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PATHWorks Newsletter: JUNE 2017
Success Stories - Employment - Finances - Asset Building -
Community Events -
Housing Works Updates - Resources
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Congratulations Ground Lease Homeowners- Julian and Katherine C.
Julian and Katie, along with their young son, had been living with Katie’s parents for over a year when they heard about the ground lease homes available in Sisters. They quickly inquired and became very excited about the opportunity to purchase something in Sisters at such an affordable price.
Katie was raised in Sisters and knew that she wanted to raise her family in the community she knew and loved. After graduating college, getting married and starting a family, Katie moved back into her parents home while she and her husband Julian searched for a place to call their own. Julian and Katie were able to secure private financing and closed on their new home March 31, 2017.
Katie exclaimed, “We are so excited to be raising our family in Sisters and in this beautiful home we get to call our own”.
It takes partnerships to create affordable homeownership opportunities for families with low-income. Dutch Pacific Properties reached out to Housing Works to provide the seven units of affordable housing that were required by the City of Sisters to obtain land use approval. Housing Works purchased the land Julian and Katie’s home is built on at a very reduced rate and received a waiver of the System Development Fees from the City of Sisters. Julian and Katie also received a small grant from Oregon Association of Realtors Home Foundation to help with closing costs.
Julian and Katie look forward to raising their family in Sisters while enjoying the stability of owning their own home and would like to thank everyone who helped make their journey possible.
Congratulations Julian and Katie!
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Personality Tests for Careers
Everyone is different and each person is unique. Different personality types and their corresponding preferences can make it easier or harder to work in some careers. Matching your personality type with the right occupation and work environment leads to a positive work atmosphere. When your job is in line with your attitudes, values, beliefs, and preferences, it is beneficial and leads to feeling more content and fulfilled in the workplace.
One way to begin the process of a career search when you are unsure of what you want to do is to take a personality test. Personality tests provide some insight into who you are, how you act, what your potential is, and where your ambition might take you. The more you know and understand about yourself, the more likely you are to find a career path you’ll love. There are many different tests you can take to analyze your preferences and personality to help match your personality with different careers.
Find a career that matches your interests, skills, and abilities. Make money by doing what you love.
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Here are some personality tests you may be interested in.
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Savings
Many times in your life, you will be faced with decisions of savings versus spending. These may include smaller expenses for a new phone to larger expenses such as a new car or home. Savings should be put aside for emergency funds that you have for unexpected expenses. Ideally y
ou should have enough money in your emergency fund to sustain you for 3-6 months. You should try to save approximately 10-12% of your paycheck every month to give you a safety net for unexpected expenses.
Sometimes it is difficult to think about saving when you are living on a limited income. Having a limited income makes saving even more important. Try thinking of your savings account like you would a bill. Make a payment to yourself first. If you are wondering how you will be able to add this additional payment into your budget, read below for some tips that can help you make this happen.
1) Tracking your expenses and income is the first step to developing a written budget. A written budget allows you to see what money is coming in and going out. Once you know that information, you will be able to see where you can save money or increase your income to start a savings account and continue saving.
2) Have money automatically withdrawn from your check and put into a savings account so you don't even see it and may "forget" about it.
3) Use a savings app. Some of these apps round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and deposit the change to your savings account. Some of these are Acorns, Digit, Stash, or Qapital.
Whatever method you choose, the important thing is that it works for you and you are consistently saving money. You never know when an unexpected emergency might come up. So be prepared and start saving today!
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VIDA Funds Available
A Valley Individual Development Account (VIDA) is a 3:1 matched savings account that enables families to save and build assets. IDAs encourage savings by matching participant deposits, which then are invested in one of the following assets:
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Homeownership
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Small business start-up or expansion
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Post-secondary education or job training
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Employment-related adaptive equipment, technology or specialized training
IDAs are about more than receiving match money. They are about building skills that will help individuals and their families move up the ladder of self-sufficiency. These skills are obtained through the completion of training focused on attaining and managing assets. Trainings focus on the specifics of each asset and provide a forum for participants to develop their skills as homeowners, entrepreneurs, students, or employees.
Limited VIDA accounts are available with preference given first to PATHWorks participants, then to Housing Choice Voucher holders, and then to the general public. Income limits apply based on household size and county of residence.
If you are interested in learning more about this program and applying, please contact Vanessa Casaubon at Housing Works today.
Phone: (541) 323-7410
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2017 Veterans STAND DOWN and Community Resource Fair
Please join us at the 2017 Veterans STAND DOWN Community Resource Fair at the Bend Elks Lodge on Wednesday, June 28th. This fair is to connect veterans, low-income households and/or homeless community members with resources they may find useful, all in one place for one day. There will be community partners from many of the organizations to provide information and resources. In addition, the Elks are going to be cooking a hot breakfast and providing a sack lunch for the attendees.
