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P age A3
T he P ortland O bserver • M ay 12, 1993
HUD Official To Realtors:
“Reinventing HUD Is Our Task”
The Clinton adm inistration is
working to make the U S Department
o f Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) “ a catalyst, not an obstacle,"
in finding solutions to nation’s hous-
ingandcommunity development prob­
lems, according to department repre­
sentative.
Terrence D uvcrna y, a H U D
deputy secretary, discussed H U D ’ s
new focus at a forum during the Na­
tional Association o f Realtors’ M id ­
year Conference and Trade Exposi­
tion Nearly 7,000 realtors and guests
attended the A p ril 23-28 conference.
According to Duvcrnay , HUD is
committed to being an “ agent o f
change” that w ill reorganize its pro­
grams so they effectively serve the
needs for which they were created
“ R einventing HUD is our task,”
Duvcrnay said. Department officials
plan to “ transform uncoordinated pro­
grams” and "make (HU D ) a problem­
solving” deliverer o f housing, he noted.
D u ve rn a y
addressed
the
department’s efforts to expand the
availability o f single-family loans pro­
vided through the Federal Housing
A dm in istra tio n ’ s (FH A ) mortgage
insurance program, improve the pres­
ervation o f low-income m ultifam ily
housing and increase enforcement o f
the federal fair housing law. Specifi­
cally, he said HUD is concerned over
F H A ’ s loss o f mortgage financing
activity, noting that the program cur­
rently has about 4 percent o f the mar­
ket share, compared to a 50 percent
o f many public housing units would
share years ago. "We must find a way that could be used to help curtail the
make them poor choices as for-pur-
growing
shortage
o
f
affordable
hous­
to get FHA back” as a major mortgage
chase properties. "The idea o f provid­
ing
o
f
low-income
residents.
insurance, Duvernay said.
He praised Realtors for their ef­ ing public housing residents with home
Last year, N AR voiced concerns
owner ship opportunities is impor­
over FHA changes imposed by HUD forts to fighting housing discrim ina­
tant. But, letting them buy public hous­
that made the program less affordable tion. “ You are part o f the solution,”
ing probably is too ambitious a goal,”
and less usable for entry-level buyers. Duvernay said he noted that the de­
he said.
The changes, which essentially raised partment is planing to devote more
H U D ’ s fis c a l 1994 budget
the closing costs, subsequently were resources to the enforcement o f the
calls
for large funding cuts it the
repealed in NAR-supported housing federal fair housing law. “ We must
tenant
ownership conversion program,
address what race continues to do. in
legislation enacted late last year.
known as HOPE, and simultaneously
the
denial
o
f
access
to
rental
housing
Currently, HUD is examining
provides fo r substantial increases
ways to sim plify the loan-to-valuc ra­ homeownershipand loans,” Duvernay
in HOME, a block grant program
said
"W
e
are
committed
to
helping
all
tios and mortgage insurance premium
that supports affordable housing
structure used in FHA underwriting, people have the freedom to live wher­
co nstructio n and re h a b ilita tio n .
Duvernay said In addition, the depart­ ever they choose.”
In subsidized housing situations, Duvernay said HUD aims to stream­
ment is considering an increase in the
lin e and dereg ula te H O M E so
mortgage insurance lim it, which is HUD is seeking to find a balance
the funds can be distributed more
now $151,725 in high-cost areas, he between fair housing enforcement
e
ffic ie n tly to com m unities. “ We
noted, adding that higher down pay­ and the screening o f potential tenants
must
enable communities to develop
ments may be tied to such an increase. to keep out those w ho m ig h t
in
a
w
ay that w orks,” he said, pointing
“ The (mortgage insurance) caps are a have crim inal intentions, he said
out that the economic health o f each
“
HUD
must
not
discriminate,
but
concern,” he said. “ We are looking at
locality is intertwined w ith that o f
how and when they should be raised.” we must find a way to weed out
other
communities and the national
N AR has long supported tying crim inals,” Duvernay said. The de­
economy.
the FHA mortgage insurance lim it to partment has earmarked more funds
Duvernay asked NAR members
to
combat
drug
sales
and
other
crimes
local housing prices. M aking this ad­
to
assist
HUD in rebuilding commu­
justment would allow FH A to reach in p u b lic hou sin g p rojects and
nity
spirit
and im proving housing
buyers in areas such as the California other HUD-supported communities,
conditions.
