The Need for Affordable Housing in Portland The need for affordable housing in the Portland metropolitan area is clear. In the past decade as the region’s economy boomed, housing prices rose dramatically, rapidly outstripping minimal increases in median income. Median house prices more than doubled in the region between 1990 and 1996. Consequently, there have been a large number of renters displaced as their landlords put their homes on the market.According to the 2000 U.S. Census 32% of all families do not have affordable housing in the Portland Metro Area. Metro estimates that the Portland region will need more than 90,000 units of affordable housing for the very low income in the next fifteen years. At the region’s current rate of production, Portland will not come close to meeting this need. On the contrary, we continue to see significant losses of affordable units in neighborhoods throughout Portland that are undergoing economic revitalization.75% of all units within Portland Collective Housing are designed to be permanently affordable to those with “very low incomes,” i.e., those making no more than 50% of the area’s median income (AMI). In Portland, this translates into an income of $23,050 for a single person. HUD has set the maximum amount that people should have to pay for their housing costs as 30% of their income. For someone at 50% AMI, this translates into roughly $432 a month for housing costs. Our project at 4034-4038 N Mississippi Ave, with rents averaging $425 a month for five tenants falls below that figure. After creating two more units at the property, the rent will be even lower. Our Mission Statement Portland Collective Housing, inc., is a public benefit corporation for people of low to moderate income which has as its primary purposes:To foster and facilitate housing collectives to alleviate poverty and promote the general welfare. To improve neighborhoods, promote diversity, and reverse community decay while opposing displacement and gentrification. To demonstrate mutual aid and sustainable democratic property stewardship. To teach the skills of economic self-organization alongside the values of ecological wisdom, social justice and economic democracy.Board Members Portland Collective Housing is managed by a Board of Directors which is voted into office by the PCH membership. Boardmembers must by part of a current PCH household or within a board-chartered house seeking group. Decisions of the Board are subject to review and recall by the membership at membership meetings or by referenda. The Board is empowered to establish policy, administer operations and take actions they deem best for PCH, except as limited by the bylaws of the organization. Nancy St Germaine President view profile Bill Bradley Vice President view profile Jason Burt Treasurer view profile Secretary Mark Hedlund Maintenance Coordinator view profile Outreach Coordinator You Volunteer view profile Our History Portland Collective Housing Because Rent is a Ripoff! PCH grew out of a dissatisfaction of our lot as renters. We never liked the fact that our rents are large enough to pay for our houses, but, because we are not each of us wealthy enough to scrape together a downpayment, we are forced to buy our homes for our landlords. Before we organized as PCH we did not control the conditions of our housing. We had no say in this vital area of our lives. So we organized. The housing coop models we found with the most longstanding and widespread success seemed to be predominantly organized along the lines recommended by, and often directly affiliated with, the North American Students of Cooperation. One advantage of their model is that housing is kept affordable in the long term, with a steady and growing pool of collective capital for emergencies and for the acquisition of future houses. It did not seem to be an accident that these local coop systems seemed not only to provide well for the needs of their residents, but also to foster and encourage greater civic participation in their communities. It was and is our hope that by demonstrating a fair and democratic way to provide housing for ourselves we would ourselves be a kind of laboratory and living example of the dynamic power of democracy to meet human needs of all sorts. Along the way, NASCO has been a tremendous help to us. They distilled their experience and histories, gave excellent advice, helped us prepare financial projections, and helped us raise capital for the purchase of our first two houses. PCH incorporated as a non-profit in 2002 and has been meeting regularly since. The Board of Directors has written the bylaws, outlined the PCH strategic vision, developed policies and procedures, applied for 501(c)3 tax status, and is just beginning fundraising activities. In March of 2003 we started assisting the Mississippi collective in purchasing their home. In May of 2003 we completed our first home purchase for the benefit of house-seeking group from the board of directors. In August of 2003 we closed on the Mississippi house. Definition of a Co-op A cooperative is a business controlled by the people who use it. It is a democratic organization whose earnings and assets belong to its members. By patronizing and becoming an active member of a co-op, you invest yourself with the power