Approved Minutes - 2005-02-10Affordable Housing Task Force
Meeting Notes
February 10, 2005, 6:00-8:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers, Lake Oswego City Hall
Members in Attendance: Dan Vizzini, Diane Luther, Paul Lyons, Emogene Waggoner,
Beckie Plaza
Staff in Attendance: Stephan Lashbrook, Donna Gouse
Guests in Attendance: Steve Sprecher, Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, Diana
Shavey, Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, Richard Shavey, JoAnn Z. Leach, Christ
Church Episcopal Parish, Barbara Acker, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Ueli Stadler,
LOTSM, Stan Aschenbrenner, LO United Methodist Church, Char White, LOTSM, Gay
Graham, City Council, Erin O’Rourke-Meadors
I. Welcome
Dan Vizzini opened the meeting and did introductions. The notes from the Dec. 16 and
Jan. 26 meetings will be reviewed and approved at the next meeting.
II. Discussion with Transitional Shelter Ministry
There were representatives of the Lake Oswego Transitional Shelter Ministry (LOTSM)
and local churches in attendance to discuss the services they provide to the community.
Steve Sprecher, pastor of the Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, said that he
receives about 2-4 requests a month for help with rent. He said the church receives twice
as many calls for help with utilities. Even though the local churches do not advertise
these services, people find them and call. A majority of the people who call for assistance
are from Lake Oswego and Clackamas County. They are almost always families and
single parents. About 25% are elderly. The funds provided for assistance come out of the
pastor’s discretionary fund, and are not part of the church’s budget. Donations from the
congregation go toward this discretionary fund. On average, the church provides $50-100
to families in need, for one time. The church pays the landlord or utility directly. A good
percentage of the people who call are working, or are in a transitional situation, such as
starting a new job. Medical bills and lack of health insurance are often the reason people
need financial assistance. The church provides about $2-3,000 per year in assistance.
It was mentioned that in Lake Oswego, there are no community-based groups, such as
Neighborhood House in SW Portland, to provide the type of services discussed above.
Diana Shavey of the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church said the church has 1,200
members, 400 seniors, with 40 eligible for subsidized housing. The church has doubled
its food-giving this past year. The church has identified the need for more subsidized
housing in L.O. as a key issue, and is considering working in partnership with the
national Presbyterian Church to apply for funding to build senior housing. Among the
funding sources being considered are HUD Section 202 housing for seniors. Currently,
there are long waiting lists for federally subsidized housing. In order to qualify for
subsidized housing, applicants must go through criminal and credit checks, which
disqualifies some people in need of housing. The aging population has also been
identified as a major issue for the local community, and Clackamas County only has three
subsidized housing communities for seniors.
There was a brief discussion of the requirements for organizations applying for HUD
Section 202 funds. Section 202 funds provide capital advances for the construction or
rehabilitation of housing, and it was stated that a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization needs
to be the borrower and must be knowledgeable about the management of affordable
housing. Section 202 funds permanent housing. There are 22,000 church and nonprofit
affordable housing units nationwide (note: staff is checking if these numbers are
accurate). It was also mentioned that CDBG funds (Community Development Block
Grants) have funded local shelters. In LO, Clackamas County is the entity that applies for
CDBG funds.
It was stated that there is a need for a list of service resources provided in Clackamas
County. (Note: Clackamas County maintains on online social services resource guide at
http://www.co.clackamas.or.us/socialservices/irispag1.htm.)
Dan asked those in attendance to think about/discuss how to “knit the community
together.” He stated that is a need, given the number of churches providing services in
LO.
Char White of the Lake Oswego Transitional Shelter Ministry discussed the work of the
coalition, which includes seven churches. She stated it is an all-volunteer organization,
and they will be expanding to two shelters (two transitional housing units). It is now a
501(c)(3). There was a question of the process of forming a nonprofit. In this case, each
church in the coalition provided donations. How did the coalition identify housing as the
primary need? In the course of providing services, it often began with providing
assistance to women with children who needed assistance to stabilize their families. In
most churches, there are 3-5 active volunteers who donate their time on housing issues.
This brought up the fact that smaller programs have the advantage of being run by
volunteers, and that expansion often results in the need for paid staff.
There was discussion on how the shelter operates. Joann said that the families are
referred by Clackamas County staff. It is a family shelter only, and the typical stay is
usually 3-6 months. Volunteers work with the families throughout their stay and there is
also a mentoring program where volunteers regularly keep in contact with the families
after they leave the shelter. The volunteers are very dedicated and provide much
assistance to the families. Finding permanent housing in LO is nearly impossible,
however, everyone who leaves the shelter is placed into permanent housing in
surrounding areas.
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It was mentioned that Clackamas County operates only nine units of transitional housing
for families, through the Annie Ross House in Milwaukie.
Dan suggested that a survey of Lake Oswego churches be conducted since the coalition
does not include all churches in the community. It was agreed that should be done.
Diane Luther discussed the need for permanent housing, and a program called Bridges to
Housing that is working in the Portland region to provide supportive housing to formerly
homeless families. The program is applying for funding from the Gates Foundation,
which would go toward housing and services in the Portland region. She also said that the
Task Force should think about how to acquire land for affordable housing in LO.
Diane also mentioned that the state of Oregon is getting funding from the HUD 202
program for 50-60 units for the whole state.
Diane also mentioned that transportation is a big obstacle for low-income families and
that there is a national program to provide cars or car repairs to low-income people. (The
program is called Ways to Work-- http://www.alliance1.org/Home/Waystowork.htm.)
Dan asked the church representatives present what their recommendations would be for
the City of Lake Oswego. The response was that permanent affordable housing is needed.
It was also stated that preserving existing housing should be a priority since building new
affordable housing is costly. Another issue is gaining the community’s support because
there are misperceptions about affordable housing.
It was also stated that social services are needed along with housing. While churches play
an important role in the provision of services and housing, they do not have the resources
to meet all of the need. There is a need for a network composed of schools, churches and
the county.
Examples of programs in other communities: 1) Seattle Office of Aging, which links
senior homeowners with caregivers; and 2) Oregon Community Warehouse located in
NW Portland, is a good resource for referring low income families in need of furniture
and other household items. They accept donations.
Announcement: dedication of the new shelter operated by LOTSM on Sunday, Feb. 13.
III. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, 6:00-8:30 p.m. in the City
Council Chambers.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
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