A lot of service providers will be there, including: PacificSource, Red Cross, Central Oregon Collective, Housing Works, Deschutes County Behavioral Health, Legal Aid, USDA Veteran Special Programs, Worksource Oregon, Alliance Prosthetics, Deschutes Public Library, Planned Parenthood, Cascade Youth and Family, CET/COIC, NeighborImpact, DHS/APD, OSU Cascades, and COCOA.
Join us for resources and free food! Date: Wednesday, June 28th, 2017
Time: 9 AM- 4 PM
Location: Bend Elks Lodge (63120 Boyd Acres Rd, Bend, OR)
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This summer, free lunches will be offered at various locations throughout Central Oregon.
- For all kids 18 years and younger
- No registration or fee
- Parents are encouraged to attend with their children but cannot eat their children's meals
- All meals must be eaten on site
- Please do not bring pets
- Regulations and funding by the US Dept. of Agriculture
For more information, times and locations of the free summer meals, click on the logo.
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OHP Education Series
If you are you on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), you can learn more about what healthcare services OHP covers during the OHP Education Series through PacificSource Community Solutions. Some of the topics that will be covered are:
- 24-Hour NurseLine
- Free transportation
- Medical, behavioral, and oral health benefits
- How to re-enroll in OHP
- How to get more involved in your healthcare community
- Kid-friendly activity area
- And much more!
Click on the logo for dates and times of this event.
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DEVELOPMENT HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER
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Housing Works is staying very busy this year with the development of several new affordable properties. Construction on Cook Crossing, a new 48-unit affordable senior property in Redmond, is progressing well. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of July. EPIC Property Management received a total of 157 applications in April for the 48 units. A waiting list has been established through a lottery giving every applicant an equal chance of living in this amazing new property. EPIC Property Management will be contacting applicants as they work through the waiting list.
In Bend, the Moonlight and Daggett Townhomes will be completed in August, with units available to waitlist applicants as early as June. EPIC Property Management received a total of 440 applications over four days in March for the townhome units. Applications were randomized through a lottery to give all applicants an equal chance at living in one of the new townhome units. EPIC Property Management will be contacting applicants as they work through those waiting lists.
Housing Works is also very excited to commence construction in July on a unique property in Prineville. The old Ochoco Elementary School is going to be converted into 29 units of affordable multifamily housing. The new community, Ochoco School Crossing, will include a mix of studio, one, two and three bedroom units. As an affordable property, households will be limited to 50% of area median income, which currently is $26,650 for a family of four in Crook County. The old school gym will be leased to Crook County Parks and Recreation for a community recreation center. Additionally, NeighborImpact is making plans to open a new Head Start classroom in the old cafeteria. Applications will be taken a few months prior to project completion the spring/summer of 2018.
Housing Works has also been awarded funding from the state’s Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Housing Program to commence two additional projects, one in La Pine and one in Sisters. The La Pine Townhomes development will be Housing Works’ first affordable housing community in the city of La Pine. The current concept calls for 42 townhome units on a 2.5 acre parcel donated by Deschutes County. Housing Works hopes to build a mix of one, two and three bedroom units. The Sisters affordable community will be built on two lots totaling 2.12 acres behind Ray’s Food Place. A mix of 48 one, two and three bedroom apartments are planned for the development. Housing Works plans to commence construction on both projects in January 2018 with build time of approximately 10 months.
For updated information on Housing Works Developments, please check out our website here.
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Congratulations Emily Loza-
Housing Works HQS Inspector
Congratulations and thank you to Emily Loza, Housing Works HQS Inspector on her 3rd year anniversary with Housing Works. Emily started working at Housing Works in May of 2014. She was working at the Redmond Fred Meyer at that time as well because "I wasn’t sure how I was going to tell them I had found a better job after being there 7 years." Emily worked weekends at Freddie’s and full-time at Housing Works. That didn’t last very long because she discovered right away that she enjoyed and preferred working at Housing Works. So she gave her notice at Fred Meyers and hasn’t looked back since. Now Emily says she couldn't see herself working anywhere else. She most enjoys interacting with the clients during their inspections.
Emily was born in California but has been an Oregonian since she was about 9 years. old. Emily is a homebody and loves the small town feel of Redmond, which is why she has planted her roots here. She enjoys snow days in the winter and hikes in the summer, fostering kittens for the Bright Side Animal Shelter and helping others as well.
Emily states "I love what Housing Works does within our community and find myself very blessed to work here with such an amazing group of people." We love working with you too Emily! During the time Emily has worked at Housing Works, she has significantly contributed to the Housing Choice Voucher department's success. Her cheerful attitude is contagious and we appreciate her positive vibes. We thank you so much for what you do for our clients and our community. We couldn’t be a team without you. Here’s to celebrating many more Housing Works Anniversaries! Thank you Emily!
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Click
here
for the application.
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EMPLOYMENT
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
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