Please send us an email if you have suggestions for other resources.

Affordable Housing

The Beehive Designed for affordable housing tenants with main sections on Money, Health Care, Jobs, Schools, and Family.

Center for Social Development (CSD) is the leading academic center of theory and research on asset building. CSD designs and carries out evaluations of IDA programs.

Consortium for Housing & Asset Management CHAM’s mission is to better enable community-based organizations and others in the nonprofit housing industry to responsibly own and professionally manage affordable housing. To support industry managers, CHAM has developed a certification program called Nonprofit Housing Management Specialist (NHMS®).

Enterprise Community Investment - The Enterprise Social Investment Corporation (ESIC), a subsidiary of The Enterprise Foundation, works with partners to finance, develop and acquire affordable housing and other community development initiatives in underserved neighborhoods across the country. ESIC undertakes a variety of initiatives in fulfillment of its mission.

Enterprise Community Partners A partner for many CDC's in Oregon, their web site is a good source for information about their initiatives and programs

Fannie Mae Helps fund affordable housing through a variety of investment strategies. The Fannie Mae Foundation, their charitable giving arm, also does great work.

Federal Housing Finance Board Each month, the Finance Board conducts a survey of rates and terms on conventional mortgage loans. The survey is known as the Monthly Interest Rate Survey or MIRS.

Freddie Mac Helps fund affordable housing through a variety of investment strategies. Also has lots of resources for homebuyers.

Housing & Urban Development Department (HUD) Offers access to a wealth of information about HUD programs both nationally and locally. This site has schedules of HUD's periodic webcasts of critical information about programs.

HUD Clips provides access to HUD's policies, procedures, announcements, briefings and other materials.

HUD Community Connections is the clearing house for HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development. It is the source for program regulations, case studies, publications announcements and referrals.

HUD Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) is the primary source for Federal Government reports and information on housing and community development policy and programs.

IDA Network - The IDA network from CFED serves as a gateway to the individuals, organizations, and ideas that are collectively shaping the Individual Development Account (IDA) field.

Institute for Community Economics (ICE) is a national community development organization promoting economic justice through community land trust (CLTs) and community investment.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) provides funds and technical assistance to Community Development Corporations for neighborhood redevelopment. Priorities are set locally and LISC's national office provides a match for funds raised locally.

National Affordable Housing Network - Provides resource efficient designs and construction plans for affordable housing

National American Indian Housing Council - Affordable housing for Native Americans and tribal housing entities.

National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders members are committed to increasing private lending and investing in low- to moderate-income communities.

National Equity Fund - NEF, Inc. was created in 1987 by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to help fuel affordable housing development through syndication of low-income housing tax credits (LIHTCs).

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Community Building

Annie E. Casey Foundation - Improving the lives of disadvantaged children and families. The primary mission of the Foundation is to foster public policies, human service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today's vulnerable children and families.

The Asset Based Community Development Institute - Research on asset based community development activity.

Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) - Low and moderate income families working for social justice and stronger communities.

Building Better Communities Network is an information clearinghouse dedicated to building inclusive communities with affordable housing and services, including comprehensive resources on managing local opposition to affordable housing and services.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CHD) - Addresses causes of poverty through self help and community organizations.

Center for Neighborhood Technology - Investing and implementing tools to create livable urban areas.

Community Technology Centers' Network a national membership organization that promotes nonprofit and community-based efforts to provide equal access to technology skills and usage to the general public and to disadvantaged populations.

Kettering Foundation - Research foundation for improving democracy.

Knight Program in Community Building

Knowledgeplex Knowledgeplex features news articles, interesting studies and academic papers, tools for community development, and information about web-based trainings. It is a great resource for anyone involved in community development.

National Council of La Raza - Services to improve quality of life for Hispanic communities through applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy and capacity-building assistance for Hispanic community-based organizations.

Right-to-Know Network provides free access to numerous databases, text files, and conferences on the environment, housing, and sustainable development. With the information available on RTK NET, you can identify specific factories and their environmental effects; analyze reinvestment by banks in their communities; and assess people and communities affected.

