The Community Development Network

Oregon On is starting work on the Meyer Memorial Trust funded program to enhance the capacity of rural CDCs. Under Meyer’s “Building Strengths Rural Housing Initiative” Oregon ON, the Housing Development Center and CASA of Oregon are developing a coordinated program to support the delivery of training, expand opportunities for rural members to participate in peer learning networks, and improve the performance of existing affordable housing through increased asset management capacity. Leon Laptook, the co-founder and long-time director of the Community Development Law Center, has been hired to assist the project andensure that the capacity building efforts of the Rural Housing Initiative are coordinated and respond to the needs of the CDC industry. Leon will be starting in January and will be working on the project over for the next 18 months. A project advisory committee has been formed to support the initiative and insure that plans and activities are integrated with the work of the Statewide Policy Council and Oregon ON’s strategic planning process. Advisory committee members include: Jim Tierney, Community Action Team; Rita Grady, Polk CDC; Brigetta Olsen Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services; Roberto Jimenez, Farmworker Housing Development Corporation; Molly Rogers, Housing Development Center; and Peter Hainley, CASA of Oregon. The advisory committee’s first meeting is planned for early 2009.

At its first annual Membership Meeting on November 7, Oregon ON voting members ratified the representatives for the Portland and State Policy Committee. The Statewide Policy Council and the Portland Policy Council will serve as a central part of the new member leadership structure of Oregon ON. The purpose of the Policy Councils is to establish a forum for meaningful examination and deliberation on policy issues that impact the broader membership, and to direct Oregon ON policy advocacy in Portland and in Oregon, respectively.

Portland Policy Council members are Martha McLennan (NHA), Mike Massat (ROSE), Jesse Beason (PCLT), Dee Walsh (REACH), Jean DeMaster (HSI), Pietro Ferrari (Hacienda), Sean Hubert (CCC), Maralea Lutino (Catholic Charities), Steve Messinetti (Portland Habitat), Sarah Stevenson (IHI), John Miller (HOST), and Robin Boyce (HDC).

The Statewide Policy Council appointed Cyndy Cook the State Policy Chair at its November meetings. Cook will serve as the head of the State Council, as well as assuming a seat on the Oregon ON board as the liaison between the Policy Council and Board. The Portland Policy Council will appoint its chair at its December meeting.

The Policy Councils will allow the Oregon ON Board to focus on the organizational, administrative and financial aspects of the organization, while establishing a forum for policy decisions that is more easily accessed by Oregon ON voting members.

The Policy Council will be the arena for in depth discussion and debate over policy direction. For smaller policy questions, the Councils would serve as nimble decision making bodies. For major policy questions, the Councils would develop thoughtful, member-vetted proposal for Board consideration.

More than 420 people attended the first annual awards banquet of Oregon Opportunity Network. The event was held on the evening of November 6 at the Oregon Convention Center. Guests from across the state enjoyed coming together and celebrating the award winners.

Margaret Davidson (Community Connection Of Northeast Oregon, Inc, in La Grande), President of Oregon Opportunity Network welcomed the crowd, introduced the new board of directors and set the stage for the evening. She turned the MC duties over to Michael Anderson, new director of Oregon ON, and he took it from there, celebrating the collaboration that created Oregon Opportunity Network from its parent organizations, AOCDO and CDN, and buoyed by our partners and sponsors.

To inject some fun into the fundraising, the Oregon ON players, in the persons of Kate Allen (formerly at Enterprise and now in the office of Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish) and Brian Stewart (WaMu), presented the skit, “What’s That Name?” Kate as a meditation guru chanted “OON” and had the room joining her mantra. She tried to get Brian to chime in but he got the biggest laugh of the evening adlibbing his refusal t be drawn in. “Not me, Kate. I’m a banker at WaMu, now a division of JP Morgan Chase, hence the white shirt and tie.” Brian did his best to correct Kate’s use OON as an acronym for Oregon Opportunity Network that prefers to be know as Oregon ON. All concerns were dispelled when Brian let Kate know she could support Oregon ON materially as well as spiritually by making a contribution to the cause.

