City of Portland Housing Bureau Risk Audit.

Big "O" story is HERE; 48 page auditor report is HERE:

We performed a broad-based audit to assess risk at the Housing Bureau because the Bureau is relatively new and has experienced significant change since its inception....A risk differs from an audit finding. An audit finding identifies a problem that is occurring, while a risk identifies potential problems that warrant management attention. We identified six risk areas that warrant management attention.We also concluded that the Bureau has partially implemented the recommendations from our 2007 audit on the 10-year Plan to End Homelessness. In addition, we found that the Bureau has addressed significant deficiencies identified in the City’s 2009 and 2010 financial audits. The Bureau is already working to address many of the risks we identified; we recommend that they continue their efforts and consider implementing the mitigating activities we propose for each risk.

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.

Portland Housing Bureau Awards $1.37 Million in Homeownership Funds to Non Profits.

PR is HERE.  Summary of award amounts and organizations:

• $968,250 was awarded to the Minority Homeownership Assistance Collaborative (MHAC), led by the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA Family Center). MHAC is a strategic partnership of NAYA, the African American Alliance for Homeownership, Hacienda CDC, and the Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI). A total of $600,000 of the entire MHAC award will fund downpayment assistance loans for people seeking to buy homes in the Interstate and Lents urban renewal areas (URA), while $62,000 is available for homebuyers seeking to purchase homes elsewhere in the city. Another $206,250 will fund homebuyer education and counseling, and $100,000 of the total award will fund services aimed at helping people avoid foreclosure.
• Proud Ground received $173,550 for down payment and closing cost assistance, as well as education and counseling activities.
• The Portland Housing Center is awarded $123,200 to provide homebuyer education and counseling.
• Habitat for Humanity Portland-Metro East received $92,500 to fund down payment assistance loans in Interstate and Lents, and $10,000 to provide homebuyer education and counseling.
• The Asian Pacific Islander Community Investment Association (APICIA) received $10,000 to provide help for homebuyers seeking assistance with down payment and closing costs.

Full disclosure: I was one of several people who served on an advisory committee for this RFP; decision making remained with the Bureau.

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.

Portland Housing Bureau NOFA Out, Briefing on Wednesday March 3rd.

From PHB website:

The Spring 2010 Affordable Rental Housing Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is now available. Please click on the hyperlinks to find the NOFA RFP (Word format) and the NOFA Pro Forma (Excel format).

....PRE-BIDDERS CONFERENCE: a NON-MANDATORY session for this solicitation will be held on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 in the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) Steel Conference Room on the 5th floor at 421 SW 6th Ave, Portland, Oregon, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM.


Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.