Oregon’s economy is both booming and struggling, and the pressure is on for housing markets across the state. The problem shows up as a lack of housing stock, high rents, unaffordable homeownership, sub-standard housing quality. People with low incomes, people experiencing a disability, and especially people of color experience the greatest barriers to housing opportunity. Hear what the data says about growing wealth disparity and housing opportunity gaps, and add your voice to this discussion about what housing needs are in your community. How does data drive policy change and greater inclusion? Megan Bolton, Research Analyst, Oregon Housing and Community Services Katie Sawicki, Policy Director, Urban League of Portland Stephanie Jennings, Grants Manager, Community Development, City of Eugene

1. HOUSING OPPORTUNITY IN OREGON: A LOOK AT
NEEDS
PRESENTED AT:
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS 2015 RE:CONFERENCE
PRESENTED BY:
MEGAN BOLTON
October 30, 2015

2. OREGON HOUSING & COMMUNITY
SERVICES
Mission: We provide stable and affordable housing and
engage leaders to develop integrated statewide policy that
addresses poverty and provides opportunity for Oregonians.
• OHCS administers federal and state antipoverty, homeless,
energy assistance, and community service programs.
• OHCS also assists in the financing of single-family homes,
the new construction or rehabilitation of multifamily
affordable housing developments, and provides grants and
tax credits to promote affordable housing.
4 2

3. RECENT TRENDS
● As of 2014, Oregon was the 13th fastest growing state in
the country.
● More people continue to move from ownership market to
rental market or delay timing of first home purchase.
● Housing markets are tightening all across the state, and
rental vacancy rates in particular are very low. This has
driven rents up.
● Job growth and incomes have remained stagnant, with
most new job growth limited to low wage sectors.
● Federal resources for housing assistance are declining,
putting more pressure on states to ensure residents are
stably housed.
4 3

4. • Median Gross Rent increased from $816 in 2010 to $924 in
2014.
• In order to afford a 2-Bedroom unit in Oregon at the Fair
Market Rent of $864 someone would need to earn a wage
of $16.61 per hour.
● A minimum wage worker would need to work 72 hours a
week to afford this level of rent.
• Median home sale prices have been increasing since 2011,
reaching $255,000 in June 2015.
● A household income of approximately $70,000 would be
needed to afford this home price.
4
COST OF HOUSING

5. 5
132,000 renter
households in
Oregon are
considered
“Extremely Low
Income”
There are only
29,000 rental
units
affordable and
available to
those
households
SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Only one in four eligible
households receive a federal
housing subsidy nationwide

6. 6
COST BURDEN OF RENTERS
Source: HUD CHAS Data, 2008-2012

7. COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
• Over represented among those with housing problems and
extremely low incomes
7
Source: HUD CHAS Data, 2007-2011

8. Race % of Homeless
Population
% of Total Population
White 79.0% 85.2%
African American 6.1% 1.8%
Asian 0.7% 3.8%
Native American 4.3% 1.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific
Islander
1.0% 0.4%
Multiple Races 4.9% 3.8%
Missing Race/Other Race 3.9% 3.7%
Hispanics/Latinos (can be
of any Race)
10% 11.9%
8
HOMELESS ASSESSMENT BY
RACE/ETHNICITY
Source: 2015 PIT Count data, 2009-2013 American Community Survey data

9. • In planning processes (Consolidated Plan, Analysis of
Impediments, Annual Plans, etc.)
• To set priorities for the use of federal and state funds
• In allocation formulas for state programs
• To report on the agency’s performance towards certain
goals
• Recent examples:
● A Needs Assessment and Market Analysis were completed for the
2015-2020 Consolidated Plan
● A research brief on the 2015 Point-in-Time count was released
● The policy subcommittee tasked with determining how the new
LIFT fund will be targeted and how success with be measured is
using Census, OHCS, and DHS data
9
HOW OHCS USES DATA

10. • OHCS is part of the Oregon Enterprise Data Analytics
Advisory Committee, and the Integrated Client Services
data Steering Committee
●The state is building upon the ICS data warehouse and
creating a data analytics unit around it.
• OHCS is working on updating and potentially expanding
the Oregon Affordable Housing Inventory (OAHI)
• Create better internal reporting systems and more regular,
comprehensive external reports on agency activities.
10
FUTURE DATA GOALS

12. The Framework
The State of Black Oregon 2015 report illustrates
the status of Black Oregonians through
• data
• analysis
• and storytelling

13. “ I felt like I was seen for the
first time”
-2009 case study participant

14. Disaggregating by Race
demographic vs. geographic
2009’s report helped to unpackage initial
disparities in wealth and homeownership
– Homeowners have 20-40 times the net wealth of a
renter
– Homeownership rates comparing black and white
households
2015’s report highlighted the need for solutions
to focus on race (AND geography)

