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.”

Filed under: Homelessness, Housing, Primary Health & Mental Health by kpape
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Nearly 40 Central City Concern staff and clients gathered on a rainy, chilly Sunday afternoon for the 8th annual NAMI Northwest Walk. NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness – is a nonprofit organization providing self-help, support and advocacy for consumers, families, and friends of people with mental illness. Central City Concern has participated in the fundraising walk yearly. The event raised more than $150,000 for NAMI.

Shauna Hahn, a staffer in Central City Concern’s 12^th Avenue Recovery Center has participated in the walk since 2006. “The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill began with a much smaller grassroots group called AMI or the Alliance for the Mentally Ill. “Ami” is also the French word for friend. There is so much accomplished by this rhetoric. There is more affection, more equality, and more devotion. If we believe that dignity is found where there is a meaningful life, why wouldn’t we engage in the pursuit of this dignity for our friends?”

Photo at right: CCC walkers were treated to root beer floats, courtesy of Standard TV & Appliance, at the end of the afternoon.

Photo above:

Walkers get ready for the event to begin.

Filed under: Addiction Treatment & Recovery, Events, Fundraising, Primary Health & Mental Health by kpape
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On Wednesday, March 10th, Central City Concern opened Madrona Studios, 176 units of affordable housing across from the Rose Quarter in Northeast Portland.  Nearly 150 attended our opening celebration – thanks to our many funders and partners for making Madrona Studios a reality! Lease up information here.

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

Filed under: Homelessness, Housing by kpape
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The City of Portland is hosting a temporary exhibit from Central City Concern in honor of Black History Month. Six historic panels that CCC installed last year on the Golden West building will be on display in the Portland Building lobby  through February 28. The panels detail Portland’s African American vibrant history and contributions to the City during the early 1900s. To view the exhibit, enter the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th.

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.

Filed under: Events, Housing by kpape
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Three years ago if someone told me my most meaningful mentors would be formerly homeless, addicts, graduates of the state penitentiary – I would have said, not me. Too intimidating. Too scary. Too out of my comfort zone. Yet in August 2008, I was asked to do two weeks consultancy with CCC.  After just one day, the spark ignited. Two weeks turned into two years.

The best perk of my job is realizing these individuals are some of the most interesting, creative, funniest, people I’ve ever met.  The power of their will to completely transform their lives fuels me daily. Their stories and motivation to get up and out and onward when all odds are against them, is infectious. 

It’s been my privilege to lead some of CCC’s programs that help connect these individuals to a second chance. Just nine months after we launched the Community Volunteer Corps, I’m proud to report that we’ve recently broken the 6,000 hour mark of dedicated community service to the Portland area.  Within that number lies 50 graduated volunteers – each who have given 80 hours of volunteer service.  Talk about a triple bottom win.  Volunteers have regained their dignity, confidence, and fulfilled their desire to give back.  CVC is another avenue of support to those we serve.  And our community partners such as Portland Parks and Recreation, Free Geek and the ReBuilding Center have reported their parks are cleaner, their operations smoother, and that our volunteers are setting the highest bar.   What a gift.  You should come to our next graduation – guaranteed to make your day. Send an email to admin@centralcityconcern.org to receive notice of our next one.

Adrienne Karecki 

PARTNERS:
Portland Parks & Recreation
Office of Neighborhood Involvement
City Nature
Habitat for Humanity
Pesticide-Free Parks
Free Geek
Community Reaps Our Produce & Shares (C.R.O.P.S.)
Peace Memorial Park Foundation
The ReBuilding Center
Hollywood Senior Center
Loaves & Fishes
Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation

Filed under: Employment Services, Homelessness by akarecki
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Congratulations to Worksystems, Inc. for securing a $4 million “Pathways out of Poverty” grant! This grant will help disadvantaged populations attain economic self-sufficiency through training and careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Participates will earn certificates and degrees through community colleges and other industry-recognized training providers. They’ll then receive employment placement and support in their new chosen green career area! Central City Concern’s Employment Access Center is pleased to be among the team of community-based organizations recruiting and supporting participants to this exciting program.

Filed under: Employment Services by Rachel Post
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Executive Director Ed Blackburn and Chief Operating Officer Traci Manning share news about a major federal grant with City Council. CCC received a $8.9 million federal stimulus grant to build a new healthcare facility in Portland, Oregon.

Filed under: Fundraising, Primary Health & Mental Health by kpape
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Click on the video clip below. We shared this at our November 12th luncheon celebrating the accomplishments of CCC’s Homeless Action Fund and honoring one of our founding board members, George “Bing” Sheldon.  This event raised funds for CCC’s self-sufficiency programs.

Filed under: Employment Services, Events, Fundraising by kpape
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At a November 12th  luncheon in downtown Portland, Central City Concern will honor George “Bing” Sheldon, SERA Architect principal, and longtime supporter of our agency. SERA has designed some of our newer buildings (catch the landmark curve of the Harris Building at 8 NW 8th Ave. below) and Bing has urged us to honor historical standards in the restoration of some of our older buildings, most recently the Estate Hotel at 225 NW Couch.

Bing is a founding board member at CCC and believes in the power of transformation – people, buildings and communities. As former Chair of the City Planning Commission, he led the state’s largest citizen-driven planning effort to produce the Portland Downtown Plan, which encouraged density and reduced sprawl.

Bing continues to play an instrumental role in Portland’s downtown renaissance, stressing urban infill, reuse and redevelopment as important strategies for creating a new sense of community. He believes that Portlanders have a moral obligation to actively participate in the civic infrastructure which reflects our community values. It is this ongoing active ownership of civic values by our citizens which is recognized by the historic quote on the Skidmore Fountain: “Good citizens are the riches of the city.”

Today, he is a champion for energy audits in all of CCC’s buildings as well as an eloquent spokesperson on the life changing effects of CCC’s Homeless Action Fund. The Fund supports a vibrant volunteer program for previously homeless individuals who are not ready for the job market yet and intensive employment development services for those who are.

Bing believes that people have the capacity to transform into self-sufficient, contributing citizens. His contributions as a citizen of our fair city go far and wide. Please join us in honoring his work and dedication to the community. Click here to view event information; order tickets by sending us an email.

Filed under: Events by eblackburn
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