Page A6
July 26, 2000
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■■■■■■■■H
■ ■ ■ ■ M H N M N a a M M H a H M M B i
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CDC from page 1
City o f Portland, our local municipality, insures that we will always be a step
C D C’s have "quietly, through the years, moved theircitizen based roots to now
this scam, The Oregonian wrote a three-part series call “Blueprint for a Sham”
closer to and more capable o f addressing the needs o f the community’s low-
acting like government agencies”. PCRI was formed with citizen and government
that exposed them”. Shortly thereafter. Dominion filed bankruptcy and put
income residents. However, PCRI remains a separate, private, non-profit
involvement. The City o f Portland and the State o f Oregon, because o f their
over 350 families at risk o f losing their homes. From this community travesty,
organization
controlled by a board o f directors and run by a staff which
Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc. (PC’Rl) was created. PCRI
federally supported and mandated community development focus have always
includes
PCRI
residents, NE Portland residents. City o f Portland residents and
represents a successful community initiative, one created by a public-private
been key players in the formation o f CDC ’ s like PCRI. The fact that top c ity and
residents
from
other areas.
banking
officials
donate
their
time
to
help
PCRI
as
board
members
speaks
partnership that included community leaders, neighborhood residents, the
Are corporations monitoring properties properly?
volumes to our integrity as an organization. For PCRI to align itself with the
City o f Portland, the State o f Oregon and U S. Bank. It was created to prevent
the potential displacement o f the families living in the homes held by Dominion
Capital, to turn fraudulent land sale contracts into conventional mortgage
opportunities and to rehabilitate and retain the deteriorated rental housing
portfolio for the long term benefit o f low-income residents. Affordable rental
property management was the objective for PCRI in 1993 and it continues to
for Multnomah County Health Dept. and serving one weekend a month plus
m Jtn .R amus
be the objective today.
fifteen days a year in active duty for the Air Guard. For many, this is the best
for T he P ortland O bserver
Here are other questions raised in the article and my responses.
o f two worlds - enjoying the benefits o f military service and living a civilian
Are renters in subsidized housing sharing in the general prosperity? In terms
life.
Balancing work or college with military duty are regular responsibilities
o f prosperity, Northeast Portland has experienced the highest escalation in
As a supplement to his military duty, Lt. Walden underwent technical
assumed by members o f the Oregon Air National Guard (OANG). For many,
property values over any other quadrant in the C ity o f Portland. Although this
training to specialize in medical logistics. He furthered his military career by
serving the military this way is the 'best part-time job in America.'
prosperity has been beneficial to some people in NE Portland, it has led to the
later graduating in December o f 1999 to become an officer entering
For Lt. Bryan K. W alden from Northeast Portland, there is no history within
displacement and forced relocation o f many long-term Northeast Portland
Commissioned
Officer Training School in Alabama’s Maxwell AirForce for
his family o f anyone ever joining the military. Knowing this did not deter him
residents. The article implies that the relatively few units PCRI owns should
2
*/j
weeks.
from becoming the first. Out o f curiosity, he drove by the recruiter’s office
be made available to investors. As a non-profit, PCRI passes on the savings
Through the Oregon Air National Guard, other incentive programs such as
while he was in college in 1980. His intent to join was to take advantage of
to residents in the form o f reduced rents. PCRI provides primarily single family,
technical training are provided in areas such as Tactical A ircraft Maintenance,
going to their basic military and technical training that would help pay for his
scattered site, housing at a rate unparalleled in the private, for-profit market.
Aerospace Ground Equipment, Ground Radio Communications and more.
schooling. Some time after enlisting with the Air Force Reserve, Walden
Our rents remain extremely low when compared to the market rents for
Technical schooling varies in length from seven weeks toone year, depending
received financial assistance through the GI Bill which helped him to earn his
comparable housing.
on which career field is chosen. The practical experience gained has served
bachelor’s degree at Portland State University in 1986.
We believe in providing affordable housing options, both rental and
many Guardsmen beyond the military where they have landed good paying
Currently the A ir National Guard is offering the Montgomery GI Bill along
hom eow nership. We actively encourage PCRI residents to consider
civilian jobs.
with a kicker program that was introduced in October o f 1998. The kicker
homeownership as an option in our newsletters. Many families living in PCRI
Other perks besides a pay check every month through the Air Guard include
program is available for a total o f 36 months at $3 50 per month based on full
homes have moved on to become homeowners. We believe that our single
money savers through the Active Duty Commissary and Base Exchange fo r.
time study. This is exclusively for those enlisted or have re-enlisted in an Air
family, scattered site, rental-housing option is an excellent preparatory tool for
additional savings. With space available, Guardsmen can travel on m ilitary,
Force Career Field. Overall, the benefits amount to more than $700 per month
homeownership. However, forsome residents homeownership is out o f reach.
aircraft for free. Also, the Air Guard is the only part time job that offers a 20-.
that apply towards a full-time education and living expenses.
If homeownership is not an option or desire for a resident, they can remain in
year retirement plan where the time they have already served counts.
