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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2014)
Street roots 7 A u g. 1, 2014 Metro renews focus on creating affordable housing BY EMILY GREEN to apply.” STAFF W R IT E R According to the Bureau of Housing and he greater-Portland area is in the Urban Development, in Multnomah County midst of an affordable housing crisis. alone, there are more than 35,000 renting Not only does need drastically households making less than $20,800 a year. outweigh availability — with some waiting These households can’t afford to spend years to access housing within their more than $520 a month on rent, but this financial means — those who do obtain year the county’s median rent for a two- affordable homes often find themselves bedroom apartment rose to $922 per living in substandard neighborhoods amid month. high crime rates and underfunded schools. Bobby Weinstock, a housing advocate Because of this, Metro Councilor Sam with Northwest Pilot Project, said that about Chase said he’s making increased access to 70 percent of those households are paying affordable housing one of his primary goals. more than half their income in rent, putting The recent passage of his budget them one financial emergency away from amendment on “Housing Choice” marks the homelessness. He also noted that aging first time in eight years that the baby boomers are causing the percentage of metropolitan area’s regional government has elderly in need of affordable housing to put â strong focus on affordable housing. rapidly increase. And this time, Chase said, it’s' about making In the tour-county metropolitan region, policy changes a reality. affordable units only account for 4.5 percent If you were to look at a map of affordable of the total housing. Compounding this housing structures in the Portland metro troublesome scenario, a forecast published area, you would see that most are heavily by Metro in June predicted that over the concentrated in economically depressed next two decades, 65 percent of all rental neighborhoods. You might also notice they need in this same region will come from are virtually absent from more affluent households earning an income of less than communities such as West Linn and Lake $35,000 a year. Oswego — communities that boast low crime In 1997, Metro adopted an abstract, rates and healthier school districts. In ongoing policy to increase housing choices « addition to this disparity of location, the in order to give everyone the opportunity to number of affordable dwellings doesn’t come live in a decent neighborhood. close to meeting the growing demand fueled In 2006, Metro created a Housing Choice by the recent recession, and rent and Task Force Implementation Strategy which property value increases. put Metro in a positive to advance the The problems of the market shortage production of workforce housing in the span the lowest income levels through to region. But that strategy stalled when Metro what’s known as workforce housing: families was denied $5 million in grant funding from making 60 to 80 percent of the median HUD. family income for the region. “When the funding didn’t come through, Home Forward spokesperson Shelley the strategy was never picked up again,” Chase said, “Now it’s time for action.” Marchesi estimates her agency has roughly 20.0Q(|..h,puseholds waiting to occupy the ' Chase said that touch of thé reason the 2,654 apartments owned by the public housing imbalance prevails, despite the housing authority — meaning that for every guidelines that were put in place by Metro’s framework plan, “has to do with the policies one of Home Forward’s occupied in place — or not in place,” Chase said. apartments, there are about 7.5 households “There are many misimpressions about waiting to move in. More than a third of people that live in affordable housing,” those waiting are elderly, disabled or both. Chase said. “It’s critical that leaders in local Applicants are actually waiting to get on a wait list — the wait time for the property has jurisdictions understand the value of having subsidized housing in our economy. Part of to be less than 18 months — and some of Metro’s effort will be to help elected and Home Forward’s apartment communities neighborhood leaders understand that have wait times pushing 10 years. When an applicant makes it onto a waiting everyone benefits from having a range of housing choices in their community.” , list, Marchesi said, “It gives them hope, but West Linn Mayor John Kovash and until it comes, they may be living in the Councilor Jody Carson came out in support same dire circumstances that caused them ■ of the amendment. community and making recommendations, “Studies show that the economy is they’ll be working within the community,” stronger when there are a range of housing he said, adding that he is very excited that choices available,” Chase said. From Metro is pursuing this issue again. decreasing stress on roadways to children Chase said that in the past Metro has learning from exposure to diversity, Chase largely taken an advisory role, conducting said there is a broad range of reasons why research and establishing voluntary goals. communities benefit from an array of “It hasn’t been enough to move things housing choices. forward,” he said, Metro plans to use noting that Metro has the $200,000 made made some progress available with this in jurisdictions such amendment to identify “ 11% c r itic a l th a t leaders la as Tigard, where new successful affordable lo c a l jn r ls ilc llo a s affordable housing housing financial tools understand the va lue of polices were adopted. and policies in use Chase said Metro h a v in g s n b s K Iie d honslng locally and in other plans to work closely parts of the country, la « « ©cnnonsy. F a rt e l with community and then share them e ffo rt w ill be to help groups and local with leaders across decision makers who the region. It will work elected and neighborhood leaders understand th a t are most familiar with with local affordable housing governments to everyone benefits Ira n i issues in their identify the tools that h a v in g a range of Showing will work best in their communities to choices la th e ir com w.nnltf«“ identify best jurisdictions. The difference this time, is practices. that Metro will then ' Giving tax physically guide them exemptions to through the process of adopting new council developers who build affordable housing is a codes, finalizing policy strategies and popular tactic among some local housing implementing tools that will make it easier advocates. “Tax exemptions could be for nonprofits and for-profits alike to create^ adopted in urban renewal districts,” said homes that are within the financial reach of Weit. “It’s an important element to develop people who need them. if your goal is to keep rents as low as Metro will also add a full-time staff possible. It’s the best way to decrease debt member who will focus exclusively on in a project.” affordable housing issues and work closely Miller said that perhaps “linkage fees” with some programs Metro already has in should be considered. Many cities such as place, such as Transit Oriented San Diego, Boston and Seattle employ Development. linkage fees on commercialexpansion and Some housing advocates agree that market-rate apartment construction. The Metro’s efforts in the past have been largely money garnered goes into a fund to build unsuccessful, with many local governments affordable housing. passing over its affordable housing In some cases, a little creativity can lead recommendations. to real solutions. Martha McLennan, “It’s difficult for a regional government to executive director of Northwest Housing do regulatory work,” said Ramsay Weit, Alternatives, said it will be important for executive director of The Community Metro to teach communities to look for Housing Fund. Ramsay thinks it would be unique opportunities in their areas, such as more effective if people and organizations a surplus of land or a developer that’s within the community who work in coming in. affordable housing communicated directly “Corvalis built affordable housing above a with local governments. new library, and in Wilsonville they had Fred Oregon Opportunity Network Executive Meyer build affordable housing when rt‘ Director John Miller agrees that a came in to develop — they got it by asking,” grassroots approach would be a good she said. strategy. “Instead of going into the ŒNTRALCITY concern Ending homelessness and achieving self-sufficiency - now roasting and distributing, craft coffee. Available for purchase at: Follow Street Roots on Facebook and Twitter! 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