June 4, 2009

On Wednesday, June 3rd, community stakeholders including realtors, homebuilders, home buyer education and training specialists, and foreclosure prevention and counseling providers, met with Commissioner Fish and Portland Housing Bureau staff for a briefing on the City's homeownership programs, in acknowledgment of June as Homeownership Month.
Staff and stakeholder panels presented the report to City Council in support of the City's Homeownership Month Proclamation.

Commissioner Fish announced the awarding of $280,000 in grants to organizations providing Homeowenrship Retention and Foreclosure Prevention Services in the Portland area. The funds will be available immediately to meet the rapidly escalating need for these services as rates of foreclosure increase.
The Homeownership kitchen cabinet will reconvene in the summer to assist Commissioner Fish in shaping the future vision for homeownership programs in the Portland Housing Bureau.