These eager students live in CCC’s alcohol and drug-free housing with their parent(s) who are working to rebuild their lives.  The majority of these parents are working or attending school in order to attain stronger employment. They are barely making ends meet but long to give their children equal footing when the school year starts. With proper clothing and supplies, these children have an equal chance at success.

We were stunned to learn that the average family will spend $606 per child to get their child ready for the school year! Our families surely cannot afford such luxuries.  Central City Concern gladly accepts donations via our secure website as well as in-kind items delivered to our administrative office, 223 NW Sixth Avenue & Everett.  Gift cards, especially to stores that carry both supplies and clothing, are very welcome and also can be directed to our administrative office. Thank you for considering helping a needy student this fall!

John started at CCC in June of 2004 as an On-Call Client Monitor. He began working the front desk in housing in August of 2004, and worked on the initial leasing and qualification of the 8 NW 8th Building (now known as the Richard L. Harris Building). He has since built upon his knowledge and experience in the delivery of affordable housing, and today is the manager of the Occupancy & Compliance department. John currently oversees the implementation of complex project funding agreements, and the myriad subsidy and rent revenue streams which keep CCC’s portfolio vibrant and our residents safely housed.

“CCC has one of the most complex portfolios in the Portland metro area,” says John. “My goal is to ease the complexity for the client and service providers as much as possible, so that they can focus on the process of recovering from homelessness.

“Part of my own journey (before enrolling with CCC programs and services) was complicated by excessive bureaucratic red tape. As a homeless addict seeking recovery, it was too much to handle, and delayed my recovery significantly. I think it is critical that the doors to recovery are kept clear of unnecessary barriers. All of us who seek to intervene in the process of homelessness do what we can to smooth the way.”

“John’s tremendous leadership and passion to help people get the housing they need is evident in his work on a daily basis,” said Ed Blackburn, CCC Executive Director.

Other award recipients included:

Edith Ayon, Daybreak Shelter Network Coordinator, Human Solutions, Inc.

Pastor Steve Kimes, Founder & Director, Anawim Christian Community

Rick Lesniak, Board Director, Home Builders Foundation

Rev. Kate Lore, Social Justice Minister, First Unitarian Church of Portland

Tiffany Tucker, Program Director, Insight Teen Parent Program

Full press release from Portland Housing Bureau available here.

• HVRP – Homeless Veterans Reintegration Grant

1 year competitive renewal grant of $300,000
Provide housing and employment services to approximately 200 homeless Veterans yearly, primarily males.

• Women’s HVRP – Homeless Veterans Reintegration Grant

New! 1 year $75,000 grant
Grant will enable CCC to serve an additional 60 female homes Veterans every year with housing, employment training and placement services

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20100917.htm

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20100869.htm

Central City Concern hosted the Third Annual Veterans’ Picnic Celebration in Washington Park on Saturday, June 26th that attracted 50 Veterans from six different branches of the military. The picnic is sponsored by CCC friend, WWII & Korean War Veteran Hal Saltzman.  Many of the Vets in attendance are served by CCC housing and services.  Music was provided by The Shwing Daddies and the featured speaker was Eddie Black, a Desert Storm & Iraq War veteran who speaks throughout the area on post traumatic stress disorder. The Veterans in attendance represented 176 years of combined service.

Central City Concern also produces an annual Veterans Stand Down event where Vets gather for employment and social service assistance.

In mid June, Central City Concern will join the Housing Authority of Portland (HAP), Multnomah County, the City of Portland and the State of Oregon  in celebrating the opening of the Martha Washington Hotel at 1115 SW 11th Avenue in downtown Portland. Vacant for several years, the stately 1923 hotel had been owned by Multnomah County.  In 2008, to spur redevelopment, the county conveyed the property to HAP to serve as real estate developer managing financing, design and construction of the $17.9 million renovation. With HAP continuing in the role as owner of the property, Central City Concern joined the project partnership as property manager and service provider for the building’s low-income residents.

Project funding included Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity, State of Oregon Mental Health & Addictions, Enterprise Green Communities, Multnomah County, the City of Portland and HAP.

Formerly a women’s boarding house, a commune, and a restitution center, the property at SW 11th and Main is nearing completion of a historic renovation to create 108 new units of studio or one-bedroom housing for Section 8 and public housing residents, and permanent supportive housing for homeless and chronically mentally ill populations.  The building is expected to be at full occupancy by the end of the year and the project expects to have a LEED® Silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Highlights of the renovation include:

* Restoration of lobby and other common areas to original character
* Weather stripping of original windows like these bay windows below
* New, low-emission flooring throughout
* Elevator upgrades and improved emergency exits
* Seismic upgrades, roof replacement
* Complete new construction of residential units
* Overhauled plumbing, electrical, heating and sprinkler systems to meet  sustainability goals
* Kitchens and baths installed in every unit

Central City Concern will manage the leasing of all units and will provide 24-hour front desk service in the building’s lobby. The main lobby will also feature mail boxes, two computer stations and seating spaces in front of the fireplace for small gatherings. “We look forward to building a new community of residents at the Martha Washington,” said CCC Executive Director Ed Blackburn.  CCC’s resident services will include advocacy, conflict resolution assistance, rent assistance and service referrals.  Potential tenant inquiries may be directed to 503-525-8483 or via email to Martha Washington.

Twenty-five units will be occupied by clients from CCC’s 12th Avenue Recovery Center that serves people with mental illness. 12th Avenue clients moving into the Martha Washington have most recently either been homeless or living in substandard housing. “It great to have this housing option,” said Kathleen Roy, Program Director. “We will have a case management and housing presence in the building to help establish a healthy, recovery community and help our clients be successful.”

Here’s a good story on the project by KATU-TV.

The permanent exhibit can be viewed at the Golden West at Broadway and NW Everett. CCC has many images, information and audio from the display on our website too at http://centralcityconcern.org/golden-west-intro.html.