Implementing the Housing Opportunity Bill
August 10, 2009

To: Employees and Partners of Oregon Housing and Community Services

From: Rick Crager, Deputy Director

Re: Implementation of HB 2436, the Housing Opportunity Bill

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Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the coalition of affordable housing advocates, the 2009 Legislature passed House Bill 2436, the Housing Opportunity Bill, which provides a dedicated source of revenue to Oregon Housing and Community Services.

OHCS will seek to address the state’s most pressing housing needs with these resources. We’re looking to our partners to help us develop the best possible systems and strategies for allocating the new resources and achieving the goals of the bill.

Some background.
HB 2436 increases the recording fee for certain real property documents by $15 and will provide an estimated $15.1 million in revenues during the 2009-2011 biennium.

As directed by this legislation, the new revenue will flow into three accounts of the Oregon Housing Fund:

• Emergency Housing Account (EHA), $1.5 million. OHCS currently administers EHA to assist people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. These funds are allocated through community action agencies for a variety of community-based strategies used for addressing local homelessness issues.
  
  
• Home Ownership Assistance Account (HOAP), $2.1 million. HOAP is used to expand homeownership for low- and very low-income families. HOAP resources have traditionally supported activities such as down payment assistance, education and outreach, and housing rehabilitation. In addition to its existing mandates, the Housing Opportunity Bill calls for HOAP to support a comprehensive strategy to reverse the decreasing rates of homeownership amongst minority populations.
  
  
• General Housing Account (GHAP), $11.5 million.  Funding for the newly established GHAP will support construction and rehabilitation of affordable multifamily housing, as well as support for external partners in building organizational capacity to deliver affordable housing across the state.

Making choices
The need for affordable housing continues to exceed available resources. Too many Oregonians pay more than they can afford for rent. During the 2009 one-night count, OHCS and its partners identified 37 percent more people experiencing homelessness than in 2008. More families face unemployment. Oregon ranks third hungriest among the states. The rate of homes entering foreclosure is on the rise.

The choices Oregon makes about how to invest the new resources available through the Housing Opportunity Bill must respond to these conditions and craft long-term solutions.

Developing the best policy for Oregon
We want to hear from a wide range of partners about how to take full advantage of the Housing Opportunity Bill. Our focus will be on presenting strategies and ideas within the three areas mentioned above, and organizing a discussion that will address the following:

• What was the Legislature’s intent in crafting and passing the Housing Opportunity Bill?
• What are the specific requirements of the statute?
• What do we want to achieve within that framework?
• What is the best response to current needs? Continue past practices and old priorities? Develop new priorities more reflective of current conditions?
• How do we know when we accomplish goals?
• What is the most efficient distribution of resources to achieve our goals?
• What is the most equitable distribution of resources?

Two ways to participate
Before we enter the formal rulemaking process, we want to hear from voices across Oregon, particularly those groups and individuals who don’t have access to state government policymakers.

OHCS will hold a series of meetings across the state in late September to gather stakeholders, advocates and providers in a conversation about how to best meet the needs of low-income Oregonians for housing and services.

Please mark your calendar for the meeting closest to you (actual meeting sites and times to be determined):

• Monday, September 21, Roseburg
• Wednesday, September 23, Bend
• Thursday, September 24, Pendleton
• Monday, September 28, Portland

In addition, we invite you to share written feedback. Send your email or letter to:

Lisa Joyce
Director of Policy and Communication
Oregon Housing and Community Services
725 Summer St NE, Suite B
Salem OR 97301
lisa.joyce@state.or.us
503.986.0951

You will have another opportunity to comment when OHCS begins the formal rulemaking process. We plan to complete this process in time for the first deposit of resources scheduled for January 1, 2010. 

OHCS will provide more specific information in the next few weeks regarding these scheduled meetings. In the meantime, we welcome your feedback and questions, and invite you to share your thoughts.

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