to shape that business. You control the politics and economics of what is truly your organization. This localized member control allows co-ops to be as varied as the people they serve. Thus, there are different types of co-ops including: food co-ops, housing co-ops, arts and crafts co-ops, book co-ops, bakery co-ops, bike co-ops, farm co-ops, rural electric co-ops, financial co-ops (credit unions), and insurance co-ops. And each of these has a flavor of its own, reflective of the desires of its individual memberships. Despite the diversity in type and tradition of co-ops, most have several things in common, particularly the ideals and principles from which they emerge. How Did Co-ops Start?This common bond of ideals and principles of modern cooperation is traced back to 1844 when a group of 29 weavers pooled their savings and opened the first successful consumer co-op on Toad Lane in Rochdale, England. These early co-opers saw themselves on a largely social mission, to provide for themselves cheap goods and services, which the burgeoning Industrial Revolution was keeping out of their reach in the service of personal profit. Their cooperative started out small, only selling a few staple items, but within a few years they had branched out generating annual sales of $100,000.In bringing their social vision to life, the Rochdale Pioneers developed specific guidelines for the operation of their co-op. Today we call these guidelines the cooperative principles or Rochdale Principles. Though updated and modified, the principles bear the same social vision of these co-op pioneers. This vision has been shared by thousands of cooperatives around the world which have adopted these principles as their own, and used them to help organize cooperative businesses. Why Cooperatives? Cooperative enterprises, which follow cooperative principles and in the cooperative tradition, have many benefits. Although the specific benefits of each cooperative varies depending on the organization and the needs of its members, several benefits are almost universal:Cooperatives save money. There is no owner/operator to take a profit from the customer: the customer IS the owner of a cooperative. Members ensure that their cooperative business provides the best quality products and services at the lowest possible cost.Cooperatives demonstrate economic democracy.In an investor-owned corporation the people who have the most money and shares have the most control over the way the business is run. In a cooperative each member has an equal share and one vote when decisions are made. This is known as economic democracy.Cooperatives operate for the benefit of member/owners. In a cooperative, those with similar needs act together and pool their resources for mutual gain. As a democratic entity, a cooperative changes with the changing needs of its members. Cooperatives are non-profit. In a cooperative no one person reaps the benefits if the business has been profitable. After bills are paid and money is set aside for operations and improvements, all profits are returned to co-op members. In a co-op, the purpose is not to make money, but to save it. Cooperative Principles The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice. First Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership Co-operatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination. Second Principle: Democratic Member Control Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner. Third Principle: Member Economic Participation Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. They usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership. Fourth Principle: Autonomy and Independence Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy. Fifth Principle: Education, Training, and Information Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public -- particularly young people and opinion leaders -- about the nature and benefits of co-operation. Sixth Principle: Cooperation Among Co-operatives Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures. Seventh Principle: Concern for Community While focusing on member needs, co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of Living in a PCH house? Community, lower than market rate rents, and democratic access to the decisions that affect our lives as residents. Are there drawbacks? Well, we are not a way to save money in the way that say direct home ownership is for many people. You do not buy a share to come into the house and you do not sell a share if you decide to leave. Also living together fosters a sense of intimacy that can be a kind of mirror, reflecting back how others see us. That helps us grow, but it’s not always easy. Who makes sure bills are paid, repairs are done, and the like? Each house is responsible for making the decisions and dividing the responsibilities that affect only that house. A directly elected board of directors sees to the overall well being of the PCH as a nonprofit. The whole membership meets at least once a year (and can convene itself) to instruct the board, elect or recall its members, or to overturn their decisions if necessary. What if my needs change and I want a different sort of living situation – can I still remain in PCH? It’s possible to organize new houses or building to meet new needs