2011 Gala and Conference a Smash Hit!

We had a great time with you all at the Awards Gala and the Industry Support Conference this year, and we were delighted to reconnect with members and partners from across the state for two intense but very enjoyable days!

[Click here to skip ahead to the Gala Award Winners]

We had record turnout for the second year in a row for the Gala (470 registered!) and our biggest Conference ever by far (over 300 registered!)

Thanks to our incredibly generous community, we raised $54,000 (net) at the Gala – by far the most ever, which will go a long way in supporting Oregon ON’s great programs helping raise Oregon’s affordable housing and community development industry to its highest levels of efficacy.

We gave awards to some truly wonderful organizations and individuals for their great work – read more below.

The list of sponsors and folks who bought tables is long and illustrious – we’d like to thank ACCESS, Bank of America, Banner Bank, Bateman Seidel, CASA of Oregon, Cascade Property Management, Carleton Hart, Cascadia, CAT Team, Central City Concern, Chase, Coin Meter, CPAH, Enterprise, Federal Home Loan Bank, FHDC, Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East, HDC, Home Forward, Housing Authority of Clackamas County, Human Solutions, Income Property Management, Innovative Housing, JD Fulwiler, Jones and Roth, Kantor Taylor, KeyBank, LMC Construction, Metro, Meyer Memorial Trust, Miller Nash, Morrison Hershfield, Multnomah County, NEDCO, NHA, NOAH, PCRI, Polk CDC, Portland Housing Bureau, REACH CDC, ROSE CDC, R&H/Colas Construction, Schwabe, SVdP of Lane County, Umpqua Bank, U.S. Bank, Walsh Construction, Wells Fargo, and Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services!

We would like to acknowledge the following elected officials who joined us at the Gala:
* Metro Councilor for District 5 Rex Burkholder
*Metro Councilor for District 2 Carlotta Collette
*Clackamas County Commissioner Anne Lininger
*Clackamas County Commissioner Charlotte Lehan
*City of Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz
*City of Portlan d Commissioner Nick Fish
*Portland Public Schools board member, Oregon ON’s own Ruth Adkins.

We would also like to acknowledge the following candidates who joined us:
*Metro Candidate Bob Stacey
*Mayoral Candidate Charlie Hales.

Oregon ON’s Board Chair, Jim Moorefield, set the tone for the Gala with an inspiring speech. Click here to read it.

Gala award winners are below – congratulations to these wonderful people and organizations!

AWARDS

Gala award winners are as follows – congratulations to these wonderful people and organizations!

Oregon ON Board of Directors Nominated Awards:

  • Strides for Equity Award – inaugural award! – Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East. Click here to read about this award: Strides for Equity Award 2011

Member Nominated Awards:

Star Players:

The Thrive and Shine Award Nominees

The Thrive and Shine Award is presented to honor an outstanding resident services program that effectively addresses the needs of low income families or individuals through stabilizing housing, supporting innovative solutions to family or neighborhood problems, developing programs for children and youth, reaching un- or under- served populations, or implementing creative solutions to other community needs.

✰Bienestar: Resident Services Program (back to top)

Bienestar’s educational programs range from GED preparation instruction to computer and financial literacy for adults.  Homework Clubs, science instruction, computer class and financial literacy instruction are some of the programs offered for children.  The program staff (all bilingual and nearly all bicultural) is unusually dedicated to the families, as members of staff know firsthand the value of education and skills for their future.

✰Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Inc. (CPAH): Resident Services Program (back to top)

CPAH operates After School and Summer Youth programs; most sites have garden space or on-site food distribution, and all have computer centers and small lending libraries. The Dollars for Dreams program delivers financial literacy training for teens. Coat and backpack distributions assist hundreds of families at CPAH properties each fall and winter, and holiday parties help brighten those long dark days at year-end.

✰Innovative Housing, Inc.: Innovative Futures (back to top)

Innovative Futures helps students succeed academically through programming and classes for parents; monitoring students’ school success; ensuring that students are able to participate in school events; and coordinating summer programs.  Innovative Futures also provides support to high-school students.  This year, three Resident youth that IHI has worked with since middle school head to college after being awarded competitive scholarships.  All three are first generation college students.

