Neighborhood Partnerships

Oregonians facing the loss of their homes need clear and accurate information about their rights, obligations and the foreclosure process. Where possible, alternatives to foreclosure ought to be fairly considered. When there is no viable alternative, the foreclosure process ought to be conducted with adequate notice and transparent process. The Housing Alliance has adopted the following principles:

1. Mediation to stop preventable foreclosures – Mediation should be required before finalization of a foreclosure, to provide homeowners and lenders the opportunity to make timely decisions regarding alternatives to foreclosure.
2. Dual-track protection – Homeowners should be protected from foreclosure during the time they are actively engaged in loan modification or loss mitigation negotiations. Loss mitigation negotiations ought to be fair and transparent.
3. Servicer standards – Loan servicers should adhere to basic minimum standards of good faith and fair dealing, and should be held accountable for violations of those standards.

To lend your voice to this effort, please contact Janet Byrd at jbyrd@neighborhoodpartnerships.org. We’ll let you know of hearings and other advocacy opportunities as they arise in February. In the meantime, contact your legislator to let them know these issues matter to you, and that you want to see action in February.

On January 11th, Neighborhood Partnerships continued our work with Patrick Bresette of the Public Works Project (link: http://sites.google.com/site/demospublicworks/). He spoke about the role of the Occupy movement, and how it’s changed the national debate around inequality. He also shared research and insights from working across the country in support of efforts to build and maintain strong communities that meet the needs of all residents. While in Oregon, Patrick also spent another day with us during the second session of the Advocate’s College.

You can download the presentation from that evening here. You can also visit the Public Works website where you can download other presentations, research, or view webinars, including the most recent “From Occupation to Reclamation”.

Thanks are also due to NW Natural for their generous donation of the space and their assistance in hosting a small reception following the event. Stay tuned to our blog or newsletter for more opportunities as we move this work forward.

Take a look at some photos from the event on our Facebook page.

The role of government, public spending, and taxes will be at the heart of policy and budget debates both nationally and at the state level in the coming year.

Join us as Patrick Bresette of Public Works shares research and insights from working across the country in support of efforts to build and maintain strong communities that meet the needs of all residents. Learn how this work is being carried forward in Oregon, and how you can add your voice to those calling for adequate revenues and public systems that address the deep needs in our communities.

NW Natural
220 NW Second Avenue
Fourth Floor Hospitality Suite
Portland, Oregon 97209

Wednesday, January 11th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

To get to the meeting, you can take the MAX to the Old Town / Chinatown stop, or you can find parking options here.

Please RSVP to Haley, at 503-226-3001 ext 100, or hcloyd@neighborhoodpartnerships.org.

Patrick Bresette
Associate Program Director, Public Works
Patrick is responsible for taking the work of the program out to the states and partner organizations and seeking ways to imbed the lessons learned and strategies developed into the everyday work of the many stakeholders for an effective public sector. Patrick comes to the project after thirteen years as Associate Director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities and before that as a legislative aide in the Texas House of Representatives. He brings with him a broad understanding of how to work with and within the public sector for positive social change. His years of work leading the policy team at CPPP, spearheading the organization’s legislative initiatives, and leading diverse coalitions of partner organizations situate him well for his outreach and partnership development efforts with this initiative. Patrick has an MPA from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a BFA in Sculpture from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and Neighborhood Partnerships (NP) recently awarded supplemental grants for eight innovative and collaborative proposals to reach communities who are currently underserved by the Oregon Individual Development Account (IDA) Initiative. IDAs are a proven program that helps families across Oregon build a stronger financial foundation.

The Oregon IDA Initiative, housed here at NP, is supported through donations by individuals and businesses; contributions made to the Oregon IDA Initiative are eligible for a 75% IDA Oregon tax credit. To receive a 2011 tax credit, donations must be received by December 31, 2011. Donations may be made by check, online, or by contributing stock or mutual funds. For more information or to donate go to http://ida.neighborhoodpartnerships.org.

Revenue collected in 2010 allowed the Initiative to allocate about $1 million in funds to strategically reach communities currently underserved by the Oregon IDA Initiative. In a highly competitive process, eighteen proposals from collaborations including forty-two organizations were received by the September 1, 2011 deadline. The proposals requested a total of $3.3 million.

Several collaboratives proposed education IDAs to help individuals get the training and degrees they need to be skilled and competitive in the workforce and as small business owners. Bienestar, Innovative Changes, International Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), Mercy Corps Northwest, and NeighborWorks Umpqua received awards for their innovative proposals.

Other proposals will support microenterprise IDAs that will help individuals and families start businesses that can become the income stream for their households as well as provide jobs for others. Hacienda Community Development Corporation and Microenterprise Services of Oregon were awarded funds for this purpose.

