Governor proclaims October “Affordable Housing Month” by Oregon Housing & Community Services
Salem (September 17, 2008) – The current crisis in the financial markets makes the proclamation by Oregon Gov. Theodore Kulongoski all the more poignant.
October has been officially declared “Affordable Housing Month,” highlighting the enormous need for reasonably-priced housing in the state and nation as major home-finance institutions have been taken over by the federal government.
“The timing of the governor’s proclamation, which is in keeping with our three-day conference in Salem, brings to the forefront the critical needs of a population slammed by the nation’s housing predicament,” said Victor Merced, director, Oregon Housing and Community Services. “The conference could not be more timely, given turmoil in the housing and financial markets that has seen the federal rescue of Freddie, Fannie and AIG.”
Merced’s reference is to the takeover by the U.S. government in recent days of the world’s largest insurance company, American International Group, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, enterprises designed to improve the flow of credit to homebuyers, all of which faced financial failure.
The state agency Oregon Housing and Community Services is coordinating the upcoming conference in partnership with the housing-development and community non-profit sectors:
2008 Oregon Housing and Community Services Conference
Salem Conference Center, Salem, OR
Monday-Wednesday, October 6-8, 2008
www.ohcs.oregon.gov
Highlights include:
· Anti-poverty messages from former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts and Senate President Pro-Tem Margaret Carter.
· A panel of fiscal and political experts with up-to-the-moment information and opinion.
· Interactive sessions designed to engage and spark individuals to action.
· Award for Best New Affordable Housing of the Year and many more.
Oregon Housing and Community Services is the state’s housing finance agency and community services program administrator. The department provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing serving Oregonians of lower and moderate income, and administers federal and state antipoverty, homeless, energy assistance and community service programs.
The OHCS mission is to "Provide leadership that enables Oregonians to gain housing, become self-sufficient and achieve prosperity."
