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N/NE HOUSING STRATEGY: OCTOBER UPDATE
WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH:
COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Thank you to everyone who attended the Community Oversight Committee meeting on October 6 at Maranatha Church. Nearly 100 community members came to learn more about homeownership programs planned for N/NE residents and new funding for rental housing development in the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area (click to see a map).
Many of you who came expressed an interest in learning more about what homeownership resources and opportunities are available for you, and your friends, family, and neighbors:
  • The annual African American Alliance for Homeownership fair is Saturday, October 24 from 10am - 3pm in the Legacy Emanual Hospital Atrium. Click here for more information.

  • Habitat for Humanity is hosting an application workshop tonight, from 5 - 8pm at their office (1478 NE Killingsworth St). You can also pick up an application and get more information during regular business hours — but you'll need to act fast! The current application period ends Friday, October 16. For more information, contact Reianna DaRosa at reianna@habitatportlandmetro.org or watch this short video and download the online application.

  • Find out more about our community partners here.

The next Community Oversight Committee meeting is December 15. Time and location TBA. 
N/NE HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS
Since August, 10 longtime homeowners in N/NE Portland have received our home repair loans (up to $40,000 each); another 43 households each received $10,000 home repair grants. Approximately 70% of these 53 N/NE Portland households served are African American and have lived in their homes for more than 25 years.
We have requested $500,000 from the City budget to assist an additional 50 N/NE Portland households repair and retain their homes. We will find out in November if we received the extra funding.
Home repair programs are still available for homeowners living inside the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area. Contact Bev Keagbine at 503-823-3336 to learn more.
RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND NEW FUNDING
New affordable housing that will give priority to historic residents of the N/NE community is moving forward. The development team for the project — currently known as "Grant Warehouse" — is beginning work on design options, determining what size apartments they can achieve and how many.  The team is eager to have a design concept ready to share with the community by the end of year, and they look forward to hearing your feedback.
New funding has become available for more affordable housing in N/NE Portland. In addition to the $20 million dedicated to the N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy, another $6.5 million will go toward developing new affordable apartment housing. Two sites owned by the City of Portland and Multnomah County have been made available for redevelopment with these extra funds. Like Grant Warehouse, these projects will focus on the community priorities shared with us by hundreds of longtime residents.
The two sites are:
  • King Parks: 6431-6445 NE Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd (City of Portland)
  • North Williams Center: 2124 N. Williams Ave (Multnomah County)

We will begin seeking project proposals at the end of October, and begin selection  in early 2016. We will continue to provide updates as the process moves forward.
HOMELESS SERVICES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS
This week, City Council approved new investments in culturally specific services to reduce homelessness among African Americans. A new pilot project with the Urban League of Portland will begin serving households this week, with a goal of serving 50 households by July 2016. 

The 2015 homeless count identified a major disparity in the number of African-Americans experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County. Since 2013, the number of African Americans sleeping on the streets increased 48%. Through this new partnership with the Urban League, the Portland Housing Bureau hopes to grow the City’s investment in culturally specific homeless services in the next year. 
Questions? Comments?
Contact us at NNEstrategy@Portlandoregon.gov  •  (503) 823-1190
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