STATEWIDE NEWS
2009 LIHTC Tax-Exempt Bond Income and Rent Limits Now Available
Oregon Seeking $7.8 Million Stimulus Infusion for Rural Homelessness
FEDERAL NEWS
HUD Invites Recommendations on Expediting Multifamily Housing
NACEDA White House OMB Budget Meeting Moves CDC Agenda
House SEVRA Bill Reintroduced
Two Rural Housing Bills Introduced in House
Second Lien Program Announced
PORTLAND METRO NEWS
Leonard Proposes Taking Funds from Housing to Pay for Stadium
Portland Public Forum – May 21st
FUNDING AND AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Accepting Applications – Due July 17th
Funding Available: $26 million to Support Rural Housing Due May 29th
Self-Employment Tax Initiative Funding Due June 5th; RHED Due May 29th
RESOURCES, TRAININGS AND EVENTS
REACH Families and Friends Night – May 19th
CLF Livability Summit – May 20th; Equity Action Days -May 21st — May 30th
Social Justice & Civic Leadership Trainings Begin – May 23rd
‘Emerging Leaders Summit’ for Youth – May 30th
Save the date: Oregon Homeownership Association training – June 11th
Summit on Entrepreneurship – Oct. 16th; Call for Sessions – June 15th
New Housing Policy Conference on Working Families – June 28-30th
Another Win for Affordable Housing and Manufactured Housing Parks
Ed Blackburn Honored by Dalai Lama
CDC of Lincoln County Elects New Board
STATEWIDE NEWS
2009 LIHTC Tax-Exempt Bond Income and Rent Limits Now Available
Find the 2009 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Rents and Incomes by clicking here.
Oregon Seeking $7.8 Million Stimulus Infusion for Rural Homelessness–top
Oregon is applying for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars to prevent homelessness and re-house homeless persons outside Oregon’s major metropolitan areas.
The state is seeking public comment on its proposal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $7,873,436 under the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP). This program is newly instituted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Not included in this application are Oregon entitlement areas: Portland, Clackamas County, Washington County, Salem and Eugene.
Oregon Housing and Community Services, the state’s housing finance agency and community services program administrator, will submit its HPRP plan to HUD on May 18. HUD requires the plan to include activities designed to provide homelessness assistance to households that otherwise would become homeless and provide assistance to rapidly re-house persons who are homeless.
“These are critical dollars that will address the growing tragedy of homelessness in rural Oregon,” Victor Merced, director, Oregon Housing and Community Services, said. “This stimulus money is vital in giving a needed hand to the growing numbers of homeless people in our state – many of them families and children – and to help prevent the plight from getting worse, especially in our small towns.”
Multnomah County reported an 11 percent homelessness increase in 2008 over 2007. Statewide figures are expected soon.
The proposal is available on the OHCS Web site, or by contacting Rainy Gauvain, by email, at 725 Summer St. NE, Suite B, Salem, OR 97301, or at Fax 503-983-2020.
FEDERAL NEWS
HUD Invites Recommendations on Expediting Multifamily Housing–top
The April 29th Federal Register invited comments from the general public and “stakeholders in HUD’s insured multifamily projects” to offer recommendations on “administrative and procedural changes that HUD should adopt to expedite approval of multifamily housing projects involving low- income tax credits or tax exempt bonds under the jurisdiction of HUD.” Comments are due June 29th. For more, click here.
NACEDA White House OMB Budget Meeting Moves CDC Agenda–top
National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA) Board Members Bernie Mazyck, Joe Kriesberg, Terry Chelikowsky, Brigette Rasberry, NACEDA Executive Director Jane DeMarines and Director of Government Relations David Romo on April 30 met with Xavier de Souza Briggs, Associate Director of General Government Programs at the White House office of Management and Budget. Board members discussed possible opportunities for collaboration between the CDC Industry and the Obama Administration. That day, the NACEDA delegation was joined by Susan Perry-Cole and visited Capitol Hill and met with Jesse Uman, Legislative Assistant to Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and received a legislative update on the progress of the Community Economic Development Expertise Enhancement Act.
House SEVRA Bill Reintroduced–top
Leaders of the House Financial Services Committee have circulated a draft of the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act, in advance of a possible hearing on May 13. The draft is similar to a version of SEVRA the House passed in 2007 (H.R. 1851), but adopts a number of improvements from a version introduced in the Senate in 2008. (The House must act again in the current Congress in order for the legislation to be enacted.) The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has prepared an analysis comparing the provision of the circulation draft to current law, and highlighting the changes from the bill the House passed in 2007. Check their website for more information.
