7 Things We're Grateful For
2023 gave us much to celebrate—from talented new board members to lowered housing barriers for people experiencing homelessness. Here are some highlights.
Our rural partners delivered housing and services to small communities from Oregon’s dry side to the coast.
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council serves Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties. Horizon Project Inc. operates in Pendleton, Hermiston, and Milton-Freewater. Like many rural nonprofits, they work across large geographic areas to meet the needs of underserved Oregonians. In 2023, HDC supported these and other rural organizations to reach their goals, from sustaining large and growing housing portfolios to building a pathbreaking navigation center and emergency shelter.
At left: The team from Northwest Coastal Housing celebrated the grand re-opening of the Golden Eagle II apartments in Tillamook in October.
HDC project teams opened 700 affordable homes to residents.
When construction ends and residents move into their new and refurbished homes, a years-long affordable housing development project achieves its purpose. HDC project teams brought 10 developments across this all-important milestone in 2023—events we celebrated at grand openings all year long. Each development has its own unique story; see the full list of 10 projects.
At right: A resident family joined a fall photo shoot at Cascadia Health’s newly opened Centennial Place. (Photograph by Michelle O’Shea.)
Rural and culturally specific housing providers built capacity and shined a light on systems barriers.
HDC is excited to be a partner in a new capacity-building program funded by OHCS and Meyer Memorial Trust, which is supporting four Oregon organizations to grow and sustain healthy housing portfolios—and to identify and work through systems barriers. Our staff is providing technical assistance to participating teams as they define pathways to achieve big organizational goals.
At left: Teams from Hacienda CDC, NAYA Family Center, Bienestar, and Farmworker Housing Development Corporation met for a full-day work session in October.
Two creative and courageous leaders joined our board.
Collectively, our two newest board members bring passion for positive change and deep experience in community organizing, housing policy, and land use policy to HDC’s governing body. We are thrilled that Mercedes Elizalde, director of advocacy at Latino Network, and Sam Diaz, executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon, are part of our organizational leadership.
The largest-ever Housing Oregon conference fueled our passions.
We connected with new and familiar faces. We came away with fresh ideas and inspiration. And we presented trainings on topics from Development 101 to financing and operating permanent supportive housing. We’re still catching up with the wealth of recorded sessions on Housing Oregon’s YouTube channel—and we’re already starting to plan for next year.
At left: HDC Executive Director Traci Manning, Director of Real Estate Development Travis Phillips, and other staff collaborated to present a three-part Development 101 workshop. (Photograph courtesy of Housing Oregon.)
It got easier for metro-area landlords to rent homes to residents at risk of homelessness.
Regional long-term rent assistance (RLRA) vouchers help individuals and families at high risk of homelessness in the Portland-metro area pay their rent. The RLRA Risk Mitigation Program provides a financial incentive to landlords who rent to RLRA-assisted residents. HDC partnered with Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah counties this year to launch and manage the RLRA Risk Mitigation Program—and lower housing barriers for vulnerable residents.
We connected and collaborated with an amazing circle of clients, partners, and friends.
We’re grateful for all the people in HDC’s extended work community who bring purpose to the great things we do together. That includes you. Thank you.
At left: HDC Senior Construction Project Manager Lynn Lindgren and Mid-Columbia Community Action Council Executive Director Kenny LaPoint celebrated the groundbreaking of The Gloria navigation center and shelter in The Dalles in March.
