Housing Opportunity Update – June 5, 2015

June 5, 2015
This session can prove historic. Governor Kate Brown and Speaker of the House Tina Kotek have recognized that ensuring that all Oregonians have a home should and must be a priority if we want to meet our other state goals. In the final weeks of the 2015 Legislative session our families, our communities and our champions need our help to make this and our other priorities a reality.

3-5 Weeks Left

  • The last month of the legislative session is upon us. The Oregon Constitution states that the legislative session cannot run past July 11.
  • We have visited legislators in Salem, we have testified in committees, we have gone to district meetings, and advocated for #homes4oregon on social media. Let’s keep the momentum going.

Our Policy Priorities Are On Track 

  • Our efforts have already paid off.
  • If bills have not had a work session in the second chamber by today, they are dead (with some exceptions, of course).
  • All of our policy support agenda bills are still moving through the process or have already been signed into law.
  • Please check the Housing Alliance website, which we will be updating with statuses for the rest of session.

Let’s Finish Strong 

Funding from Meyer Memorial Trust

The latest funding opportunity from Meyer Memorial Trust’s Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) is now available. This funding opportunity supports the AHI’s goal to foster innovation by inviting collaboratives working to better align affordable housing with services that contribute to residents’ stability and success to apply. Most awards are expected to be one-year grants between $50,000 and $75,000. For a well-developed plan for a two-year project, we will consider grants of up to $150,000 over a two-year period. MMT anticipates awarding up to $900,000 in grant funds to align services and housing systems through this RFP. Proposals to improve service and housing systems alignment are due Friday, August 14, 2015, at 5 p.m.

Please pass this info on to others as appropriate. Please contact Michael Parkhurst at michael@mmt.org or 503-228-5512 for any technical assistance support in applying. Groups are strongly encouraged to vet project ideas and check eligibility with Michael before submitting an application.

ICYMI