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There is an intersection between housing and homelessness.  CPAH, a non-profit organization with an all-volunteer board of directors, strives to create and maintain sustainable and affordable housing.  The organization serves SW Portland and Eastern Washington County and has three properties in Tigard.

Homelessness is escalating and we don’t have enough affordable housing. Social Security doesn’t pay for market-rate housing.  According to Ms. Duke, “our job is to find housing for people who have been living outside.” Different kinds of housing are needed because people have been exposed to trauma.

CPAH is not in the business of home ownership or mental health.  The organization offers services to assist in maintaining housing, manages housing to ensure it meets community and investor needs and is “here for the long haul.” It also provides support services, including addiction support, housekeeping services, and summer camps and other programs for kids aimed and breaking the cycle of generational poverty.  In addition, CPAH has programs that focus on veterans and seniors.  The organization provides permanent subsidized housing.  This differs from emergency shelters that can only house individuals or families for the short-term. The services are “evidence based” to keep people from becoming homeless again.  Although recent legislation limits the amount of rent increases, CPAH has even stricter guidelines.

Community Partners has recently teamed up with local mental health service providers to help people be successful in “mental health apartments.”  The organization also has specifically designated “Family Units.”   Housing provided by CPAH is permanent, but the goal is for people to move along when they can afford it.  There are wait lists at all CPAH properties.

Properties are inspected twice per year. Income Property Management Co. enforces the lease and makes sure housing is in good condition. Spot checks are made for functionality, safety, pests, etc.  Sometimes the needs of the individual don’t align with needs of the community (complex). CPAC tries to move people to a different situation before they are evicted so it doesn’t impact their credit record.

In November 2018, a Metro Bond passed and will be allocated in the next 3 years.  Washington County will be building 800 affordable housing units.  Subsidies are necessary because it is difficult to incentivize developers to build affordable housing.

Rachael Duke has been the CPAH Executive Director for 3 years and describes it as “an amazing adventure.”   Previously, she worked for Home Forward, and the Housing Authority of Portland.  She has a Masters Degree in Urban Studies from PSU and a B.S. from Oberlin College.

Also attending the meeting was Jessica Cousineau, a long-time board member of CPAH and member of Tualatin Rotary.