16. 30 %
Poverty High Mobility Incarceration
IMPAC
TLow Birth Weight
11
%
Achievement Gap Homeownership Rates

17. A Growing Gap in Key Areas
Median Household Income
(2000 inflation-adjusted, 2006-2010)

18. Unemployment

19. Incarceration

20. Displacement

21. Wealth gap

22. What does progress look like
• Here is what we see now…
• Here is what we want to see…
Parity in home ownership

23. Writing our
next chapter:
A Call to
action
WE NEED
INVESTME
NT

24. Download Full Report at
ULPDX.ORG/SOB
O

25. STEPHANIE JENNINGS, AICP
GRANTS MANAGER, CITY OF EUGENE
Equity and Opportunity
Assessment

26. What is the Lane Livability Consor2um?
Par$cipa$ng Agencies
• City of Eugene
• City of Springfield
• Lane County
• Lane Transit District
• Lane Council of Governments
• Housing and Community Services Agency
of Lane County
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County
• Eugene Water & Electric Board
• Central Lane Metropolitan Planning
Organiza2on
• Oregon Department of Transporta2on
• University of Oregon
• United Way of Lane County
A coalition of 12 entities including
local government, regional planning,
nonprofit, and educational agencies
and organizations.
Formed to apply for and manage the
implementation of the HUD
Sustainable Communities Regional
Planning Grant.
With direction from participating
agencies, the Consortium is carrying
out a collection of initiatives to
advance issues of regional
importance.

27. What is the Equity and Opportunity Assessment?
Guided by four goals
• Create a common understanding of issues of equity, access, and
opportunity through analysis of data and community
perspec7ves
• Iden4fy areas of greater and lesser opportunity within our
community through data and analysis
• Consider how this analysis can inform plans, policies,
investments, and public par7cipa7on strategies
• Develop recommenda7ons for applying the analysis to plans,
policies, investments, and public par7cipa7on strategies

28. Lane Livability Equity Reports

29. Equity and Opportunity Assessment

30. Process Steps
Iden%fy Key Issues
and Data through
Interviews
Select and Map Data
Discuss and Interpret
Data and Maps
Iden%fy Findings and
Recommenda%ons
Share Dra> Findings
and Develop Final
Report

31. Equity and Opportunity Assessment Focus Areas

32. Social and Demographic Characteris4cs
Composite Includes:
• La3no Ethnicity
• Minority
• Age 0-17, Age 60-79, Age 80+
• Popula3on with Disability
• Single Female Headed Households
• Single Male Headed Households

33. Examples of Specific Applica1ons
• Brownfield Redevelopment Priori1za1on
• Affordable Housing Si1ng Decisions
• Iden1fica1on of Environmental Jus1ce Issues
• Community Health Concerns
• Iden1fica1on of Vulnerable Popula1ons to inform Natural Hazard
Mi1ga1on Plans
• Targe1ng Alterna1ve Transporta1on Improvements

34. Reaching Residents of Affordable Housing

35. Par$cipa$ng Partners
Lane Livability
Consortium
HACSA
Cornerstone
Community
Housing
City of Eugene
City of Springfield
St. Vincent de
Paul

37. Topic Areas
1. Loca/on of Housing1. Transporta/on &
Traffic Safety
2. Percep)on of Safety 7. Health and Wellness
3. Services Needs
Assessment
8. Food and Nutri)on
4. Childcare 9. Financial Opportuni)es
5. Schools 10. Access to Jobs

38. Housing Characteris0cs
• Housing Affordability, Quality and Safety received
highest ra;ngs. Housing Loca;on and Access to Transit
followed in importance.

39. Turtle Creek Prairie View Aurora
Recommenda*on:
Con*nue to emphasize housing choice in developing
affordable housing. Residents valued opportuni*es to
live in both urban and more suburban loca*ons,
different buildings, and valued different ameni*es.

40. Percep&on of Safety
• 75% feel safe in home, 60% in
neighborhood
• “Safety” o<en refers to traffic
safety rather than safety from
crime.
• Numerous comments about
traffic safety, crossings and
speeds received through general
survey and focus group
quesEons.

41. Transporta)on
• 31% of residents use an Lane Transit District bus pass, but
66% said they would if bus passes were cheaper.
• Comments about the bus are:
• Cost of bus passes
• Lack of frequency in some locaCons
• Lack of night and weekend service
• Difficulty geGng to and from bus stops because of traffic
safety problems.

42. Transporta)on & Traffic Safety
Recommenda)on
Explore ways to improve traffic safety around affordable
housing developments to improve access to bus stops &
schools.
Recommenda)on
Increase affordability & access to public transporta)on for
affordable housing residents. Consider both physical
access as well as financial access.

43. Thank you!