“ NAR and HUD share
coast and the Northeast, where home he noted. “ We must confront destruc­
the
goals
o
f
decent, affordable hous­
price generally exceed the current tive behavior and strengthen the
ing
and
fair
housing
opportunities for
social contract or rights and responsi­
mortgage insurance lim it.
all,”
he
said.
The
National
Associa­
HUD also is seeking to step up bilities,” Duvrnay said. The Clinton
tion
o
f
Realtors,
“
The
Voice
for
preservation o f low-income m ultifam- a d m in is tra tio n is s h iftin g away
Real Estate,” is the nation’s largest
from
the
previous
adm
inistration’
ily housing, through an increase in
trade associatio n, rep re se n tin g
funding for the flexible subsidy pro­ focus on enabling public housing
nearly 750,000 members involved
tenants
to
purchase
the
units
in
gram, Durernay said. This is part o f
in all aspects o f the real estate indus­
the department’ s focus on major reha­ w h ic h they liv e . A c c o rd in g to
try.
Duvernay,
the
dilapidated
condition
b ilitation o f older, deteriorated units
Labor Management
Committee To Help Laid
O ff Workers
employers in the area,” said Grose.
“ We are here to be advocates for all
employees.”
The com m ittee is supported
jo in tly by Portland Public Schools, the
Unions, and the Oregon Dislocated
Worker Unit. Federal Job Training
Partnership Act funds are available to
provide classroom training, job search,
and community and other services.
The use o f jo in t labor-management
committees to serve dislocated w ork­
ers has been successful nationwide in
lessening the trauma associated w ith
layoffs. Cooperation combined w ith
yearly intervention minimizes these
adverse effects.
The union representatives in ­
clude: Steve Scheible and T im Healy,
School Employees International Union
(SEOI # 140) Susan Larsen, Toni Silva,
and Linda Dick, representing Port­
land Federation o f Teachers and Clas­
sified Employees (PFTCE); V irginia
Ross, Sandi Rosenfeld, and Marc
Stein, Portland Association ofTeach-
ers/Oregon Education Association
([A T /P E A ); and Gerald Krahn and
Linda Noel, District CouncilofUnions
ers.
“ By working together we believe (DCU). The Portland Public Schools
that the talent at Portland Public representatives include Dr. Ed Schmitt
Schools can be transferred to other and Pat North.
P o rtla n d S chool D is t r ic t ’ s
Alameda Elementary is the only O r­
egon school, and one o f 72 elementary
schools in the nation, recognized for
overall excellence in R ED BO O K’ s
America’s Best Schools Project.
More than 550 schools were nomi­
nated for honors this y ear by state and
national education leaders, members
o f the U S. House o f Representatives
and education reporter. America's
Beset Schools recognized 177 out­
standing public elementary schools in
six areas: classroom innovation, par-
ent/community involvement, extra­
curricular activities, special-needs
programs, significant improvement
and overall excellence
Creative curriculum, varied ex­
tracu rricula r a ctivitie s, n u rtu rin g
teachers, and supportive parent and
community members were cited as
elements leading to Alameda’s selec­
tion for overall excellence. Award-
w ining schools are featured in the
A p ril issue o f REDBOOK.
Alamdea previously has earned
recognition for its outstanding pro­
gram. In 1987/88, the school was one
o f five Oregon schools w ining the
National Elementary School Recog­
nition Award for Excellence in Edu­
cation, presented by the U S. Depart­
ment o f Education Alameda also was
one o f five Oregon schools nominated
for the 1991/92 Blue Ribbon Elemen­
tary School o f Excellence Recogni­
tion Award frojn the Oregon Depart­
ment o f Education.
Charles Nakvasil serves as p rin ­
cipal o f the school, which is located at
2732 N.E. Fremont.
A-ZEBRA
Realty Inc.
“1“ Class Guarantee”
□
As the weather warms and O r­
egonians’ notions turn toward yard
work and gardening, Northw est Natu­
ral Gas is asking anyone considering
digging to call a service that w ill
notify utilities to locale their under­
ground facilities at no charge
By calling the U tilities Notifica­
tion Center two fu ll working days
before excavating, p a rtic ip a tin g
underground u tilitie s are alerted
to come out and locate and mark the
lines. The U tilitie s N o tific a tio n
Center has more than 190 subscribers
in c lu d in g most large owners o f
underground facilities in many parts
o f Oregon and southwest Washing­
ton.
“ It doesn’t matter i f a person
is planting a tree or building a fence
on their property, i t ’ s the law to
call before you dig,” explained Bruce
Paskett, field superv isor o f Engineer­
ing fo r N orthw est N atural Gas.