Then Julia Spezia from Housing California delivered the keynote speech. She recounted the history of the Community Reinvestment Act and focused the audience on the impact the current financial crisis has on affordable housing. She reaffirmed the importance of advocacy in securing funding for the sustainability of our industry.

Brian Stewart of WaMu was honored as the Outstanding Industry Ally. In presenting the award, Martha McLennan, Northwest Housing Alternatives in Milwaukie, talked about Brian’s personal character saying he becomes a true partner. Brian has the willingness to meet organizations more than halfway and make himself available personally, not just professionally. A case in point: Brian carries with him a sign that says, “Affordable Housing NOW!” He has photographic evidence of himself holding up the sign at numerous baseball stadiums and in Times Square.

Jim Tierney, of Community Action Team, Inc. in St Helens, received the Community Champion Award. Peter Hainley, CASA of Oregon in Newberg, enjoyed making the presentation. Jim Tierney is the rudder that has guided the AOCDO crew and continues in that role with Oregon Opportunity Network. And given this year’s flooding in the Vernonia area we will leave any further water metaphors aside. It is often said of Jim that we look to him as our moral compass; he elevates every discussion to its principle.

There are stars in our constellations that catch attention for their sparkle, influence, and action. Each member organization selects an honoree to single out. These are the stars that have impressed us this year.

A special thanks also goes out to the volunteers who committed their time and energy to the Awards Banquet Planning Committee. And these volunteers in particular deserve special mention: Kate Kealy, Northwest Housing Alternative; Jeff Jewel, Human Solutions Inc; Robin Smith; Darcy Vincent, Housing Northwest; Sue Wiswell, ROSE CDC; Martin Soloway, Central City Concern; Cynthia Luckett, Enterprise; Tracy Stepp and Sheila Fink, CPAH; Kayla Mullis, Portland State University; and Andrew Ayers, Housing Development Center. Without all of your hard work, the banquet would not be successful. Oregon ON greatly appreciates your help.

And to the angels who made a personal gift or pledge, we are touched by your caring and generosity.

Over 150 Oregon ON members attended the Oregon Opportunity Network Statewide Peer Network Meeting on November 6 and 7 in Portland, OR. Five peer groups met, including: Financial Managers, Homeownership Development, Multi-Family Development, Property and Asset Managers, and Resident Services. Oregon ON continued its on-going partnership with the Oregon Homeownership Association which held its quarterly training in conjunction with our statewide meeting.

The Peer Learning Network is a key membership program of Oregon ON. The goals of the program are to build the capacity of Oregon ON member organization staff through training opportunities and sharing best practices and to build the strategies for policy and system’s change needed to move forward our primary objective of working with our members to improve the lives of all Oregonians. Peer Groups meet throughout the year, with two statewide meetings biannually. For more information about the peer groups and trainings, please contact Terrie Hendrickson, Industry Support Coordinator at 503-223-4041 or via email.

Thank you to Oregon Community Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust and Portland Bureau of Housing and Community Services for their support of Oregon ON's peer working groups.

Fifteen low-income housing projects throughout Oregon will receive funding through the Oregon Housing and Community Services fall 2008 funding cycle, OHCS Director Victor Merced announced today.

The department’s Consolidated Funding Cycle (CFC) provides opportunities to apply for grants, loans and tax subsidies to develop housing for lower-income Oregonians. The following Oregon ON members and project received the fall 2008 round of funding:

The Lamb Building received $50,000 in Housing Trust Funds, $505,000 in LIHTC, $875,000 in OAHTC, $606,024 in Housing PLUS Funds and $50,000 in LIWP to construct 35 units of affordable housing for released offenders and persons with HIV/AIDS.  

The Rockwood Building received $100,000 in Housing Trust Funds, $718,800 in LIHTC, $1,500,000 in OAHTC, $186,000 in Housing PLUS Funds and $72,343 in LIWP to construct 47 units of affordable housing for low-income families and people who are homeless.

Rose Quarter Housing, Condo B received $100,000 in Housing PLUS Funds and $100,000 in LIWP to acquire and rehabilitate 44 units for homeless persons, released offenders and people recovering from drug and alcohol addictions.

