January 14, 2013 

In October, we were proud to celebrate achieving our 1,000 Gardens goal!

One of the last completed gardens was the NE 72^nd Avenue Community Garden in the Cully neighborhood.  Nick was proud to join Verde, the Let Us Build Cully Park! Coalition and Portland Parks & Recreation staff to celebrate the important milestone.

The garden is the starting point of a brand new park that’s in the works for the Cully neighborhood.

The Let Us Build Cully Park! Coalition is a coalition of 17 community service organizations that focus on economic, environmental and social benefit to the community. The garden is just one step in their journey.

Enjoy this moving video that shares the project’s story.

January 15, 2013

Join Portland Parks & Recreation and our partners for a morning of removing invasive plants along the Springwater Corridor Trail.

The Springwater Corridor is a multi-use trail, and part of the 40-Mile Loop which was inspired by the 1903 Olmsted Plan. The vision was to have a parkway and boulevard loop to connect park sites. Most of the wildlife found along the Corridor are those species capable of co-existing with humans.

After enough invasive weeds are removed, we will be able to spread native wildflower seed to create a more colorful, more diverse, and healthier green space!

Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and be ready to get you hands dirty. PP&R will provide gloves, tools, and snacks; you bring a smile and a friend. For more information, contact Marissa Dorais at (503) 823-7016.

Sellwood Gap Clean-up: Springwater Corridor Trail

Sunday, January 20

10 am - 1 pm

Meet at SMILE's "Golf Links Park" located at the south end of SE 13th Ave adjacent to the Springwater Corridor.

January 15, 2013

On Sunday March 24, Portland International Raceway becomes a classroom for safe driving.

The Sports Car Club of America, Oregon Region is hosting a “Tire Rack Street Surviving” driving school.

The one-day event places students in real life emergency situations, with an experienced driver in the passenger seat to provide instant feedback. The class teaches students how to be prepared, providing valuable lessons and techniques for safe driving.

Licensed drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 are welcome to come. Each student must provide their own vehicle in good working condition, and provide proof of insurance for the class.

Stay safe, and stay alive with the helpful tools given in this informative and important event!  For more information, visit the Street Survival website.

Tire Rack Street Survival Teen Defense Driving Class

March 24, 2013

$75

8:30 am - 4:30 pm Portland International Raceway

January 16, 2013

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East has reached their $12 million fundraising goal!

Habitat works to create successful homeownership by partnering hardworking families in need with the community to build healthy, affordable homes.

Their fundraising campaign, “A World of Hope: It Starts at Home,” is the first campaign our local Habitat has done since it was founded in 1981. A World of Hope began a little over a year ago, when landowners were looking to sell off land during the housing market’s downturn. Habitat for Humanity saw this as a great opportunity to bank some land, and create new homes for families in our community.

The large plots purchased can fit 30-40 homes each - instead of the one or two homes on the land that Habitat for Humanity usually has to work with. Homebuyers can purchase a Habitat home with a zero percent interest loan.

To qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home, families must make 30 to 60 percent of the median household income ($20,800 to $41,640 for a family of four).  Homeowners must make payments on time, and put in 500 hours of “sweat equity” on Habitat construction sites.

Through their homeownership programs, Habitat for Humanity supports entire communities, helping them grow and thrive.

Altogether, Habitat expects to build 150 homes for families with the total land purchased.

Habitat for Humanity plans to ramp up house production in Multnomah County after completing its $12 million fundraising campaign

Anneli Tostar special to The Oregonian

January 16, 2013

The Portland Housing Bureau is proud to work with mission-driven community partners to remove barriers to housing choice in our community.

This year, we will work with the legislature to enact Section 8 reform, contract for a new round of Fair Housing testing, and continue to help our veterans utilize their VASH vouchers.

Our work was recently highlighted by The Oregonian:

City to test anew for housing bias

Brad Schmidt in The Oregonian

Getting it right in testing for discrimination against Portland renters

The Oregonian Editorial Board

For more information on Fair Housing in Portland, including our Fair Housing Action Plan, please visit the Portland Housing Bureau website.