One of the Low Income Housing Options provided by City Housing Bureau
SHELTER TO CONTINUUM (S2HC) PROJECT UPDATE
by Sarah Carolus and Erik Anderson
The Shelter to Housing Continuum project is a package of proposed changes to the Portland City Code meant to expand shelter and housing options. At the last meeting, the commissioners asked the bureau staff to set up two panels to hear from people with lived experience and from shelter operators. The commission’s January 12 meeting hosted those panels.
LIVED EXPERIENCE PANEL: Angie Eagan, a case manager from Portland Homeless Family solutions who had earlier lived on the street, Jonathan Hill, a resident coordinator living in the Old Town C3PO compound, and Lisa Larson, a resident and volunteer of Dignity Village. Comments from the lived experience panel included: Congregant shelters have drawbacks for some folks vis a vis camps or villages and that self-governed models can work very well in either category
SHELTER OPERATOR PANEL: Chris Aiosa, Executive Director of Do Good Multnomah; Brandi Tuck, Executive Director of Portland Homeless Family Solutions; and Tony Bernal from Transitions Projects. The operator panel comments included: It is important to site shelters near transportation, food, and services and the occupancy limit of a shelter is not as key as are adequate resources and staff ratios. They also felt that sanctioned camping can work with sufficient staffing and hygiene.
N/NE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING STRATEGY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE NOTES 01/14/21
Background - The N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy is an initiative by the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) to address the legacy of displacement in North and Northeast Portland through investments in new affordable rental housing, opportunities for first-time homebuyers, and home retention programs for longtime residents. It began in 2014 as a community-led effort, which resulted in a $20 million housing plan. The City's funding commitment to the N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy has since grown to approximately $70 million. A central feature of the strategy is the N/NE Preference Policy, which addresses harmful impacts of previous urban renewal projects and gives priority to those displaced, at risk of displacement and descendants of households displaced in the N/NE Portland community through the City's affordable housing investments in the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area. Note: PSH refers to Permanent Supportive Housing, POC refers to people of color, AMI refers to area median income, TIF refers to tax increment financing
The Committee was welcomed by Dr. Steven Holt, the committee chair. Dr. T. Allen Bethel, a member of this committee who recently died, was celebrated and appreciated for his service, commitment and leadership. A plaque commemorating him will be sent to his widow from Portland Housing Bureau.
Portland Housing Bureau Update
Dan Ryan is the new City Commissioner in charge of the Housing Bureau and one of his staff was introduced.
$298,000 will be included in the annual City Budget for the N/NE Preference Policy program coordinator and staff members.
2 positions are vacant on this oversight committee. They are from Dr. Bethel and Karin Edwards (who resigned because of new job commitments) and will be filled through the Office of Civic Life. Applications are being accepted.
Updates by Developers Using the Preference Policy to Obtain Tenants
Bridge Housing developed Songbird, a 61 rental unit building - 20 for preference policy tenants and 10 for PSH. They are in the leasing process, which is 60% done. Because of past problems with disparity issues for people of color, they have hired 5 leasing staff members, 3 who are POC. All staff have received equity training. COVID has created multiple barriers to the leasing process and Bridge Housing has developed new ways to help the process.
REACH developed Renaissance Commons, a 189 rental unit building with all tenants selected through the Preference Policy. 75 units are filled and 21 tenants are currently being screened. Because this developer also had disparity issues, they have hired a POC to be the resident services coordinator. There also have been leasing challenges due to COVID, with incomes changing, jobs lost and households being consolidated. Many potential renters also are reluctant to move in these uncertain times. A community space is available in this building; pre-COVID partners are being contacted to see if they are still interested in the space.
PCRI developed King + Parks, a 70 rental unit building – 49 units selected through the Preference Policy. Because of tax credit financial pressures, there was a need to quickly lease all units and the staff worked hard to accomplish that.
Neighborhood Housing Preservation Housing Bureau Program Update
The Homeownership Asset Preservation Pilot Program is available for residents of color living in the Interstate Urban Renewal Corridor or the N/NE study area who have an income of 80% or less AMI. It is funded through a Community Development Block Grant (federal money) of $200,000. The goals of the program are to stem displacement and loss of housing and to create generational wealth in the N/NE community. The African American Alliance for Homeownership is one nonprofit that is involved; they offer home repair loans and CARES (federal COVID money) mortgage financial assistance. The 2nd nonprofit is Common Law Center; they help develop estate plans to protect homeownership and transfer wealth. The pilot program was to end June 2021, but an extension until the end of December 2021 is recommended.
The Neighborhood Housing Preservation Program has goal of creating 110 new homeowners selected by the Preference Policy by 2022. The program offers both down payment assistance loans to new homeowners and new construction loans. Currently 75 households have been helped and 91% of those are of Black ethnicity. Funding has come through Prosper Portland funds, citywide construction taxes, Habitat for Humanity’s Olin Townhouses and N/NE urban renewal TIF. 10 families needed no subsidy, but were part of the N/NE Preference Policy.
Update on 5020 N. Interstate Property
The City owns land that was being developed by Proud Ground for condo homeownership, but financing fell apart for them. Predevelopment loans from the City were written off. The Proud Ground design plans, permits and drawings will be transferred to the Housing Bureau and the project will be converted to rental housing with N/NE Preference Policy used to select tenants. Funds to develop this project will come from the Metro Housing Bond in early 2021.
The Interstate Urban Renewal area funding originally set aside for the Proud Ground development will be repurposed for down payment assistance on homes in that area. $5 million will be used to help at least 40 households with $100,000 down payment assistance. There was a vote which passed unanimously to immediately release $1.5 million in the TIF funding over the next 2 years to support mortgage ready families qualifying under the Preference Policy. Currently there are 13 households ready.
Williams and Russell Project Update The land is currently being re-zoned and a new non-profit is being created. Affordable housing, both rental and homeownership, will be emphasized. RFP’s will be accepted in a few months. PCRI reminded the representative that they had contacted the leadership of this project last June 2020 and never heard back from them. PCRI is hoping to be involved; they have historic ties to the neighborhood and have been in business for 20 years.
I-5 Rose Quarter Project The group is meeting more frequently and the community has become more supportive. A recent survey of 600, 8% of whom are black, were more in favor of the project. There will be street development and business opportunities will be unlocked. It was noted that the Portland school, Harriet Tubman, would be affected.
An annual report of the Committee is due in March and several members will help with it. The next meeting will be held in March 2021.
Submitted by Sarah Carolus