The Portland Housing Bureau this week rolled out the first of several initiatives meant to counteract the rapid gentrification of North and Northeast Portland.
The Portland Housing Bureau is dramatically expanding a home repair program it hopes will help keep lower-income homeowners, including African American seniors, in the neighborhood. The program provides low-income families with a no-interest loan of up to $40,000 for repairs.
On Wednesday, more than 75 people showed up at a meeting at the Urban League Senior Center in North Portland to learn about the loans and request applications. Many of them were African-American seniors.
"The concept is a good idea, once you instill in people, don't move, improve, it will grow," said Harvey Rice, a retired real estate agent who has owned his home in the Alberta Arts district since 1988.
Rice was interested in obtaining a loan to fix his chimney and water heater. "I've had surgery on my hip and I can't do what I used to. I need help."
Rice, who is African-American, says just two other African-American families remain on his block of about 20 homes.
"Personally, I think if you can own property, you cannot say it was gentrified. Gentrification only happens when you sell your property," he said.
The Housing Bureau home repair program is "a home retention strategy, intended to keep people in their homes, by helping them maintain livability and safety. That could include roofs and foundations, plumbing and electrical, exterior paint," said Martha Calhoun, the Housing Bureau's spokeswoman.
The loan program is part of Mayor Charlie Hales' $20 million strategy for affordable housing in North and Northeast Portland, which also includes a plan to construct new apartments for lower income families and support for first-time homeowners.
In the past, repair loans were only available to families living within the narrow boundaries of the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal area, due to restrictions on how urban renewal dollars can be spent. An infusion of $850,000 from the city's general fund this year has expanded the program to low-income homeowners in the rest of North and Northeast Portland.
Sherrie Smith bought her house in the King neighborhood 17 years ago, when she says the neighborhood was still affordable.
"I think they should help anybody who wants to stay in this neighborhood, especially older people. I would like to stay here until I die, if I can," she said.
Sherrie Smith has owned her home in North Portland's King neighborhood for 17 years.
Amelia Templeton
In just two decades, as the city has expanded the MAX line and condos and restaurants followed, the area has gone from being home to the highest concentration of African-Americans in the state to being majority white on most blocks.
Smith and her husband make a living with an office cleaning business and his income from Social Security. She was hoping to apply for a loan to fix problems with the flooring and wiring in her house.
"Things tend to blow out really fast. I have to turn off my water heater, because it makes the fuse box start buzzing and I'm afraid I might fall asleep and have my house catch on fire," she said. "It's hard when you're on a fixed income and trying to repair your home."
Smith, who is African-American, said that she wants the neighborhood to retain its African-American culture and businesses. But while she worries that the neighborhood is no longer affordable, she also enjoys some of the changes.
"It's the arts district now. We've got restaurants down the street, that we didn't have before. We've got museums. There's a lot of culture and history right there on Alberta now. It's wonderful."
