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Street roots
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Feb. 5,2010
States, cities explore housing funding frameworks
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STA FF REPO RTS
10,000 affordable units for the formerly
T ^ u l l i n g together funding fora housing
homeless, seniors and low-income
development affordable for low-
individuals and families. It has also provided
J L income families has always meant
down payment loans for first-time
navigating a checkerboard of options,
homebuyers and rental assistance for
oftentimes involving up to 20 sources, each
thousands of households struggle to keep
with its own "set* of obligations and
pace with rates.
limitations. None of which , even in tandem,
Seattle’s approach is not the only
mean a project will pencil out to fruition.
progressive way to address livability; others
Until last year, there was no sustainable
include establishing local trust funds and
statewide funding channel for affordable
issuing groundbreaking bonds. Here’s
housing maintenance or development That
rundown of what other states have pursued
was when the Oregon legislature passed . to correct a nationwide imbalance between J
the document-recording fee, which levieda
economic breakdowns and hóùsing needs: '
small fee for filing certain documents toward
a fund for low-income housing. I t is a
: ■ Rhode Island: Looking down a 13,000 -
sustained source, but far from the panacea
affordable unit shortfall, the Rhode Island
ofrevenue needed to ensure that all income
legislature put the state’s first ever bond
levels can afford a place to live.
issue for housing on the November ballot. It
Now there’s a new undercurrent running
passed by the largest margin nationally for a
through the affordable housing community,,
housing bond, raising $50 million in seed
civic leaders arid advocates, on how to tackle money to create 1,000 affordable housing
the region’s housing crisis - a crisis that has
homes over the next four years.
one that has one in four Oregonians pay
more than 50 percent of their income on
■ California: In 2004, voters passed
rent, and studies concluding that an
Proposition 63 to create the California
estimated 20,000 of affordable units -
Chronic Homeless Initiative and the Mental
affordable for individuals and families below
Health Services Act. The measure opened
the poverty line - will be needed before the
thè door for the Department of Mental
end of this decade. The discussion centers
Health to provide increased funding,
on the potential for a housing levy that
personnel, and other resources to support
could bring in millions of dollars toward
county mentaljiealth programs and monitor
sustaining the region’s affordable housing
progress toward statewide goals for
infrastructure, and ensuring that low-income children, transition age youth, adults, older
families can afford a safe and stable place to
adults, and families. Funds for the Act are
live, (The Portland metro area is peppered
collected annually through a 1 percent
with about 70 myriad taxing districts, none
income tax increase on all individuals
of which dedicate any significant funding for
making over $1 million a year. The Act
affordable housing.) ,
addresses a broad continuum of prevention,
It’s not an uncommon approach from a
:early'i^i^i^8hiv.w d^sej^(?§ needs and
'thé' ù‘^és?;Sry fnfrastrheture, technology, -
natibh^^^ef^bectiye. 'Nearly
ago,,
voters launched a >egacy?„Oi:"'
and training elements that will effectively
supporting affordable housing, approving
support this system and proposes up to $75
one bond and four levies to fund more than
million a year for housing programs.
■ Illinois: The Illinois Rental Housing
Support program is the nation’s largest
state rental assistance program, providing
rent subsidies for an estimated 4,000 “rent
burdened” households making ends meet on
extremely low incomes, The program’s
funding, s provided by a $10 fee oh real
estate document recordings, is distributed
through Ldcal Administration Agencies that
work directly with landlords to provide units
for the' program and possible outreach to'
tenants in need.
■ Vermont: The longest standing trust
fund is Vermont’s Housing and Conservation
Trust Fund. In 1987 the Vermont
Legislature created a Housing and
Conservation Trust Fund that makes loans
and grants to municipalities, nonprofits,
housing co-ops, and qualifying state agencies
for permanent affordable housing and
permanently protected open space and/or
projects that combine die two. As of 1997,
4,523 units of permanently affordable rental
and owner-occupied housing has been
developed through the Fund.
