Affordable Housing
Portland Housing Center
HUD 2
continued from page 12
roll for the first time in his life.”
She said that her depression “feels like it’s gone” and she
is no longer on disability.
“My new environment has motivated me to want some-
thing better for my kids and myself,” Oliver said. “I was
able to find work as a patient home care technician and I’ve
gone back to school, at Anne Arundel Community College,
to become a drug and alcohol counselor. I chose this pro-
fession because I think that it is important to give back to
communities that are less fortunate. This is what motivated
me to join the board of the Baltimore Regional Housing
Partnership, the organization that is responsible for the
Thompson voucher mobility program.
“My hope is that other families will have the same oppor-
tunities that I have been given to reach for a better life. I
would like to say thank you to Secretary Donovan and
everyone at HUD who worked to make the Thompson pro-
gram possible.”
****
Michelle Green lives in Baltimore County. She said the
Thompson settlement “may have saved my sons’ lives.”
She has four boys. She lived with her oldest son in public
housing in Lexington Terrace and many of her family mem-
bers lived in the same neighborhood.
“My sister and I often worried about our sons,” she said.
“We understood how difficult it is for decent boys who are
trying to do the right thing to avoid violence in the neigh-
borhood. Unfortunately, our fears were realized in the worst
F
or over 20 years, the Portland Housing Center has
been a trusted non-profit advisor to first-time home
buyers in the Portland metropolitan area. Portland
Housing Center provides debt and credit counseling,
financial fitness and home buying classes, down payment
assistance programs, and affordable fixed rate mortgage
products. Since its creation, Portland Housing Center has
helped more than 6,000 households purchase their first
home.
See HUD 3 on page 14
Reach
Westshore
S
ince 1982, REACH has pioneered affordable housing
and supportive programs that address complex chal-
lenges facing communities across the greater
Portland, Oregon metropolitan region. REACH has gained
local, state and national acclaim for innovation and respon-
siveness to difficult urban issues. Our work began with
revitalization efforts in the neighborhoods of inner South-
east Portland, where we bought and renovated single family
homes. Today, our portfolio of 1,607 units includes new
and renovated plexes, apartment buildings and mixed-use
developments located in neighborhoods across Portland.
REACH’s properties are located around the city with
many in the inner Southeast area of Portland. Properties are
also located in North, Northeast, Northwest, downtown
Portland and Hillsboro. REACH does not provide rental
assistance. We are a nonprofit property management com-
pany. We own and manage affordable and low-income
housing. In addition to building and maintaining affordable
housing, REACH offers several programs to help our resi-
dents stay in their housing, raise their standard of living,
and connect to local resources and opportunities.
If you’re interested in renting housing from REACH,
please visit our website, http://reachcdc.org and click on
“Search Homes.” You’ll find vacancy information, loca-
tions, eligibility criteria and “Frequently Asked
Questions.” Contact us at (503) 231-0682 with any ques-
tions.
April 24, 2013 The Portland Skanner Page 13