Director's Message
October 15, 2009
To: Employees and Partners of Oregon Housing and
Community Services
From:
Victor Merced
Re: Director’s Bulletin
- Housing Opportunity Forums Conclude: Rules Next
- Rick Crager: Oregon Opportunity Network “Housing Hero”
- Sen. Merkley Pushes Affordable Housing
- Oregon Reports
Recovery Act Outcomes
- Horizon Co-Op: A Manufactured Housing First
- Furlough Friday
 
Housing Opportunity Forums Conclude: Rules Next
Affordable housing advocates, who lobbied House Bill 2436 through the Oregon Legislature, debated details of the legislation during the fifth and final Housing Opportunity Bill Forum on Friday, Oct. 9, in Salem.
Oregon Housing and Community Services has heard from advocates across the state on its proposals to implement the new Housing Opportunity Bill, which passed earlier this year.
Please find the notes from the five meetings – in Roseburg, Bend, Pendleton, Portland and Salem – here.
OHCS Deputy Director Rick Crager closed the Salem meeting, saying: “This is the end of the forums, but it doesn’t mean we’re through talking, listening.”
Now that the forums are complete, OHCS is writing administrative rules, which will be released in early November, followed by a comment period and a hearing on Nov. 23.
The Housing Opportunity Bill established the document recording fee in Oregon, estimated to bring some $15 million to OHCS for affordable housing during the current biennium and more than $26 million in the next biennium.
 
Rick Crager: Oregon Opportunity Network “Housing Hero”
Oregon ON named OHCS Deputy Director Rick Crager a “2009 Housing Hero” during its annual banquet, Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Others receiving the award from the housing advocacy group were Phil Donovan of NW Public Affairs and Janet Byrd of the Oregon Housing Alliance.
Oregon ON is the Oregon Opportunity Network, a statewide association of 38 nonprofit community development organizations.
Its Executive Director Michael Anderson extolled the leadership provided by Crager in gaining passage of key legislation that will contribute to the wellbeing of hardworking Oregonians and those with special needs:
“Rick’s dedication and hard work were essential to our victory with the document recording fee. He exemplifies the best in public service. Oregon ON was proud to honor him at our banquet.”
Keynote speaker State Rep. David Edwards of Hillsboro also recognized Crager and the community of housing advocates, many of whom were in the audience:
“You, the people who work daily to alleviate poverty and homelessness, you are the people who make every day miracles. You are the people who make Oregon what it is.”
Allow me to suggest that Rick along with Rep. Edwards and housing advocates across the state are all Housing Heroes to the deserving Oregonians we serve.
Sen. Merkley Pushes Affordable Housing
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley made it clear at a Portland reception Monday evening, Oct. 12, that he is committed to continuing to advance affordable housing legislation and policies for all Americans.
The reception was sponsored by the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing, a statewide nonprofit corporation that provides financing and technical assistance for affordable housing preservation and development.
I, along with others at the event, took the opportunity to congratulate our state's newest U.S. senator for his housing advocacy.
I was reminded while conversing with Sen. Merkley that his advisor Will White has delivered significant political clout on behalf of the affordable housing community.
Before joining the senator’s office, White was director of Portland Housing and Community Development. White’s long experience translates to a potent force in the struggle to supply housing to vulnerable Americans.
White is helping frame Sen. Merkley’s affordable housing agenda, working closely with the new leadership at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand programs.
And White is a leading advocate of using “residual receipts” for preservation projects. Accordingly, he was instrumental in crafting corresponding legislation introduced by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and cosponsored by Sen. Merkley.
It would capture surplus subsidy payments to Section 8 projects from HUD and redirect the funds to the preservation of federally supported multifamily housing. The potential preservation benefit in Oregon: $9 million.
Oregon Reports Recovery Act Outcomes
The Governor’s Economic Recovery Executive Team on Monday, Oct. 12, touted the importance of jobs created when it delivered to the public the first round of the state’s Recovery Act data.
Governor Ted Kulongoski told reporters the $3.9 billion in federal money coming to Oregon over three years is vital to stimulate our economy.
“This investment in states across the nation represents not only an unprecedented infusion of dollars to the state and local economies,” Governor Kulongoski said. “It also represents an unprecedented level of public transparency and accountability for how those dollars are invested.”
Thus far, $1 billion already spent in Oregon has created some 8,000 jobs, Governor Kulongoski said.
Deputy Chief of Staff Brian Shipley, a member of the Governor’s Economic Recovery Executive Team, noted in the Oregonian’s “The Stump” that the Recovery Act has created thousands of jobs in Oregon so far.
He went on to say it will “create and sustain the equivalent of more than 30,000 full-time jobs in Oregon for two years.” See Shipley’s entire comment.
 Horizon Co-Op: A Manufactured Housing First
A once down-at-the-heels trailer park in McMinnville has been reborn as Oregon’s first manufactured housing co-op of its kind in the state. This is due in large part to the work of affordable housing developer CASA of Oregon.
The opening ceremony Saturday, Oct. 10, elevated Horizon Homeowners Cooperative, the former Victor Manor, to the state’s first resident-owned community using the newly-established nonprofit, limited-equity cooperative model. It enables members to purchase, operate and maintain their own manufactured housing communities.
Horizon has 30 spaces and infrastructure improvements, including underground utility lines, driveways, sidewalks, lighting and a park.
“After many months of hard work,” said CASA Executive Director Peter Hainley, “We’ve seen a transformation into what is now a beautiful community filled with members who manage day-to-day operations and make critical decisions about their collective futures.”
CASA worked with Oregon Housing and Community Services to write legislation to allow such cooperatives to form. CASA and Shorebank, along with OHCS, provided financing.
OHCS Housing Division Administrator Bob Gillespie applauded the assembled Horizon residents for having the courage to create the cooperative: “It will be a great place to raise families and to thrive. The best part is: You can control your own future.”
 Furlough Friday
Oregon Housing and Community Services offices will be closed Friday,
Oct. 16.
In response to the recession and reduced state revenues, this is the first of 10 mandatory, unpaid furlough days that employees must take during the state’s current two-year budget period. The furlough applies to most offices and buildings of state government.
Tenants of Section 8 projects can still reach our tenant safety hotline on Friday: 1-800-453-5511
Learn more by going to the OHCS Web site.
For information that includes a list of agencies that will be closed and open, click here.
We at OHCS look forward to seeing you and serving you when we return on Monday, Oct. 19.
Nothing and no one stands alone. The humblest person has infinite connections. We are joined by a shared origin, each existing for all and all for each. ~ Rep. David Edwards of Hillsboro
Victor Merced, Director
Phone 503.986.2005
Email: victor.merced@hcs.state.or.us
www.ohcs.oregon.gov
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