Mayor Wheeler and the Portland Housing Bureau unveiled nine new Bond projects today, coupled with the announcement that the number of new units moving into development now meet—and in some cases exceed—all of the goals set forth under Portland’s Housing Bond.

In 2016, voters approved the bond measure dedicating $258.4 million to create 1,300 units of permanently affordable housing. The nine projects announced today join two other projects that are already open and one currently in development for a total of 1,424 units of bond-funded housing complete or in progress across the city – exceeding the overall goal for the funding by more than 100 units.

“Portland voters passed our city’s first-ever affordable housing bond because, as Portlanders, we share the belief that we all deserve a healthy, safe and affordable place to live and to call home,” Mayor Wheeler said. “Meeting these goals and delivering on our promise to voters reflects our collective resolve and commitment to addressing the needs of Portlanders most impacted by the housing affordability crisis.”

With the addition of these projects to the pipeline, the City is also set to meet or exceed its commitments to ensure that 650 of the units would provide family-size housing, 600 would be affordable to households below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), and 300 would provide Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for chronically homeless individuals and those with disabilities.

The new projects were selected through the Bond Opportunity Solicitation (BOS), released by the Housing Bureau in April. Utilizing new authority to leverage public-private partnerships from a 2018 constitutional amendment, the BOS marked the first time private and non-profit entities have had the opportunity to bid for project funding from Portland’s Housing Bond.

The total funding awarded from the BOS includes $115.3 million from Portland’s Housing Bond, as well as $4 million from Multnomah County. Home Forward additionally committed rent support for more than 250 of the new units. In partnership with the Joint Office of Homeless Services, the County will also be committing funding for services to support the community-wide effort to create more Permanent Supportive Housing.

“I’m proud that we’re prioritizing our dollars from as many sources we can. Our goal is to permanently end someone’s homelessness and fulfill our promise on supportive housing,’’ said Chair Deborah Kafoury. “Housing is the only real answer. It’s as true for a family struggling to make rent, as it is for someone struggling outside with an addiction. A home that’s affordable, with the right support, is how we break the cycle of addiction.’’  

The new projects will add approximately 930 units of affordable housing, including 443 at 30% AMI, 329 units of family-size housing, and 254 units of PSH.

Bond Opportunity Solicitation 2019 – Selected Projects
(Click here to download the fact sheet)

115^th at Division Street
Related NW and Central City Concern
138 units

The Susan Emmons
NW Housing Alternatives with NW Pilot Project and NAYA
144 units

Anna Mann House
Innovative Housing Inc with IRCO and Luke-Dorf Inc
88 units

Cathedral Village
Related NW with Catholic Charities
110 units

The Joyce Hotel
Community Partners for Affordable Housing with Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare and NARA
66 units

Las Adelitas
Hacienda CDC with Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
141 units

NE Prescott
Community Development Partners and NAYA with NARA
50 units

Stark Street Project
Human Solutions with Lifeworks NW and IRCO
93 units

The Westwind
Central City Concern with NARA
100 units

PHB is issuing a Request for Proposals for a Homeownership Asset Preservation Pilot Program and intends to contract with a non-profit organization to administer homeownership asset preservation services targeting low-to-moderate income homeowners of color in the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area or the N/NE Study Area who have owned their homes for 20+ years.

As part of PHB’s N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy, this pilot responds to a stated community need for services that address challenges related to intergenerational property transfers and complicated real estate titles that affect the ability of low-to-moderate-income homeowners in North and Northeast Portland to remain in their homes and pass on assets to future generations. Through this pilot, PHB seeks to fill gaps in these services identified through community outreach and engagement.

This is one-time funding for a pilot program from November 2019 – June 2021 (further program funding will be based on an evaluation of the pilot). To learn more about this opportunity, please read the full RFP here.

Proposals Due: Monday, September 23, 2019 by 3:00 PM

E-mail to Barrett Ebright Karnes at Barrett.EbrightKarnes@PortlandOregon.gov

Optional Information Session

Tuesday, August 27, 2019
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Portland Housing Bureau (Steel Room), 421 SW 6th Ave, Suite 500
It is not required for applicants to attend the information session and will primarily be in a question and answer format.

Questions

All questions must be submitted in writing to: 
Barrett Ebright Karnes
Solicitation Coordinator
Barrett.EbrightKarnes@PortlandOregon.gov.

The Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) has revised the Inclusionary Housing Program (IH) administrative rules to incorporate technical changes. These changes provide additional clarity to the public and City staff regarding the IH Program. Technical changes include an expansion of the definitions section, update of the compliance sections, and reconciliation of terms to reflect those used in the zoning code. The amended administrative rules can be found online here. 

PHB’s administrative rulemaking requires a minimum 60-day public process with public notification of the proposed changes and a public hearing to accept testimony. PHB conducted approximately a 3-month public process with opportunities for the public to provide written comments or testify at a community meeting and a dedicated public hearing.

Throughout the process, staff sought out the engagement of industry professionals to review and dialogue on the proposed changes. Participants included development industry representatives from the for-profit and non-profit sectors. All comments received through public testimony were analyzed by staff against policy and program goals and outcomes.

The Housing Bureau would like to thank everyone who participated in the public outreach process.  If you have questions regarding the IH administrative rule changes or the IH administrative rulemaking process, please contact the IH Rules Coordinator: Jessica Conner at jessica.conner@portlandoregon.gov or by calling 503-823-4100.

Are you a recently (or soon-to-be) displaced renter wondering if you are eligible for Relocation Assistance? Are you a landlord wondering if you’re exempt from paying Relocation Assistance? 

The Portland Housing Bureau’s Rental Services Office (RSO) was created as a resource for renters and landlords of residential properties to receive technical assistance and information about Mandatory Relocation Assistance, Portland Renter Additional Protection (PCC 30.01.085), and related topics such as new state-wide limits on rent increases and just-cause requirements for terminating rental agreements. 

Starting in July, a new RSO Traveling Helpdesk will be visiting libraries across the county on Saturdays throughout the summer to assist people in the neighborhoods where they live and work with their questions on landlord/tenant laws. 

Click here for a complete schedule of where you can find the RSO Traveling Helpdesk this summer or visit www.portlandoregon.gov/PHB/RSO. 

While RSO staff cannot provide legal or business advice, and are not part of the law-making process, they can help community members find information and resources for a variety of subjects relating to rental housing. For more information or to speak to RSO staff, call the help line at 503-823-1303.

The Rental Services Office is pleased to announce expanded summer helpline hours beginning June 3, including evening and weekend hours. The helpline is available to provide information, resources, and referrals to the public, plus technical assistance on mandatory relocation. For more information, visit us online at www.portlandoregon.gov/phb/rso.