RESOLUTION No. 36321 AS AMENDED  

Oppose the FY 2005-06 reductions to federal funding for housing (Resolution)

WHEREAS, housing gives people an opportunity to build better lives, such that with a place to call home children do better in schools, seniors and people with disabilities live with greater dignity and independence, and families realize and grow their dreams; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve Bank ranks Oregon 48th among states in rental affordability, often resulting in Oregon households being forced into horrible choices between paying for rent and utilities or paying for necessities, such as food, clothing and medicine; and

WHEREAS, American Housing Survey Data shows that Multnomah County is short 17,276 rental units for people from 0-30% of Median Family Income, and that estimated that 82% of all households in the Metro region earning less than 30% of Median Family Income are in need of affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, the FY 2005-06 Federal Budget proposals submitted by the White House and the U.S. Congress would make significant cuts to housing related programs including Community Development Block Grant, HOME, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, and Public Housing that provide housing affordable to our most economically vulnerable community members; and

WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grants, funded this year at nearly $5 billion, could be cut by as much as 50 percent and moved from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the U.S. Department of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, the White House and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have submitted legislation entitled the State and Local Housing Flexibility Act of 2005 that will drastically change how affordable housing programs operate such that the number of families and individuals below 30% of Median Family Income who benefit from public housing could be significantly reduced; and

WHEREAS, the State and Local Housing Flexibility Act of 2005 would change the current requirement that at least 75% of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers must go to households with incomes below 30% AMI to a policy that would allow up to 90% of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to go to households with incomes up to 60% of Median Family Income.

WHEREAS, reductions in federal housing funding for FY 2004-05 necessitated the Housing Authority of Portland to raise the income percentage a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipient must pay such that voucher holders are receiving up to a 17% raise in rent costs; and

WHEREAS, the City of Portland and its residents depend heavily on the invaluable assistance which Community Development Block Grant, HOME, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, and Public Housing programs provide;

NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the City of Portland opposes the reductions to federal funding for housing as proposed by the White House and U.S. Congress, and housing assistance program policy changes in the State and Local Housing Flexibility Act of 2005.

Adopted by the Council: May 25, 2005  GARY BLACKMER

 Auditor of the City of Portland

 By /S/ Susan Parsons

 Deputy

Commissioner Sam Adams

Prepared by: Jesse Beason

May 19, 2005

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 524-2005

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36321 AS AMENDED