Roselyn Apartments received $50,000 in Housing Trust Funds, $152,030 in LIHTC, $1,304,124 in OAHTC and $51,577 in LIWP to acquire and rehabilitate 31 units of affordable housing for seniors.

Cottonwood I. Northwest Housing Alternatives received $50,000 in Housing Trust Funds, a $212,180 grant reservation of HOME Funds, $172,169 in LIHTC, $815,431 in OAHTC and $35,939 in LIWP to acquire and rehabilitate 22 units for low-income families.

Cottonwood II. Northwest Housing Alternatives received $50,000 in Housing Trust Funds, a $564,110 grant reservation of HOME Funds, $117,738 in LIHTC, $390,797 in OAHTC and $54,538 in LIWP to acquire and rehabilitate 24 units for seniors.

Linnhaven and Stonebrook received $100,000 in Housing Trust Funds, a $585,000 grant reservation of HOME Funds, $362,100 in LIHTC, $988,973 in OAHTC and $75,840 in LIWP to acquire, rehabilitate and construct 51 units of affordable housing for low-income families and seniors.

Clackamas County—Town Center Station. Monterey Avenue Investments LLC received $100,000 in Housing Trust Funds, $633,000 in LIHTC, $2,159,363 in OAHTC and $117,203 in LIWP to construct 52 units of affordable housing for low-income families.

Bandon—Seacrest Apartments. Northwest Real Estate Capital Corporation received $144,131 in LIHTC and $465,000 in OAHTC to acquire and rehabilitate 20 affordable housing units for seniors. 

Eugene—Erin Way. Independent Environments Inc. received $100,000 in Housing Trust Funds and $75,000 in HELP Funds to acquire and rehabilitate a two-unit, six-bed group home for people with developmental disabilities.  

—Roosevelt Crossing Transitional Housing. Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County received $150,000 in Housing Trust Funds, $389,272 in LIHTC, $1,470,937 in OAHTC and $23,819 in LIWP to construct 45 units for the homeless and released offenders. 

Klamath Falls—Iris Glen Townhomes. Luckenbill-Drayton and Associates received $100,000 in Housing Trust Funds, $646,980 in LIHTC and $100,000 in LIWP to construct 37 units for low-income families.

McMinnville—New Reflections. Yamhill County Housing Authority received $100,000 in Housing Trust Funds, $75,000 in HELP Funds and $7,462 in LIWP to construct a five-bed group home for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. 

Portland—Miracles Club. Guardian Affordable Housing Development LLC received $708,000 in LIHTC, $1,903,000 in OAHTC and $133,727 in LIWP to construct 40 units of housing for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

Roseburg—Esperanza Circle. Umpqua Community Action Network received $100,000 in Housing Trust Funds, a $983,142 grant reservation of HOME Funds, $75,000 in HELP Funds, $232,000 in Housing PLUS Funds and $114,916 in LIWP to construct six units for homeless persons and people recovering from drug and alcohol addictions.  

Oregon’s draft plan to distribute $19.6 million in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds is available for public comment through Nov. 26.

NSP, a component of the Housing and Recovery Act of 2008, was passed in late July by Congress to provide emergency assistance to communities for acquisition and redevelopment of foreclosed properties that might be abandoned and cause neighborhood blight. More specifically, the funding is to purchase and rehabilitate, resell or redevelop foreclosed or abandoned homes and residential properties in order to stabilize neighborhoods and stem the decline of home values.

Oregon Housing and Community Services is working to meet a December 1 deadline to submit a substantial amendment to its 2008 Action Plan for the new Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The Oregon proposal, along with directions for making comment, may be viewed at the OHCS Web site beginning Nov. 11, and comments are welcome for a full two weeks through 5 p.m., Nov. 26, 2008.

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act is funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD criteria provides that NSP funding be targeted to areas throughout the state containing the greatest percentage of foreclosed and subprime loans along with areas likely to face a significant rise in foreclosures. Targeted areas are located in all but seven Oregon counties.

The state is proposing to provide suballocations to current Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement communities that have NSP targeted areas within their jurisdictions. These include the cities of Portland (in partnership with Multnomah County) Medford, Bend, Eugene, Gresham, Salem and Springfield and the counties of Clackamas and Washington (in partnership with Hillsboro and Beaverton). These CDBG subrecipients will conduct their own programs with funding that passes through the state.