Awards were also made to provide home repair and homeownership IDAs to increase financial stability and protect assets for low income families, and the Native American Youth and Family Center and IRCO received resources for this area. For a current list of awards, go to http://ida.neighborhoodpartnerships.org/IDARFP2011.

Neighborhood Partnerships and the Housing Alliance know that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Unfortunately today, too many of our neighbors and families are sleeping in cars, on couches or outdoors.

The Oregonian recently published two articles about homelessness in our community—first, Monday’s editorial, which calls for community actions around homelessness in the wake of the Occupy Portland movement being evicted from their downtown camp; and second, a story in Sunday’s Oregonian about a local teen who has been surviving on the streets for several years while also battling addiction. These stories echo our own experiences and messages as housing advocates.

Monday’s editorial asks the people of Portland to “put our arms” around those experiencing homelessness. It sounds a lot like what we (and many others) have been saying for years—that everyone deserves a safe, stable, affordable place to call home. We know that our communities are better and stronger when everyone has a place to call home. We also know that homelessness is a solvable problem. We’re not saying it will be easy, but we are saying we know how to do it—if we make the right choices and find the political will, we can end homelessness together.

We were pleased to see this response from the Editorial Board, as well as an understanding that what we really need are permanent solutions. While shelters are an important way to help people come in out of the cold and stay safe, they simply manage the problem. We don’t begrudge dollars spent on shelter—we know it’s critical to have people inside where they can be warm and safe, especially during winter months. However we also know that permanent housing, plus the supports people need to address barriers and create pathways out of poverty is the only way to end homelessness. All too often, it seems as if we’re forced to take one avenue at the expense of the other.

Sunday’s portrait in the Oregonian of Alec Bates is a great example of what should be happening. While the Oregonian’s portrait of Bates only showed glimpses of the people that helped him along the way, it is clear that Bates met many organizations and individuals that made a difference in his journey. He highlights one—Outside In—that helped him find housing and the supportive services he needed to maintain his housing. His story also highlights the need for more addictions and mental health treatment, so that as people are ready to make changes, the right doors are open to them.

Then came this morning’s article by Steve Duin, and this quote from Candidate for Portland City Council Steve Novick: “The occupation movement is helping some of us unlearn our learned helplessness.” We, not just people in Portland, but across the US have for far too long been helpless in the face of homelessness. We’ve seen it as a problem only affecting a few, without recognizing that far too many of us are one economic disaster from sleeping in our cars. We’ve seen it as a problem affecting “those people,” without recognizing that people in this country rise and fall as one. It’s time to unlearn our helplessness and understand that not only can we solve homelessness, but it does affect and impact us all. Our struggles and fate are tied together as one in this city and state.

Today, organizations and people all across the city, the state and the country are working hard to end homelessness. Every day we call on our elected officials to help us in our work. Now is the time to put our arms around the problem of homelessness, to declare it unacceptable, and to commit to solving this problem. We can do better. We can recognize that our fate is connected to the fate of our neighbors, especially those neighbors without a roof over their heads.

Oregon nonprofit groups shared ideas to give everyone in the state opportunities to better themselves financially at the “Rebuilding the Path of Opportunity: 2011 Asset Builders’ Conference” held in Silverton last week. Over 100 professionals from community development corporations, family centers, community action agencies, micro-enterprise organizations, housing authorities, and social services agencies joined together to share and learn how to build financial assets for all Oregonians. The conference was hosted by Neighborhood Partnerships, CASA of Oregon, and NeighborWorks Umpqua.

Margaret Van Vliet, Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, opened the conference. Oregon Housing and Community Services plays a key role in expanding opportunities for low income Oregonians throughout Oregon. She addressed how the Oregon Individual Development Account Initiative (IDA) is an important program in the Department’s effort to build assets for lower income Oregon families and that she valued the many deeply committed and talented individuals and organizations that make the Initiative work.

Neighborhood Partnerships is a leader in asset building programming and policy in Oregon. NP houses the Oregon IDA Initiative, which is the largest state IDA program in the country. In addition, NP both leads and collaborates with others to promote and defend other policies that support financial stability in lower income families, such as legislation for low income housing and reductions to TANF. Kathy Turner, Program Director with Neighborhood Partnerships and the Oregon IDA Initiative states, “As the lead partner in developing the conference, we are very pleased with the level of engagement by our partners. Our shared vision is to create pathways of opportunity for all Oregonians–we all benefit when all of Oregon families and communities are thriving. This conference is an opportunity for partners to come together, share our best ideas, creatively address challenges, gain new perspectives and tools, and energize ourselves for the coming year.”

