OHC Meeting: SF Bond Loan Program Suspended; 09-11 OHCS Budget Reduction of $9 Million Eliminates GF Funding for Some Programs, Cuts Others.

From my notes at of the Oregon Housing Council meeting held this morning:

1. Governor’s rep discussed Oregon Way Advisory Group, hoping to get competitive grants in excess of what might be a $370 million “fair share” amount for Oregon.
2. Budget cut data will be released from Legislative Fiscal Office this afternoon. OHCS had to take a deeper cut in general fund, as lottery funds backed bonds and could not be cut. Results is that this would eliminate any general funds for homeowners assistance, homeless assistance, and 1/3 of funding for emergency housing. OHCS table of options is HERE; on last page of the OHCS table the 30% cut looks like a reduction of $9 Million+ for the next biennium (no dollar figure was mentioned in meeting before I had to leave after 3 hours). No additional staff cuts (I recall FTE had been cut in Governor's budget already)."Cuts" (presumably from Governor's previously proposed budget) for other agencies can be found HERE.
   
3. OHCS staff said SF bond program was "suspended"as of March 17th. Still taking names for wait list, but no immediate plans to issue bonds.
4. Considered three specific Permanently Supportive Housing projects whose applications followed a request for applications. Approved two projects, the third was tabled until next month. [No project details made available to public, these are my notes from discussion].

• Columbia County in St. Helens: 2 unit project. Francisco Lopez, Council Member asked about Immigration ordinance passed last year, Response was that Community Action and others did not support, and county officials were looking into legality of the ordinance.
• Rogue Retreat in Medford : 11 unit rehab.
• The Glade in Warrenton: 12 unit CMI, new construction, Previously approved, this was request for increase based on subsequent cost increases. Only project in County for CMI population. Council push back was that in this legislative climate did not believe that cost escalation was fully warranted and especially so for single source contract. Council required that cost estimates be scrubbed to look carefully at increased site improvement costs and construction costs and tabled consideration until next Council meeting.
  

5. NSP (Neighborhood Strategy Program). Update: Round 1 :OHCS hope to issue a RFP for non entitlement areas within two weeks . Grant agreement with HUD signed March 16th.
6. NSP 2: $9-11 Million target. Not a formula grant, a national competition that should be announced in next month. Organizations other than states can apply directly. Program requirements may differ from NSP 1 (NOT clear if NSP $$ are included in governors estimate of "fair share" target for Oregon).
7, Latest legislative update is HERE.
8. Council took under advisement my recommendation during public comment period to issue a proclamation recognizing FHA 75th Anniversary.