Page A 6
^ortlanh ©bseruer
April 07. 2004
After Hours Emergency Numbers in Multnomah County
City o f Portland/Multnomah County Information and Referral............... 5O3-823-4OÖO
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Police Non Emergency...............................................................................503-823-3333
Mental Health 24 Hour Crisis................................................................... 503-988-4888
Aging and Disability Services 24 Hour Help Line................................... 503-988-3646
Winter Shelter Line.................................................................................... 503-721-1500
Alcohol and Drug Help Line..................................................................... 503-244-1312
City Agency Offers
Home Repair Loans
Statewide Toll Free................................................................................1-800-923-HELP
Animal Services..............................................................................503-988-7387 (Pets)
United Way................................................................................................. 503-228-9131
Central City Concern.................................................................................503-294-1681
Multnomah County Circuit Courts........................................................... 503-988-3957
Sheriff’s Office...........................................................................................503-988-4300
Multnomah County Emergency Management......................................... 503-988-4233
Transportation Hotline...............................................................................503-988-4884
City of Gresham.................................................................. 503-618-CIT Y (618-2489)
Health Department Information & Referral (Daytime Only)....................503-988-3816
Multnomah County After Hours Nurse Triage (Bilingual-Spanish).........503-988-3333
Juvenile Justice After Hours Line............................................................. 503-988-3475
Adult Community Justice After Hours line...............................................503-988-3230
Child Abuse Reporting Line....................................................................503-731-3100
American Red Cross................................................................................ 503-284-1234
Domestic Violence Services: Women’s Crisis Line (translationavailable) 503-235-5333
Bradley-Angle House...............................................................................503-281 -2442
Volunteers of America.............................................................................. 503-232-6562
Salvation Army West Women & Children Shelter...................................503-244-7718
Yolanda House.......................................................................................... 503-977-7930
(The numbers above are provided as a public service from The Portland Observer)
**A II classes are free of chargel
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I
African American Health Coalition, Inc.
■r A \
Presents for your health,
Wellness W ithin REACH Activity Calendar
Aerobics
Mallory Ave. Christian Church
Pilate?
M att Dishman
Mon, Wed. Fri, 6-7am , Pierce • 5:30-6:20pm ,
Granville • 6:30-7:30pm , Nickerson
Mon, 12:15-1 ;l5pm , Jenkins
Low Impact Aerobics
Daniel’s Memorial Church
W ate r Aerobics (Contact AAHC )
Salvation Arm y
M att Dishman
Sat, 12:30pm , Woods
W eight Mgnt./Conditioning
U. of Portland Indoor Track
African Dance
M att Dishman
Tue, Thu. 9 - 1 Oam, Hasan
Sat, 10-1 lam , Addo
Yoga
W ild Oats Market
Body Conditioning
W ild Oats Market
Tue, Thu, 7:30-8:30pm , O’Rourke
Humboldt Elementary. 4915 N Gantenbein
Mallory Avenue Christian Church (Gym), 126 NE
Alberta
Matt Dishman. 77 NE Knott
Peninsula Park. 700 N Portland
Salvation Army. 5325 N W illiams
“ Must be 21 or older to participate. Please contact AAHC before showing up to the first class and for
more information at 5O3-4I3-I8SO or kdempsey@aahc-portfand.org. Please receive approval from your
doctor before beginning exercise class.
f
'
” dB
Sponsor«! by the Centers tor Disease Control and Prevention (COC)
Contact AAHC at 503-413-1850 or visit our web «te at www ju h e -porriand.org
Advertise with diversity in “
of race and national origin is al­
leged in more than 50 percent of the
complaints received by HUD and
the state and local agencies it funds
through the Fair Housing Assis­
tance Program. D iscrim ination
based on disability accounted for
39 percent of the complaints.
HUD is the nation's housing
agency com m itted to increasing
h o m e o w n e rsh ip , p a rtic u la rly
among minorities; creating afford­
able housing opportunities for
low-income Americans; and sup-
— HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson
U. of Portland Indoor Track, S00 N W illam ette
Wild Oats Market. 3535 NE 15th
R acial and Ethnic Approach«« to Com m unity H e a lt h
A Ptinjrnm ot Ihn Atrtcan A r m o n Health Coalition, Inc
Secretary Alphonso Jackson.
In fiscal year 2003, individuals
tiled nearly 8, l(X) discrimination
complaints with HUD and its part­
ner agencies in states and locali­
ties. However, thecomplaintscom-
H ousing d isc rim in a tio n is prise only a small percentage of
underreported by victims, accord­ actual incidences of housing-re­
ing to HUD on the 36,h anniversary lated discrimination. HUDresearch
of the Fair Housing Act.
suggests that more than 80 percent
The Act. established by Con­ of people discriminated against fail
gress in 1968, prohibits discrimina­ to report the incident.
tion in the financing, rental, sale or
"The apparent reasons for this
financing of any dwelling based on inaction are not complicated,” said
HUD and our partners are
determined to ensure fair housing
for all, especially minorities and
persons with disabilities.
