Partners
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
Oregon Housing and Community Services Department is Oregon’s housing finance agency. It provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of lower and moderate income.OHCS administers federal and state programs for antipoverty, homeless, energy assistance and community service. The Department administers federal and state tax credit programs and other programs which provide funding for affordable housing development across the state.
In 2007, under the leadership of OHCS and in collaboration with affordable housing industry leaders statewide, the Oregon Housing Acquisition Project (OHAP) was created. OHAP’s mission is to align statewide resources to maximize the number of federally subsidized properties preserved throughout Oregon. OHCS was an early supporter of the program, and in 2009 contributed $2 million towards the capitalization of the Oregon Housing Acquisition Fund.
Since 2008, nearly 1,000 units of subsidized housing have been preserved and renovated with Department resources. Through the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), the Department created a set-aside of funding specifically for preservation projects.
Source: January 2009 Report on Oregon Housing Needs
Visit: www.oregon.gov/OHCS
Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH)
Network for Oregon Affordable Housing is a nonprofit consortium of Oregon banks created to facilitate the development and preservation of affordable housing statewide. NOAH provides financing expertise and resources to the development community.
Under the leadership of the Oregon Bankers Association, NOAH was formed in 1990 to share the risk perceived to be unique to funding affordable housing at the time. NOAH finances a wide range of housing developments, including new construction and renovated properties. NOAH is the administrator for the Oregon Housing Acquisition Project. It houses their staff; manages the grants; and underwrites all loans funded by the Project.
Visit: www.noah-housing.org
Enterprise Community Partners
Entperise is a national nonprofit intermediary. Its mission is to see that all low-income people in the United States have the opportunity for suitable, affordable housing and the ability to move up and out of poverty into the mainstream of American life.
Enterprise manages OHAP’s Green Pilot Program. Some projects may also qualify for Enterprise’s own Green Community Initiative funding as well.
Visit: www.enterprisecommunity.org
Neighborhood Partnerships
Neighborhood Partnerships’ innovative leadership and resources support the creation of affordable homes, healthy communities, and economic opportunities for low-income Oregonians. Underlying all of their strategic goals is a commitment to work to maximize resources for affordable housing development and community development, in order to best support the work of partner organizations.
Visit: www.neighborhoodpartnerships.org
Neighborhood Partnerships supports Oregon Housing Acquisition Project work by maintaining the Database of Preservation Properties.
Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT)
Formed in 1996, the Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT) is Oregon’s only statewide, grassroots, tenant-controlled, tenant-rights organization. CAT educates, organizes and develops the leadership of low-income tenants to directly challenge unjust housing policies and practices. Their mission is to educate and empower tenants to demand affordable, stable and safe rental homes. They address the impact Oregon’s decreasing supply of decent, affordable housing and absence of meaningful tenant protections has on low-income tenants.
CAT’s role with OHAP is to provide resident education and outreach services, primarily in situations where owners elected to opt-out of their subsidy contracts. By tracking what happens to residents in buildings that lose their affordability restrictions, OHAP can more effectively assess the impact these subsidies have on real people.
Visit CAT at: oregoncat.org
RENTERS’ RIGHTS HOTLINE: 503-288-0130
Bureau of Housing & Community Development (BHCD)
The Bureau of Housing & Community Development (BHCD) works on behalf of Portland’s low-income households to broaden access to stable housing and economic advancement. It ensures that local and federal funds are used effectively, efficiently and in full compliance with rules, regulations and guidelines of funders.
BHCD’s mission is to make Portland a more livable city for all by bringing low-income people and community resources together. In addition to its traditional role as steward of public funds, the Bureau deliberately seeks to catalyze positive change by building partnerships; leveraging new resources for key initiatives; and providing forward-looking leadership.
The city of Portland is greatly affected by the preservation issue. By 2013 HUD Section 8 contracts, covering 12 buildings with a total of 950 affordable units, will have expired. Recognizing this potential crisis, the Bureau was one of the initial collaborators with OHCS on the development of strategies to address the preservation subsidized housing. The City has adopted a Preservation Work Plan that calls for the Bureau to actively seek out partnerships with property owners, lending institutions, non-profit housing providers, and other government entities to accomplish the goal of preserving as many preservation properties within the City as possible.
Visit BHCD at: www.portlandonline.com/bhcd/