Senator Betsy Johnson, Representative David Edwards, Oregon ON Executive Director Michael Anderson, and SVDP Housing Director Anne Williams. Photo by Nikolai Ursin

Wednesday, October 7 at the Oregon Convention Center, featuring guest speaker David Edwards, Oregon House of Representatives

Over 400 affordable housing industry staff and board members, elected officials, representatives from state and local government, members of the lending and legal communities, architects, private developers and contractors, as well as other industry partners enjoyed an evening of recounting achievements in community development in the past year.

A rousing keynote address was given by Representative David Edwards, who spoke on the moral imperative to house our most vulnerable citizens. “Nothing and no one stands alone,” said Edwards. “The humblest person has infinite connections. We are joined by a shared origin, each existing for all and all for each.”

Senator Betsy Johnson were honored with Legislative Champion Awards because of their crucial work on the Housing Opportunity Bill. The bill, passed midway through the 2009 legislative session, raises the document recording fee in Oregon’s real estate transactions by $15 dollars. Over 2009-2011, it will generate an estimated $15 million in funds that will be used to prevent homelessness through emergency rent assistance, to create new affordable housing, and to provide greater opportunities for home ownership for first-time buyers.

Oregon ON also honored Senator Johnson and Representative Edwards for their work on the Lottery-backed bonds bill, and important bill which will produce $19.4 million in 2009-2011 to preserve subsidized rental housing and manufactured home parks, keeping vulnerable Oregonians in their homes.

“In the current economy, these bills’ passage is nothing short of amazing,” said Michael Anderson, Executive Director of Oregon ON. “It wouldn’t have happened if not for the session-long, passionate support by Senator Johnson and Representative Edwards. Their commitment has been unwavering. We are proud to have them as allies in the struggle to ensure every family in Oregon has a stable home and the opportunity to succeed in life.”

Other awards to honor this year’s successful legislative efforts were Outstanding Industry Allies Awards given to the Oregon Bankers Association, the Oregon Homebuilders Association, and the Oregon Association of Realtors. We are grateful to have their support and partnership.

Housing Heroes Awards were given to three Housing Alliance members for their amazing advocacy around this session’s successful legislation: Janet Byrd, Phil Donovan and Rick Crager.

The Community Leader Award was given to Sia Sellu for her tireless activism in the Lents community to protect Lents Park and the affordable housing set aside.

Star Player Awards were given to our member organizations’ staff who distinguished themselves by going the extra mile: Melodee Sewell with ACCESS, Gracie Garcia with Bienestar, Leticia Duran with CASA, Terri Silvis with Catholic Charities, Nicole Kiziway with Central City Concern, Shannon Wilson with CPAH, Maria Elena Guerra with Farmworkers Housing Development Corporation, Ron Peterson with Habitat for Humanity of Oregon, Dick Firsich with Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East, Rudy Ulin with Hacienda CDC, Molly Rogers with Housing Development Center, Fran Weick with Human Solutions, Inc., Tam Gardner with Northwest Housing Alternatives, Jamie Arnett with Polk CDC, Kim Ngoc Tran with Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Riad Sahli with REACH CDC, Sherrena Torrence with ROSE Community Development, Scott Humpert with Salem-Keizer CDC, Mia Masters with St Vincent De Paul, and Lily Brislen with Umpqua CDC.

Star Player Shannon Wilson from CPAH and Michael Anderson

Oregon ON would like to thank all our great Banquet sponsors – You made the night possible!

Ruby Sponsors:

Carleton Hart Architects, Key Bank, Portland Housing Bureau, Walsh Construction.

from left: Ruby Sponsor Portland Housing Bureau’s Stephen Fulton, Oregon ON’s Kate Fulton, Innovative Housing’s Sarah Stevenson, PCRI’s Ben Loftis, City of Gresham’s Michael Parkhurst, and Oregon ON’s Leon Laptook. Photo by Nikolai Ursin.

Ruby Sponsor Walsh Construction’s Don Geddes, HOST Development’s Brianna Conrow, Norris and Stevens Realtors, Ankrom Moisan Architects’ Chris Dalengas. Photo by Nikolai Ursin.

from left: Ruby Sponsor LMC Construction’s Kyle Anderson, with Julie Garver and LMC’s Chris Duffin. Photo by Nikolai Ursin.

Topaz sponsors:

Cascade Management, Bank of America, Banner Bank, Bateman Seidel Attorneys, Enterprise Community Partners, Housing Authority of Portland, Housing Development Center, Income Property Management, JD Fulwiler & Co Insurance Inc, Miller Nash, NOAH, the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing, Northwest Housing Alternatives, US Bank.