Updated: Metro Prior $850k Housing Revolving Fund is Gone; But Metro Council Says Affordable Housing Still "Regionally Significant".

I have extracted a "lessons learned" document HERE that was apparently discussed at a Feb 2, 2010 Metro Council Work Session-it includes a listing of potential projects that might have been able to use revolving fund loan proceeds and a time line for a RFP that had been previously issued; I did not attend session and there is no audio of Council Work Sessions.

Sigh....

On Thursday I provided oral comments and written testimony at the Metro Housing Council meeting about an Metro ordinance that described affordable housing as "regionally significant." (I was the only person who testified on the ordinance). That's the good news.[I will post the ordinance once I can locate a final version].

The bad news. At the Metro meeting a revised form of the ordinance was presented and modified so I can't provide you with exact language. However key language that said regional funding was important "..regardless of whether funding is currently available", was the tip off that Metro Council had recaptured the $850k in existing housing funding for other uses.

My written testimony is HERE; my 3 recommendations were:

1. Metro NOT divert the existing $850,000 away from affordable housing uses, now or in the future.
2. Metro begin to engage the affordable housing community NOW, prior to the expected early April date for opening of the grant application period, so that there is a transparent, inclusive process of preparing the grant application. This will insure that the application goes beyond the boundaries of the Metro planning “silo” and is fully informed by the views of the development community, non profits, affordable housing advocates, AND the existing and future plans of housing authorities and HUD Community Development Block Grant funded agencies.
3. Because I only learned about the ordinance under consideration by a chance reading Metro meeting packets, I also recommend that you improve transparency by setting up NOW a list serve/RSS link or and website so that ANYONE who wants to know about activities related to the Livable Communities Regional Planning Grant application and easily stay abreast of developments.

Editorial comments:

1. At some point the affordable housing community, including housing authorities and CDBG agencies, are going to be faced with a decision whether to support a future Metro HUD Livable Communities Regional Planning Grant application, given the latest failure of Metro Council to follow through on prior affordable housing commitments.[Fool me once, shame on you...]
   
2. I HOPE that the affordable housing community also rigorously quizzes candidates for Metro Council President to insure their views AND commitments on affordable housing are clearly known and recorded.

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.