or changing situations. We need to be able to raise the capital, consider the needs of all potential new projects, and of course care for the new property. It is possible though to meet changing needs through our same organization. How can I help? You could donate or lend money; help with work parties to improve our buildings or neighborhoods; volunteer as an assistant to the board; or perhaps help in some way unique to you. What is the difference between a housing co-op and a community land trust? Both housing co-ops and Community Land Trusts are democratically structured, membership based, community land trust, work to create healthy communities through permanently affordable homeownership. Both are also nonprofit corporations that own property title. However Community Land Trusts (CLTs) only own the land and holds it "in trust" forever for the benefit of the community, while the building is owned privately and can be sold by the homeowner according to restrictions created by the land trust. CLTs combine features of private and community ownership. CLT homeowners have some essential benefits of conventional homeownership: lifetime security, a reasonable rate of return on their investment, and a legacy for their descendants. At the same time CLTs make access to housing available to those of modest means. CLTs enable a community to exercise more effective and representative control over its long-term development and prevent absentee ownership. No seller benefits from speculative gains and unearned increases in market value and moderate-income buyers are not priced out of the market and denied decent housing by such increases. While some housing co-op's house have full equity situations where one's share in the co-op can be bought and sold on the open market, PCH is a zero-equity co-op. We structured PCH such that nobody actually owns our houses. We all own them cooperatively for as long as we choose to live in them. When PCH tenants move out of PCH property they cease to have any ownership rights. To our knowledge we're still the only "formal" or real housing coop in portland. Generally speaking, land trusts provide housing for single-family, while housing co-op's tend towards shared living situations. For more information on Community Land Trusts nationally, please see the web site for the Institute for Community Economics http://www.iceclt.org/ For more information on Community Land Trusts locally, please see the web site for the Portland Community Land http://www.pclt.org/ More questions? Call us at 503-233-0326. December 1st 2003 We are working on buying a new house! The emphasis of our new house is single parents but it's not exclusive. The house has five units; 350 square foot rooms, each with a full bath. It has a large kitchen and communal living area. It's in North Portland. If you're interested in this project please contact us at: info@portlandcollectivehousing.org The Neighborhood For more information on the Brooklyn Neighborhood demographics, go to the PortlandMaps.Com website. The House One block North of Holgate, our co-op is in a working class neighborhood on the edge of the Inner Eastside Industrial Area. Our rents vary between $200 and $300. We have six regular residents, one of whom shares a guest room with the rest of the house. We are fairly communal with regard to utilities, and we enjoy quite a bit of common space downstairs. The house is populated currently with working people, who are students, activists, and/or artists. Several of us like to play board, card, word, and strategy games together. Our house parties used to be really boring but they’ve become more fun recently. to top Vacancies We don't currently have any vacancies nor do we anticipate any. Contact us at 503-233-0326 for more info The Neighborhood Mississippi Avenue is located in North Portland, between the I5 and Martin Luther King Boulevard. Due to the close proximity to the east side docks, it was traditionally a working class neighborhood, where dockworkers and their families lived. It has been a low-income community since then. In the last 5 years Mississippi Ave has experienced fierce gentrification due to its relatively central location and the expanding Max light rail system on the North Interstate Avenue; rents are going up and the demographic is changing. What used to be an ethnically diverse low-income area is turning into a hip Caucasian cultural district, with displacement of minorities and a loss of affordable housing. For more information on the Boise Neighborhood demographics, go to the PortlandMaps.Com website. We hope our long-term commitment to community involvement will compensate for any initial contribution made on our part toward the gentrification of our future neighborhood. While hoping to promote cooperative housing in the neighborhoods, we recognize that the racial and educational profile of the Mississippi Collective may run the risk of contributing to gentrification by virtue of its presence in what is largely a low-income neighborhood. Based on the core values of social justice and open communication, the collective can, alternatively, become a valuable resource for the neighborhood by organizing educational activities and social support programs such as organic food cooperatives. Most importantly though, the