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| Inside news from the Housing Authority of Portland | August 2008 |
Shelli Romero and Jim Smith have joined HAP’s nine-member
board of commissioners. Jeff Bachrach, HAP’s board chair,
said, “Shelli and Jim bring unique skills and work experiences
to HAP. It will be great to add their strengths to our board,
particularly with the large number of new projects and initiatives on
our plate right now.”
Romero plans to use her board service to make positive contributions toward building and sustaining healthy communities and to make a difference in people’s lives. She has public sector and non-profit experience in both housing and supportive services. Currently, she is a government liaison for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Portland Region One.
Smith brings a strong background in business management to the
board. He plans to use his expertise to build bridges between
the agency’s efforts to help its clients become more
self-sufficient and the local business community. After an
extensive business career, he is now CEO of YCHANGE International, a
management consulting firm for small and medium-sized companies.
Read more about new commissioners Shelli Romero and Jim Smith
HAP Works to Extend MTW Agreement
For more than 10 years, HAP has been one of a few housing authorities nationwide – just 28 out of some 3100 – that operates as a Moving to Work (MTW) agency. Administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the MTW program was created by Congress to give housing authorities more flexibility to develop programs that better meet the needs of the local community.
As an MTW agency, HAP is expected to introduce innovations that increase housing choice, promote economic self-sufficiency, and improve administrative efficiency. HAP has used this flexibility – which includes the ability to move funds between programs – to build its GOALS self-sufficiency program, spur non-profit housing development with a local project-based Section 8 program, and improve rent administration.
Now, HAP is working with HUD to extend its MTW status for another 10 years, and expects to bring the new agreement to the board for consideration at its September meeting. “We’re honored to be an MTW agency,” said Steve Rudman, HAP’s executive director, “and pleased to continue innovating for another decade."
Read more about the new standard MTW agreement
National Night Out Events Bring HAP Residents, Neighbors Together
HAP’s annual National Night Out celebrations, held on August
5, provided HAP residents and neighbors a chance to get better
acquainted with each other and meet local police, fire and emergency
personnel. National Night Out is the nation’s biggest
community event to promote crime prevention.
More than 4,000 people enjoyed food, music, and activities at 15 of HAP’s public housing properties and 13 of its affordable housing communities. New Columbia’s event in McCoy Park drew 2,000 people, more than twice the 2007 attendance. Portland Chief of Police Rosie Sizer joined in the Hollywood East party, and Mayor Tom Potter was a guest at the inaugural Humboldt Gardens gathering.
“This is an opportunity for neighbors and partners to mingle in an informal way with our residents and appreciate that they’re all part of the same community,” said Dianne Quast, HAP’s director of Real Estate Operations.
HAP PROFILE: Hillsdale Terrace and Multnomah Presbyterian Church
At Hillsdale Terrace, HAP’s 60-unit public housing community
in Southwest Portland’s Hillsdale neighborhood, volunteers are
an essential part of helping low-income families connect with the
larger neighborhood. “We’re grateful to so many
caring people and organizations,” said April Soles, Hillsdale
Terrace site manager. “Volunteers from Oregon Health
Sciences University, the SW Neighborhood Association, and Multnomah
Presbyterian Church provide everything from food and entertainment at
events to helping with work projects.”
At Hillsdale Terrace’s recent National Night Out event, a
group of 17 volunteers organized by the church prepared and served
food for over 100 people. Fran Barth, unofficial organizer of
the Multnomah Presbyterian group that volunteers regularly at the
housing community, works at the neighborhood’s Hayhurst
Elementary School and invited teachers to pitch in as well.
“It is very meaningful to our kids and families to see their
teachers show they care about them as individuals,” said Soles.
“We get way more out of
it than these families do,” said Barth. “Our
volunteers are the nicest people and their hearts are so big.
Our hope is that we will break down barriers over time and all of us
will get to know each other better as individuals and eventually feel
like we are all part of one community.”
Monthly Reports
Read the latest Dashboard report
Read the latest Humboldt Gardens report
Read the latest Public Housing Preservation report
HAP IN THE NEWS
Read more about HAP’s projects,
accomplishments and work in the community.
DAILY JOURNAL OF
COMMERCE: Legal battle to decide future of Grove
Hotel
PHONE: 503-802-8300 • E-MAIL: hapunwrapped@hapdx.org • WEB: www.hapdx.org