Study Circles Resource Center - Helps communities by giving them the tools to organize productive dialogue, recruit diverse participants, find solutions, and work for action and change.

Woodstock Institute - Research and promotion of activities to increase economic opportunity.

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Community Development Organizations

CRA Ratings Database (Federal Financial Institions Examination Council) This search engine will enable you to find the latest CRA ratings of financial institutions supervised by the Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and/or Office of Thrift Supervision. By selecting the criteria of the bank(s) you wish to obtain, you can get the latest CRA rating.

National Center on Poverty Law offers visitors to the website access (for a fee) to an enormous collection of poverty law publications and case studies.

National Housing Institute A research organization based in New Jersey. They focus on issues include housing, jobs, safety, and education, with an emphasis on housing and economic development, as well as poverty and racism, disinvestment and lack of employment, and breakdown of the social fabric. NHI also publishes “ShelterForce magazine.”

One Economy Corporation is a multi-national nonprofit organization that brings broadband to the homes of low-income people and works to maximize the potential of technology to help low- income people improve their lives and enter the economic mainstream.

Opportunity Finance Network CDFI network providing financing, training, consulting, and advocacy.

Second Harvest - National food bank network.

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Economic and Microenterprise Development

National Economic Development and Law Center - Facilitation for legal services for non profit and CED organizations.

Oregon Symposium for Entrepreneurial Nonprofits Resources for organizations interested in starting earned-income ventures. Includes “Getting Trashed” resource manual and five-day training symposium offered each summer.

Small Business Administration an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns. SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses.

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Federal Agencies/Resources

Census Bureau - Population Division

Federal Register the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.

Fed World (Federal Agencies) a website that includes a comprehensive inventory of information disseminated by the Federal Government.

IRS The IRS has a lot of good basic information for start-up and established organizations including FAQs and a searchable data base.

Money Smart -FDIC a training program to help adults outside the financial mainstream enhance their money skills and create positive banking relationships.

Thomas - U.S. Library of Congress This site which was named for Thomas Jefferson and offers Congressional information on the internet.

USA.gov Whatever you want or need from the U.S. government, it's here on USA.gov. You'll find a rich treasure of online information, services, and resources.

USDA Rural Development

US Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for protecting American's health and providing services including assistance to low income families, substance abuse and medical treatment and research.

US Department of Housing and Urban Development Provides programs and services to meet the nation's housing and community development needs.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

U.S. White House

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Fundraising

Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy The Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy is an arm of the think tank The Urban Institute, and maintains a large amount of valuable data on the nonprofit sector. The site also has links to a variety of listservs that researchers may want to join.

ChangingOurWorld.com services include fundraising and development outsourcing, capital campaigns and major gift efforts, planned giving, a philanthropy division for corporate and personal philanthropy, as well as on-line fundraising and communications

The Chronicle of Philanthropy The Chronicle of Philanthropy site contains a variety of articles and links on virtually every topic related to the nonprofit sector. It has job ads and information on grant deadlines and awards. While a fair amount of information is available to the public, a large portion of it is available only to subscribers. (AOCDO is a subscriber, if something really catches your interest.)

Council on Foundations The Council on Foundations works to support foundations by promoting knowledge, growth and action in philanthropy. Their site offers workshops, publications and tools. Members have access to virtual resources.

Ford Foundation - The Ford Foundation is a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide. Their goals are to: strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement.

Foundation Center This is another one to bookmark! The Foundation Center is the nation's leading authority on institutional philanthropy and is dedicated to serving grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public, through its Web site, print and electronic publications, five library/learning centers, and a national network of cooperating collections.

Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities . The Network helps funders to advance policy reforms; share knowledge and build the capacity of key constituencies. The Network’s current projects address: 1) communications, 2) community foundations leadership, 3) regional and neighborhood equity, 4) transportation, 5) green buildings and green neighborhoods, and 6) healthy people and places.

Guidestar Guidestar is the source for financial information on individual nonprofits and it also has articles and information of general interest.

