November 2, 2006
The Housing Alliance Update & Announcements is a bi-weekly electronic newsletter to keep you up-to-date about everything the Housing Alliance is doing to get ready to win in 2007 - and how you can get involved!
1. Condo conversion working group update –
In recent weeks, a working group of Housing Alliance members has developed a legislative proposal regarding Condominium Conversions. A draft proposal and background issue brief are available by request: Email Amy.
Next Steps: All Housing Alliance members should review this proposal and email any comments or concerns to Ian Slingerland of the Community Alliance of Tenants or Amy Fauver.
Working group members will present the proposal and answer questions at the next WebEx update on Nov. 8 from 2-3 PM. Call in instructions for the WebEx will be emailed next week.
Following these opportunities for input, the working group will revise the proposal as needed to address concerns. All Housing Alliance members are welcome to join the working group. A final proposal will be emailed to the Housing Alliance membership by November 21, giving each member organization two weeks to study the proposal prior to the Dec. 5 Congress, where we will take a final vote.
2. Inclusionary Zoning strategy work group (Open to Housing Alliance members only).
Is Inclusionary Zoning a top priority for your organization? A work group is forming to discuss strategy. Contact Amy Fauver at (503) 226-3001 x-102 if you would like to get involved.
3. Notification proposal update.
The notification work group is meeting again today, Thursday, November 2, to work out the final details of the proposal’s second draft. The revised proposal will go out to the Housing Alliance membership by November 21, giving each member organization two weeks to study the proposal prior to the Dec. 5 Congress, where we will take a final vote. Contact Sophia McDonald at (503) 223-4041 for more information.
4. Telephone briefings – Next update will be November 8 from 2-3 PM. Call-in information to follow in a separate email next week.
Agenda items currently include a presentation and discussion on the Condo Conversion proposal (See above) and an update on the progress of the interim campaign. This is your opportunity to ask questions and share information. Join us!
5. SAVE THE DATE! December 5th Housing Alliance Congress.
11 AM to 3 PM
Salem Public Library
Room: Anderson A & B
585 Liberty St SE, Salem, OR 97301
We will de-brief the election and get a preview of the upcoming session from our legislative counsel. We will also finalize the remaining items on our legislative agenda… Don’t miss this important event! Join us as we gear up to WIN in 2007!
6. Endorsement Campaign Contest: Pledge to get 10 endorsements from your partner organizations and have a chance to win $1,000 for the non-profit housing organization of your choice!
2007 Housing Opportunity Agenda Endorsement Contest
124 organizations and prominent individuals have endorsed our campaign to secure $100 million for affordable housing! 88 have endorsed overturning the preemption on inclusionary zoning. See who has already endorsed!
That’s a terrific start, but we need 400 more endorsements in the next three months. We want to send a powerful message to the Legislature that affordable housing is important to Oregonians. To make that happen WE NEED YOU! If every member of the Housing Alliance secures 10 endorsements we will be there!
Help expand housing opportunity for Oregonians and win big bucks for your favorite housing organization!
The Housing Alliance is gathering endorsements for our two lead agenda items: $100 Million for Homes for Hardworking Families and Our Neighbors on Fixed Incomes and Lifting the Pre-emption that Prohibits Local Communities from Using Inclusionary Zoning. The Housing Alliance’s goal is to gather 500 endorsements before the 2007 Legislative session begins in January.
To help us reach our goal and in the spirit of friendly competition, the Neighborhood Partnership Fund (courtesy of Enterprise Community Partners) is offering to donate $1,000 to the non-profit housing organization of choice of the individual who collects the most valid endorsements of our two lead agenda items between now and the Housing Alliance Congress on December 5 in Salem.
If the endorsement strategy worked in Ohio, we can make it work in Oregon!
In 2005, the State of Ohio passed a similar funding package for housing to what we are seeking in Oregon. In their successful campaign, they gathered over 800 endorsements and won broad, bi-partisan support of their agenda before their 2005 Legislative session began. The Housing Alliance goal is to secure 500 endorsements for both lead agenda items by the start of the Legislative session in January 2007.
Who can endorse?
We are seeking the endorsements of organizations, businesses, religious congregations, social clubs, elected officials and prominent individuals. What is most important is that we show a broad range of support across the state. Don’t overlook the people you work with everyday: the vendors, management companies, develop partners, social service partners, school and elected officials that work with you to do your work will likely endorse our agenda… they just need to be asked!
All endorsements are welcome! Be creative. Get active. And win $1,000 for your favorite non-profit housing organization.
What is the process?
It’s simple! Just email, fax or mail in the completed endorsement forms to the Housing Alliance c/o the Neighborhood Partnership Fund, Attn: Amy Fauver, 1020 SW Taylor Street, Suite 680, Portland, OR 97205 (email).
For more information on the endorsement campaign and for PDFs of the $100 million and Inclusionary Zoning endorsement forms, go to http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/alerts.html
Questions? Contact Michael Anderson at (503) 335-9884 or Amy Fauver at (503) 226-3001 x102.
7. "Place-Based Solution for Housing Opportunity:" The 2nd Annual Land Use and Housing Affordability Conference – Last Chance to Register!
Presented by: The Oregon Alliance for Land Use and Affordable Housing (OALUAH)
Date: Friday, November 17, 2006
Location: Beaverton Library, 12375 SW 5th Street, Beaverton, OR 97005
The 2006 Land Use and Housing Affordability Conference will address timely topics in the area of land use and housing affordability. One highlight will be an update on state-wide efforts around manufactured housing parks, featuring Wilsonville Mayor Charlotte Lehan and representatives of manufactured park owners and tenants. Speakers will tackle key policy questions and provide tools to help planners, decision-makers, nonprofits and concerned citizens develop high quality, low-cost housing for all populations in their communities. The conference will also provide opportunities to network and share ideas with others interested in the intersection of land use and housing affordability.
For more about the conference and about OALUAH, please visit our website at www.oaluah.org or call (503) 452-3997.
8. Tools for Local Advocacy are now online at www.oregonhousingalliance.org
The Housing Alliance website has information for each County in Oregon comparing wage/income by profession or source of income versus local housing costs. Go to http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/story_wages_v_housingcosts_x_County.html, and click the County for which you want information to download a PDF file.
Thanks to the Housing Alliance Outreach Committee and the staff of AOCDO and NPF for their work getting this together!
9. Lobby Day is February 6, 2007 at the Capitol in Salem!
Don’t miss this important day of advocacy. Mark your calendars now!
Want more information on the Housing Alliance? Go to http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org.
For a full archive of Housing Alliance Weekly Updates, go to http://www.oregonhousingalliance.org/updates_archive.html
For information on the 2005 Legislative Session, click here.
Please email or call us with questions or ideas for how we can best keep you informed. Contact Amy Fauver or Michael Anderson.
