final list of recommendations.

Applications are due by January 8, 2007. Please feel free to e-mail Bob Sallinger with questions (at bsallinger@audubonportland.org).

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Seeks Nominations for National Leadership in Action

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is soliciting nominations for its National Leadership in Action Award.

The award, established in 2004, recognizes, celebrates and promotes outstanding philanthropic and nonprofit leadership in communities of color.

The Kellogg Foundation will award up to five grants of $50,000 in the spring.

The deadline for completed nomination packets is Nov. 30.

For more information, visit the W.K. Kellogg Foundation website.

Looking for Gifts? CAT Affordable Art for Affordable Housing Party Dec 1

The fourth annual Affordable Art for Affordable Housing Party is this Friday night!  Join the fine folks from the Community Alliance of Tenants to purchase locally made art, almost all sold for under $25 a piece with proceeds supporting safe, stable and affordable rental homes in Oregon.  Plus, enjoy snacks, beverages and the great music of The Golden Greats, Seven Year Tango, Party Country, Huge Sally and Goat.  Hope you can make it!

Where? Conveniently located at 818 NW Flanders, just 2 blocks from the streetcar and close to the bus mall, and the venue is wheelchair accessible

When? 5-7 pm sliding scale cover, $5-$10; no cover from 7 pm to 11 pm

Questions or comments?  Contact Ari