HUD HONORS 20 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH "DOORKNOCKER AWARD" FOR OUTSTANDING WORK IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Eugene Consortium and the State of Oregon recognized for their innovative use of HOME funding

PORTLAND - The Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that its is recognizing 20 state
and local governments around the country with the first national HOME Doorknocker Award for their outstanding
work in providing affordable housing to low-income and underserved people. The Eugene Consortium and the
State of Oregon are among those communities honored for their outstanding affordable housing programs. (Project summaries and contact information below).

The five state awards will be presented today at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, D.C. at 12:30 EST. Carole Dicksa, HOME Program Manager, Oregon Housing & Community Services, will accept the award for the State of Oregon.

The Eugene Consortium was selected for the innovative project design of the Aurora Building using sustainable
design and "green" building techniques in downtown Eugene. The State of Oregon was selected for the Casa Loma Apartments, created to meet a critical need for seasonal and year-round farm worker housing in the Dalles.

"Whether it's providing homeownership opportunities to lower income families looking to share in the American Dream or designing cutting edge affordable housing, these communities are proof that, working together, we can make a
real difference," said Jackson. "These communities are leading the way toward building better communities and opening more doors to people who are most in need."

"We are pleased that the Eugene Consortium and the State of Oregon HOME programs are receiving national recognition for their innovative efforts in providing much needed affordable housing in Eugene and The Dalles," said Tom Cusack, HUD's Portland Field Office Director.

HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced the awards to fifteen local communities and five state governments for their remarkable work in using federal funding provided through HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The announcement of the Doorknocker Awards also marks the 15th anniversary of the HOME Program, the largest federal block grant program dedicated to producing affordable housing at the local level.

HUD presented the awards to the five state winners at HUD's HOME 15th Anniversary State Celebration today in Washington DC, sponsored by HUD, the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) and the Council of
State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA). Awards for the 15 local communities will be presented at HUD's HOME 15th Anniversary Local Government Celebration on January 18th with the National Community Development Association (NCDA), the National Association for County Community and Economic Development (NACCED), and the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (NALHFA).

Each year, HUD allocates approximately $2 billion to more than 600 state and local participating jurisdictions to increase the stock of affordable housing. Since program inception, over 550,000 affordable units have been
completed and nearly 114,000 tenants have received rental assistance through the Department's HOME program.

Each award-winning project demonstrates how state and local governments can use the flexibility provided by the HOME program to meet the unique challenges of housing low-income families and expanding homeownership opportunities. These projects can serve as models for other jurisdictions throughout the country.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

Project Summaries:

Eugene Consortium for Innovative Project Design (Aurora Building)

Partners: Saint Vincent de Paul; City of Eugene; State of Oregon; Lane Community College; and Eugene Water
and Electric Board.

This project demonstrates the successful use of sustainable design and "green" building techniques in a downtown setting. The Aurora Building is a mixed-use building with 54 total residential units, 11 of which are assisted by HUD's HOME Program. In keeping its focus on sustainability, the project has a geothermal heating, cooling and water
heating system that runs 320 feet below ground level. This system will cut tenants' heating bills by approximately 50 percent and water heating bills by approximately 70 percent, increasing affordability for low-income tenants. The system reduces the overall energy consumption for the building by 32 percent. The building is located in a parking-exempt zone, but is convenient to public transportation and within walking distance of many businesses, shops, the local community college, the public library and other amenities. The building design incorporates local artwork, including glass tiles from the Aurora Glass Foundry. The Aurora Building, the first new construction of affordable housing in downtown Eugene in more than 20 years, demonstrates that attractive, environmentally sensitive affordable housing can advance downtown revitalization.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda Dawson
HOME Project Manager, City of Eugene
(541) 682-5071

State of Oregon (Casa Lomas Apartments)

Partners: USDA Rural Development; Oregon Housing & Community Services; CASA
of Oregon; and, Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation.

This program demonstrates how affordable housing can meet the critical need for housing for underserved populations.

Casa Lomas Apartments was created to meet a critical need for seasonal and year-round farm worker housing. The State of Oregon, a small CHDO, and other public agencies formed a partnership to address the housing needs of this population.
HOME funds were used to construct four bedroom units for larger farm worker
families, a size generally lacking in market units. By dedicating HOME funds to the construction of larger units, other funds were freed to add amenities such as a community garden, children's play areas, computer lab, and a large gathering room. The project area is in a designated National Scenic Area, which severely restricted available building sites. Casa Lomas demonstrates creative land use and resourceful engineering.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carole Dicksa
HOME Program Manager
Oregon Housing & Community Services
PO Box 14508, Salem, OR 97309
(503) 986-2137

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