Two Rural Housing Bills Introduced in House–top
H.R. 2034, introduced by Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) with several co-sponsors, would allow Section 502 guaranteed loans to refinance private sector mortgages. USDA would set the guarantee fee at a level that would enable such refi’s without credit subsidy. The guarantee fee for other Section 502 guaranteed loans would increase to 2%. H.R. 1989, sponsored by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), would change FY 2009 appropriations bill language for Section 538 guaranteed loans, allowing part of the program’s FY09 funding to be used for interest subsidies. Search by bill number at http://thomas.loc.gov.
Second Lien Program Announced–top
HUD Secretary Donovan and Treasury Secretary Geithner have announced a Second Lien Program that, they say, will “make it easier for homeowners to modify or refinance their mortgages” under the Making Home Affordable Program established by President Obama. When a Making Home Affordable modification is initiated on a first mortgage, servicers participating in the Second Lien Program will automatically reduce payments on the second mortgage under a pre-set protocol or have the option to extinguish the second if that’s more appropriate. They also announced steps to help “underwater” borrowers regain equity in their homes by refinancing into the FHA Hope for Homeowners program. For more information, click here.
PORTLAND METRO NEWS
Leonard Proposes Taking Funds from Housing to Pay for Stadium–top
At a community meeting intended to promote building a new minor league baseball stadium in the Lents Neighborhood on Tuesday evening, Commissioner Randy Leonard proposed that the City relax its Urban Renewal Affordable Housing Set Aside in the Lents urban renewal district in order to fund the stadium. Leonard, who along with then Commissioners Sam Adams and Eric Sten lead the charge to establish the City’s housing set aside, suggested that other urban renewal districts could increase funding for affordable housing to off-set the set aside reduction in Lents.
“We are very concerned that Commissioner Leonard, a huge supporter of affordable housing, would consider reducing the set aside in the Lents urban renewal district,” said Michael Anderson, Executive Director of the Oregon Opportunity Network (Oregon ON). “Investing in affordable housing early in the life of an urban renewal district is essential if the City wants to avoid the displacement and gentrification that we saw in the Interstate urban renewal district.“
The need for decent, safe, affordable housing in Lents is well documented. A 2006 Portland Development Commission Lents Housing Study found that almost half of Lents residents spend more than 30% of their income on housing, and fewer than 25% of Lents residents can afford market rate homes built in Lents. Additionally, the study found that more than 1,000 Lents homes are in poor condition.
“Clearly, Lents needs better housing options for its current residents,” said Ari Rapkin, the Executive Co-Director of the Community Alliance of Tenants. “Reducing the set aside in Lents would be moving in the wrong direction for the City. One of the major reasons that the City Council passed the set aside was the reality that housing loses as funding priority whenever it is matched with higher profile, glitzier projects.” Mike Houck, Executive Director of the Urban Greenspaces Institute and member of the Coalition for a Livable Future, concurs, saying, “the AAA baseball stadium proposed for Lents park is a loss for both parks and affordable housing. No only do we lose a community park but the funding comes at the expense of affordable housing, a classic lose-lose proposition.”
Portland Public Forum – May 21st–top
We are pleased to welcome METRO Councilor Robert Liberty and Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish to our May 21st Portland Public Forum. Councilor Liberty will present data and analysis from METRO’s 2009-2030 Housing Needs Analysis and Commissioner Fish will guide Public Forum guests in a discussion of the policy implications of METRO’s report.
The report assesses future housing affordability, incorporating both housing and transportation costs into affordability. The report also defines cost-burdened households as renters that spend more than 50% of their before-tax income on housing and transportation. Using Metro Scope, an integrated land use and transportation model to predict future affordability, the report assumes the continuation of current policies and trends. The use of this model allows for a discussion of the market dynamics and policies that influence affordability.
Commissioner Nick Fish will lead our forum guests in a discussion of policies that influence affordability in Portland. Forum guests will engage in discussion by sharing their reactions to the study as Commissioner Fish guides them to think about policy solutions for long-term affordability.
Please join us on May 21, 2009 from 12pm -1:30pm at the Genesis Church, 5425 NE 27th Avenue, Portland, OR on the corner of 27th and Killingsworth street.
FUNDING AND AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Accepting Applications – Due July 17th–top
Technical Assistance Grants Manage Foreclosed NSP Homes – Due June 8th
HUD is now soliciting grant applications under the Department’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), http://www.hud.gov/recovery/nspg.cfm which makes available nearly $2 billion in Recovery Act funding to combat the effects of home foreclosures. Funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this round of NSP funding will award grants competitively.
