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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2011)
5 Street roots Jan. 21, 2011 THE ROOF, fro m page 4 . much more money the Housing Alliance is asking .for the EHA. It is waiting for upcoming revenue forecast, showing how much money the state expects to have fo r -- general fund expenditures. Those figures ■ are scheduled to be released in late January. “We can’t expect the Legislature to fund it a t the level the federal government did,” says Ryan Fisher, the co-chair of Community Action Coalition of Oregon, a consortium of community action agencies. “If we can protect the Emergency Housing Account and restore the. allotment cuts it weathered, that would go a long way to- ? helping families who need i t ” f at least one of Janet Bryd’s dreams could come true, Oregon would spend approximately $20 million dollars in each budget on affordable housing. Bryd knows she will have to dream on, at least for a little while. But Oregon’s increasingly unstable and unpredictable revenue, and the subsequent budgets the Legislature is then able to make, call into - question whether there ought to be more sources of dedicated revenue, in addition to the document recording fee, that would be used' exclusively for affordable housing. Dedicated sources of revenue could come from a particular “sin tax,” such as on cigarettes, or beer, or even lattes, or by passing a statewide or local levy or bond, which would increase property taxes. Portland has been considering a local bond or levy to be used exclusively for affordable housing for the past two years. “It is a hard time to look at bonds or levies,” McLennan says. “Polling is not looking good for most topics right now.” That more or less leaves the Legislature to raise taxes as a means of generating revenue. But with the Legislature evenly I split along party lines, it is unlikely that any : Oregonians would understand the need for more taxes. “I would hope that (the Legislature) would trust that the community is willing to pay taxes and make investments for things . that are important, well run, efficient, and effective,” McLennan says. “If they approach this session of the Legislature saying ‘no new taxes,’ I think that’s a mistake. People are willing to pay, they just need to feel confident that it’s being well done.” Bryd agrees, and thinks it is absolutely 'necessary to hot only examine the current;, tax structure and tax exemptions, but to create hew ones. “The state, as it’s currently moving ; forward, doesn’t have enough money,” Bryd says. “My fear is that the solutions .advanced won’t address the underlying structural issues, but will come at the expense of people who are already hinting.” ■ The first major round of lobbying housing advocates will make is scheduled for February 14. It is not a coincidence it is on Valentine’s Day—the advocates call the one- day lobbying camping “Have a H eart” Housing advocates will gather in a rally at the state Capitol, and then meet individually with as many legislators as possible to discuss the Housing Opportunity Agenda. , Fisher is helping organize the “Have a Heart” event and expects at least 100 advocates, housing providers, and others involved with affordable housing to be in .¿Salem on February 14. Affordable housing advocates are optimistic that the majority of their agenda items will pass through the Legislature. Many items are non-partisan, sources say, ' and others don’t require any increase in funding. “I think the Legislature will be eager to do anything positive that doesn’t involve spending money,” Bryd says. “It’s up to us to make a case.” • Many housing providers and advocates new taxes will be created, especially given fervently believe that a lack of affordable that the recession continues. housing for low-income people, and “I would be at a loss about where we increased destabilizing circumstances, will might turn next for a dedicated revenue greatly effect how people are able to meet source,” Bryd says. “Anything you can think their other needs — such as finding a job, of has already been tapped in one way c»r taking care of their children, and paying another.” their bills. McLennan, Byrd and others think the “If Oregonians don’t have a place to call Legislature will have to raise taxes. They home, then they can’t address the other would not say what taxes need to be challenges that are coming their way. I created, or which ought to be raised. But they see it as the only way to stop programs think our job is to make sure that we get ^that message out to legislators,” Fisher from being cut so deeply that they will not be able to function. McLennan thinks that says.. 2011 legislative agenda fo r the Housing Alliance • M aintain S u pport fo r Dedicated Revenue f o r A ffordable H ousing: The document recording fee (enacted in 2009) supports development and preservation of rental housing, homeownership. strategies to end and prevent homelessness, and capacity o f non-profit partners. • Increase the Em ergency Housing A cco u n t: This resource has been fended a tth e sam e level sin ceit w as created, white the need is quickly growing. Paid for b y the Emergency Housing Account, fee program both helps io keep at-risk families in their homes and homeless families to get off the streets. • Preserve E xisting A ffo rda ble H ousing: Homes with federal rent subsidies are at risk of conversion to market rate, as is some housing built and owned by non-profit partners statewide. Lottery Backed B a ld s could ffl financing gaps and preserve these affordable homes. •R e s tru c tu re th e O regon A ffo rda ble Housing Tax Credit:. The proposal would slightly restructure the tax credit to help ensure that this tool, which helps keep rents' low, remains useful even in challenging financial times. • M aintain state ena bling legislation fo r local p roperty tax abatem ent program s to in v e s t in properties: The Housing Alltance is supporting an option to extend the enabling statute for 15 years to 2027. • C o ntinue and expand protections fo r tenants in foreclosed properties: Proposed changes will bring greater stability and permanency to protections for tenants, including notice requirements to tenants o f a foreclosure sale and o f their rights throughout the process, the removal o f unnecessary procedural barriers to protection, greater clarity around who is covered and when, and sanctions for violation. • Protect Tenant A cce ss to U tilities. W hen a tenant's rent includes payment for utilities, and the landlord defaults on payments to the utility company, that tenant bears the burden o f a shutoff. The 2011 legislative concept aims to provide protection to tenants by strengthening notice requirements to tenants before shut-off, and creating a structure by which tenants can pay to the utility company the amount required to avoid shut-off and then deduct that amount from rent owed to the landlord. . . • S ecure and preserve p u b lic s u b s id y d u rin g fore closure proceed ings. This would allow public agencies andnonprofits Io ensure that significant public investment is not lost during foreclosure, while also requiring that they follow the sam e process as any other foreclosure sale purchaser. . • • S u p p o rt the M anufactured H ousing Lan dlord Tenant Coalition: Proposals moving forward in the.2011 legislative session to support resident purchases o f manufactured home parks and protect tenants whose park is converted to a subdivision. • Recognize the problem o f hate crim es against people who are homeless and implement specific penalties. & Albina Community Bank M eet Your Local Branch Manager: “C om m unities aren’t ju s t streets a n d b u ild ings. C om m unities are thrivingplaces where cultures, commerce a n d souls grow stronger together. ” - M a ry Mary Edmeades Social im pact Banking 503.445.2155 medmeades@aibinabank.com SQtMlHOUtMG 5*5285* SISTERS OFTHE ROAD Winterfolk 23 is February 5th Benefit for Sisters Of The Road At Albina Community Bank the most ordinary financial transaction can have an extraordinary impact on our local community. headlined by Tracy Grammer. You’re going to bank somewhere, why not let your banking make a difference in the Places where you live and work? Tickets on sale now at the Aladdin Theater Box Office and Ticketmaster. $28 advance, $30 day of show Want a vendor in your neighborhood? • Call us at 503-228-5657. Buy your chance to WIN a Taylor 615 Jumbo Guitar! Tickets $10 each! 133 NW 6th Ave. Portland, OR 97209 Tracy G ram m er Raffle tickets available at Artichoke -Music, Portland Fret Works and Sisters’ Office 503-222-5694 www.sistersoftheroad.org i
