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March 29. 2006
Page A5
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Portland advocates for affordable housing make demands on local political leaders. The downtown
rally was held last summer.
Campaign for Affordable Housing
Questioning
benefits from
urban renewal
by S arah B lount
T he P ortland O bserver
The P ortland D evelopm ent
C o m m issio n 's urban renew al
projects, like the new South W ater
front, enhance Portland’s image,
but living in an urban renewal area
isn 't an option for many low-in
come adults, seniors and people
with disabilities.
Housing advocates at Afford
able Housing Now believe PDC
urban renewal projects are out of
touch with the city’s priorities to
create affordable renting, end
h o m e le ssn e ss and clo se the
homeowner’s gap.
“We don’t need public money
for high-end condos for doctors,”
said Michael Anderson, a member
of the group. “We need housing for
nurses, coffee baristas and people
not earning top dollars."
According to Affordable Hous
ing Now, approximately 13 to 15
percent of urban renewal funds over
recent years fall in line with the
city’s affordable housing goals; the
group suggests 30 percent go to
ward those goals, with an emphasis
on residents who earn 80 percent or
below the median family income.
The advocates stressed that with
a city budget shortfall of $6.4 mil
lion and crucial housing problems
for low-income residents, public
m oney fo r high-end housing
doesn’t make sense.
In addition, the federal govern
ment has made cuts in local hous
ing programs, and $6.6 million is
needed just to break even for the
city’s housing budget, the advo-
catesclaim.
Affordable Housing Now has
pushed through a housing invest
ment fund, with a plan for the city to
match its $30 million commitment.
So far, the group has secured $ 13
million from the city’s general fund
and is hoping for the remaining $ 17
million in the next four years.
The group is also working with
another advocacy organization
Stand For Children, to come up with
a joint proposal that would find
needed funding for schools and
housing. Affordable Housing Now
said it recognizes the link between
a child’s stable home life and their
ability to excel in school. They are
working with Stand for Children to
secure funding for the housing and
schools budget this year.
“When kids move around a lot
their grades suffer," Anderson said.
“Studies show when a student
moves three or more times during
elementary, they fall over a year
behind in reading scores. In eighth
grade, they’re four times more likely
to drop out of school."
A nderson said the city c o u n
cil is w eighing tough decisions
on many priorities that need city
fu n d in g .
“We hope that council’s sup
port of housing as a core commu
nity need will guide them as they
make their decisions on the hous
ing investment fund and urban re
newal form."
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An artist's drawing o f the skyscraper condos coming to
Portland's new South Waterfront District. Advocates for low-
income and senior adults say they won't create affordable living.
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