Vote YES For Affordable Housing
HiFi Farms is incredibly proud to announce our involvement once again with the Yes For Affordable Housing campaign, and our endorsement of Measures 26-199 and 102, two affordable housing ballot measures that will ensure safe, affordable housing for more working families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities throughout our region.
Rent and housing costs have skyrocketed throughout our community. Working hard is no guarantee that you will be able to afford to put a roof over your head. It shouldn’t be that way. Today, you can work full time, earn an average salary and still not afford to even rent a one-bedroom apartment in the Portland area. As the cost of living climbs, many people worry they can no longer afford to live here, and some are afraid of losing their homes for the first time in their lives.
We need to make sure that hard-working people can take care of their families. If nothing changes, we will force out teachers, nurses, first responders, trades people, office workers, and many others—some of the very people who make our community strong.
We must act this November, or risk losing what makes our region so special.
HiFi Farms joins with AARP Oregon, Business For A Better Portland, Columbia Sportswear Company, Habitat for Humanity of Oregon, the League of Women Voters of Portland, the Oregon Food Bank, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon National Organization of Women (NOW), the Portland Thorns, the Portland Timbers, the Sierra Club (Oregon Chapter), Street Roots, Welcome Home Coalition, and the YWCA of Greater Portland among MANY others to vote YES for the affordable homes we need in our community.
WHAT ARE THE TWO AFFORDABLE HOUSING BALLOT MEASURES?
Measure 26-199 – Affordable Housing Bond in the Metro region (Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties): Voters in the Metro region will be asked to approve a regional bond to fund affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. The bond will make it possible to build new affordable homes, and renovate and preserve currently affordable homes for those in need of safe, stable housing. This bond is estimated to fund homes for over 7,500 people in the region, or 12,000 people if the statewide constitutional amendment is also passed.
Measure 102 – Statewide Constitutional Amendment for Affordable Housing Bonds: The second ballot measure is a statewide constitutional amendment that will make local affordable housing bonds go further without added cost to taxpayers. The amendment would lift the current ban on the ability of local governments to work with non-profits and local businesses to build affordable housing with bonds. This small change would help thousands more people access affordable housing in Oregon communities that pass bonds.
HOW MUCH WILL THE REGIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND COST?
The total bond is $652.8 million over 20 years. By proposing a region-wide bond, rather than a local bond, more communities will contribute to and benefit from the regional affordable housing bond — lowering the burden on taxpayers. The bond will cost an estimated 24 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, which will cost the average homeowner only $5 per month, or $60 per year.
HOW WILL THE REGIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND FUNDS BE USED?
The regional affordable housing bond will build new affordable homes and renovate existing homes to be used for affordable housing. Approximately 3,900 permanently affordable homes will be created throughout Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas counties if both ballot measures pass, or 2,400 homes if only the regional affordable housing bond passes. All homes will be permanently affordable and available to low-income families.
The homes will serve an estimated 12,000 people if both ballot measures pass, or 7,500 people if only the regional affordable housing bond passes. Ten times as many will be served over the life of the new permanently affordable homes that are created.
WHO WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE NEW AND RENOVATED AFFORDABLE HOMES?
This housing will serve low-income families and individuals (those earning less than 80% of the Median Family Income, which is $65,120 for a family of four) who are least likely to be served by the current housing and rental market, including veterans, seniors, families, communities of color, people with disabilities, and people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. There will be a mix of housing options to accommodate a range of family sizes and, when possible, help people stay in or near their current neighborhoods.