The conference featured several hands-on workshops about how to provide financial education, an introduction to financial coaching, how to support savers, how to protect assets, how to work with vulnerable populations, how to use behavioral economics in program planning, how to develop a banking program for folks who don’t typically use financial institutions, and much more. For example, Rebekah Barger, a program manager for NeighborWorks Umpqua, presented a session on how to build an IDA program focused on youth. As part of her workshop, she unveiled a newly minted financial education program designed to engage young adults.

When asked about the importance of financial education, Barger said money management skills need to start early. NeighborWorks Umpqua teaches young people about financial fitness and saving for college through a special program called “Gear Up.” Barger says the “Gear Up” program is a real eye-opener for most teens. “No matter how prepared they are, the kinds of things that they stumble over and have a hard time really absorbing, and almost are in denial of, are the realities of what it costs to live.” Personal finance isn’t a required course in Oregon schools. Barger believes it should be, and that it should be taught starting in junior high or earlier.

The conference also included presentations and discussions about national and state policy issues that impact lower income Oregonians. One such topic was credit and financial products and their impact on our low income neighbors. Carmina Lass, Program Director of Innovative Changes, a Portland group which makes microloans to people whose only other option might be an expensive payday loan, says she sees all the unrest today about banks and fees in a positive light. She says it could make people smarter about money. “People are really seeing the opportunity to take charge of their finances–working on better financial planning, better choices in terms of credit, but also learning how to evaluate financial institutions and the products that they offer, and find better products that meet their needs.”

The importance of having a stronger financial foundation is underscored by a recent research. In an emergency, according to the National Bureau of Financial Research, half of all American households would be unable to come up with $2,000 within 30 days, and about one in five would have to pawn something to get it.

Lass says that’s a good reason to start budgeting and saving. “Managing your money is stressful at any income level, and so the first step is just to start thinking about how to plan. Whatever there is, planning–just the act of planning out, for the next month, or next week, or even for the next day–is something that can help decrease the stress.”

At the closing plenary, Nita Shah, Executive Director of Microenterprise Services of Oregon summed up a core value for those present, “Poverty is unacceptable. We should never allow ourselves to look at a person who is poor and be complacent.” Panelists shared case studies of individuals who have worked to change their lives–which highlighted the critical functions that practitioners provide with financial education, coaching, encouragement, training, and more. The conference ended on a note of both concern and optimism for the future–those present recognize that the economic challenges of low income families may be increasing in the coming years, but they remain committed to creating pathways to prosperity for our neighbors across Oregon.

During the conference, the Public News Service wrote several stories on the conference and Oregon’s role in the national asset building movement. You can read them here and here.

Neighborhood Partnerships is in the process of hiring an Oregon IDA Initiative Program Coordinator!

Neighborhood Partnerships (NP) is a dynamic, innovative statewide non-profit seeking a talented professional to join our team as the Oregon IDA Initiative Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator will support statewide asset building activities and the Oregon Individual Development Account (IDA) Initiative. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply and will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

General Summary:
The Oregon IDA Initiative Program Coordinator supports NP’s asset building activities, primarily the Oregon IDA Initiative.

Primary Responsibilities:
Overall Program Oversight and Support

• • Manage and refine program components of Oregon IDA Initiative
• • Ensure the Initiative maintains standards of excellence, including adherence to IDA statute, administrative rules, and standard operating procedures
• • Establish and maintain good working relationships with Fiduciary Organizations (FOs) and their partners

Training and Technical Assistance

• • In partnership with Grantees, design and implement an annual training calendar
• • In partnership with Grantees, design, develop, and evaluate training and technical assistance modules in support of OR IDA goals, possibly including development of web-based training for Fiduciary Organizations
• • Oversee training logistics, including negotiation of training costs and contracts with providers

Grant Allocation, Oversight and Reporting

• • In conjunction with the Program Director, develop and oversee request for application process for standard and supplemental requests for proposals for the Oregon IDA Initiative
• • Negotiate contracts and work plans with Initiative grantees, including timely review and management of grant reports and payments
• • In conjunction with the fiscal department, schedule and conduct annual program reviews
• • Maintain current files and records on FOs
• • Manage NP AFI grant allocation and reporting

Evaluation and Database

• • Oversee IDA Database training, upgrades, maintenance, implementation, and assure quality standards
• • In conjunction with the Program Director, oversee and manage IDA Evaluation development, implementation, and outcomes

Communications and Website

• • Coordinate updates to IDA website, in conjunction with contractors and other NP staff
• • Coordinate transition of IDA website to WordPress
• • Track and document IDA success stories for implementation in publications and web
• • Update IDA Member Website as necessary

Required Experience, Skills, and Qualities:

• • Bachelor’s degree in applicable field
• • 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible and applicable positions
• • Knowledge of and experience in financial education and financial literacy field
• • Strong group process skills and proven capacity to build collaborative relationships
• • Strong writing and communication skills; including creative problem solving skills
• • Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to multitask
• • Warm, friendly, and professional attitude
• • Passionate about creating opportunities for low income people

Desired Experience and Skills

• • Knowledge of and experience with asset building and individual development accounts
• • Experience with Word Press website platform
• • Experience working with grantees in collaborative setting and managing contracts
• • Experience developing, managing, and providing technical assistance and training
• • Experience managing consultants

Full time employment with excellent benefits; salary based upon experience.

