Senator Gordon Smith announced his sponsorship of legislation intended to assist efforts to preserve affordable housing in Oregon and throughout the United States at a press conference held at the Admiral Apartments in downtown Portland, Monday December 11. The bill, S. 3616, would allow current owners of federally assisted affordable housing stock by reducing tax liability on the sale of the housing if the owners sell to government or non profit entities that commit to maintain the housing’s affordability.  

The Admiral Apartments, which is home to 40 seniors and people with disabilities, is made affordable by project based Section 8.  The project based Section 8 contract is set to expire in 2010, at which point the building owner legal obligation to maintain the building as affordable housing ends.

“I really appreciate the leadership of Senator Smith on this crucial issue of preserving the affordable housing we have,” said Admiral Apartment resident Andy Raubeson, a long time affordable housing developer and community advocate. “This is my home, and home to many other people.  If this building rented on the private market or was converted to condos, we would all likely be priced out.”

Portland has approximately 1,200 affordable housing units in need of preservation in the next seven years, and Oregon has another 1,800 scattered throughout the state.

“Project based section 8 buildings are home to the most vulnerable people in our community: seniors, people with disabilities and families with children with extremely low incomes,” said Ian Slingerland, executive director of the Community Alliance of Tenants.  “Together with tenant-based Section 8, project based Section 8 are the primary tools for housing people left hopelessly behind by the private market.  If we are ever going to end homelessness, we must preserve these tools.”

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced S. 3616 to provide an incentive to preserve federally assisted, affordable housing stock. In addition to Senator Smith, the other original cosponsors of the bill are Senators Christopher Bond (R-MO), Jack Reed (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD).

The bill would address potential tax consequences that have hampered opportunities to preserve federally assisted housing by providing “exit tax” relief to owners. The tax relief is accomplished by waiving the depreciation recapture tax liability if investors sell their federally assisted property to a “qualified preservation entity” who agrees to invest new capital in the property and to preserve the property as affordable housing for another 30 years. Eligible properties include housing receiving assistance under the Section 8, Section 221(D)(3), Section 236 and rural housing Section 515 programs.

Local Families Must Earn $13.46 an Hour to Afford a Two Bedroom Apartment
Oregon’s high cost of housing highlighted in 2006 housing affordability report

A national study demonstrates that the cost of renting an apartment in Oregon has increased sharply, leaving more families out in the cold.  Social service agencies say that this is an important factor in the increase in the number of Oregon schoolchildren who are homeless for all or part of the school year, as reported by Oregon’s Department of Education last month. 

According to a report released today, the Housing Wage for Oregon is now $13.46. The Housing Wage is the hourly wage an individual must earn to be able to afford rent and utilities in the private housing market, assuming a 40 hour work week every week of the year.   This represents an increase of 14.9% since 2000. 

“Every year it is more difficult for low-income Oregon families to find decent homes they can afford,” said Janet Byrd, executive director of the Neighborhood Partnership Fund. “This report clearly illustrates that regular Oregonians --working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and people with disabilities-- are being left behind by the housing market. Oregon needs to act soon to put housing opportunity back within reach.”

The Out of Reach 2006 report sheds light on recent data from the Oregon Department of Education that over 13,000 Oregon school children were homeless in the 2005-06 school year, a 14% increase from 2004-05.  As housing prices have risen through out the state, family incomes have simply not kept pace.   Many families find that they must choose between paying rent, putting food on the table, and paying utility bills, choices that often foreshadow homelessness.

According to the Oregon data (see attached), an estimated 42% of renters in Oregon do not earn enough income to afford a two-bedroom unit at the Fair Market Rent. The typical renter in Oregon earns $11.44 per hour, which is over $2 short of the hourly wage needed to afford a modest unit.  A minimum wage worker must work 72 hours each week, year-round, to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. 

“Something is really wrong when a working family cannot afford a place to call home. The Oregon Legislature must take action in 2007 to provide housing relief for those being left out in the cold,” said Cathy Kaufman, the Communications Director for Children First.  “The Housing Alliance is calling for the State to commit $100 million to affordable housing.  If we want an Oregon where everyone has the chance to succeed and thrive, we need the Legislature to open the doors of housing opportunity.”

The report, Out of Reach 2006, was jointly released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), a Washington, DC-based housing advocacy group, and Oregon’s Housing Alliance. The report provides the Housing Wage and other data for every state, metropolitan area and county in the country.

For additional information, visit http://www.nlihc.org/oor/oor2006/

The Housing Alliance brings together advocates, local governments, housing authorities, community development corporations, environmentalists, service providers, business interests and all others dedicated to increasing the resources available to meet our housing needs to support a common statewide legislative and policy agenda. To find out more about the Housing Alliance, go to: http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/

Washington Co Interfaith Committee on Homelessness Shifts Focus to Housing

Citing the 43,000 residents of Washington County that are at risk of homelessness due to lack of economic security, the Washington County Interfaith Committee on Homelessness announced that it will shift its focus on addressing the budget shortfalls of County shelters to solutions that will provide more affordable housing.  The Interfaith Committee was a leader in the November passage of a public safety levy that among other things provides needed funding to the shelters.  But with the numbers of homeless people in the County outnumbering available shelter beds at a ratio of over 10-1, the committee has decided to work for the long term solution to homelessness: More housing affordable to those priced out of the market.

