Housing Opportunity Candidate Forum for City Council Seat No. 2 Feb 21
On February 21st, a broad base of community organizations held the Housing Opportunity Candidate Forum for candidates for Portland City Seat No. 2 to hear candidate veiws on homelessness and affordable housing. The candidates who participated in the forum are Nick Fish, Jim Middaugh, Ed Garren, Fred Stewart and Harold Williams Two.
In addition to the discussion at the forum, Street Roots, Sisters of the Road, JOIN, Coalition for Homeless Families, Affordable Housing NOW!, Community Alliance of Tenants and the Community Development Network developed the following list of questions designed to get to the heart of a candidate’s views on the issues.
To read the candidate responses, click of the candidate name.
Nick Fish
Jim Middaugh
Ed Garren
Fred Stewart
Harold Williams Two
Questions for the Housing Opportunity Candidate Forum
1) The 30% Set Aside policy requires that 30% of all TIF funds (projected as $163 million over the first 6 years) will be allocated to affordable housing below 80% of MFI (100% MFI for Family Housing). In its first year of implementation two out of nine districts have met the minimum requirements. Do you support the 30% Set Aside? If you do support the set aside, how will you assure the minimum requirements are met in the first five year implementation period?
2) What impact do you see the low homeownership rates for people of color having in our city? What role if any should the city play to address homeownership rates for people of color?
3) The Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness is going into its fourth year. The numbers resulting from the investments that the City has made suggest that we are making significant progress moving chronically homeless individuals and families into permanent housing. But achieving the goals of the Ten Year Plan will require significant additional financial investments. How would you propose to generate the funding required to fully achieve these goals for both singles and families?
4) The City of Portland recently convened a Quality Rental Housing Workgroup to address issues of substandard housing in Portland. Representatives from landlord associations, tenant advocates, public health officials, and community nonprofits have are serving on the QRWH. The QRWH is exploring the issues of substandard housing, housing habitability, and environmental hazards in rental housing in Portland. The QRWH will follow up by suggesting policy and program strategies that could be used to increase compliance with existing habitability laws and support the maintenance of quality rental housing for low-income households. What do you see as the best strategies to address issues of substandard housing in the City?
5) There are a number of laws currently in place that are enforced against homeless people. What if anything would you do to address the civil rights of people experiencing homelessness?
6) Tenants with Section 8 vouchers are finding it increasingly difficult to find landlords willing to accept their vouchers. What do you think are the best strategies to increase Section 8 recipients' ability to find housing where they can use their voucher?
7) The City of Portland has an opportunity to obtain free land on an army base in Southwest Portland that could be used for affordable housing to the benefit of homeless families and individuals. How would you propose this land be used and what would your role be in its development?
8) Affordable housing for the city’s lowest income populations requires an ongoing commitment from nonprofits that manage them, the city and a range of community partners. Often the rents alone aren’t enough to manage properties and provide important resident services. What are the best strategies to support projects when rents alone are not enough to manage properties, provide important services, and ensure affordability and stability of the projects over time?
For more information about the questions and the Forum, contact Julie via email or at 503-335-9884