■ New Jersey Special Needs Housing
Trust Fund: In 2005 the New Jersey State
Legislature passed the Special Needs
Housing Trust Fund Act to create a housing
trust fund from proceeds from motor vehicle
surcharges securitization bonds. The fund
helps create additional units of permanent
supportive housing and community
residences through new construction or •
rehabilitation;, and helps support the long
term viability of such housing and
residential opportunities for individuals with
special needs with priority givefi to
Individuals with mental illness.
■ Chicago: The Chicago Low-Income
Housing Trust Fund was created in 1989 by
the Chicago City Council. It assists residents
living in poverty, with incomes not
exceeding 30 percent of area median
income, by providing rent subsidies,
supportive housing and upfront investments
for Ibnger term affordability. The Trust Fund
serves Chicago’s low-income working
households, tire disabled, the elderly, and
countless homeless individuals and families.
■ Ashland Ore.: The city of Ashland
established its Housing Trust Fund in 2008
as a dedicated source of revenue to provide
Ongoing funding for housing projects, or
programs, that address the housing needs of
Ashland residents. The fund’s primary
purpose is encouraging the creation 6f
housing for homeownership or rent at a cost
that will enable low- and moderate- income
families to afford quality housing while
paying no more than 30 percent of gross
household income on housing.
■ The Miami-Dade County Homeless
Trust: Thè Miami-Dade County Homeless
Trust was created in 1993 by the Board of ,
County Commissioners to fund the
Community Homeless Plan. The Trust’s
annual budget is approximately $40 million,
comprised of a local food and beverage
proceeds from a l percent tax, as well as
federal funds from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, and state
funding. Approximately $20 million per year
comes through a competitive process
through HUD; $12 million via the Food and
Beverage tax, and the remainder through
State funding and private sector
^ n t r itotions^The frlisf receives no general
iùiiÙVÌUnaisn.óin Lliv
Source: Various city and state sources, The
Corporation fo r Supportive Housing
Veterans Stand Down and job fair set for March
11 Veterans-and their families are
welcome at the-Veterans!Stand Down
& Job Fair, a free event with access
to dozens of employers and agencies 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m., March 8,at the Ambridge Event
Center, near Portland’s Convention Center
MAX stop. Attendees are urged to bring ~
their resumes.
|
In times of war, Stand Downs were the
opportunity for combat units-to take time to
rest and recover at secure base camp areas.
The Stand Down today, directed at -
homeless veterans, began in 1988 in San
Diego as an opportunity for veterans to
gather and access assistance. This year,
■
L et u s have it!
there will be nearly 100 Stand Down events
held across the country. Last year, the
Portland Stand Down attracted more than
600 veterans.
Portland’s Stand Down is organizedby
Central City Concern in collaboration with
Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Hire
Oregon Vêts, Returning Veterans Project, ;
Disabled American Veterans and
Worksource Oregon. Call Central City
Concern at 503-226-7387 or visit www.
portlandstanddown.org for more event
details.
" Veterans Comprise an estimated 23
percent of the total honjeless population in
We can take it!
the United States according to the National
Coalition for the .Homeless and experience
disproportionately high unemployment
rates. In a January 2009 Multnomah County
“street count,” veterans accounted for 12
percent of the total counted homeless '
individuals. Returning Veterans Project ?
estimates that there are more than 10,000
Oregon Veterans of the Iraq and '
Afghanistan conflicts. In May 2010' another
2,700 Oregon National Guard troops will -
'return from active service.
The Woodcutter
by Shannon Andrews
Perpetual motion.
Caused for reaction
Gravity takes off
Infinite dreams
Endless boundaries
Colliding courage
Source: Central City Concern
7 V'v SiSg
IH H
it
at
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530 NW 23 r d A v e , S u ite # 1 1 0
PORTLAND, OR 97210
(503) 729-5261
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body W raps
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~ Emily Dickenson
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