Communities of Color will soon have new homes in Northeast Portland
Communities of Color will soon have new homes in Northeast Portland!
Sabin CDC Begins Development of Affordable Housing for Communities of Color in NE Portland in Honor of Mr. Harvey Rice and Local Artists, Isaka Shamsud-Din and Charlotte Lewis
Sabin CDC, with development partners Iron Tribe Network and Community Vision, has been awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for the redevelopment of 2 properties in NE Portland. Named for Sabin CDC’s Board Chair, Mr. Harvey Rice, whose work has touched so many throughout Greater Portland, this project honors his leadership at Sabin, and his legacy of civic participation and advocacy. Whether through his work at Tri-Met, PSU, the AARP, his Church, or the African American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Harvey is known as an advocate for strengthening of community ties, for understanding of human frailty, and for reaching across the table to shake someone’s hand. Sabin CDC’s Board Chair since 2013, Mr. Harvey has expanded Sabin’s ability to serve the traditionally African American population of Inner N/NE Portland.
The Harvey Rice Heritage embodies his community aspirations by providing shelter to communities of color and opportunity for those who may otherwise be displaced or homeless. It will leverage 2 properties in Sabin’s existing portfolio to create 41 healthy and accessible housing units, including 23 family-sized units, plus meeting spaces to support communities of color experiencing low-income. Mr. Bobby Fouther is assisting Sabin with the development of community art spaces in the buildings that will be named for Isaka Shamsud-Din and Charlotte Lewis, artists who worked in NE Portland and wove their African American heritage with their art as a means of strengthening the voice of their community. By developing the Harvey Rice Heritage, Sabin will expand its vision of neighborhoods where everyone is offered access affordable housing in the face of gentrification that has had a disparate impact on NE Portland’s Black community. Sabin is partnering with Community Vision and Iron Tribe Network, organizations with proven track records, to create an inclusive and sustainable umbrella to support often-overlooked needs within this community.
Because affordable housing is not a solo endeavor, Sabin would like to acknowledge support from our many partners including but not limited to: Housing Development Center, Heritage Bank, SEA LLC Architects, P&C Construction, Peregrine Relocations, National Equity Fund, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing, Oregon Housing and Community Services (Low Income Housing Tax Credits 9%, General Housing Assistance Program, Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credits, METRO, Oregon Multifamily Energy Program), Living Cully, BES’s Portland Brownfield Program, and Commissioner Amanda Fritz’s Office. The planning for the Harvey Rice Heritage took form with support from Meyer Memorial Trust.
The Development Partners
Sabin CDC (www.sabincdc.us). Founded in 1991, Sabin CDC owns and manages 120+ units of affordable housing in NE Portland; currently, 70% of our residents identify as African American.
Iron Tribe Network ( www.irontribe.org ). Founded in 2009, Iron Tribe supports previously incarcerated individuals, a population that is disproportionately African American and at high risk of homelessness, with a focus on mental health and addiction programs.
Community Vision (www.cvision.org). Founded in 1993, Community Vision is Oregon’s largest provider of individualized support for people with disabilities, including developmental disabilities.
Mary Schoen-Clark
Executive Director