Independent Sector is a membership organization with a good site for researchers and visitors who want to learn more about the state of the nonprofit (or independent) sector. There are links to articles and reports prepared by major nonprofit organizations and research centers dealing with volunteering, public policy and lobbying.

Kellogg Foundation - The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to apply knowledge to solve the problems of people, focusing on building the capacity of individuals, communities, and institutions to solve their own problems.

C.S. Mott Foundation - The C.S. Mott Foundation believes that each individual's quality of life is connected to the well-being of the community, both locally and globally.

National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy NCRP advocates for the philanthropic community to provide nonprofit organizations with essential resources and opportunities to work toward social and economic justice for disadvantaged and disenfranchised populations and communities.

National Rural Funders Collaborative (NRFC) a partnership working to expand resources for rural communities and families facing persistent poverty.

Neighborhood Funders Group is a national network of foundations and philanthropic organizations which support community-based efforts that improve economic and social conditions in low-income communities.

Network for Good If you're interested in more information on fundraising online, this is your site! It includes great information about online fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and civic involvement.

Philanthropy News Network This site has a daily online news service produced by a nonprofit for nonprofits. Listings of conferences and seminars and nonprofit job listings.

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Land Use and Local Government

American Planning Association is a nonprofit public interest and research organization committed to urban, suburban, regional, and rural planning.

International Healthy Cities Foundation IHCF is to facilitate linkages among people, issues and resources in order to support the development of WHO Healthy Cities initiatives.

National Association of Counties. Housing is one of the Issues areas.

Planners Network - Association of individuals and organizations interested in urban planning.

Smart Growth Network includes Smart Growth Online a searchable catalogue of reports, websites, tools and case studies about sustainable community issues dating from 1997 until today.

Trust for Public Land the only national nonprofit working exclusively to protect land for human enjoyment and well-being.

United States Conference of Mayors the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more.

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National Advocacy Organizations

Campaign for Affordable Housing a national nonprofit and nonpolitical organization that provides information, consulting and training for affordable housing advocates, agencies, developers, lenders and others.

Center for Policy Alternatives is the nation's only nonpartisan nonprofit organization working to strengthen the capacity of state legislators to lead and achieve progressive change.

Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) brings together community practice, public policy and private markets in new and effective ways to help Americans start and grow businesses, go to college, own a home, and save for their children’s and own economic futures.

Housing Assistance Council (HAC) Deals with building affordable housing in rural communities

The Institute on Assets and Social Policy works to strengthen the leadership of policy makers, practitioners and others by linking the intellectual and program components of asset-building policies through research, analysis, education, and public engagement. Also found under National Associations.

National AIDS Housing Coalition

National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations NACEDA is the national equivalent of AOCDO. The website includes links to other state organizations and information on various federal policy issues.

National Alliance to End Homelessness publishes Homelessness Counts- a 2007 report lays the groundwork for measuring efforts to end homelessness by establishing a baseline number of homeless people from which to monitor trends in homelessness.

National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) The association is an advocate for federal programs and policies that promote regional strategies and solutions for addressing local community and economic development needs.

National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is the leading housing and community development advocate for the provision of adequate and affordable housing and strong, viable communities for all Americans—particularly those with low- and moderate-incomes.

National Coalition for the Homeless is a national network of homeless persons, activists and service providers committed to ending homelessness through education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing.

National Civic League - Advocate for community democracy.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition is a national trade association for economic justice whose members consist of nearly 600 local community-based organizations. Its mission is to build wealth in traditionally underserved communities and bring low- and moderate-income populations into the financial mainstream.

National Council of State Housing Agencies advances, through advocacy and education, the nation’s state Housing Finance Agencies’ efforts to provide affordable housing to those who need it.

National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty - Legal arm of campaign to end homelessness.

National League of Cities serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 18,000 cities, villages, and towns it represents. Includes some information and resources on Housing and Community Development.

National Low Income Housing Coalition A policy and education organization based in Washington DC. They focus primarily on affordable housing issues, with a focus on those with the most serious housing problems, the lowest income households. NLIHC publishes the annual “Out of Reach” report.