✰Northwest Housing Alternatives, Inc.: Roselyn Court Resident Services (back to top)

Recently acquired and rehabilitated by NHA, Roselyn Court is home to an active and robust Resident Services program that, in just a short period of time, has had a tremendous impact on the quality of life for our senior  residents.  Services include on-site nursing clinics, yoga, food boxes, case management, and more.  The Resident Services program at the Roselyn is making sure that the health, wellness and community needs of our tenants are met through a steady stream of innovative and effective services, supportive partnerships, dedication and commitment.

✰Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI): Thriving Families (back to top)

PCRI’s most comprehensive program, Thriving Families, uses an innovative approach to help residents help themselves, their families, and their community. Thriving Families empowers parents and their children to reach outcomes they have not achieved in the past or hadn’t dreamed of. Working together, Thriving Families participants contribute and benefit mutually by making a plan, figuring out the resources needed to implement their plan, taking action, evaluating outcomes, learning from challenges, and –most importantly –celebrating success.

✰REACH Community Development, Inc: Chronic Late Payer Program (back to top)

Residents who are chronically late in paying their rent are at risk of losing their housing and their rental history is negatively impacted.  Through gift card incentives, REACH encourages the resident to meet with the Adult Asset Coordinator where the residents’ situation can be assessed to see what, if any, help can be offered.  Most residents that REACH has worked with are going through a temporary hardship and the AAC will attempt to secure some type of assistance for the resident

The Stepping Stone Award Nominees

The Stepping Stone Award is presented to honor an organization that improves the long-term situation of its residents or community members through various outstanding asset building programs such as providing employment or skills training, increasing income or assets, or offering homeownership opportunities.

✰Hacienda CDC: Plaza Comunitaria/Adult Education (back to top)

Plaza Comunitaria is a Spanish-language adult education program that allows Latino adult residents who have not completed formal education in their countries of education to complete education in their native Spanish, while also learning English and learning the basics of financial literacy. The program has graduated over 70 students in two years, including two adults over the age of 60 who have completed their primary education while in the program, and recently procured 6 scholarships for adult learners who will be studying for their bachelor’s degree via the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

✰Home Forward: GOALS Program (back to top)

In 1994 Home Forward initiated GOALS (Greater Opportunities to Advance, Learn and Succeed) through the HUD Family Self-Sufficiency program to increase employment and asset development amongst households served by Section 8 and Public Housing. Each GOALS household enters into a contract of participation that includes an employment-focused, long-term, individualized training and service plan.  In addition to training and education, offered services include: resume development, interviewing skills, work place English and math, internships, and on the job training.

✰Human Solutions, Inc.: Living Solutions (back to top)

This program serves 65-70 very low-income Gresham community members each year. Living Solutions offers intensive services, long term job coaching, and client assistance dollars for education and job training.  Job coaches also work individually with participants to eliminate or mitigate barriers to employment stability such as a lack of childcare, housing instability, or transportation issues.  67 participants were placed in jobs this fiscal year, The average annual wage for the 67 participants AFTER they were placed in was $21,378 per year– a 449% increase from average annual income of these participants on intake.

✰Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO): Economic Empowerment (NEDCO/Womenspace Partnership) (back to top)

NEDCO has partnered with Womenspace to provide economic empowerment education and one-on-one financial counseling for their clients, as well as access to privately funded matched savings accounts. More than 50 women have participated in the program this year so far, and this month 10 more will graduate from the matched savings program to purchase a basic asset including transportation, rent deposits and other foundational needs.

✰Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI): Programs Department (back to top)

PCRI’s Programs Department provides a full-spectrum range of asset building services. Neighborhood Network Center at Margaret Carter Plaza provides employment skills training; the Park Terrace Community Center conducts job coaching, financial fitness classes, computer training as well as health workshops. For PCRI’s youth, there is a summer internship program. All PCRI residents interested in homeownership can access Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) which promotes savings and wealth creation by providing a 3-to-1 match of every dollar a resident  deposits.   The homeownership retention program offers 1-on-1 counseling, and legal, foreclosure prevention and other resource referrals.

The Golden Hammer Award Nominees

The Golden Hammer Award is presented to honor a project (rental or homeownership, rehab or new construction) completed within the past two years that best demonstrates the ideals of affordability, quality of design, livability, community revitalization or service integration.

