Neighborhood Partnerships

On Friday, February 12 constituents gathered in Salem for Oregon Thrives’ “Have a Heart Day” in honor of Oregon’s 151st birthday and Valentine’s Day.  Oregon Thrivesis an emerging coalition of advocacy and service organizations in Oregon, and Neighborhood Partnerships is a founding member and participates in the steering committee.  NP staff went to Salem to participate in the event and encourage legislators to have a heart and remember Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens during this special legislative session and these difficult economic times.

After a brief discussion of the day’s issues and schedule, close to 100 constituents left to talk with 65 of their Senators and Representatives.  We spoke to our elected representatives about critical issues facing hard working Oregonians such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Employment Related Day Care (ERDC), and the Emergency Housing Account.  Constituents also passed out Valentine messages thanking legislators for remembering hard working Oregonians during this special legislative session.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon led an interfaith prayer vigil on the steps of the Capitol, drawing attention to the many homeless school children and families.  The vigil was preceded by a conversation focusing on ways to work with schools to serve their homeless students, as well as policy and funding issues.  Janet Byrd lent her expertise to the discussion, focusing on policy and NP’s extensive experience with the issue of family homelessness as a result of its involvement with Bridges to Housing. This discussion was spurred by the 18,000 school-aged children who were homeless for at least some part of the 2008-2009 school year.  The group is planning an interfaith summit on child and family homelessness in late spring.

The afternoon ended with a legislative hearing on increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  Oregon is one of the few states where income tax is still applied to low-income families.  Multiple testimonies cited the ways in which EITC eases the burden on those in Oregon’s lowest tax brackets.  Expanding Oregon’s EITC was the first recommendation made by the Corporation for Enterprise Development in their Assets for Opportunity Scorecard suggesting how Oregon could improve its climate for its most financially vulnerable citizens.  Increasing the EITC from six percent of the federal credit by three points each year until it reaches 18% in 2014 would benefit over 220,000 households throughout Oregon.  It would also help to boost the local economy as EITC dollars are often spent locally and quickly.

Have a Heart Day was a great success!  Together with Oregon Thrives and their other partners we were able to thank many members of the Oregon State Legislature, reminding them to have a heart during the remainder of the February session to ensure that all Oregonians have an opportunity to thrive.

Neighborhood Partnerships and Oregon Housing and Community Services are proud to announce the award of $4.397 million to six nonprofit agencies by the Oregon Individual Development Account (IDA) Initiative.

Through the IDA Initiative, low income individuals work with a local nonprofit organization to set a financial savings goal.  Participants save to purchase their first home, start a small business, access higher education, repair a substandard home, or purchase equipment that will help them obtain employment.  Once they have completed financial education classes and met their savings goal, their savings are matched by funds from the Oregon IDA Initiative.

For 2010, funds have been awarded to six organizations serving 29 counties in our state.  They are:

CASA of Oregon, Newberg, $2.213 million
Entrepreneurial Development Services, Eugene, $133,275
Mercy Corps Northwest, Portland, $200,000
Native American Youth And Family Center, Portland, $200,000
Portland Housing Center, Portland, $185,000
Umpqua Community Development Corporation, Roseburg, $1.372 million

The Oregon IDA Initiative provides life skills and a path to a brighter future. The assets Oregonians obtain through the IDA program give them the ability to weather hard times, make a better future for themselves and their families, and build stronger communities. By coupling matched savings with financial education and other supports, the Oregon IDA Initiative fosters hope and opportunity.  Thanks to the great work of these partner organizations, over 1,200 IDA participants have already purchased an asset.  This year’s funding will allow approximately 750 more low income Oregonians to begin saving towards an asset goal in 2010.

The Oregon IDA Initiative is a unique partnership between Oregon Housing and Community Services, Neighborhood Partnerships, non-profit partners across the state, and the public. Individual and corporate charitable contributions to Neighborhood Partnerships, a 501(c)3 organization, are eligible for a 75% State of Oregon tax credit.  These contributions generate the match funds for IDA participants.  In 2009, Neighborhood Partnerships received $4,712,583 million in contributions from average Oregonians who wanted to make a difference and give back to their community.