collective has existed for five years plus and we ourselves are in danger of being displaced by the forces of gentrification. Working with existing community organizations and the city, the collective can affect positive political action to promote the cause of affordable housing, an item on the immediate agenda of the city of Portland. to top The House Built in 1903, our house on Mississippi Ave has seen its share of owners and tenants. It was first rented in its current form 6 years ago when the current landlord bought it. During these six years it has developed into a prospering communal living situation. When the house was rented to us, it was an old and worn house, and we have invested a lot of hard labor and care to make it our home. We have painted, repaired, built garden beds, constructed compost bins, small gray-water systems and rainwater catchment systems. It is still an old house, but it is in good working condition and has great potential. to top The Ideals The members of the collective are as diverse in age as we are in professions; one is a produce manager of a health food cooperative, the other a nurse, another works in a printing shop. The mean income of the house is low, and to battle gentrification and strive towards a diverse neighborhood, we hope to keep it that way. We also strive to keep an equal gender balance. All decisions concerning the house are made through a consensus decision-making process. We try to create a tolerant and caring community, while taking care to maintain and respect everyone’s need for personal space. Apart from growing as much of our food as possible in our garden beds, we buy bulk produce together and save money in a house fund each month. This saves packaging, and enables us to buy more eco-friendly, if more expensive, products. We enact recycling and reuse in our daily lives, regarding water, trash, food and clothes. By having free boxes for our superfluous clothes and produce on our front yard we hope to share these thoughts with our neighborhood. The bicycle is the main form of transportation for collective members, and some of our members have been involved in the “Create a Commuter” project at the local CCC. Currently, none of us own a car; we are looking into the details of communally owning a house car. We often eat meals together, though not on a regular schedule. The Goals We have many hopes and dreams for our home: We wish to find alternative energy sources for electricityfor the house, for heating the house as well as cooking and heating our water. We have plans to extend our garden even and make it more efficient. We would like to look into bigger repairs and adjustments to make the house a more energy efficient and healthy place to live. Ultimately, we would like for the Mississippi Street Collective to be conserved as a communal and affordable home for all times, an alternative to the expensive and inefficient single-family housing form that is the norm and only option. to top Vacancies The Mississippi Co-op house is seeking a new housemate starting Jan 1st. The new housemate will need to be female and looking for a long term housing situation. Mississippi house is a co-oprative living space with 7 current housemates in a stable enviroment. We value the enviroment, diversity and personal autonomy within our house and all house decisions are made on a consensus basis. Every member of our house relies on bikes as our primary means of transportation, so there is alot of storage space for bikes. Also, living in a neighborhood experiencing the effects of gentrification, we strive to exist in harmony with the longtime residents and business of our neighborhood. Here are some features of our house: Vegan Kitchen Graywater system to save water and money Large common spaces Garden Firepit Bike shop Communal Food The room that is for rent is $266 per month. It is a large room with lots of light. There is a king size bed built into an alcove in the room, a sliding glass door leading to a back deck and lots of storage space. This house also has 5 cats and 1 dog living with us. All of them are very friendly and loving. If interested please send us an e-mail description of yourself with a phone number, we will be trying to fill this vacancy by mid-month so please respond soon. For more info, contact us at 503-288-4470 This is Trixie, one of our 4 cats. We also have 1 dog. Other Portland area cooperatives: Redwing Coffee & Baking 1700 SE 6th Ave. Portland OR 97214 Phone: 503-445-9900 redwingcoffee.com alex@redwingcoffee.com Cafe 614 E Burnside Portland OR 97214 Phone: 503-233-1929 Red And Black Cafe 2138 SE Division Portland Oregon 97202 Phone: 503-231-3899 Q Is For Choir Cooperative A worker owned record store 2510 SE Clinton St. Portland, OR 97202 Phone: 503-235-9678 qisforchoir@yahoo.com People's Food Cooperative 3029 SE 21st Ave. Portland, OR 97202 Phone: 503-232-9051 http://www.peoples.coop/ lori@peoples.coop Citybikes 734 SE Ankeny Ave Portland OR 97214 503-239-6951 And: 1914 SE Ankeny Ave Portland OR 97214 503-239-0553 citybikes.coop Alberta Cooperative Grocery 1500 NE Alberta Portland, Oregon 503.287.4333 albertafoodcoop.org albertacoopgrocery@hotmail.com Stumptown Printers 1115 SE Morrison Portland, Oregon 503.233.7478 stumptownprinters.com print@stumptownprinters.com