Portland Housing Bureau awards funding to help preserve 161 units of regulated affordable housing
Funds released in a Fall 2023 solicitation will benefit two projects, Rosemont Court and the Shoreline, helping to maintain affordable housing for low-income seniors and at-risk individuals with significant barriers to permanent housing.
Portland, OR, January 18, 2024 — The Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) is announcing two funding awards from the Fall 2023 Affordable Housing Preservation Request for Interest (RFI) released in September 2023. These awards will go to Rosemont Court, a 100-unit affordable housing development owned by Northwest Housing Alternatives serving low-income seniors in North Portland, and the Shoreline, a 62-unit transitional housing project in Old Town owned by Central City Concern.
Like any capital asset, affordable housing projects wear out and need to be repaired or rehabilitated over time. Recognizing the need to preserve existing affordable housing in Portland, PHB released $4.825 million in City American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for rehabilitation and preservation projects that make health, fire, life, and safety repairs, as well as modernization and improvements which increase livability for residents, and/or extend the useful life of the housing project. In addition, Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) dollars are being leveraged in these rehabilitation projects to improve energy efficiency.
Through a competitive solicitation, Rosemont Court and the Shoreline were selected for preservation funds. Awarded projects must agree to a minimum 60-year affordability period, regulated by PHB.
“While we continue to expand our affordable housing stock throughout Portland with the opening of more than 500 new affordable homes just last year, it is of critical importance to maintain existing affordable homes as well. These awards ensure that more than 200 vulnerable Portlanders, including our valued senior citizens, will be able to live in homes they can afford,” said Commissioner Carmen Rubio. “Affordable housing developments like Rosemont Court and transitional housing like the Shoreline help to prevent low-income community members from falling through the cracks and onto the streets. Thank you to Portland Housing Bureau staff and to community partners for prioritizing these vital resources in the fight to address our city’s housing and homelessness crisis.”
Rosemont Court
597 N Dekum St, Portland, OR 97217
Owner: Northwest Housing Alternatives
Service Partners: Urban League of Portland, Northwest Pilot Project
Rosemont Court is a 100-unit affordable housing development in the Piedmont neighborhood of North Portland, including 99 affordable units from studios to 2-bedrooms, and one unrestricted manager’s unit. Originally constructed as a convent in 1917, the building was redeveloped by Northwest Housing Alternatives as low-income senior housing in 2000 and operated well for 20 years. By 2020, Rosemont Place needed significant rehabilitation, and in January 2021, Legionella broke out. Due to health and safety considerations, all residents were relocated, and the property now sits empty. In order for the building to be reoccupied, a new water system must be completed, along with other smaller-scale repair work. The project intends to come back online and serve residents within 6 months of a construction start. Project amenities include a large community room, a sheltered courtyard, on-site laundry, and on-site services from the Urban League of Portland and the Northwest Pilot Project for senior and BIPOC residents.
The Shoreline
125 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209
Owner/Service Provider: Central City Concern
The Shoreline was built in 1912 at the west end of the Burnside Bridge as the Burnside Hotel. Central City Concern (CCC) acquired and redeveloped the property in 1991. In recent years, CCC has operated the building as a 62-unit transitional housing project, featuring all single-room occupancy (SRO) units, for participants in their Parole Transition Program (PTP), a drug- and alcohol-free community that supports individuals on probation and parole, helping them to overcome barriers to permanent housing while keeping them sheltered off the streets. Individuals in the program work to become self-sufficient, aiming to obtain permanent housing and an income within four to nine months. These improvements include roof replacement, as well as proposed energy-efficiency improvements to align with PCEF goals. These updates will allow CCC to preserve this critical transitional housing facility, where residents are provided with wrap-around services and peer support to reach self-sufficiency.
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