Purpose and Background
The Portland Advisory Committee on Housing (PACH) is designated as the primary public forum for discussion on housing, housing related policies, and programs that guide The City of Portland and Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) goals around housing production, preservation, and protections.
Members of PACH are expected to elevate the importance of housing stabilization in Portland communities by providing comprehensive advice to the Mayor, City Administrator, Director of PHB, and Council on:
Housing policy and planning priorities, including those faced by Portland community members, landlords, tenants, and homeowners
Periodically review and recommend updates to PHB’s strategic plan, Consolidated Plan, Fair Housing Plan, and adherence to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) mandate
Reinforce PHB’s commitment to racial equity in all facets of work
Provide the forum for community members to comment on needs and priorities
Total number of advisory seats: 10 - 15;
Including 1 - 2 seats for youth (aged 16 - 24)
Number of seats available: 10 - 15 (all under recruitment)
Who can join
To be eligible for the advisory committee, members must live, play, worship, go to school, work or do business in the City of Portland.
What We Look For
We want people from every part of Portland to share their voice on this committee, especially people who have not been involved before. If you want to serve your community and help local government make informed choices, then we want to see your application.
The attributes listed below are what will guide our selection process. It is helpful if you are specific in your answers. We do not expect you to have knowledge or experience in every category listed.
Knowledge and/or experience (lived, professional, or volunteer) in the following areas will be particularly helpful for the work of the committee:
Affordable housing development, finance, and preservation
Housing policy
Mixed income housing models
Low-income renter, homeowner, and homebuyer programs
Oregon Landlord-Tenant law
Landlord or Tenant advocacy
Youth, elder, or disability advocacy
Fair Housing regulations and mandates
Property management (including both market-rate/conventional and non-profit)
Advocate for racial equity: you want positive and long-lasting outcomes for racial and ethnic communities who have been left out before. You can bring discussion about racial and ethnic communities who need it the most
Lived experience can also include renters, housing instability, eviction, neighborhood displacement, fair housing violations, homeowners, identification with a community population that has been historically disenfranchised, marginalized, or excluded from public engagement, processes, and benefits.
To the extent possible the committee’s composition should reflect the socio-economic, gender, racial, ethnic, cultural, and geographic diversity of the City. All committee members are expected to represent the interests of Portland residents, particularly those experiencing or susceptible to housing instability.
Time Commitment
Monthly, or bimonthly. Meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of the month, alternating between afternoons and evenings.
All meetings will be hybrid.
Members are involved for a duration of 3-year terms, and no more than 8 consecutive years.
The anticipated time commitment per month is approximately 4 hours: 2 hours pre-meeting prep and 2 hours for meetings
Members are expected to prepare for meetings on their own time. Meeting materials for review may be sent with minimal time to review, possibly as few as forty-eight hours (or two days) in advance.
Translation and Interpretation
We can provide interpreters who will translate the conversation in your language during the meeting.
You may need to read and write in your language. Verbal and written translations are performed by outside organizations. The dialects may be different than your home region and may be different on each document.
We try to translate the written materials you ask for, but we may not be able to provide translation on all meeting documents.
We Remove Barriers
Let us know if there are barriers to your participation.
Dinner and childcare will be provided at evening meetings.
Public transportation or parking validation will be available if you need those to fully participate.
Additional accommodations such as honoraria of up to $500 per person annually will be discussed with the group.
Volunteer Ethics
People who join this committee will become what we call “Public Officials,” which means that while you serve you must behave fair and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations. This is called a “Conflict of Interest.” If you tell us about potential Conflicts of Interest that does not mean you cannot serve, in fact, many committees have potential members with Conflicts of Interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible Conflicts of Interest on the form included in the application.
How to Apply
Applications are due on Sunday, October 27, 2024.
Applications will be reviewed beginning October 28, 2024.
To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact the advisory body staff liaison.
Jessica.Conner@portlandoregon.gov
503-865-6284
Voluntary & Confidential Demographic Information
The City is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Completing the demographic information on the application is voluntary, but we encourage you to provide that information. The City uses this information to help ensure that advisory body appointments represent a broad cross-section of community. Your information will not be used during the recruitment nor the selection process. State and federal law prohibit use of this information to discriminate against you. Questions about this may be sent to AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov.
General Questions
For general questions about the Advisory Bodies program, the volunteer recruitment process, or other upcoming advisory body opportunities please email AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov.
Learn more about the work at the Portland Housing Bureau
Still have questions or need more information? The advisory body staff liaison can help.
Jessica.Conner@portlandoregon.gov
503-865-6284