The $2 billion will assist state and local governments, as well as nonprofit developers, in acquiring land and property, demolishing or rehabilitating abandoned properties, and/or offering downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- and middle-income homebuyers. Grantees can also use the funds to stabilize neighborhoods by creating “land banks” with which to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of foreclosed homes. NSP also seeks to prevent future foreclosures by requiring housing counseling for families receiving homebuyer assistance and by requiring grantees to ensure that new homebuyers under this program use a mortgage lender who agrees to comply with sound lending practices. Applications for NSP funds will be due July 17, 2009.
HUD will also provide up to $50 million in technical assistance grants to help grantees in managing the inventory of foreclosed homes purchased under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Applications for NSP technical assistance will be due June 8, 2009.
The Department is committed to providing the highest level of transparency possible as Recovery Act funds are spent quickly and efficiently. Every dollar of Recovery Act funds HUD spends can be reviewed and tracked at HUD’s Recovery Act website, where the full text of HUD’s funding notices and the ability to track future grant performance is also available. More information and the NSP Notice soliciting grant applications is available by clicking here.
Funding Available: $26 million to Support Rural Housing Due May 29th–top
HUD has published the first Notice of Funding Availability – NOFA – for Fiscal Year 2009, inviting applications for $26 million in grants under the Rural Housing & Economic Development Funds to “support innovative housing and economic development” in rural areas.” Deadline is May 29th. For applications, visit HUD’s site.
Self-Employment Tax Initiative Funding Due June 5th; RHED Due May 29th-top
CFED’s Self-Employment Tax Initiative (SETI) seeks proposals exploring effective ways to serve the tax preparation and related business planning needs of low-income, start-up self-employed businesses. Managers of microenterprise development programs, community-based free tax preparation programs and coalitions of these programs are encouraged to apply. To download the RFP and application visit the SETI Web site. Letters of Interest from Campaign and Scale Track applicants due June 5.
Thanks to funding from the Citi Foundation along with additional support from Capital One and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, in its fourth year, SETI explores the use of the tax code and tax day to scale-up delivery of financial services and business literacy to millions of start-up micro and small businesses annually for the purpose of building assets, creating jobs and strengthening local businesses and economies.
Campaign grants support a formal group of programs that together provide coordinated self-employed tax preparation and year-round business products and services and that use the tax-prep season as an opportunity to provide dedicated and visible public marketing and outreach to startup and growing businesses.
Scale grants support programs with a track record of providing self-employment tax preparation that will advance an innovative strategy, service or product for self-employed tax filers in order to bring self-employed tax prep to scale as a microenterprise development strategy. For more information on SETI click here.
RHED Funds Available. Deadline: May 29. HUD’s Rural Housing and Economic Development program has three categories: innovative housing and economic development, economic development and entrepreneurship for tribes, and technical assistance for tribes. Paper applications are required this year. For more info contact RHED staff at 1-877-787-2526.
RESOURCES, TRAININGS AND EVENTS
REACH Families and Friends Night – May 19th–top
You’re invited to a night of food, friends, and laughter at Hopworks Urban Brewery. We’re bringing together volunteers, supporters, residents, board members and staff to celebrate our mission to create healthy communities. Come and see old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy some delicious organic beer.
You will make a difference just by dining out. 20% of your food, drink, and merchandise proceeds will go directly back into our programs supporting families in our affordable housing when you write “REACH” on your guest check.
Here are the details. Come by Hopworks (2944 SE Powell) anytime between 4 and 11pm on Tuesday, May 19th. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. If you want to make sure to have a table, call (503) 232-4677. Have questions? Just call Laura at (503) 231-0682 ext 131.
CLF Livability Summit -May 20th; Equity Action Days – May 21st –May 30th-top
Join the Coalition for a Livable Future their 2009 Regional Livability Summit, http://www.clfuture.org/events/2009summit helping us build the relationships, coalitions and partnerships through which we creative positive change and influence public policy. Great speakers will tackle hot topics and engage participants in debating key equity issues facing our region through action-ready break-out sessions on green jobs, transportation equity, wealth creation, climate justice, sustainability and equity in black churches, education equity, and much, much more. Click here to learn about registering today or call 503.294.2889. The summit will be held from 8:30 am – 4 pm at Portland State University’s Smith Center Ballroom.