✰Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Inc. (CPAH): The Knoll at Tigard (back to top)

The Knoll at Tigard is a catalyst 48-unit senior housing project in Tigard’s new downtown urban renewal area. Bringing urban form, density and innovative green design features, the building leased up quickly after its completion this spring. The project helps demonstrate that affordable housing can meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens while contributing greatly to the vibrancy and aesthetic appeal of our downtown areas.

✰Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East: Jubilee Commons, Gresham (back to top)

Located in the Rockwood area of Gresham, Jubilee Commons is a newly constructed 23-home condominium project at SE 197th Street.  Based on the City of Gresham priorities for housing to accommodate large families, Jubillee Commons includes 12 four-bedroom units and the project as a whole houses 42 adults and 56 children. The design promotes community and vitality, helping Rockwood gain ground as a vibrant place to live.

✰Hacienda CDC: Villa de Suenos, Portland (back to top)

In 2011, Hacienda completed rehabilitation of Villa de Suenos, a 28-unit complex in NE Portland’s Cully neighborhood.  Originally built in 1999, Hacienda discovered that contractor errors had caused serious water and mold damage.  The rehabilitation process featured many high quality design elements.  Interior rehab will improve air quality and reduce the chance for mold to develop, a significant improvement in safety and livability for tenants.

✰Home Forward: Bud Clark Commons, Portland (back to top)

The Commons provides resources, shelter, housing placement services and apartments for the most vulnerable people living on Portland’s streets.  The concept is many years in the making and involves the participation and cooperation of many agency partners. Success will be measured by a resident’s ability to maintain housing, find stability, tap resources to help them meet their needs and achieve an overall improvement in their quality of life.

✰Human Solutions, Inc.: The Rockwood Building, Gresham (back to top)

The Rockwood Building is a mixed-use building comprising 47 units of affordable housing on floors 2 & 3 and a 23,000 square foot MultiService Center (MSC) on the ground level.  By providing safe, high quality, affordable apartment homes and a full suite of “wraparound” services,, Human Solutions and the City hope that Rockwood will provide the catalyst to future development and revitalization in the Rockwood neighborhood.

✰Northwest Housing Alternatives, Inc.: Creekside Woods, Wilsonville (back to top)

Creekside Woods is an innovative 44-unit affordable housing development for seniors.  Built on land provided by the City of Wilsonville, Creekside Woods helped to address the loss of affordable housing and community that followed the 2008 closure of the Thunderbird Mobile Home Park. Creekside Woods’ location, its careful site design, and its robust resident services combine to create a highly-livable, attractive environment for seniors.

✰Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI): Exeter & Fessenden Greenplexes, Portland (back to top)

These 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes are energy efficient, healthy and durable. Set aside for first-time home buyers at or below 80% MFI, this project represents family stability, self-sufficiency and wealth creation for 4 proud families. Certified LEED for Homes Gold, their “green” features include cork and bamboo finishes, carpet made from recycled water bottles, and high efficiency heat pumps just to name a few.

The Asset Champion Award Nominees

The Asset Champion Award is presented to honor an organization whose asset/portfolio management program best demonstrates the ideals of long-term planning,  improving asset performance, maximizing asset value, enhancing control, saving money on the project & portfolio level, cutting through complexity, or proactive problem-solving.

✰Housing Development Center: Asset Management & Portfolio Preservation Program (back to top)

The Housing Development Center has developed an Asset Management and Portfolio Preservation Program that provides excellent training in best practices, as well as coaching and technical assistance. What makes the program different and effective is the depth of assistance. We understand our properties better, we are making better and more informed decisions, and “sustainability” is beginning to have real meaning.

✰NeighborWorks Umpqua (back to top)

NW Umpqua uses FHA property management software for all properties and analyzes the properties’ health with several tools on a monthly basis. Umpqua also analyzes the balance sheet on a monthly basis to see how reserve balances are performing and to watch accounts receivable, looking for any slow paying tenants.  The software and analysis allow them to successfully track properties on a monthly basis. NW Umpqua monitors reserves at all housing sites and was able to convert its first two 15 year LIHTC projects with no additional outside resources other than a loan refinance.

✰Northwest Housing Alternatives, Inc. (back to top)

Fulfilling our mission requires careful stewardship of our diverse portfolio, and NHA’s Asset Management Department consistently demonstrates the organization, diligence, dynamism and tenaciousness necessary for our tenants, our properties and our organization to succeed.  Thanks to their well-designed and rigorously-applied policies, procedures and systems, our Asset Management staff consistently maximizes revenues and contains expenses without compromising residents’ quality of life.  The result is a high-performing housing portfolio that consistently provides returns to NHA.

