There are many noble efforts being made to feed and care for the homeless in Portland, which is indeed commendable. In Beaverton, a suburb of Portland, the city council recently voted to exempt three new affordable housing projects from property taxes. Read the full article here. These properties include 223 apartments. This is the type of permanent affordable housing which is needed. Congratulations Beaverton for being creative about providing this type of housing. It shows a great creativity in engaging the private sector to fulfill a public need.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) foreclosures were filed against close to 3 million American homeowners in 2010 and in increasing numbers in 2012. The preferred model should be Affordable Housing that offers permanent homes to the needy combined with support services that will enable the less fortunate in our society to lay roots, become part of the community and to thrive.
The Obama Administration program “Opening Doors” has made it their goal to provide mainstream housing, combined with health care, education and human service programs, which must be fully integrated and coordinated in order to prevent and end homelessness. Your support for this model to end homelessness is important for the healthy growth of our communities and the eradication of poverty in our country.
