News
HUD Reports Record-Breaking Worst Case Housing Needs
On August 16, 2013, HUD released its Worst Case Housing Needs 2011: Report to Congress. “Worst case housing needs” are those of very low income renters (below 50% of Area Median Income) who do not receive government housing assistance and who either spend more than half of their income on rent, live in severely inadequate conditions, or who face both of these challenges.
According to the Report, the number of renters with worst case housing needs grew to a record 8.48 million in 2011, from a previous high of 7.10 million in 2009. There has been a 43% increase in worst case housing needs since 2007. The report shows the gap between worst case housing needs and assisted households is the highest ever recorded, with two worst case housing needs households for every one assisted household.
An executive summary of the report was released in February. The full report is available here: http://bit.ly/YpkP4E
— Posted on 8/27/2013
Portland City Council Recognizes the Successful Completion of its 11 by 13 Preservation Campaign
On August 14th the Portland Housing Bureau, with Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Nick Fish, recognized a milestone in Oregon’s preservation initiative by celebrating the successful completion of the city’s 11 by 13 Housing Preservation Campaign. The city’s 11 by 13 Campaign resulted in the preservation 11 properties with expiring Section 8 rental assistance contracts which provide affordable homes to hundreds of Portland’s low income seniors, disabled citizens and families.
Under Commissioner Fish’s leadership, in 2008 the city launched the 11 by 13 Campaign which sought to preserve all 11 buildings having contracts set to expire by 2013. The buildings provide more than 700 modest affordable homes. Through the successful preservation of the 11 buildings under the Campaign, these 700 homes will remain affordable for the next 60 years.
At the August 14th event the successful completion of 11 by 13 was recognized by the City Council with partners in attendance including Northwest Housing Alternatives, REACH CDC, Guardian Management, Cedar Sinai Park, Winkler Development Corp. and Harsch Investment Properties, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH) and Will White, former Portland Housing Bureau Director and current Senior Policy Adviser to U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley.
For more about the event visit the Portland Housing Bureau website. A video of the presentations to City Council is available here.
— Posted on 8/23/2013