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Community Housing Resource Center From the Executive Director
The staff and I are settled in our new offices here at the Building Industry Association of Clark County building. The boxes have been emptied and there are even a few things on the walls. Unfortunately, far too many of our neighbors are packing up boxes as they prepare to move out of their home they’ve lost to foreclosure. A recent article published in the Columbian suggests that “local foreclosure rates are likely to stay high.” What we’re seeing at our weekly mortgage default prevention orientation confirms the paper’s prediction because of the high unemployment rate or the loss of income because of reduced hours and wages. We have a much larger classroom space at our new office, but it is unfortunately always full with responsible families who are facing the very real possibility of foreclosure during this holiday season. Our clients know that a fresh start doesn’t just happen with the turning of a calendar page. Yet, the counseling and education services available at the Center can help them stay on the path to financial and housing stability. This sort of change requires hard work on everyone’s part. It also requires your financial support. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Community Housing Resource Center using the "Donate" button on the left before the end of the year. Your gift to the Center will help keep those moving boxes empty and families in their homes. I guarantee, it will be the best present you give all year. The staff and Board of Directors at the Center wish you a brilliant holiday season filled with much joy and peace in the New Year. May you be as blessed as we are and as grateful for the support of so many caring friends, family and community members. With much thanks,
Teri Duffy, Executive Director
Roserria is a Community Investment Manager for the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. She is a champion for organizations that promote financial stability and independence, and she has been an invaluable source of feedback and support as we refine and develop our financial education and counseling programs. We are proud to be a Partner Agency of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and grateful for Roserria’s assistance in building assets and financial security for our clients. Please join us on March 18th at the Red Lion on the Quay as we honor 2011’s Partner of the Year. To reserve your ticket, call the Center at 360-690-4496 x 107.
CHRC Opens Up to the Community
The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, we hosted an Open House at our new office near downtown Vancouver. Thanks to a generous donation from Riverview Community Bank, our conference room was transformed into a buffet and our teaching space into a place to gather for drinks, dessert and conversation about the future of the Community Housing Resource Center. We’ re understandably excited about our new location. Our classroom holds more than twice as many people as our last one did, and we are sharing space with a longtime supporter, the Building Industry Association of Clark County. Without the BIA and the Clark County Board of Commissioners, this move never could have happened.
Thanks to everyone who came out to see the new facility and voice your support for the work we are doing in the community. For those of you who couldn’t make it, The Columbian ran a terrific piece about our move and all the folks who came together to celebrate our good fortune. In a year where the need for our services continued to grow, the holiday season is an apt reminder that we have much to be thankful for. Again, thanks to all of you. We couldn’t do it without you. A Steadfast Partner: Clark County
Our partnership with the County is one of our most valuable and we’re pleased to continue providing cost-efficient and effective services to Clark County residents. In addition to the County, we would like to recognize the organizations and individuals who supported our efforts since our last e-newsletter went out. Corporations, Foundations and Public Agencies Evergreen Home Loans, Garrow Equity Group, Home Inspection of Clark County, Riverview Bank, Umpqua Bank, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Wells Fargo Individuals Pam Baker, Dave Dumas, Ellen Hartzell, Karl and Dianne Millar, Deborah Oester and Oscar Cerrillo Thanks to each of you. For a list of past donors, please visit our Partners page. CHRC Assumes Leadership of Asset Building Coalition
Craig Lyons, Executive Director of the Council for the Homeless, led the group through a successful first year. His leadership was invaluable and a big part of the reason the Coalition has such a broad base of committed volunteers ready to put an exciting agenda into action. This year, the Coalition plans to establish a Bank-On Clark County initiative to provide important financial services to community members who do not use banking or credit union services, expand the local Earned Income Tax Credit outreach campaign to low-income working families, and increase the number of Individual Development Accounts available in the community. The Coalition has extra help to achieve these goals. The Center recently recruited an AmeriCorps volunteer to serve as the Clark County Asset Building Coordinator. Lisa Konopinski started in September, and we’re pleased with the energy and enthusiasm she’s brought to the position. The next meeting of the Clark County Asset Building Coalition will be on January 18, 2011 at 11:30 AM at the Center. Please contact at 360-690-4496 x 103 if you’re interested in attending or would like more information about the Coalition’s work.
You can reserve a table of ten for your employees and clients with a Gold, Silver or Table sponsorship. To reserve a sponsorship for your business, please call the Center at 360-690-4496 x 107. We hope you will plan to join us in March for this special event. See you then. |
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Hello,
At last year’s “Home Is Where the Heart Is” event, we honored Roserria Roberts as our Partner of the Year. It was supposed to be a surprise, but with seven of her coworkers attending the breakfast to cheer her on, the secret never had a chance.
This has been a challenging year for local government. The drop in tax revenue that’s accompanied the recent economic downturn has necessitated tough choices on important services. We’re proud to say that despite the scarcity of available funds, Clark County has recommitted itself to being part of the solution to the mortgage default crisis in our region.
The economic security of American households has eroded in the last decade. Many low- to middle-income families have experienced a growing gap between their incomes and their day-to-day costs of living, resulting in decreased savings, rising levels of debt, and widespread economic instability. Recently, CHRC assumed the leadership role in a group working to address these issues – the Clark County Asset Building Coalition.
Mark it on your calendar – the 11th annual “Home Is Where the Heart Is” breakfast will be held on Friday, March 18th, 2011 from 7:30 - 9:00 am at the Red Lion at the Quay in Vancouver, Washington. 
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