Reaching the Dream -- Portland
The
leaders of the city of Portland have developed a new economic development
strategy that calls for Portland to become the most creative and innovative
city in America-a city with strong communities built on a foundation
of affordable housing and economic opportunity for all. To this end,
Portland's Bureau of Housing & Community Development (BHCD) works
on behalf of Portland's low-income households to broaden access to
stable housing and economic advancement. It brings low-income people
and community resources together by building partnerships, using analytic
tools, and providing leadership. It ensures that local and Federal
funds are used effectively, efficiently, and in full compliance with
the rules, regulations, and guidelines of funders.
The
vision of BHCD is to increase the range of housing opportunities
for low-income residents by ensuring that community development
funds, including HUD's Community Development Block Grant and HOME
programs, are used to meet community needs and maximize community
assets.
With
this in mind, the HUD Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
(CFBCI) has chosen Portland for the "Reaching the Dream"
initiative. The following information provides a look at some of
Portland's neighborhoods undergoing revitalization, as well as an
overview of the city of Portland's demographics.
Neighborhoods
Specific
neighborhoods in Multnomah County were evaluated using the county's
demographical statistics. The following neighborhoods are considered
low-income communities:
- Buckman-This neighborhood has a population of 6,768 persons.
Sixteen percent of the population are homeowners. Thirty-two
percent have a household income that is under $15,000 annually.
- Kern-This neighborhood has a population of 4,522 persons.
Twenty-four percent of the population are homeowners. Thirty-five
percent have a household income that is under $15,000 annually.
- Portsmouth-The Portsmouth neighborhood has a population of
7,952 persons. Forty-seven percent of the population are homeowners.
Thirty-three percent have a household income that is under $15,000
annually.
- Hollywood-The Hollywood neighborhood has a population of
1,162 persons. Thirty-three percent of the population are homeowners.
Thirty-seven percent have a household income that is under $15,000
annually.
Summary
of Statistics
According
to the 2000 census, the city of Portland has a population of 529,121.
Between the years of 1990 and 2000, Portland saw a population growth
of 9 percent.
The
racial composition of the residents of Portland is:
Caucasian-78
percent
African American-7 percent
Asian American-6 percent
Hispanic or Latino-7 percent
Fifty-six
percent of residents own the housing quarters they occupy, while
the other 44 percent are renter occupants. According to the 2000
census, the median value of all owner-occupied housing is $155,765.
Based
on the 2000 census, the median household income in Portland is $40,713
per year. Approximately 16 percent of households operate on an estimated
yearly income of less than $15,000. The unemployment rate is 7.5
percent.
HUD's
Regional Faith-Based Liaison
Roy Scholl
Portland Field Office
400 SW 6th Avenue
Suite 700
Portland, OR 97204-1632
Tel: (503) 326-3985
Fax: (503) 326-2568
Roy_Scholl@hud.gov
HUD's
Regional Director
John Meyers
Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Seattle Federal Office Building
909 First Avenue
Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98104-1000
Tel: (206) 220-5101
Fax: (206) 220-5108
Content Archived: June 23, 2010
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