Also join CLF for Equity Action Days May 21st – May 30th
Take the next step forward for regional equity and spend some time bridging our divides, strengthening our communities, and building a more equitable region. Participate in one-day service or advocacy projects hosted by CLF member and partner organizations, and help begin to fulfill the vision of a region where opportunity and prosperity are shared by all. For more information and to register for projects, click here. Or call (503) 294-2889 and ask for Jane.
Social Justice & Civic Leadership Trainings Begin May 23rd–top
The Urban League of Portland is taking registration for the Social Justice & Civic Leadership Trainings 2009. Trainings are free and will be held May 23, July 18, August 22, and September 19.
The Social Justice & Civic Leadership Training is designed to enhance the skills, leadership and organizing abilities of our community. The program builds capacity for community members to advocate for policy change, social justice and become more involved in decision-making in the city, county and state – resulting in improved outcomes in jobs, housing, education and health care for the African American and wider community.
Previous ‘graduates’ have gained places on boards, commissions and advisory committees to City bureaus and departments.
Sessions are scheduled for May 23, July 18, August 22, and September 19. Each of the four sessions is free of charge. Although participants can register for a single session, a commitment to all four is encouraged.
Most of the sessions will be held at the Urban League Multicultural Senior Center, 5325 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, from 10 am to 2 pm.
Register at 503-280-2626 or email Midge Purcell for a registration form. Click here to learn more.
‘Emerging Leaders Summit’ for Youth – May 30th–top
Please join Sabin CDC for an exciting end of school year event that’s open and free to community youth. They have 120 seats for workshops and there is still room, so please get this information out to your networks. The event will be held at the Youth Employment Institute, 1704 Northeast 26th ave., Portland, Oregon.
The deadline for registrations to be returned is May 20th 2009. Please return them via email, or mail hard copies to Sabin CDC/ 1488 Northeast Alberta Street/ Portland/ 97211. For more information call Craig at 503-287-3496 x25.
Save the Date: Oregon Homeownership Association training – June 11th–top
The next Oregon Homeownership Association training/networking event will be held in Salem on June 11; it will be an all-day event, probably 9:30 – 3:30, the cost is $25 per person, and will include lunch. More detailed information and registration information will follow in about two weeks.
The hot topics will be:
1. Update on the Making Home Affordable Program
2. Presentation by OHCS on how the Neighborhood Stabilization Program will work for hombuyers buying homes in non-entitlement areas (non-urban communities). This presentation is specifically for homeownership counselors and relates to how the program is used for down payment assistance for the homebuyers. It is not about how non-profit organizations can purchase homes to resell at a later date.
3. Small group discussions on topics that you and other counselors have suggested.
Summit on Entrepreneurship – Oct. 16th; Call for Sessions – June 15th–top
This year’s Oregon Microenterprise Network (OMEN) Summit on Entrepreneurship will be held at the Northwest Viticulture Center in Salem. It will include nine expert training sessions, ample networking time and a panel discussion with city and county economic development experts. Watch your email for registration details starting mid-June, as well as OMEN’s website.
OMEN is pleased to announce a Call for Sessions for the Summit. OMEN is seeking input from the entrepreneurship and microenterprise field to help shape the sessions offered at the Summit. Selected presenters will receive a one complimentary registration for the lead presenter for the event. Proposals must be submitted by June 15th, 2009. Click here to download form. Proposals should have direct application to those in the field. Topic areas may include:
• Government Contracting & Small Businesses
• Accessing Funding for Rural & Urban Economic Development
• Working with Specialized Populations
• Accessing IDAs for Small Business Development
• Using Social Media and Online Resources
• Fundraising & Sustainability
To submit session proposals, please complete the online form and return via email or fax to 503-808-9031 by June 15th, 2009.
New Housing Policy Conference on Working Families – June 28-30th–top
Join presenters from the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing, BHCD and PDC at this 2009 Learning Conference on State and Local Housing Policy in Chicago.
The conference will focus on the following:
“What housing challenges are you facing? Preventing foreclosures? Expanding the supply of affordable and workforce housing? Building community support for affordable housing? Find solutions at a new, highly interactive conference organized by the Center for Housing Policy and the National Housing Conference.”