Sat, 9 :3 0 -10:30am, Nickerson
Daniel’s Memorial Church. 1234 NE Killingsworth
(12th S Killingsworth)
The whole idea o f the
program is to help people
maintain their properties and
stay in their homes.
Victims often
don't report
violations
Tue, Thu, 6-7pm . Keller
Walking Group
Peninsula Park
Program serves
minority and
low income
residents
Discrimination Hurts Housing Equality
Humboldt Elementary
Tue, 7:15-8:15pm, Granville
gram s through local lenders. PDC electrical repairs. However, the
offers a very low interest rate agency also offers as much as
with no or low monthly payments, $ 10,000 for larger projects such
depending on an applicant’s in­ as a new roof or furnace.
com e level.
A nother benefit of PD C ’s pro­
Rita
In addition, PDC can deter­ grams is that the agency provides
McCain-
mine whether a hom eow ner is eli­ construction specialists who ad­
Walker
gible for its loan program s by vise hom eow ners as they carry
telephone. The turnaround time out im provem ent projects. This
varies, but it generally takes an ensures the work is done by quali­
average o f five to six weeks to fied contractors at the low est
close on a loan from the time prices.
hom eow ners make their initial
“We make sure the work is
phone call. If a hom eow ner does done properly, the c o n tracto r
not qualify for PDC assistance, gets paid properly and the money
the agency often can refer them goes back into the property,”
to other resources.
Gaines said.
Money for those much-needed
home im provem ent projects may
be just a phone call away, thanks
to a loan p rogram a v a ila b le
through the Portland D evelop­
ment Commission (PDC).
The Home Repair Loan Pro­
gram provides financing for a
variety of projects, including elec­
trical and plum bing repairs, roof
and furnace upgrades, and re­
- Rita McCain-Walkerof the Portland Development Commission
pairs to hazardous porches, stairs
and broken sewer connections.
PDC also provides funds to make
Some people may balk at loan
Since 1958, PDC has helped
houses accessible for people with assistance because they consider nearly 14,(MX) homeowners in Port­
disabilities.
it a handout, said Phyliss Gaines, a land maintain and im prove their
The program helps minority loan originator/processor for PDC. hom es. As the c ity 's housing
homeowners and those on lim ­ However, PD C's programs require agency, PDC has a vested inter­
ited incomes improve the safety eventual repayment for projects est in m aintaining healthy and
and com fort o f their homes. It that many financially struggling vibrant neighborhoods.
also ensures property is in good households otherwise cannot af­
"W e want to help m aintain,
condition in the years ahead.
ford because they are simply trying properties and neighborhoods,.’
'The whole idea o f the pro­ to make ends meet, she said.
not just for current occupants.*
gram is to help people maintain
“They have to pay it back, so but for the next generation and
their properties and stay in their it’s not a handout. They do n ’t do the things that will make the
h o m e s ,” said R ita M cC ain - have to pay it back right away, com m unity even more livable,”
W alker, hom eow nership coordi­ but they do pay it back when they Gaines said.
nator for PDC. "We want to make no longer occupy the hom e,”
For more inform ation about
people aware that we have funds G aines said. “The property is the PD C 's Home Repair Loan Pro­
available and we can help.”
last thing that gets attention when gram, as well as program s that
The program is one o f several you are just trying to feed your­ h e lp
new
an d
e x is tin g
a v a ila b le
th ro u g h
PD C . self and your fam ily.”
h o m e o w n e rs and f ir s t- tim e
Homeowners may find it easier to
PDC loans typically are for hom ebuyers renovate and im ­
qualify for the agency’s special $5,000or less and used for smaller prove their homes, call its Home
finance program s than for pro­ projects such as plum bing and Services Hotline at 503-823-3400.
race, color, religion, sex, or national
origin. In 1988, amendments were
added to prohibit discrimination
based on disability or families with
children. Alleged violations of the
Act are investigated by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development, state and city agen­
cies working with HUDand private
fair housing groups that receive
HUD funds.
"HUD and our partners are de­
termined to ensure fair housing for
all. especially minorities and per­
sons with disabilities," said HUD
Carolyn Peoples. HUD assistant
secretary forfair housing and equal
opportunity. "Far too many Ameri­
cans still do not know where to turn
lor help when they do experience
discrimination. Others have trouble
recognizing discrimination when it
occurs.”
HUD studies confirm that Afri­
can Americans, Hispanics, Asians/
Pacific Islanders and Native Ameri­
cans often receive less favorable
treatment than similarly qualified
whites when attempting to buy or
rent homes. Discrimination because
porting the hom eless, elderly,
peo p le w ith d is a b ilitie s and
people living with AIDS. The De­
partment also promotes economic
and com m unity developm ent as
well as enforces the nation’s fair
housing laws. More inform ation
about HUD and its program s is
a v a ila b le on the In te rn e t at
w w w .h u d .g o v
and
e sp a n o l.h u d .g o v . People who
believe th ey ’ve been harm ed by
housing discrim ination can file
com plaints with HUD by calling
I -800-669-9777 or on the Internet.
JJnrtlattit (lOliBCrUer call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.ccom