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Page A6
H ousing S potlight
April 30. 2003
Oregon Zoo Celebrates Mothers
fc»--
HAP Tenants Pay at a Discount
hotspot.
sues.
continued
from Front
Rudman said a snapshot o f the area
"W e're not going to evict you if you
the helm as director for the City Bureau o f taken in 1984 would show an area with loose your job and can’, pay your rent,"
Housing and Development.
vacant houses, empty storefronts and
Rudman said. "This is really the closest
“ I’d heard Portland was a place where crime, or at least a perception o f crime.
w e’ve come to housing being a basic
people learned what worked and what
In the early 90s a team o f around 12 right.”
____________
thrivingcommunityde-
While many o f the people HAP serves
velo p m en t c o rp o ra earn 60 percent or below the median in
tions cam e into the come, but Rudman said an overwhelming
n eig h b o rh o o d s and
majority earn less than 30 percent. Many
c laim ed ab an d o n ed
are single parent headed households, a
property and set the group Rudman said benefits most from
area on the rejuvena stability.
tion fast track.
"W hat’s a single parent going to do
Many o f the minor when their rent raises?" Rudman said. “If
ity h o m e o w n e rs in they’re already paying 50 percent o f what
north and northeast they bring in for rent, that leaves very little
P o rtlan d fo u n d the left for anything else.”
houses they owned to
Through HAP programs, rather than
be worth considerably being forced to the suburbs in search o f
more than its purchase lower rent, a single parent would only pay
price.
30 percent o f their monthly income for
“If you owned your rent. Children can stay near their schools
- Housing Authority of Portland Director Steve
home you have wealth,” and parents near their jobs and rent will
Rudman on the displacement of people from north
Rudman said. “Wealth only rise if income does.
and northeast Portland
________
is about assets, not in
Rudman said he is pleased to be a par,
come.”
o f several decades o f evolution in a city
didn’t work from other cities,” he said.
So while revitalization was profitable that clearly strives for social change. His
"The quality o f life here and the com mu for some minorities, for others it resulted next big project is the revitalization o f
nity participation in the planning process in a mass exodus o f low-income inner-city north Portland’s Columbia Villa. Oregon’s
makes the city really neat. Portland is a residents to the suburbs
special place.”
where housing was more
Rudman said the people o f Portland affordable.
seem to have a commitment to living near
Rudman said many
churches, jobs, schools and employment cities would love to have
opportunities. Perhaps more importantly, this problem, but that’s
he said is the desire to accept differences not what Portland wants.
and maintain diverse communities.
“We want people to
"The richness o f a city comes from its have the opportunity to
diversity," Rudman said. "Portland has a live, work and raise a fam
- Housing Authority of Portland Director Steve
true diversity o f income, culture and race." ily,” he said. “All o f a
Rudman
on why Portland Is a unique place to live
But in order to maintain that diversity, sudden what started as
___________
he admits people must have a place to live. a revitalization agenda
With more than 14,000 units serving more became a stabilization agenda, and hous largest public housing project.
than 30,000 low-income people in the ing is a key factor for stability."
"W hat I hope to see is Columbia Villa
county and surrounding areas, HAP tries
Through public housing projects and become a melting pot ofculture," Rudman
its hardest to make sure residents aren’t Section 8 vouchers, the Housing Author said. “Hopefully we will see the integra
displaced by raising housing costs.
ity ensures that options are available for tion o f old and young, rich and poor and
After north and northeast Portland was anyone who needs a place to live.
black and white."
discovered as a strategic location because
Rudman said the Housing Authority
These are exciting tim es, he said.
o f quality-bui It houses and access to trans acts as a safety net not only for the poor, “How this city grow s and evolves will
portation, an area that was traditionally bu, also for those with other barriers like be m ade from the decisions we made
redlined to minorities became a real estate physical disabilities or mental health is to d a y .”
«
What started as a
revitalization agenda
became a
stabilization agenda,
and housing is a key
factor fo r stability.
The richness o f a
city comes from its
diversity.
%
Coco, a chimpanzee,
Dannon, a swamp
monkey and Thelma, a
Southern sea otter are
the finalists for this
year's Zoo Mother of
the Year.
‘s i
Vote for animal
Mother of the Year
encouraged
zoo will announce the 2003 Zoo M otherof
the Year on Friday, May 9.
The zoo is also honoring human moms
with two special events. Mom & Me At The
Zoo, a new event featuring treats for moms
Oregon Zoo would like the public to and special activities for kids will take place
help choose the Zoo Mother o f the on May 4from 10a.m. ,o4p.m. Washington
Year. The finalists for this special honor Mutual Bank branch is offering discount
are Coco, a chimpanzee, Dannon, a tickets for zoo admission. Event activities
swamp monkey and Thelma, a Southern are free with zoo admission.
sea otter. An online
--------------------
M o th e r’s
D ay
ballot featuring pho
Brunch wi 11 be served at
tos o f zoo moms with
the zoo's Cascade Gri 11,
short biographies is
on Sunday, May 11 from
posted on the zoo’s
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The
Web site located a,
brunch buffet includes
www.oregonzoo.org.
se a so n a l fru its, a s
“All three moms are
so rte d
p a s trie s ,
incredibly important to
scrambled eggs, pota
their species, which
toes O ’ Brien, bacon and
—Zoo Director Tony Vecchio
are either threatened
sa u sa g e ,
o m e le ts,
or endangered,” said
F rench to ast, penne
zoo director Tony Vecchio. “Allowing pasta primavera, smoked salmon tortellini,
the public to choose a Zoo Mother o f spinach salad, bay shrimp and cucumber
the Year gives us a chance to educate salad, fresh asparagus, and desserts. Cost
them about the challenges facing these for the brunch is $ 15.95 adults 12 and older
species.”
and $ 7.95 Youth age three to 11 years.
O n-line votes w ill be accepted
Reservations are highly recommended and
through 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. The can be made by calling 503-525-4299.
All three moms
are incredibly
important to their
species, which are
either threatened or
endangered.
New Columbia
Advertise online
for FREE!
www.HousingConnections.org
Fill vacancies faster!
• Display detailed descriptions of your units including maps
showing area amenities, photos and floor plans
• Your lisiting will be viewed by thousands of renters
each week
building new opportunities for
Columbia Villa and North Portland
opportunities
Walsh Construction is serving as the Phase I
Construction Manager-General Contractor
and w ill be issuing bid packages fo r
subcontractors. The first bid package is
scheduled for May 26th and will focus on
deconstruction and dem olition services.
These will likely include asbestos removal,
salvage activities, removal of selected trees,
and other demolition services.
easy to use and lets you control how your property is listed.
For more info contact:
Walsh Construction (503) 222-4375
and/or
the Contractor Support Program,
Housing Development Center
(503) 335-3668 for assistance in
proposal development
Housing Connections is an effective way to reach renters with
(J o in .
With www.HousingConnections.org you can advertise your
properties online for FREE and fill vacancies! Our service is
in .
t k e
p U n n in ^
free listings of your properties and it is easy to establish an
account. Simply visit the site and select the menu tab for
landlords or call 503.823.4141.
Start listing your units now:
Visit the site at www.housingconnections.org
Call 503.823.4141
E-mail staff@housingconnections.org
Each month, Saturday Design Workshops,
Community Advisory Committee meetings
and Neighbors Task Force discussions are
open to the public. For more information,
please check the New Columbia website at
www. hapdx. org/newcolum bia
or call Andre Jackson,
Community Participation Manager
(503) 802-8424
H A P
HOUSING AUTHORITY Of PORTLAND