City of Bend, Oregon Economic Development, 24 Feb 2010

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From YouTube: Neighborhood Stabilization Program - CC

Description

Federal funds are available thru HUD and NSP programs to help stabilize neighborhoods facing foreclosures and vacant lots. Selected families are eligible for these emergency funds thru Oregon Housing and Community Services and the City of Bend's Affordable Housing office.

A

Hello and welcome to city edition the city of bend's video news magazine, I'm justin, finestone.

A

federal dollars from the neighborhood stabilization program are coming to bend..

A

In our first story, we learn how the city and state applied for and received this important grant for central oregon and who the money will help.

B

Neighborhood stabilization program is a federal program coming out of the stimulus package that were put forth to have communities re-establish deserted homes and deserted neighborhoods.

B

Due to the down turn in the economy.

C

The city of bend is representing central oregon in a consortium with the state of oregon to get funding, thru the neighborhood stabilization program and as such, we have crook, deschutes and jefferson county represented.. We have an exceptional.

B

Opportunity in the way that these dollars rolled out from the federal government. this was very competitive and there were not many areas that had the density of problems that we have here in central oregon.. The need in the 3-county.

C

Area, basically, you have to look at the number of forclosed upon homes and the majority of those are in deschutes county, but there are still significant in jefferson county and a significant in crook county..

C

So the funding is eligible in all three of those.

D

Areas. the city saw an opportunity and to bring together the other juristictions, other cities and counties and across the state.

D

We felt that we could be stronger going after the federal grant as a large group, rather than just as the city of bend.. The piece of the.

B

Consortium in central oregon that played the large part in the state's success is the piece led by the city of bend that enables city staff to administer this very complex program for juristictions in jefferson, deschutes and crook counties..

B

There are $6.8 mil.

C

Awarded to oregon for the nsp #2.3 mil is coming to the central oregon region.

C

for the nsp2,. There was a competitive process. There were over 400 applicants, 56 were awarded, we were one of them and we're the only one in the pacific nw that did get funded.

C

the family. That's approved.

B

Under the criteria for the use of these dollars would be able to purchase a foreclosed home. These properties do have to be foreclosed., they could do a purchase and rehabilitation of a home, and they would have assistance in their down payment requirements as they purchase a home.. This is a good example of.

C

The neighborhood we're in where the market kind of collapsed on it.

C

we've got finished homes next to half finished homes next to vacant lots..

C

In this whole area around here there are two homes that are occupied.

C

There are probably 7 homes that are completed but unoccupied, there's another 3 or 4 homes that are half completed and there's another 30 lots.

C

Some have foundations, but all of them have the utilities in but they're just not completed..

C

It will make a better looking area and make some more pride in the neighborhood.

C

It will just make it for a better town..

C

The bright side of this opportunity.

B

Actually has two consequences.

B

for the state of oregon..

B

One is the exceptional partnership that is enabling this to happen.

B

The city of bend, stepping up taking a lead. council.

D

And city staff sees the problems that people are having in our community and we saw this grant and it's an opportunity for us to try and help people that are hurting.

C

The qualifications for this program are the people have to be under 120% of median income, which would be up to about $75,000 for a family of 4 in bend..

C

Now this money can be used for down payment, assistance.

C

for bank owned,, foreclosed upon properties and can go up to 20% of the purchase price of those homes for a maximum of $35,000..

C

Another bright spot.

B

Is that the availablity of these dollars and the administration of this program allows these families, who would not have had an opportunity in these times to establish themselves as permanent members of our community and now they can., and it never would have happened without these dollars and bend's leadership.

C

City, council and management of this city is very excited about this program.. This is going to help us to get a lot of people into homes and also help us to clean up a lot of our neighborhoods, and it's going to be very positive program for the city.

D

The half built homes and vacant lots that are filled with weeds, aren't the look that I want for our community and I don't think that any of us want, and so, if we an use grant money like this from the federal government to help these properties get finished out and get them off. The market it'll make our community just look better and it will help in taxes and community pride.