As another option for the enlisted, the Community College o f the Air Force
their PCRI unit without the fear o f their home being sold or their rent being
offers undergraduate education that leads to an associates degree.
Looking back since he joined the military in 1980, Lt. Walden expressed with
raised to the point where they can no longer afford it. PCRI has a strong
Lt. Walden joined the Air Force Reserve beginning as an E-3 (Airman First
concern that “It (the military) was never given as an option in school.” To
commitment against the displacement o f residents. Our strategy has always
Class), working in their Transportation Department and later crossed over
date, his military career has spanned a fulfilling 20 years with fond memories
been to preserve these homes for the long-term benefit o f low-income residents.
to joining with the Oregon Air National Guard in 1996 as an E-5 Staff Sargeant.
o f travel and friendships gained from both the Air Force Reserve and Oregon
In addition, PCRI’s Programs Department is actively researching more ways
He juggles a mixed load o f working full-time as an accounts payable manager
AirNational Guard.
to develop and fund homeownership opportunities for PCRI residents. As you
may recall, PC R I’s first initiative was the homeownership focus that resulted
in the sale o f properties which had been sold by Dominion Capital on fraudulent
land sale cont4ract. We worked diligently to secure financing forthese families,
enabling them to remain in their homes and become true homeowners.
Is the future the same as in the past? C D C ’s were formed to address the extreme
number o f vacant houses that existed in the NE Portland in the early 1990’s.
This was done in an effort to provide housing opportunities for low-income
residents. In effect, these non-profit organizations began a concentrated
revitalization process that led to a renewal o f the housing stock as affordable
housing options. Soon the private market began to play an integral role in this
transformation process. Non-profits, investors and homeowners acquired
many vacant homes and rehabilitated them. However, there were many homes
in Northeast Portland that were purchased and had occupants in them when
they were sold. The sale o f the homes left families in them without a place to
live and a short span o f time to locate replacement housing.
Northeast Portland has a history o f uprooting and displacing its low-income
residents. It is unfortunate, but this dilemma has overwhelmingly affected
people ofcolor. Many families, after living in Northeast Portland for generations,
after establishing ties in the community with other family members, with
friends, with their church and school for their children were forced to move to
other areas to find affordable housing. Their long-term landlord had sold their
home, cashing in on the advantageous market forces. They no longer had a
Tuesday
5pm-7pm
Located at 735 N Shaver St. Portland, Oregon 97227
place to live nor could they afford the quickly accelerating housing costs in
Wednesday
llpm-2pm
For Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. 9732 SE Washington St.
the area. This displacement was caused by gentrification resulting from
Saturday
llpm-2pm
Ste: K. Portland, Oregon 97216
affluent households moving in from other areas causing a sharp escalation in
As o f August 21 1998
property values and thriving sellers
market. W hateverthe reasons, families
By Daniel R. Bush
were being forced out o f NE Portland
and the C D C’s were only able to offer
a few o f them other housing options.
I
We fell very short o f addressing the
need. Som eofPCRI’scurrent residents
encountered this situation and came
to us after being displaced by their
private landlords. They now live
without the fear o f that happening to
them again.
The article refers to C D C’s as
“poverty maintenance organizations”
th at d eprive private investors o f
financial opportunities. Collectively,
non-profits control less than 3% o f the
c ity ’s housing stock. I would hardly
consider the loss o f private investment
opportunities with this number ofunits
cap ab le o f being term ed private
in v esto r deprivation. The article
contends that PCRI is depriving a
private indi vidual of a dream. W e affirm
ourselves by providing low-income
families with a basic rig h t- the right to
live in an affordable home. Many low
and very low income families don’t
have the option o f living in something
that they can afford, let alone live in
som ething that is affordable and
1. 5 million dollars in used ear inventory* Every Make & Model
provides them with a sense o f pride.
W e cannot disregard the fact that the
2. Approvals on all credit * Good Credit * Bad C redit * No Credit * Repossession *
government established a means for
Bankruptcy * Divorce
community development corporations
3. Personal Service * One on One from beginnin«* to End * Appointment Only.
to do the business o f serving very
low -, low and m o d erate-incom e
households. Our government knew
what it was doing when it enacted
m easu res to create and support
community development corporations
like PCRI. PCRI is an example ofhow
successful C D C’s can address the low-
income housing needs ofa community.
In this redevelopment process, we have
been able to restore self-esteem to a
population that suffered at the hands
o f an unscrupulous investor. PCRI is
not taking away opportunities from
-THE FMAMCMO SFCCIAUST*
CHUCK
in v e s to rs to b uy in v e stm e n t
properties.
It is stated in the article that the NE
Oregon Air National Guard: the best part-Time job in America
Appraisal of real property
Allen Temple
Emergency Aid
4214 NE 8 th Avenue
Portland Oregon 97211
503.284.1010
NO CREDIT? COME SEE LOUIS.!!
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! W aller
3 Reasons To Call Me Today
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Portland, OR 97206
, (503)740-3159
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