Housing

Adopted 1989.

City, County and private sectors should continually monitor changes in the population needing affordable housing and address their housing needs.

Criteria to be used when selecting areas for neighborhood revitalization should include neighborhoods: a) at risk of further deterioration; b) showing some evidence of stability, citizen involvement and community support; c) having a community focal point, such as a school, park, community center and/or convenient transportation.

We support a variety of means to encourage private investments in low-income housing, such as tax abatement, tax credits, low-interest loans and grants.

We favor consolidation of City, County and private agencies involved in housing within the City of Portland.  Benefits derived from the consolidation include: less duplication, cost efficiency, convenience to the public, shared knowledge and heightened awareness of the importance of adequate housing.

Adopted 1981.

The League of Women Voters of Portland supports:

• Retention of single-room-occupancy (SRO) housing units and support by the City of Portland for rehabilitation for existing units;
• Retention of downtown low-income housing supported by federally subsidized loans, community development grants (CDBG), and federal rent subsidies;
• Encouragement of privately developed, middle-income housing downtown through incentive low-interest loans;
• Avoidance of building closures for building and fire code violations by:  a) establishment of a hearings officer position with authority to enforce the code and, b) provision of low-interest loans to building owners for complying with code;
• Consolidation of information on the availability and location of subsidized housing in a master list which could be located with the Housing Authority of Portland;
• Sufficient housing expertise within the Planning Commission to facilitate effective attention to housing issues in Portland.

As a general policy, the League of Women Voters of Portland does not favor city acquisition of buildings for low-income housing or SRO units. Only if all other means for retaining low-income housing or buildings of historical importance have failed, should the city purchase such property.  The League recommends that some entity other than the city administer buildings acquired in this manner.

The League favors financing of any such building acquisitions by tax increment funds, housing and community development block grants or revenue bonds.