PCRI

Neighbors, dealing with debt can feel heavy, but you don't have to figure it out alone. Join us September 30 for Dealing with Debt. We'll talk through proven strategies for paying down what you owe while still managing everyday life. This workshop is about facing debt head on, not hiding from it. It runs from 5:30 to 7 PM and it's free.

Register at pcri-homeownership.eventbrite.com.

Neighbors, ever wonder how credit really works? Join us online on September 23 for Understanding Credit. We'll cover what credit is, what makes a good credit score, and the different types of credit out there. We'll also talk about how interest works and how you can get your credit cards working for you instead of against you. The workshop runs from 5:30 to 7 PM and it's free.

Register at pcri-homeownership.eventbrite.com.

Myth: affordable housing is only for people with very low income.

Fact: PCRI rents to households earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income. For a family of four in Portland, that runs from about $38,500 a year up to about $76,980 a year. That's a wide range, by design. Affordable housing should work for a lot of different neighbors, not just one income level. It's part of how PCRI helps keep Portlanders in the neighborhoods they call home.

When the Allen Temple Food Bank needed a new home, it found one in a building PCRI owns in North Portland. The doors opened again, the shelves filled up, and the work continued without missing a beat.

Walk in on a Wednesday or Saturday morning and the first thing you get is a smile. Guests take what they actually need, with no rationing and no lecture. Ask the team what they are proudest of and the answer is not a number, it is that they are simply there, and that no one who walks through the door is judged for needing help. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed the first Wednesday and Saturday of each month, at 6717 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. All are welcome.

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PCRI staff spent time this week studying the history behind Fair Housing law, guided by a longtime trainer from the Fair Housing Council of Oregon. The training covered past lawsuits that shaped the law, and what landlords are responsible for when it comes to protecting tenants. Staff also discussed how housing discrimination has shown up in Portland's own history, and how those patterns still shape the work today. The training left staff with a clearer picture of the rules that guide every decision PCRI makes about tenants. Questions came up throughout the session, many centered on how to put residents' interests first in day to day decisions.

Neighbors, the playground at Maya Angelou Apartments and Albina Head Start is 30 years old. It wasn't built for the age range of kids who use it today, and it's overdue for a real fix.

That fix is coming. PCRI was selected for a Community Impact Grant to replace it. The plan includes new play equipment, safer surfacing, fencing, landscaping, and seating for families to gather.

This spot has served generations of kids in North and Northeast Portland. Soon it will serve them better.

The project is in the planning stage now, with completion expected this fall.

Neighbors, ready to talk numbers with someone who knows the process? Join us August 12 for Talk to a Local Lender. A local lender will walk through what it takes to go from pre-approval to closing, including the funding you'll need. We'll cover how to choose the right loan product and secure the right funds for your mortgage. The workshop runs from 5:30 to 7 PM and it's free.

Register on the homeownership section of our website or at pcri-homeownership.eventbrite.com.

Neighbors, come spend the day with us on August 1 for Homebuying 101. We'll walk through the whole home buying process together, from start to finish, and it counts toward the education requirement for most down payment assistance and IDA programs. It runs from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Then on August 5, join us for Budgeting for the Holidays. We'll talk through creative ways to enjoy the season with the people you love, without losing sight of your financial goals. This one runs from 5:30 to 7 PM.

Both workshops are free, and both are open to you. Register from the link on our website, or at pcri-homeownership.eventbrite.com.

Neighbors, want to get a better handle on your money? Join us July 29 for Financial Self-Care: Saving for Yourself. We'll talk about how interest works, ways to pay down debt, how to make the most of your income, and how to spend and save with real purpose. The online workshop runs from 5:30 to 7 PM and it's free.

Register at pcri-homeownership.eventbrite.com, or follow the link from the homeownership section of our website.

PCRI manages over 350 single-family homes across Portland. Staying effective for those families means more than good programs. It means running a strong organization.
This week, Executive Director Kymberly Horner and our Grants Coordinator Meagan are attending the HomeFree-USA Affiliate Leaders Academy virtually. Sessions cover financial management, scaling operations responsibly, and developing strategic partnerships that extend what an organization can do.
That kind of capacity work is what lets PCRI keep doing the mission.