December 2019
Dear Multifamily NW Members,
We are excited to launch our inaugural monthly newsletter, Oregon Housing News at a time of year when connection is valued most. Our intention is for Oregon Housing News to be an important touchpoint for you to stay on top of recent news, legislation, events, trainings and a place to learn more about the stories of fellow members.
This season offers us a time to be grateful and a time to give back.
Multifamily NW has service committees in all of its locations that operate year-round. However, during the holiday season those efforts are super-charged.
From Portland to Bend, members are supporting events and drives this month and next to support those in need.
Multifamily NW’s Portland-Metro Service committee organizes a goods and gifts drive supporting the White Shield Center, which takes in at-risk teens and new teen mothers to help them get ready to be successful on their own. Our members donate funds to allow every White Shield teen and baby to receive items from their Christmas lists. In years past, our members have given more than $5,000 dollars and many goods in order to make this a very successful annual project.
For many years, our SWV Service committee and council volunteers have put together a Hope Project. Starting as Home of Hope, the group would work with a local nonprofit to identify homes in the community that needed some work. This project evolved over time to include larger scale community projects such as School of Hope benefiting the Great Days Early Education school or the Mission of Hope helping to do some much-needed renovations at the Eugene Mission. This year, they are partnering with St. Vincent DePaul on two projects called Angels of Hope.
Meanwhile, our Salem members are busy collecting blankets at all of their properties to help keep all the residents in Salem warm and cozy this winter through Helping Hands, a nonprofit that helps families who need resources like clothing, bedding, household items, books and toys. Last year Helping Hands was there for 4,000 families.
Our members in Bend are just as busy collecting warm socks, gloves, hats and scarves through NeighborImpact for individuals and families in their community so they can be successful and empowered. NeighborImpact provides a range of services that not only meet basic human needs for food and shelter, but also enrich people’s lives by providing access to increased education, skills and hope for the future.
We hope you can take a moment to acknowledge this good work by members around the state and if you aren’t already, consider taking part.