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 win in 2007 - and how you can get involved!

HB 3551 Hearing Update
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House Bill 3551, the Document Recording Fee bill was heard least week by the Ways & Means Transportation Subcommittee.  The Housing Alliance put on two days of testimony that was generally well received.  Committee members asked good questions and we are in the process of gathering information to respond to them all.  We are optimistic that HB 3551 will move out of committee in the next two weeks.  Thanks to everyone who came to Salem for the hearing!

Now is the perfect time to call the Ways and Means committee members and ask for their support on HB 3551!  Even if you have talked to your representative or senator already, it is important to circle back again and either (1) thank them for their ongoing support or (2) repeat why you believe that affordable housing is important in their district and ask for support on HB 3551.

Committee Members
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Committee Members:
Senator Kurt Schrader, Co-Chair
Representative Mary Nolan, Co-Chair
Sen. Margaret Carter, Vice-Chair
Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Vice-Chair
Sen. Alan C Batessen
Sen. Richard Devlin
Sen. Avel Gordly
Sen. Betsy Johnson
* Senator Johnson is also the Chair of the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee.
Sen. Frank Morse
Sen. David Nelson
Sen. Joanne Verger
* Senator Verger is also a member of the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee.
Sen. Ben Westlund
Sen. Doug Whitsett
* Senator Whitsett is also a member of the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee.
Sen. Jackie Winters
Rep. David Edwards
* Representative Edwards is also a member of the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee.
Rep. Larry Galizio
Rep. Bill Garrard
Rep. Bruce L Hanna
* Representative Hanna is also a member of the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee.
Rep. Bob Jenson
Rep. Susan Morgan
Rep. Chip Shields
* Representative Shields is also a member of the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee.

Take the Three-Friends Challenge!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are making amazing progress towards our goal of securing the $100 Million for Affordable Housing.  Because of your advocacy, combined with the advocacy of Housing Alliance supporters across Oregon, we are on the verge of a tremendous victory!

And we need your help. We need your help to push HB 3551 over the top - so please take our 3 Friend Challenge!

HB 3551, the legislation that dedcates an increase to the document recording fee to affordable housing, is being heard by the Ways & Means Transportation Subcommittee.  We are optimistic that HB 3551 will pass out of this committee and come to the House Floor for a vote in the next two to three weeks.

Now is the time for members of the House to hear from their constituents throughout Oregon!

Already this session, you have probably called, emailed or visited your Representative and Senators three or four times-which is great! Please continue to call your Representatives and Senators. Its important they keep hearing from you.

But do you know what would be even better? Getting 3 new people to contact their Representative. Maybe your friends, co-workers, or family members? Or anyone who lives in Oregon and believes in housing opportunity!

Click here for a sample that you can share with three friends. Please take 15 minutes to forward this call for action to three people who you think will follow through and contact their representatives this week. If the friend you contact seems particularly enthusiastic, ask them take the 3 Friend Challenge!

We are so close to victory. Take heart and take action!

Other News!
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Our other bills are rolling along. Next week will be a busy one for the Housing Alliance!

HB 3186: Condo Conversions.
House Bill 3186, on condo conversions recently had a vote on the House floor. The bill passed 52-2, and is now on its way to the Senate! Thanks to all of you who called your Representatives or testified in support of this bill.

HB 3186 is now is now headed to the Senate Business, Transportation and Workforce Committee for a hearing and work session on Wednesday, May 30th sometime in the afternoon. There will not be much time for testimony, but we are collecting written testimony. If you are interested in submitting testimony, e-mail Amy.

HB 3186 has no opposition right now and we are very optimistic that it will pass! If it does it will have a big impact for tenants who may be affected by condo conversions.

SB 984: Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit.
SB 984 has passed the Senate unanimously and is now scheduled for a hearing in the House Revenue Committee on Thursday, May 31!

HB 3485: Deed Restrictions and Affordability Covenants.
HB 3485 passed out of the House 47-12 and had a hearing in the Senate Business, Transportation and Workforce committee last week. It is scheduled for a work session on Wednesday, May 30 sometime in the afternoon.

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.