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Hello Friends,
Affordable
housing has become a huge issue all throughout Oregon and especially in the
Senate district that I represent. Much of that has been driven by the
population growth that we’ve seen as people continue moving here from other
states. Another factor is the fact that housing construction slowed during the
last recession and demand is now outpacing the supply of available homes.
Like
many other problems we face, I think that there need to be creative solutions.
I
was approached during the 2017 legislative session by representatives of the National
Urban Housing and Economic Community Development Corporation (NUHECDC). This
nonprofit organization is one of the entities that is working to make the dream
of homeownership available to low and middle-income residents in the Portland
area.
The NUHECDC builds quality single family homes, row houses and condos and does this through a job training program. Its focus is to make people who are prior offenders, veterans, welfare recipients and others with barriers to employment job ready within 90 days.
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That
training program teaches life skills like anger management, conflict
resolution, team work, money management and overcoming setbacks. Trainees are
provided with volunteer mentors and are taught how to obtain and retain a job
by teaching them how to improve their resumes, look for work and perform better
during interviews. All of its graduates are placed into living wage
construction jobs with local contractors and builders. Over 25 percent of its
participants are women. |
Above: NUHECDC Executive Director David Greenidge gave remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for an affordable housing project in Portland January 4.
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The basic construction components of the training include framing and interior finish work, the safe use of tools and machines and construction site safety.
This program has thus far resulted in 35 trainees being placed in jobs or apprenticeship programs and the construction of 20 affordable housing units in Portland.
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Above right: Sen. Lew Frederick (D-Portland) was among those who spoke at the ceremony.
The
NUHECDC impressed me by demonstrating a 3-to-1 return on a $1.1 million appropriation
that it received for 2015-17. That created an estimated savings to the state
and the community of over $3.2 million.
Even
though the NUHECDC was unable to secure additional funding from the Legislature
for 2017-19, the organization is still moving forward with projects. My chief
of staff was among the 30 people in attendance January 4 for a groundbreaking
ceremony put on by NUHECDC at a project site in Portland. Also there were my
colleague, Sen. Lew Frederick (D-Portland), members of the NUHECDC board of
directors and representatives from the Portland Housing Bureau, the Portland
Housing Center and project partners, including the architectural and
construction firms who are doing the work.
That
project site is adjacent to another lot that will be used to construct
affordable housing, and both are right next to a MAX line that will enable its
future residents to easily access public transportation.
As
you can see, there are ways to solve difficult problems such as housing
affordability through partnerships and collaborative approaches. It is my hope
that the NUHECDC will continue to be successful in its efforts and inspire
similar projects and approaches all over Oregon.
For
more information on the NUHECDC, go to www.nationalurbanhousingandjobs.org.
Yours truly,
Sen. Alan DeBoer
Senate District 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: sen.AlanDeBoer@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/deboer
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