✰Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI) (back to top)

The asset management of over 250 individual sites of affordable housing is a monumental job.  Yet PCRI’s Asset Manager, David Zimmerman takes on the task with gusto.  His methodical approach to data analysis means he can also be found maneuvering through spreadsheets and reports to determine the financial health of a portfolio.  His ability to analyze and report on our portfolio has greatly enhanced internal functions and external relationships with our funding partners.  15 years from now, a large portion of PCRI’s robust health will be due to the work that David is doing now.

✰ Star Players Awards ✰

Star Players are the staff, volunteers and board members nominated by their organizations for their invaluable contributions. These are people who have initiated new programs, and carried tough projects across the finish line; used creativity and leadership to maximize limited resources; and been too tenacious and optimistic to give up on their clients and coworkers. It’s people like these who are the engine behind our entire industry!

✰      Jane Brown, Housing Authority of Clackamas County ✰ (back to top)

Jane has provided 24 years of high quality services to Public Housing residents of Clackamas County. She has seen and dealt with it all, from the worst cases of neglect to the best outcomes of independence.  In doing so, she developed countless initiatives and programs for elderly, children, and adults to enrich people’s lives and work toward independence. She is one of HACC’s most valuable assets.

✰      Ana Gomez, Farmworker Housing Development Corporation ✰ (back to top)

Ana began working with FHDC in 2005. Ana is a specialist when it comes to customer service. She can be tough while collecting rents or enforcing rules, but she does it in a way that makes the tenant feel they are the most important person in the room. She has been able to build a great rapport with her tenants and maintain vacancy and collections rates better than industry standards.

✰      Merry Hart, ACCESS ✰ (back to top)

Where is she?  Where ever we need her to be, doing whatever we need her to do!  Whether it is serving on Oregon ON’s Board of Directors or the State Policy Council, traveling once or twice monthly is now part of her routine.  Taking the lead on our first Year-15 project planning, working on property development from beginning to end, grant writing and a one person relocation team are some examples of what keeps her busy.  Merry is an invaluable member of the Housing team here at ACCESS and she is always willing and able to tackle any task that she is given.

✰      Terrill Jarvis, Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East ✰ (back to top)

IT guys don’t get a lot of recognition, but without Terrill, Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East would be in a world of hurt.  His dedication as a volunteer allows us to grow.  He has assisted through a merger, integration of a new server and accessing email from home and mobile.

✰      Lisa Judd, Northwest Housing Alternatives ✰ (back to top)

Lisa goes “above and beyond” all the time, but has really been a star in the past couple of years with the launch of our HomeBase program providing eviction prevention and rapid re-housing services in Clackamas County.   Lisa has a quiet strength.  She is a leader, is kind, and is solid like a rock.  Participants often thank Lisa, saying that her support and guidance helped them at a critical moment in their life.

✰      Kaisa Krafft, St. Vincent de Paul ✰ (back to top)

Trustworthy, caring, respectful to her residents…including many disabled seniors. Gets them active and social…preventing previous isolation. Activities include bingo, potlucks, coffee-tea time, shopping, FFLC Bread/Food Days, social services help, computer help, BBQs, team trips.  Created, as of July, FFLC Bread/Food Days for Heather Glen.

✰      Rachel Livernois, Central City Concern ✰ (back to top)

Rachel started in construction and came to CCC to manage the Clean and Safe program and CCC’s janitorial department.  But it was resident services that captured her heart and has become her calling.  Rachel has had exceptional success in turning around the lives of her clients and encouraging her staff to see themselves as big as they are. Rachel sets a new standard for “above and beyond” and she is Central City Concern’s Star Player.

✰      Norma Marin, Hacienda CDC ✰ (back to top)

Under Norma’s guidance, Hacienda’s Plaza Comunitaria has graduated over 50 adult learners from primary or secondary school in the past 2 years. The Mexican Consulate has recognized Hacienda’s Plaza Comunitaria as a model for the state of Oregon. Not only is she a fantastic teacher and motivator, Norma supports her students and their families outside of the classroom as well. Norma is an incredibly valuable asset to the organization and to the communities we serve, which is why we think she should be recognized as a Star Player.