“ I f a person does not call and damages
underground services, they can be
liable for all repair costs for damaged
utilities-not to mention the hazard
that exists by rupturing a gas pipe
or breaking an electric cable.
“ For instance, the polyethylene
pipe that is widely used for natural gas
distribution is very susceptible to dam­
age from tools such as shovels and
post hole diggers. These are damages
that can be avoided by calling before
digging,” he said. "Ofcourse w edon’t
want people damaging our services,
but more than that, we want to make
sure our customers are safe. ”
Paskett said that approximately
1,200 damages to natural gas fa c ili­
ties each year can be attributed to
excavation. Nearly h a lf o f those are
due to a failure o f the excavator to
notify the affected utilities o f their
intent to dig the remaining damages
are attributed to excavators who
weren’t careful when digging around
natural gas pipes.
“ Where there is yellow paint, i t ’s
the law that anyone digging must
hand excavate the area w ith a shovel
(instead o f a backhoe) and to take due
care not to damage the pipe once it is
exposed,’ Paskett said.
Last year, the center received
170,000 calls requesting locates.
The U tilities Notification Center
provides coverage for most o f Oregon
and parts o f southern Washington. In
the Portland area, call (503) 246-6699.
In Clark County, Washington, call
(206) 696-4848. Other areas should
call 1-800-332-2344 (or 1-800-332-
2DIG).
A d iffe re n t o n e -ca ll system
handles inquiries for u tility locates in
Oregon ’ s Clatsop and Columbia coun­
ties. That number is 1-800-424-5555.
heating oils
Fw
A dvertise
/r - i7 /v tr z z A
/
O bserver
in the
The Portland Public School D is­
trict I and several unions announced
the formation o f a jo in t labor-manage­
ment committee to assist the job-search
and retraining efforts o f employees
who w ill be affected buy the school
budget shortfall.
The jo in t committee w ill coordi­
nate community resources to help dis­
located workers find jobs, appropriate
training or retraining, and commu­
nity services, such as financial coun­
seling or stress management. "B y pool­
ing resources o f the school adminis­
tration, union, and the community
before lav offs occur, we can help em­
ployees, find new jobs and attempt to
lessen the impact o fjob loss, " said Pat
Grose, Oregon Dislocated W orker
Coordinator. The elev en members o f
the committee, nine representing
Unionsandtworcpresentingthe school
administration, w ill seek out training
and retraining services and w ill ac­
tively seek employment for job-ready
indiv iduals. It vveil also coordinate the
various local state, and Federal re­
sources available to dislocated w ork­
REDBOOK Selects Alameda
Elementary As One Of
‘America’s Best Schools’
Northwest Natural Cautions
To Call Before Digging
Best Cash Prices
104 NE Russell
Portland, OR 97212
282-5111
DREAM S
FO R SALE.
Z f y o u 'v e a l w a y s h a d t h e d r e a m
o f o w n in g y o u r o w n h o m e , y o u r
d re a m
m a y h a v e ju s t c o m e t r u e .
F o r a s lit t l e a s y o u 'r e p a y i n g in
m o n th ly r e n t a n d a m o d e s t d o w n
p a y m e n t , y o u c o u ld b u y a H U D H o m e . T h a t ' s r i g h t . T h e
U S . D e p a r t m e n t o f H o u s in g a n d U r b a n D e v e lo p m e n t
T H E D R EA M O F O W N IN G Y O U R O W N H O M E C A N C O M E
T R U E FO R A B O U T W H A T Y O U ’R E P A Y IN G IN R E N T .
( H U D ) h a s p r o g r a m s t h a t m a k e o w n in g a h o m e e a s ie r
t h a n y o u t h in k . P r o g r a m s t h a t
w ill e v e n h e l p y o u c o v e r m o s t if
n o t a ll o f y o u r c l o s i n g c o s t s .
If y o u 'd lik e m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n
a b o u t t h e h o m e y o u 'v e a l w a y s
d r e a m e d o f. c o n t a c t y o u r r e a l
e s t a t e a g e n t.
O r, fo r a fr e e
b ro c h u re o n h o w to b uy a H U D
h o m e , c a ll 1 - 8 O O - 7 6 7 4 H U D
T h e r e 's n e v e r b e e n a b e t t e r
t i m e t o f o ll o w y o u r d r e a m , b e c a u s e n o w y o u c a n a f f o r d it
REALTOR
t±r
(O U M HOUSMO
700 N.E. Multnomah, Suite #400 • Portland, Oregon 97232
(503) 230-1390 • FAX 233-2688 «J503^287-6837
i=r
•SS
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