Housing Stability Council

December 16, 2016
Oregon Housing Stability Council Minutes
Report of the Director –
Director Salazar thanked all of the Councilmembers for their flexibility in making this meeting
work over the phone lines.
She then provided the Councilmembers with updates on several topics:
1. The Governor’s Budget was released on December 1, 2016. The budget can be viewed
by clicking here. The Director reviewed several components that may impact the agency:
a. $10 million in lottery-backed bonds to support affordable housing preservation
(gap financing for multifamily housing preservation); a request made by the
agency to the Governor.
b. $60 million in additional funding for the LIFT program.
c. Additional staff
i. For LIFT to launch the program, underwrite transactions and for on-going
support provided by the Asset Management and Compliance section.
ii. For Data & Research: authority for the positions to provide support for the
statewide housing plan, data upgrades and other projects on the horizon.
While it is still early in the budget process, the Director was pleased to see the level of
investment in OHCS by the Governor’s office.
2. The release of the Secretary of State Performance Audit on December 7, 2016. The
Director highlighted some of the major takeaways she sees coming out of the audit.
a. Data and Technology – updates were called for to better connect the agency
portfolio components.
b. Strategic Planning and the Statewide Housing plan – complete the plan and a
set measureable goals and priorities.
c. Employee Engagement and Engagement with the Housing Stability Council
in decision-making and communication with our stakeholders and partners.
i. Better engage employees in decision making of the agency.
ii. Increase transparency from agency leadership to staff.
iii. Work more closely with HSC to shape the agency and agency policies.
Director Salazar told the Council that there is a lot of hard work ahead for the agency to address
the audit. She also told the Council that she has met with key legislators and testified before the
House Human Services and Housing Committee about the audit.
The Director then went on to outline the following additional topics for update:
3. Market Changes: The potential impact to the low income tax credit programs with the
new administration arriving in 2017. The agency is watching this closely and Ms. Cody
and her team are looking at the projects in the pipeline to see how they may be impacted
by the changes in the market. The Housing Finance team is working to determine how
this will impact the gap financing available for use. Expect an update at a future meeting.
Oregon Housing Stability Council
Meeting Materials Packet - Page 30