National Organizers Alliance - Advance organizing for social, environmental, and economic justice issues.

NeighborWorks A great resource for information about all aspects of affordable housing development, including lead based pain abatement, Individual Development Accounts, predatory lending, and youth programs

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Oregon Related

Community Development Law Center provides legal services to non-profit organizations in Oregon. CDLC's attorneys represent affordable housing and economic development organizations in real estate, land use, construction, corporate, and employment matters. CDLC staff also conducts trainings in subjects such as housing finance, asset management, and the rights and responsibilities of non-profit board members.

Community Development Network is an association of nonprofit community development organizations in Multnomah County, Oregon which strives to strengthen nonprofit community development organizations and to provide a collective voice for healthy, diverse communities.

Housing Connections Housing Connections is a user-friendly website that allows renters to look for affordable housing in the Portland metropolitan area.

Housing Development Center nonprofit project development organization that provides technical assistance to community development corporations in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington.

HUD - Portland Office The Oregon Office site offers more localized information including downloadable Fair Market Rents and other local information.

League of Oregon Cities is a voluntary association representing the state's 242 incorporated cities with a mission is to work for strong, livable communities through advocacy and education. 

Neighborhood Partnership Fund offers financial and technical support, training and technical assistance to CDC’s to support the creation of affordable homes, healthy communities, and economic opportunities for low income Oregonians.

Nonprofit Association of Oregon NAO connects nonprofits of all types and sizes to share information, tools and resources. Some resources include: web tools to support successful fund raising and effective management, helping nonprofits deal with Directors and Officers and other insurance needs and eploring health insurance to reduce cost & increase choices for NAO members.

Oregon Alliance for Land Use and Affordable Housing is a volunteer-driven, statewide grassroots organization to guarantee an adequate supply of housing and public services for all Oregonians through the provision of technical and legal assistance and public education.

Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP) does in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues.

Oregon Helps helps families get help, if they are eligible, from 28 different services.

Oregon Housing and Community Services Department

Oregon Legislature Provides a variety of information about the Legislature. During the session, it has up to date information about current hearing and the status of every bill. During the interim it has information on the results of the session and interim contact information for each legislator.

Oregon Microenterprise Network (OMEN) a statewide association of microenterprise development programs and their supporters. OMEN provides training, lending and other enterprise opportunities to entrepreneurs with limited access to economic resources.

Regional Housing Authorities for Oregon Listing of Oregon’s Regional Housing Authorities through the Affordable Housing Online website.

Secretary of State - Oregon The source for information about elections and voter registration in Oregon.

State of Oregon Includes links to the Governor, Secretary of State, Legislature, and other government departments; job postings; news on state programs; travel information; and the Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules.

USDA Rural Development - Oregon Office:

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Organizational Development

BoardSource Building Effective Non-Profit Boards. This site contains articles related to nonprofit governance, information about upcoming conferences and events for leaders. :

Center for Community Change (CCC) - Helping grassroots low-income communities build strong organizations.

Development Leadership Network  For resources and information on Leadership development and Professional development

Development Training Institute - DTI is America's premier trainer of leaders in community development. 

Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART) - Provides training for organizational building.

Grassroots.org spreads important social information through a network of socially-focused web sites and provides non-profit organizations with free valuable resources to increase their efficiency and productivity.

HandsNet provides an online policy and best-practice information sharing service to the human services community.

Joint Center for Housing Studies is Harvard University's center for information and research on housing in the United States. The Joint Center analyzes the dynamic relationships between housing markets and economic, demographic, and social trends, providing leaders in government, business, and the non-profit sector with the knowledge needed to develop effective policies and strategies.

Leader to Leader Institute engages social sector leaders in partnerships across the sectors that provide new and significant opportunities for learning and growth.

Neighborhoods Online - Resources for builders and organizers in community organizations.

Neighborworks Training Institute NeighborWorks America has created a new NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling (NCHEC) to meet the growing need for homeownership education and counseling.

The NonProfit Times leading business publication for non-profit management.

NPAction The Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) has published a series of "How To" guides for citizens who are building advocacy organizations which can be accessed through NPAction.

