The Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) recently announced two funding awards from the Fall 2023 Affordable Housing Preservation Request for Interest (RFI) released in September 2023. These awards are aimed at preserving and rehabilitating existing affordable housing projects in the city.
In an effort to address the ongoing need for maintaining affordable housing, PHB has allocated $4.825 million in City American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for rehabilitation and preservation projects. These funds will be used to make health, fire, life, and safety repairs, as well as modernization and improvements to increase livability for residents and extend the useful life of housing projects. Leveraging Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) dollars, the rehabilitation projects will also focus on improving energy efficiency.
The recipients of the preservation funds are Rosemont Court, a 100-unit affordable housing development owned by Northwest Housing Alternatives serving low-income seniors in North Portland, and the Shoreline, a 62-unit transitional housing project in Old Town owned by Central City Concern.
Both Rosemont Court and the Shoreline were selected through a competitive solicitation process, agreeing to a minimum 60-year affordability period regulated by PHB. Commissioner Carmen Rubio emphasized the importance of preserving existing affordable homes alongside the expansion of the affordable housing stock.
“While we continue to expand our affordable housing stock throughout Portland with the opening of more than 500 new affordable homes just last year, it is of critical importance to maintain existing affordable homes as well. These awards ensure that more than 200 vulnerable Portlanders, including our valued senior citizens, will be able to live in homes they can afford,” said Commissioner Carmen Rubio.
Rosemont Court, located at 597 N Dekum St, Portland, OR 97217, is a 100-unit affordable housing development originally constructed as a convent in 1917. Redeveloped in 2000 by Northwest Housing Alternatives as low-income senior housing, the building requires significant rehabilitation, including a new water system, following a Legionella outbreak in January 2021. The project aims to reopen within 6 months of construction start, offering amenities such as a large community room, a sheltered courtyard, on-site laundry, and on-site services for senior and BIPOC residents.
The Shoreline, situated at 125 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209, was built in 1912 as the Burnside Hotel and later redeveloped by Central City Concern in 1991. The 62-unit transitional housing project, serving participants in the Parole Transition Program (PTP), is undergoing essential improvements, including roof replacement and energy-efficiency upgrades aligned with PCEF goals. The Shoreline provides a drug- and alcohol-free community for individuals on probation and parole, offering wrap-around services and peer support to facilitate their journey toward self-sufficiency.
According to city officials, these preservation projects underscore the commitment of Portland Housing Bureau to address the city’s housing and homelessness crisis, and is a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive housing landscape for all residents.