To learn more about the tax credit and how you can be a part of this great work go to the IDA Homepage.

On February 12^th, people from across Oregon will travel to Salem for three important events to support our hardworking neighbors, families, and their children.   We will ask our legislators to “Have a Heart,” with Oregon Thrives; we will join faith leaders for an interfaith prayer vigil for homeless children and families; and we will attend a hearing on the Earned Income Tax Credit, a tool which helps low and moderate income families build assets.

First, we will join with Oregon Thrives and meet in Salem at the State Capitol to support our legislators in continuing to “Have A Heart.”  We will ask our Legislators to continue to work their hardest to find resources to meet the needs of vulnerable Oregonians in our midst.

We’ll convene at 8 am for check in and coffee.  We will begin promptly at 8:30 with a legislative briefing in the Public Services Building, 255 Capitol Street NE, Basement Room A.

After a legislative briefing, participants will move to the state capitol and deliver Valentine messages to their legislators.  Please join us for this special event! RSVP today. (Link to: Claudette@caporegon.org)  Download the invitation here.

Next up, we will participate in an Interfaith Briefing and Dialogue on Homeless Children and Families and Prayer Vigil.  This important event will bring faith leaders from across the state to help draw attention to the growing number of homeless families statewide and the increasing number of homeless children in our public schools.

The interfaith briefing and dialogue, sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and the Interfaith Project on Homeless Children and Families begins at 10:00 am.  Briefings and discussion will focus on education of homeless children and youth, and on programs that prevent and reduce homelessness.  We’ll meet across the street from the Capitol at the Public Service Building, 255 Capitol Street NE, Basement Room A.

At noon, join us as we move across the street to the capitol steps for a rally and prayer vigil in support of homeless children and families.  Find out more about the Briefing or Prayer Vigil by contacting Kevin Finney or Rev. Chuck Currie.

Last up, at 1:00 pm we will join an important legislative hearing on reducing taxes on low‐income working families by increasing the state Earned Income Tax Credit.  The Earned Income Tax Credit is an important tool which helps low and moderate income families build savings and assets.  Help us show the legislature that we care about our hardworking families and their children in Oregon.  This is a hearing of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee on SB 1044 in Hearing Room A. Please join us! Questions, please contact us.

If you only come to Salem once in 2010, please come on February 12^th.  Let’s thank our State Legislators for continuing to Have a Heart, and show them how important it is that everyone has a safe place to call home.

The Oregon Individual Development Account (IDA) Initiative will reach all corners of the state in 2010, thanks to the support of a wide range of Oregonians. Neighborhood Partnerships is happy to report that we received contributions over $4.7 million dollars to support the IDA Initiative.  In what was described as one of Oregon’s worst economic years in decades, we saw support for the Initiative increase by over $100,000 from 2008. Hard working Oregonians will benefit as they are supported by Initiative partners to increase their future financial stability and resilience.

Support for the Initiative has a broad base, thanks to the collective efforts of all our partners and donors. Nearly 30% of contributions came from donors giving between $50 and $1,000.

Over 95% of every dollar raised goes to support Oregonians seeking to start or expand a small business, pursue higher education, or purchase their first home. Every dollar a participant saves toward their goal is matched by three dollars of Initiative funds.  Thanks to the State of Oregon’s support of the Oregon IDA Tax Credit more than 1,200 individuals to date throughout Oregon have met their savings goals and purchased their asset. And, through the research collected by Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute, we know that IDAs are a proven, effective tool for building hope, stability, and life skills.  See the results of the PSU Survey.

Applications for 2009 IDA Initiative funding were received on January 14, 2010.  Six of our existing non-profit partners requested funds to broaden their IDA programs to reach underserved areas and populations in our state.  Thanks to your support we will be able to provide funds that will allow these organizations to help approximately 750 new participants start down the road to financial stability in 2010.  Neighborhood Partnerships and Oregon Housing and Community Services will announce grantee awards in early February.

And remember—it’s never too early to make your 2010 Tax Credit contribution.  There is no need to wait to the last minute when you can make your donation today!  For more information go to our IDA Homepage.  You can also download the 2010 Donor Form.

Thank you again for your support.  We couldn’t have done it without you!