Catholic Charities’ Caritas Housing program was recognized at the state capital today for solving critical environmental challenges in the redevelopment of a Brownfield. The site is now the location of a new complex, Esperanza Court, a 70-unit affordable housing complex located at SE 28th Avenue and Powell Boulevard in Portland, Ore.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Economic and Community Development Department annually recognizes up to three Brownfield renewal projects that implement innovative and practical solutions that balance economic and quality of life improvements to the local community. Brownfields are vacant or underused commercial or industrial properties where known or suspected environmental contamination has created barriers to redevelopment.

“We are honored to receive recognition for a housing project that had challenges from the very beginning. It took help and support from many financial, development and community partners to make Esperanza Court a reality,” said Terri Silvis, director of housing for Catholic Charities’ Caritas Housing program.

This year marks the second presentation of the Oregon Brownfields Awards. Winners were announced during the 2008 Oregon Brownfields Workshop and Awards Luncheon in Salem, Oregon.

As the country is struggling with trying to understand how we found ourselves in this financial crisis there has been a lot of rumblings and assertions on how to link the CRA to the primary causes for the financial disarray. As much as the members and friends of Oregon ON know this is an inaccurate explanation and having a well-thought out fact-based retort to this argument would be very helpful. Brent Warren from Banner bank in discussion with Cascade Policy Institute wrote such an argument. Click here for the link.

It is very important in these tumultuous times where the public is trying to understand how we got into this mess, that we as housing advocates are very vocal about the true causes of the financial situation. If you hear distortions about the CRA’s role in the financial crisis please speak up and tell the real story. In this light, many of you may have seen the op-ed submitted by Oregon ON and the Coalition for a Livable Future to the Portland Tribune, link here. If you have questions about how to get similar opinion pieces in your local papers, please contact Michael Anderson at 503-223-4041 or via email.

In order to support the streamlined modification program announced on November 11, 2008, Fannie Mae (FNM/NYSE) today issued a notice to its loan servicing organizations and retained foreclosure attorneys directing them to suspend foreclosure sales on occupied single-family properties as well as the completion of evictions from occupied single-family properties scheduled to occur from November 26, 2008 until January 9, 2009.

The temporary suspension of foreclosures is designed to allow affected borrowers facing foreclosure to retain their homes while Fannie Mae works with mortgage servicers to implement the streamlined modification program scheduled to launch December 15. Foreclosure attorneys and loan servicers will be instructed to use the additional time to reach out to borrowers who have defaulted on their loans and continue to pursue workout options. The initiative applies to loans owned or securitized by Fannie Mae.

The streamlined modification program is aimed at the highest risk borrower who has missed three payments or more, owns and occupies the primary residence, and has not filed for bankruptcy. The program creates a fast-track method for getting troubled borrowers into an affordable monthly payment through a mix of reducing the mortgage interest rate, extending the life of the loan or even deferring payments on part of the principal. Servicers have flexibility in the approach, but the objective is to create a more affordable payment for borrowers at risk of foreclosure.

“The streamlined modification program by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Hope Now and 27 mortgage servicers is an important step forward in addressing the systemic issues driving the increase in foreclosures,” said Fannie Mae President and Chief Executive Officer Herb Allison. “Until the streamlined modification program is fully implemented, we felt it was in the best interest of both borrowers and Fannie Mae to take this extra step to ensure that homeowners with the desire and ability to prevent a foreclosure have an opportunity to stay in their homes. We encourage other servicers of non-GSE mortgages to participate in the streamlined modification program to bolster our collective efforts to stem the foreclosure crisis.”

Fannie Mae will be working with foreclosure attorneys and servicers to reach out to the more than 10,000 borrowers the company estimates would be affected during this period. Borrowers who have Fannie Mae loans that are scheduled for foreclosure between November 26, 2008 and January 9, 2009, will be contacted directly by the attorney handling the foreclosure. If the home is occupied, Fannie Mae has instructed servicers and attorneys to suspend the foreclosure.