TACS If you don't know TACS yet, you should. TACS is a high quality, local nonprofit consultant on a variety of organizational needs, they can provide training, facilitation. TACS has a long history good service to the nonprofit sector and they are constantly updating their information and skills. For example, they have recently added increased ability to help with organizational technology needs assessment and planning. Check out their website to get a sense of what they can do for you.

WARM Training Center - Construction management services for non profit housing.

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Policy

Center for Law and Social Policy - National non-profit that conducts research, provides insightful policy analysis, advocates at the federal and state level, and offers information and technical assistance on a range of family policy and equal justice issues.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities works at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

Century Foundation The Century Foundation is a research foundation that undertakes timely and critical analyses of major economic, political, and social institutions and issues

Change Communications aims to connect grassroots activists with non-profits working on a specific issue.

Coalition on Human Needs - National alliance of organizations promoting policies to help low income and vulnerable populations.

Economic Success Clearinghouse (formerly Welfare Information Network) Database of policies that help low income and working poor.

Highlander Research and Education Center - Education center for community workers in social and economic justice movements.

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is an educational institution which studies and teaches land policy, including land economics and land taxation.

National Housing Council is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to affordable housing and community development. NHC advocates for policies and legislation that promote suitable housing in a safe, decent environment nationwide.

National Low Income Housing Coalition provides up-to-date information, formulates policy, and educates the public on housing needs and the strategies for solutions. The web site provides access to weekly news and alerts, publications, and other resources, including an extensive collection of links.

National Neighborhood Coalition Advocacy and policy work for low income neighborhoods.

Policy Link a national research and action institute that works collaboratively to develop and implement local, state, and federal policies to achieve economic and social equity.

Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) provides analysis and information on the challenges, needs, and opportunities facing rural America.

Urban Institute - Economic and social policy research and includes research and articles on housing issues.

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Articles

The Costs and Benefits of Green Affordable Housing This 200+ page report contains 16 case studies of affordable housing projects from around the country. This is the first study of its kind looking at green affordable housing from a costs and benefits perspective. 

Cuts in Federal Housing Assistance Are Undermining Community Plans to End Homelessness More than 200 communities are developing ten-year plans to end homelessness. Yet, just as many of these communities are beginning to implement their plans, cuts in federal low-income housing assistance have left them struggling to obtain the resources they need to meet their goals. Published by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, February 2007

The Effects of the Federal Budget Squeeze On Low-Income Housing Assistance This paper makes the case that, at a time when housing needs among low-income families are growing, misplaced federal budget priorities have weakened key low-income housing programs and are threatening to undermine core goals such as the preservation of the federally-assisted housing stock and the expansion of affordable housing opportunities for low-income families. Published by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, February 2007

The Facts on Payday Lending Published by SC Fair Share and the SC Appleseed Justice Center, September 2006

Household Income Report 2000-2005 A Set of graphs illustrating the median household income from 2000 to 2006.Published by MBG Information Services , September 2006

2006 Out of Reach Report Published by National Low Income Housing Coalition, December 2006. A side-by-side comparison of wages and rents in every county, Metropolitan Area (MSAs/HMFAs), combined non-metropolitan area and state in the United States. From this information, the hourly wage a worker must earn to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom home is derived. This figure is the Housing Wage.

Paper Measures Diversity of U.S. Neighborhoods A recent paper from the Urban Institute seeks to provide housing and community development practitioners and policy-makers with new tools to understand neighborhood diversity. According to the report, the racial and ethnic diversity of neighborhoods in the nation's top 100 metropolitan areas increased between 1990 and 2000. Published by The Urban Institute, June 2006

Paycheck to Paycheck In this revised and updated version of its online, interactive database Paycheck to Paycheck, the Center for Housing Policy presents wage information for more than 60 occupations and home prices and rents for nearly 200 metropolitan areas.

Report: 2.2 Million Families Face Foreclosure on Subprime Loans Published by Center for Responsible Lending, December 2006

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Please send us an email if you have suggestions for other resources.