To apply, please send cover letter, resume, and three references to:
Kathy Turner at kturner@neighborhoodpartnerships.org; no calls please.
The position will be open until filled.

We know that Oregon is at a crossroads, and we continue to face difficult choices. The deepest recession in decades is lingering, impacting both families and state tax revenues. The choices we make today must be designed to spur our economic recovery and build the best possible future for the people and businesses of our state.

The Legislature has asked each State Agency and Department to prepare a list of proposed cuts to general fund dollars ranging from 3–14%. After the Legislative session in February which cut state budgets and basic safety net services, we are now cutting into bone and making choices that result in homelessness, hunger and other negative outcomes for our families. You can see the list of proposed cuts to Housing and Community Services here and the Department of Human Services here.

The unfortunate reality is that too many Oregonians are having to choose between paying for rent and paying for medicine and food. We know what works, and we need to make sure that we have systems in place to ensure that everyone has the basic necessities. The important and critical basic safety net services which DHS operates are designed to ensure that families can meet their basic needs. However, cuts made during the previous Legislative session have already stripped these programs bare and no longer give families pathways out of poverty. The further cuts outlined in the documents for public comment would make severe cuts to helping families meet their basic needs and would allow too many of our families and neighbors to fall into homelessness or worse.

At many pivotal moments in our state’s history we have chosen to build a brighter future for ourselves and our children. We did this not simply by asking what we can afford to do today but also asking what we must do to protect our future. Our state has tremendous resources at our disposal—hard working people, ingenuity and financial resources that can all be brought to bear in order to build a better quality of life for our state. The state budget decisions we make reflect our commitment to making that future a reality. Getting there may require more of our collective resources, but our future is worth it.

The Legislature will meet this week and hear a Revenue Forecast which will give us next steps. Will the Legislature implement these cuts? Or will they make different choices? We ask that the Legislature look to state agencies and departments which do not provide basic safety net services to make any additional cuts; look to revenue solutions; and look to tax-side expenditures including both deductions and tax credits.

Neighborhood Partnerships is pleased to release its 2010-2011 Annual Report. Each year, we release an Annual Report to quantify our work over the past year. You can also view previous Annual Reports. Each year, we build and manage strong partnerships that create change and advance progress in our community, and work to enhance the lives of Oregonians across the state through high profile collaborations, initiatives and programs. We work to ensure that Oregon remains the state we all value: a place that offers all of us a chance to thrive; a state where the ladder of opportunity is within reach; a place where race and class inequities are addressed and not overlooked; a place with adequately supported systems to move us forward together; and a place in which we build on our traditions of acting together for the common good.

As you know from reading this blog, there have been a lot of changes to safety net programs for Oregon families over the past several months due to state budget cuts. The Oregon State Legislature needs to know what the impact of the cuts were, and you now have an opportunity to help us tell the story!

In August, a workgroup was formed which is seeking to help the Legislature understand the impact of the budget cuts that were made during the 2011 Legislative session. The workgroup is mainly comprised of DHS staff, but also incorporate partners, including members of the TANF Alliance, such as Neighborhood Partnerships.

As part of the workgroup’s interest in understanding the impact of the budget cuts, we have created a survey. The survey is sponsored by the workgroup, the Family Services Review Commission, the Oregon Department of Human Services, among others.

We need your help! Please consider filling out this survey on changes to the TANF Program! Have the changes to the TANF program affected your agency or your agency’s ability to serve clients? We want to hear from you!

We’d like to hear from organizations or churches that serve people who also receive TANF, current or former TANF clients, family and friends of someone with TANF benefits, people who have applied for TANF, and DHS case workers or JOBS contractors.

Help us tell the Oregon legislature how changes to the TANF program are affecting families with children by filling out this survey: http://www.fsrcoregon.org/. The survey is available now until Wednesday, November 9th. Please fill it out today!

This survey is anonymous and participation will NOT affect anyone’s TANF benefits. You will not be asked to share your name.

Thank you for sharing your story. This information can help shape the future of TANF in Oregon. Interested in passing along the survey to others? Download a flyer here: http://bit.ly/v73dmf. Questions? Contact Alison at amcintosh@neighborhoodpartnerships.org or Jessica at TANFsurvey@gmail.com or 503.595.5501 x305.