Allison also said Fannie Mae’s loan servicers are prepared to work with borrowers during this period, even if previous workout efforts have been unsuccessful. As part of the company’s “Second Look” initiative, Fannie Mae personnel have been reviewing seriously delinquent loans to determine if the borrower has been contacted and all workout options have been exhausted.

The streamlined modification program and temporary suspension of foreclosures are two of a series of steps Fannie Mae has taken to expand its foreclosure prevention efforts, which are designed to give loan servicers and foreclosure attorneys tools to find the best solution for a borrower in financial trouble. Fannie Mae and its many partners in the housing industry urge borrowers in financial difficulty to reach out to their loan servicers, regardless of whether they are facing imminent foreclosure. Solutions may be available that could make an existing mortgage more affordable.

REACH Community Development purchased the Admiral Apartments on November 7, 2008. The Admiral, located at SW Park and Taylor, is a 100-year-old, 37-unit building for elderly and disabled residents. In danger of losing its rent subsidies at the end of 2010, the Admiral was sold to REACH to preserve its affordability. REACH has secured financing from the City of Portland, the State of Oregon, and from investor equity in tax credits to substantially renovate the building, beginning next summer. REACH’s property management staff is now operating the building and will begin a phased relocation of residents to temporary homes in spring 2009. After construction, the residents will be invited back to their newly renovated homes.

“We wanted to continue providing affordable housing for the Admiral’s residents, some of whom have lived there for many years,” said Riad Sahli, REACH Housing Development Project Manager. “If the building had been sold for a market rate re-development, it would have displaced the residents from their homes and reduced affordable living opportunities in an area with a high demand for such housing.”

REACH Community Development Inc., is a private nonprofit community development corporation that provides innovative and affordable housing for low-income families and individuals in the Portland area. Other buildings they own in downtown Portland are the Westshore, Taft Hotel and Twelfth Avenue Terrace.

Sisters of the Road from 2001 to 2004 completed a research project where 600 people experiencing homelessness were interviewed and over 18,000 pages of priceless qualitative data was collected. Excerpts from this research project have also been compiled into a very compelling award winning book called "Voices from the Street: Truths about Homelessness from Sisters Of The Road", published in May of 2007. More information on the book click here.

The data from this research project has been transformed into a qualitative database and is now available on online! Click here to find Voices of Homelessness: A Qualitative Database from Sisters Of The Road. To Sister’s knowledge, there is no other database like this out there. The interviews not only amplify the rarely solicited voices of our community, but provide allies and constituents with data to create greater systemic shifts within systems that have the power to effect change. This can be an important step in empowering and advocating for changes in the way we treat each other in our society.

There are many great features to this database. The first step is to register. As a registrant you are given complete access to the research database. There are many ways you are able to submit queries to the database. You can search by key words, terms, phrases, demographic information and our coded categories and themes. When you log into our site you are able to save your searches/queries. This is a great benefit as you are able to keep track of searches that you have completed, as well as retrieve those past searches, even from previous log-ins. With registration you have the ability to export searches/queries into Word (RTF) or PDF format, you can also print directly from the web browser. There is also a "dictionary of terms and acronyms that may be unknown to users. As you look at the data these terms are highlighted. A definition of the word will "pop-up" when you roll over it with your cursor. The comprehensive list is also available as a separate tab on the website. If you choose not to register your access will be limited to viewing and submitting white/working papers (documents created by people who have utilized the database and have given us permission to e-publish them) and use of the database dictionary.

This database is online for everyone to use as a result of the hard work of many community members, volunteers, staff and the students of the Portland State University Computer Science department. Click here for the database.

Click here for the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s “Renters in Foreclosure” site, which includes research, media reports, testimony, and a document organizing postings by state. To suggest additions, contact Keith Wardrip, NLIHC, via email or 202-662-1530 ext. 245.

Furman Center Study: Supportive Housing Bolsters Property Values

CSH is excited about a new study from New York University's Furman Center for Real Estate and Public Policy that confirms supportive housing has a positive impact on neighborhoods and property values. While previous studies from New England and Philadelphia suggest a positive effect on property values, the Furman Center study is the most methodologically rigorous analysis to date examining supportive housing's impact on surrounding areas. Their findings are clear: supportive housing does not decrease property values and actually has a slightly positive effect on the value of adjacent properties. This positive effect grows over time as the market realizes how supportive housing has improved the landscape and contributed to the safety and security of the neighborhood. CSH has long known about supportive housing's positive impacts on formerly homeless and vulnerable tenants; the Furman Study shows how supportive housing also benefits and strengthens our communities and neighborhoods as a whole.