To learn more, click here.

Brooking Institute Study Documents Rising Poverty in US Suburbs

(Associated Press) As Americans flee the cities for the suburbs, many are failing to leave poverty behind.

The suburban poor outnumbered their inner-city counterparts for the first time last year, with more than 12 million suburban residents living in poverty, according to a study of the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas released Thursday.

"Economies are regional now," said Alan Berube, who co-wrote the report for the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. "Where you see increases in city poverty, in almost every metropolitan area, you also see increases in suburban poverty."

Nationally, the poverty rate leveled off last year at 12.6 percent after increasing every year since the decade began. It was a period when the country went through a recession and an uneven recovery that is still sputtering in parts of the Northeast and Midwest.

"Looking back at the 1970s, you would have seen cities suffering and suburbs staying the same," said Berube, research director at the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program. "But the story is different today."

Berube said several factors are contributing to an increase in suburban poverty:

·       Suburbs are adding people much faster than cities, making it inevitable that the number of poor people living in suburbs would eventually surpass those living in cities.

·       The poverty rate in large cities (18.8 percent) is still higher than it is in the suburbs (9.4 percent). But the overall number of people living in poverty is higher in the suburbs in part because of population growth.

·       America's suburbs are becoming more diverse, racially and economically. "There's poverty really everywhere in metropolitan areas because there are low-wage jobs everywhere," Berube said.

·       Recent immigrants are increasingly bypassing cities and moving directly to suburbs, especially in the South and West. Those immigrants, on average, have lower incomes than people born in the United States.

Berube and research analyst Elizabeth Kneebone studied poverty figures for the 100 largest metropolitan areas, measuring changes from 1999 to 2005, the most recent data available. In 1999, the number of poor people living in cities and suburbs was roughly even, at about 10.3 million apiece, according to the report.

Last year, the suburban poor outnumbered their urban counterparts by about 1.2 million.

The federal government defined the poverty level as $15,577 for a family of three in 2005.

"Traditionally, cities have been viewed as home to poor populations, surrounded by middle- and upper-income suburbs," the report said. "This 'tipping' of poor populations to the suburbs represents a signal development that upends historical notions about who lives in cities and suburbs."

Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said many of the same social and economic problems that have plagued cities for years are now affecting suburbs: struggling schools, rising crime and low-paying jobs.

"I call it the urbanization of the suburbs," Morial said.

"I hope this says to people that the way to confront poverty is not to wall it off and concentrate it," Morial said. "You really need policies to eliminate it."

Cleveland was the city with the highest poverty rate last year, at 32.4 percent, while San Jose had the lowest, at 9.7 percent.

Suburban McAllen, Texas, at the southern tip of the state, was the suburb with the highest poverty rate last year, at 43.9 percent, while suburban Des Moines, Iowa, had the lowest, at 3.7 percent.

WAMU, CDN Host Screening of ‘Pursuit of Happyness’ Dec 21

WAMU and the Community Development Network invite supporters of affordable housing to join us for a showing of the upcoming movie ‘Pursuit of Happyness’ starring Will Smith.  The movie features the true story of a man and his son's struggle with homelessness.  

You are also encouraged to join us beforehand for appetizers and a no-host bar at Fernando's Hideaway located at 824 SW 1st Ave. 

A limited number of complementary tickets are available.  Please RSVP to Karen Walker (503-335-9884 or via email) and include the number of tickets you would like.  Remember, the tickets are limited, so please only RSVP for tickets you are certain you will use.   

The showing will be at Pioneer Place Regal Cinema (340 SW Morrision).  Exact times for the event will be provided later this week.

Hacienda CDC Awarded Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Grant

Hacienda CDC received a generous two-year capacity building grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation in its most recent funding cycle. The $125,000 grant will enable Hacienda to increase its internal capacity to pursue plans for growth in the development of affordable housing and program offerings.

“This is a critical grant at a crucial time to strengthen our efforts to advance our affordable housing development agenda and build empowered resident communities,” said Pietro Ferrari, Hacienda’s executive director. 

Specifically the grant will support the hiring of key staff positions, two new housing developments, and the expansion of Hacienda’s award-winning Micro Mercantes program which provides business skills and coaching to residents wishing to sell prepared foods in Portland-area farmers markets. More than affordable housing, Hacienda CDC provides opportunities for economic upward mobility to its residents—numbering more than 1,200—and promotes healthy living through an array of programs for all ages offered on site. Hacienda’s culturally-specific health and education classes reach an additional 1,800 Latinos in Portland and close-by rural communities.

