Author Archive
There is still time! 
We want to hear from homeowners & renters like you how Energy Trust can better serve you in ways that matter most to you, your family & your community. Register today to share your ideas with us at our virtual summit June 29!
How do you use energy in your home? Would you like to spend less money on your energy bills? What would help you do that?
Energy Trust of Oregon wants to hear from you. We’re starting to plan for 2022 and we want to learn how we can help homeowners and renters in ways that really matter—to you. We hope you’ll attend and share your ideas. You’ll hear about what we have to offer, but more importantly, we’ll learn what’s important to you, your family and your community.
To get started, please complete and return this short online survey. We want this time together to be valuable and sharing some information about yourself will help us do that.
Then register at the link below and mark your calendar. We look forward to seeing you at our online summit.
I, Kymberly Horner, Executive Director of Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc. (PCRI), am writing to express my support for the impact the Oregon Cares Fund (a $62 million state fund) has had on Black Oregonians and their businesses. The huge need for targeted funds such as these is essential to help enable Black individuals and families, Black-owned businesses, and Black-led non-profits, such as PCRI, continue to make a difference in the Black Community despite being hit by the hardships that the spread of COVID-19 has created.
Formed in 1992 in response to a housing crisis, PCRI is a non-profit community development organization and the largest provider of affordable housing and HUD certified housing services for low-income residents in North and Northeast Portland. Additionally, it is the first Black-led affordable housing provider focused on Portland’s African American community.
The $200,000 grant provided by the Oregon Cares Fund helped soften the severe and swift impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on many Portlanders that were already struggling with housing in our community.
With the aid of these funds, we’ve been able to continue our mission to help families in need through the operation of our housing programs that foster housing stability and homeownership. One of these initiatives is Pathway 1000.
The Pathway 1000 initiative seeks to build prosperity for African-Americans and others living in Portland’s North and Northeast Neighborhoods by creating 1,000 affordable homes, thousands of living wage jobs, business growth, and development for those who have been displaced or are in danger of displacement from North and Northeast Portland.
As an organization committed to community economic development, community partnerships, community engagement, and a community choice of housing options that are both stable and healthy in addition to being economically and culturally diverse; we support the Oregon Cares Fund and the great things these resources have done to help the Black Community.
Warm regards,
Kymberly Horner, Executive Director
Portland Community Reinvestment Initiative, Inc. (PCRI)
Support Funding for the Oregon IDA Initiative! Click here!
Take a moment to email your state legislators and ask them to support the Oregon IDA Initiative in the second special session.
Free Community Covid-19 Testing
For Immigrants and Refugees and Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color (BIPOC)
SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2020 12PM – 6PM
Village Church 330 SW Murray Blvd Beaverton, OR 97005
No appointments, insurance, or symptoms needed.
For more information click here
For printable PDF version click here
COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund: 211info.org OPEN ONLY 7/21/20. If you have had income loss due to COVID get your name on the rent assistance list today. This list does not open often. Note: The 211info waitlist for the COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund is CLOSED.
The waitlist opens periodically; if it’s closed, continue to check back regularly for updates. Being placed on the waitlist does not guarantee assistance.
COVID-19 FINANCIAL RELIEF PROGRAM INFORMATION
HOUSING/SHELTER MULTNOMAH COUNTY COVID-19 RENT RELIEF PROGRAM INFORMATION https://www.211info.org/multco-rent
1 mile from you (view map for COVID-19 FINANCIAL RELIEF PROGRAM INFORMATION)
CALL: 211 or 1-866-698-6155 (Language interpreters available by phone)
TTY: dial 711 and call 1-866-698-6155
TEXT: your zip code to 898211 (TXT211) (text available English and Spanish)
EMAIL: help@211info.org (email available in English and Spanish)
For general information about 211 Covid 19 resources go here: https://covid19.211info.org/
The Pantries are located at:
Park Terrace Community Center. 315 N. Alberta St.
Margaret Carter Community Center. 626 NE Brazee St.
Maya Angelou Community Center. 4012 N Borthwick Ave.
Maya Angelou Community Center. 4012 N Borthwick Ave.
Park Terrace Community Center. 315 N. Alberta St.
Pantry hours: Wednesdays 10:30 AM – Noon.
For more information contact Victoria @ (503) 282-1359
Beatrice Morrow Community Center. 3340 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
Pantry hours: Fridays 1PM – 2PM.
For more information contact Victoria @ (971) 279-2105
Margaret Carter Community Center. 626 NE Brazee St.
Pantry hours: Thursday 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM.
For more information contact Jasmine @ (971) 341-6047
Maya Angelou Community Center. 4012 N Borthwick Ave.
Pantry hours: Fridays 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more information contact Jasmine @ (971) 341-6047
Emergency Household Stabilization Funds Available Beginning April 27
April 21, 2020) – The Portland Housing Bureau has reallocated $1 million from its budget into a COVID-19 Emergency Household Stabilization Fund for households suffering a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will provide limited direct cash assistance to at least 2,000 households to help cover urgent needs like groceries, rent, utilities, and medical expenses.
$200,000 of these funds will be available to the public next week through an open application. The remaining funds are being distributed via internal referrals through a network of social service providers serving culturally specific communities, and individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
How to Apply
Households can apply for $250 in emergency assistance beginning Monday, April 27 at 10am by contacting 2-1-1 or going to https://www.211info.org/covid19. Applications from eligible households will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis. Assistance with language interpretation or accessibility is available.
211 staff will also be able to connect applicants to additional community resources and assistance, such as discounts for sewer and water charges, crisis vouchers, and the Utility Safety Net program offered by the Bureau of Environmental Services and the Portland Water Bureau.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Emergency Household Stabilization Fund assistance, a household must be experiencing a loss of employment, income, dependent care, or some other hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and earning no more than 50% Area Median Income prior to any loss of employment or income due to COVID-19.
Applicants will need to include documentation of the COVID-related hardship they are experiencing with their application, such as a letter from an employer, clients or customers, a healthcare provider, or school citing COVID-19 as a reason for reduced hours, termination, loss of business, school closure, loss of childcare, or inability to work, etc.
To access the application* and list of acceptable documentation, visit: https://www.211info.org/covid19
*Application available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Vietnamese.
Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives Inc.