✰      Emma Martinez, Innovative Housing, Inc. ✰ (back to top)

As the manager of IHI’s Family Resident Services program, Emma ensures that 214 families receive the services and resources they need to maintain stable lives.  IHI highly values her creativity, steady compassion and enthusiastic commitment to her work.  Thank you for your dedication and outstanding performance Emma!

✰      Daryn Murphy, Housing Development Center ✰(back to top)

Daryn wears two hats at Housing Development Center, as a seasoned Project Manager and as Underwriter for the rapidly growing HDC Community Fund. While appreciated for his technical expertise and experience, clients and colleagues agree that the best part about Daryn is that he’s just so great to work with; whether he’s grappling with a development proforma, analyzing property operations, negotiating with investors, or reviewing a partnership agreement – Daryn brings passion and commitment to providing safe, affordable housing to those in need!

✰      Cyndi Natalello, PCRI ✰ (back to top)

Cyndi manages a uniquely challenging housing portfolio of 400 units scattered over 200 sites, in 30 Portland neighborhoods. Not only does she oversee property management, but she’s also the Co-manager of the Maintenance Department. She gives 110% effort & still has time to laugh and smile with both residents and staff. Thank you Cyndi!

✰      Emily Reiman, NEDCO ✰(back to top)

We hired Emily realizing she was clearly brilliant from the outset, but she has continually broken barriers and far exceeded expectations from day one. She can take the impossible and make it happen within budget and on-time. Her leadership has taken NEDCO to new heights and helped us serve an unprecedented number of people this year.

✰      Vivian Satterfield, ROSE Community Development ✰(back to top)

Vivian is the glue that holds the ROSE office together. She’s on top of all the communications that come in and out of ROSE. Thanks to her efforts, volunteer contributions are up, and she has worked on everything from admin to our new logo. She’s a flawless event organizer. These days, Vivian is working more on resource development.

 

✰      Sweet 16 Relocation Team (Chrissy McCausland, Tim McCormack, Myriam Demezas, Lindsey Fry, Julie Cusumano), Home Forward ✰ (back to top)

(Pictured: Chrissy McCausland and Tim McCormack)
Over the past couple years Home Forward has reinvested in its public housing portfolio through extensive capital improvements to a number of their family properties.  These 16 properties with 296 apartments provide housing in 95 buildings that range in age from 1947 to 1994.  Chrissy led the team that provided relocation support services phased with construction to limit the disruption to residents.  Through their diligent, compassionate, and tireless effort, families were able to weather the rolling relocations and return back to their original property and to a new home.

✰      Jorge Tello, Bienestar ✰ (back to top)

Jorge has become a professional juggler – he juggles two jobs at Bienestar, two bosses, and excels at both.  Whatever it is, Jorge is pitching in:  helping with summer lunches, barbecuing 1,200 hot dogs for resident meetings, going to the Oregon Food Bank, picking up toys, setting up new computer labs, ironing decals on aprons to sell, getting us hip with social media.  Kudos to Jorge!

 

✰      Clayre Thompson, REACH Community Development, Inc. ✰ (back to top)

As an Accounts Payable Specialist, Clayre does so much more than “cut the check.”  She has been described as: quick and calm under pressure, detailed, pro-active,  responsive, and tenacious.  Clayre is a go-getter!  She never complains and she takes the initiative to solve problems that you may not have even thought of yet.  Whatever it is, you can always count on Clayre to get the job done!

✰     Judy Werner and Tom Murphy, CPAH ✰ (back to top)

Judy and Tom have served as CPAH’s dynamic duo for the past 7 years. In alternating terms they’ve provided an unparalleled level of governance as president and vice president. Their unwavering commitment to the cause and ability to work in tandem makes them our Star Player!

 

✰      Sarah Zahn, Human Solutions ✰ (back to top)

Sarah Zahn came to Human Solutions in 2009 and immediately began making extremely positive contributions.  Assuming the job of Director of Housing when Dorene Warner retired, Sarah has successfully completed all of the projects which were in process and/or under construction, including the Rockwood Building which will open in October 2011.  She also successfully worked with three partner agencies to plan the new facility: Glisan Commons.

Congratulations again to all our winners!

 

And thank you to our major sponsors:
Bank of America, Chase, LMC Construction, and Walsh Construction Co.!