Several measures before Oregon lawmakers have the potential to fortify the state’s housing stock and preserve units for lower income, elderly and disabled Oregonians. Keep your eyes peeled on the following:
SB 5535 – Issue lottery-backed bonds to fund housing programs that preserve existing subsidized rental housing and manufactured home parks. $19.4 million in lottery-backed bonds is needed in 2009-2011 to keep vulnerable Oregonians in their homes.
SB 199 – Increase the cap on the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit. This is unique tax credit leverages private dollars to fund affordable housing development and acquisition, including manufactured home parks. This will have little to no fiscal impact in 2009-2011, but will allow planning for future development.
How will these resources be used?
Oregon laws spells out how these resources will be used: to meet housing needs of low and very low-income Oregonians in both rural and urban areas. Oregon Housing and Community Services has effective programs in place that maximize the impact of state dollars and support community efforts to meet priority housing needs.
Shortages of affordable housing and homelessness affect all areas of Oregon. These resources will fund locally based strategies for housing Oregonians.
What you can do:
Call your local state Representatives and Senators asking to support Senate Bill 5535 and 199 to help secure affordable housing for all Oregonians. Also ask your representatives to support allocating general fund dollars to meet the affordable housing needs of Oregonians.
Write a letter to your local state representative or call the legislative line Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM at 1-503-986-1000 and ask for your local legislative office.