Nathan Teske is newly-appointed to HAP's Board of Commissioners filling a Gresham seat. He is family services manager for El Programo Hispano-Catholic Charities, which provides social and mental health services to low-income Latinos who speak little or no English and live in the Portland area.

"I have a passion for finding solutions that help people at lower income levels improve their lives," Teske said, "and affordable housing is a critical part of that equation. I am very excited about fulfilling this mission on HAP's board."

The HAP board has elected officers for 2007. Jeff Bachrach will serve as chair, Lee Moore as vice chair, and Katherine Such as treasurer. Kandis Brewer Nunn, chair since 2004, will be Chair Emeritus until the end of her term in 2007.

In looking forward, Bachrach said, "I hope HAP is able to build on the success and experience gained from New Columbia, and be the catalyst for extending the benefits of that kind of community redevelopment to an even greater number of citizens." 

BHCD Hires New Housing Program Manager

Stephen Fulton has accepted our offer to come to Portland to be the next Housing Program Manager at BHCD.  Stephen will begin work at BHCD on January 25th after relocating with his family from Baltimore, MD.   With a total of 51 local and national applicants, the selection process was challenging and competitive.    

Stephen hails originally from Boston, MA and holds an M.Ed. from Cambridge College and a B.A. from Harvard University.  Stephen spent the last 3 years managing the operations of the Section 8 Program for the Housing Authority of Baltimore (HABC).  Stephen's strong management record at HABC includes his instrumental role in turning the Section 8 program in Baltimore from poor performer to high performer in a short period of time and his success in helping HABC attain the desirable Moving to Work designation from HUD.  Prior to his current employment, Stephen served as a Regional Director for Housing Opportunities Unlimited, a national consulting firm focused on affordable housing.   Stephen brings to Portland an excellent track record of developing and sustaining strong community and workplace partnerships.  I feel confident that Stephen will be an asset to the City's Housing Team.  Please join me in welcoming Stephen to Portland and to BHCD. 

While we prepare for Stephen's arrival, Andrea Matthiessen will serve as Acting Housing Program Manager for BHCD.   Please feel free to contact Andrea or myself if you have housing issues that you would normally take to the Housing Program Manager.  Andrea can be reached at 503-823-2379. 

The Perfect Holiday Gift from Portland Habitat for Humanity

Trying to find a gift for that “hard-to-shop-for” person on your list? Tired of fighting the mall crowds? Or maybe you just want to reclaim some of the spirit of the season?

Honor your friends, family or clients this holiday season with a “Home for the Holidays” gift from Portland Habitat for Humanity. Your gift will help build affordable, decent housing for local hardworking families.

You can give a box of nails for as little as $10, insulation for $25, 2x4s for $35, a toilet for $50 (our most popular gift!), $75 for a window, $100 gets you the whole kitchen sink, $150 for a front door, $200 for a shower, $500 for a refrigerator or $1000 for roof shingles. There’s something for every budget.

Your recipient will receive a handmade wooden house ornament and a specially designed card indicating the house part you’ve purchased in their honor. Plus, they’ll know that because of them, a local family will have a place to call home.

You’ll be that much closer to finishing your holiday shopping and know that you’ve reclaimed the spirit of the season through heartfelt giving. And no matter how much shopping you do, you’ll never find a sweater that’s tax-deductible.

Visit www.pdxhabitat.org/donate to order your gift or call Erika Read at 503.287.9529 ext. 16.

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

Portland 2006 Homeless Persons Memorial Day Dec 21

Please join fellow community members for a fire ceremony, a moment of silence and speakers honoring those who have died on Portland’s streets in 2006. The memorial will be held on Thursday, December 21^st from 6-7 pm at the Outside In courtyard (1132 SW 13^th)

Event schedule:

5:30PM – Gates open for guests (coffee and refreshments available)

6:00PM - Welcoming remarks (Keith Vann)

6:10PM - Fuego memorial fire ceremony

6:30PM – Keynote address: Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong from Mayor Tom Potter’s office

6:40PM - Personal remembrances of those who have died

6:55PM - Closing remarks  (Keith Vann)

7:00PM – Program ends

Homeless Persons Memorial Day is sponsored by Fuego, Potluck in the Park, Outside In, Street Roots, Janus Youth Programs and Sisters of the Road.

For more information, contact Street Roots at (503) 228-5657.

Spirit Mountain Community Fund Offers Grant Orientation Jan 11

Free orientation session to help nonprofits prepare to apply for Spirit Mountain Community Fund grants: January 11th from 2 to 4 p.m. at Spirit Mountain Casino. Learn what SMCF is looking for in application narratives and how to use their new On-Line Application. RSVP to 503.879.1400 or email kluane.baer@grandronde.org by January 5th to ensure your seat. Or join SMCF staff for future orientations on April 5th in Eugene, July 12th in Portland, or October 4th in Salem. Check out www.thecommunityfund.com to learn if your nonprofit is eligible to apply.