Keynote speakers include:
• Carol Coletta, president and CEO of CEOs for Cities and host and producer of the nationally syndicated public radio show “Smart City”
• Henry Cisneros, executive chairman of CityView, former Mayor of San Antonio and former HUD Secretar
• Bruce Katz, vice president and founding director of the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program
• Nicolas Retsinas, director of Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies
Interactive Daylong Institutes, Training Workshops and Informative Mobile Workshops will be offered, including:
· Foreclosure Prevention and Neighborhood Stabilization
· Window of Opportunity: Preserving and Improving Affordable Rental Housing
· Housing 101: Introduction to Affordable Housing
· Green Affordable Homes
· Building Community Support for Affordable Homes
· Cutting-Edge Green Developments
· Housing Affordability in Affluent Communities
· Building and Sustaining Mixed-Income Neighborhoods
· Foreclosure Prevention and Neighborhood Stabilization
· Regional Cooperation in Suburban Communities
View the agenda by clicking here.
Register by clicking here.
Another Win for Affordable Housing and Manufactured Housing Parks–top
CASA of Oregon is pleased to announce that members of the Green Pastures Senior Cooperative at the Green Pastures Mobile Home Park in Redmond, Oregon are one step closer on the long, but fruitful, road to resident ownership. Assisted by CASA of Oregon on the development/financial component of the project, the Cooperative’s Board Members signed an agreement in early May to purchase their community. Upon completion, the Green Pastures resident-owned community will be the second manufactured housing park conversion for CASA of Oregon and only one of a handful throughout Oregon.
Manufactured housing parks represent a large portion of the unsubsidized affordable housing stock available to low-income Oregonians. The conversion of a manufactured housing park into a resident-owned community is one of the most effective ways of preserving this affordable manufactured housing, as well as to promote secure tenure and encourage wealth-building and asset appreciation. Through cooperative ownership of their manufactured housing community, residents are able to control lot rents by a membership vote, keep their community well-maintained, make practical rules and remove the danger of the park being sold or closed.
CASA of Oregon’s program uses a multi-faceted approach, focusing on policy issues as well as on-the-ground technical assistance, to make resident ownership a viable option for manufactured housing residents across the state. As a member of the national ROC USA™ network and a Certified Technical Assistance Provider, CASA of Oregon delivers pre- and post-purchase technical assistance and helps manufactured homeowners in Oregon secure the financing needed to buy their communities and shape their economic futures through resident ownership.
For more information about the program and CASA’s partners, please contact Chelsea Catto at (503) 537-0319 ext. 300 or email her, or visit www.casaoforegon.org/mhp.
Ed Blackburn Honored by Dalai Lama–top
Central City Concern’s Executive Director, Ed Blackburn was among 49 individuals honored by the Dalai Lama in the “Unsung Heroes of Compassion” ceremony held in San Francisco, CA on April 26, 2009.
The honorees – 25 women and 24 men ranging in age from 12 to 77, came from 13 countries and a variety of ethnicity, cultures, religions and backgrounds. Each person was honored for his/her service to the disenfranchised of the world and his/her work to improve communities through their personal efforts.
“I was privileged to meet the other honorees who came from all over the world, from Katmandu, Israel, Palestine, the desert region of South Africa, to Thailand and other places in the U.S. In my conversations with these amazing people, they emphasized that their efforts depended on so many colleagues, allies, supporters and teachers. That is certainly also the case for me with my work at Central City Concern,” said Blackburn.
Blackburn joined CCC in 1992 as the Director of the Hooper Detoxification Center. In 1997 he became the Director of Health and Addiction Services, and in 2007 moved into a Deputy Director position. He assumed his role as Executive Director of the agency in June 2008. His experiences at Hooper are detailed in the Unsung Heroes of Compassion program booklet.
The Unsung Heroes event, the third such ceremony since 2001, was organized by Wisdom in Action, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of compassion in action. Renowned author Isabel Allende and actor Peter Coyote (2001 Unsung Hero) were co-hosts with Dick Grace, business owner and philanthropist.
CDC of Lincoln County Elects New Board–top
CDC of Lincoln County held their annual Election of Board Members and Board Officers May 4th. Re-elected as Board Members were Captain Rich Pease of Newport, Commanding Officer of the Lincoln & Tillamook County Salvation Army and Tina Carter of Lincoln City, an insurance professional specializing in medical insurance billing.
Board Officers elected are as follows: President – Steve Beck of Newport. Steve and his wife Susan own and operate a Farmers Insurance agency in Newport. Vice President – David Lothrop of Yachats, Attorney and Real Estate Broker. Treasurer – Tammy Foultner of Lincoln City, a Real Estate Broker and Partner in a construction Company. Secretary – Melissa Hart of Lincoln City, a mental Health Rehab Specialist with Lincoln County Health & Human Services. The newly elected officers will begin their one year term of office July 1st.
