For over three decades, Neighborhood Partnerships (NP) has been at the forefront of creating positive change for Oregonians. Our journey, which began in 1989, is a testament to the power of community-driven solutions and adaptive strategies in addressing the evolving needs of our state.
Neighborhood Partnerships was born in 1989 as the Neighborhood Partnership Fund within the Oregon Community Foundation. Our initial focus was clear: revitalize Portland’s communities that had been affected by disinvestment and redlining. We started by nurturing the growth of Community Development Corporations (CDCs) through small, neighborhood-based grants.
Key Impact: By the late 1990s, we had expanded the CDC industry in Portland from just two organizations to over 20, creating a robust network of community-focused development entities.
The turn of the millennium marked a period of significant growth and evolution for NP:
- 2003: We took on the administration of the Oregon Individual Development Account (IDA) Initiative, a program that would go on to help thousands of Oregonians build assets and financial stability.
- 2004: Recognizing the need for systemic change, we established the Oregon Housing Alliance, focusing on state policy for housing investments.
- 2005: A pivotal year that saw us shift our focus towards systems change and policy work. We moved from directly funding CDCs to addressing broader systemic issues affecting low-income Oregonians.
- 2006-2010: We launched and managed Bridges to Housing, an innovative four-county, two-state effort to serve families experiencing long-term homelessness.
Key Impact: During this decade, we laid the groundwork for statewide policy changes and initiatives that would have lasting effects on housing and economic opportunity in Oregon.
- 2014: We launched the first RE:Conference, bringing together thought leaders in housing and asset building from across the state.
- 2015-2019: Through the Housing Alliance, we achieved significant legislative victories, including:
- Increased funding for affordable housing development and preservation.
- Passage of tenant protection laws including the nation’s first statewide rent cap.
- Statewide legalization of missing middle housing types.
- 2017-2018: We intensified our focus on equity and inclusion, working with the Center for Equity and Inclusion to transform our internal practices and external work.
- 2018: Launched Residents Organizing for Change (ROC), empowering residents of affordable housing to advocate for their communities.
- 2020: Established the Oregon Economic Justice Roundtable (OEJR) to advance racial and economic justice.
- 2023-2024: We completed our first contract negotiation and signed our first collective bargaining agreement.
Key Impact: Our work during this period led to concrete policy changes that improved housing stability and economic opportunity for thousands of Oregonians, with a particular focus on addressing racial and economic disparities.
As we continue our journey, Neighborhood Partnerships remains committed to developing human-centered solutions to immediate harms and powering liberatory and transformative change across Oregon. Our history is a testament to the power of community, innovation, and persistence in creating lasting, positive change.