Access the complete Furman Center Policy Brief on Supportive Housing

Link to Furman Center's Press Release on Supportive Housing Study

Read the Editorial In New York Times Concerning the Furman Study

Click here for information on the Furman Center.

Announcing Mortgage Lending Stats - A Google Mapplet by DataPlace -

The Development team at KnowledgePlex is excited to announce the release of our first Google Mapplet. The Mapplet, found in the Google Directory, provides quick access to key Mortgage Lending Statistics, summarized by topic, on any US location. Just click anywhere on the map, and an info bubble gives you a view into the data for your selected location.

This simple, powerful mapplet gives a taste of the extensive data sets and tools available on the DataPlace 2.0 beta site.

Give it a try and let us know what you think.

>> Try the Google Mapplet

>> Visit beta.DataPlace.org

2009 State and Federal Budget Advocacy Training Dec 3

In these rough recessionary seas, human services advocates and their partners will need to work together more closely than ever to steer state and federal budget ships safely to shore. How to meet that challenge will be the focus of this year's advocacy planning session by the Human Services Coalition of Oregon (HSCO) and the Oregon Center for Public Policy.

Learn about the likely key issues and help form a common agenda for how to revive the economy, protect vulnerable families, reform the health care system, improve child health care and nutrition, and cope with federal budget deficits.

Representative Dave Hunt, House Majority Leader, will be the event's keynote speaker.

This event is free and is intended for staff and board members of non-profit and religious organizations, and for state and local officials. This is not a media event.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 9 am - 3:15 pm

Location Oregon Education Association, board room 6900 SW Atlanta Street Portland, OR 97223 (Map)

Agenda: 9:00 am Welcome and Introductions, 9:15 am 2009 Federal Budget Outlook and Advocacy Planning, presented by OCPP, 11:45 am Lunch, 12:15 pm HSCO General Membership Meeting, 1:30 pm Keynote Speaker: Representative Dave Hunt, 2:15 pm State Budget Updates, Outlook for 2009 Session, 3:00 pm Wrap Up and Announcements, 3:15 pm Program Ends

Lunch: Lunch will be provided. If you do not plan to stay for lunch, please select the button, "Registration without lunch," when you register.

You must register to attend by clicking here. The registration deadline is December 1, 2008.

Questions? Please contact Cathy Kaufman, Children First for Oregon, 503-236-9754, via email, or Janet Bauer, Oregon Center for Public Policy, 503-577-6589, via email.

IHI Grand Opening of Musolf Manor Dec 4

Join Innovative Housing in celebrating the grand re-opening of historic Musolf Manor in Old Town Portland! The celebration will take place on Thursday, December 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Musolf Manor Lobby at 216 NW 3rd Avenue. Tours of the newly renovated units and commercial spaces will begin at 2 p.m., with a program of speakers at 3:30 p.m., including the building's namesake, Lyndon Musolf.

Innovative Housing Inc. (IHI) has been operating the historic Old Town property since 1991. In November 2007, IHI began a $16 million occupied rehabilitation of Musolf Manor. The century-old building provides 95 studio units for seniors with very low incomes and adults with physical or mental disabilities. Seventy-seven units have project-based Section 8 subsidies, and McKinney funds provide rental subsidies and case management for six formerly homeless women. The remaining 12 units are available for individuals at 50% and below the area median income. The rehab includes a full seismic upgrade, preservation of historic elements, renovation of each unit, and upgrades to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The renovation adds a community kitchen, conference room, television room, and additional lobby space, which allows for larger events such as community dinners and Resident Services activities. The completed rehab has made the historic building safer, added amenities for residents, and increases the lifespan of the building. Valuable partners include the Portland Development Commission, Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services, Key Community Development Corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank. Walsh Construction, Carleton Hart Architects, Housing Development Center, and Heritage Consulting joined IHI on the development team.