Casa of Oregon

Family economic opportunity - Casa acts as the fiduciary organization and program administrator for three community-based, individual development account initiatives: vida, matched college savings program (mcsp), and earn, educate, empower (e3). At the core of Casa's family economic opportunity program (feop) are the notions of financial security, asset building, wealth redistribution and consumer education. In this role, Casa directs program operations including: providing training and technical Assistance to member organizations; data collection; fund development and management; and distribution of individual development account (ida) funds on behalf of 51 organizations and educational institutions that comprise vida, mcsp, and e3.the vida program is a collaborative of nonprofit organizations and housing authorities that bring a wide array of experience including housing development, social support services, business development Assistance, and workforce development. Vida membership has grown from nine organizations in 2001 to 39 organizations in 2023. The mcsp collaborative currently consists of four high schools and Community colleges. The schools accessing mcsp focus on creating access to postsecondary education for underrepresented students, such as students of color, first-generation students, and non-native english speakers. E3 is a collaboration between the Oregon alliance for independent colleges and universities (oaicu) and eight participating educational institutions. Financial aid staff work closely with Casa to identify and enroll eligible savers. Casa provides coaching and development while the students save. Together, vida, mcsp, and e3 serve 30 counties in Oregon. Since 2001, more than $51.5 million has been awarded which has created over 1,600 homeowners, assisted over 1,000 small businesses, and helped over 2,600 students pay for post-secondary education.in addition to funds from state and federal resources, feop receives fees for services from oaicu and their member schools as well as other organizations for the oversight and management of their ida programs.

Real estate development - Casa was originally established to address the housing needs of farmworkers throughout Oregon. Working primarily with local Community organizations, the real estate development (red) department seeks to improve the lives of farmworkers and other low income households in rural Oregon. Development activities include new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of subsidized properties. Casa provides a full scope of development services, including identifying areas of need; identifying appropriate properties; assembling the development team (architect, contractor, surveyors, etc. ); preparing budgets and funding applications; construction management; financing; and assisting with marketing and leasing. Since 1989, Casa has developed over 60 projects with over 2,800 units and ten Community facilities, including health care clinics, head start facilities, and Community centers.casa sponsors a biennial farmworker housing conference to address the unique challenges facing agriculture workers.

Manufactured housing cooperative development - the preservation of manufactured home parks (communities) through the creation of resident-owned communities is at the heart of the manufactured housing cooperative development center (mhcdc). Using a multi-faceted approach, Casa's program focuses on anti-displacement and affordable housing preservation policy issues, as well as on-the-ground technical Assistance in order to make resident ownership a viable option.in may 2008, Casa became one of nine certified technical Assistance providers (ctaps) under the national roc usa network. As a member of the roc usa network, Casa delivers pre- and post-purchase technical Assistance and helps manufactured homeowners secure the financing needed to buy their communities and shape their economic futures through resident ownership.since 2008, Casa has converted 26 communities (totaling 1,786 spaces) into resident-owned communities and provides ongoing, post-purchase technical Assistance and training to the cooperative board and members. Casa also acquired a Community destroyed by wildfire which is being redeveloped for conversion to resident ownership. Two more communities remain in our pipeline for conversion by the end of 2023. The aggregate "as-improved" market value of converted communities is estimated at $115 million. Aggregate grant funds leveraged for acquisition is estimated at $52 million. Casa continues to expand its mhcdc program with the goal of converting at least two manufactured housing communities annually.

Casa Community loan fund - as a Community development financial institution (cdfi), Casa Community loan fund (cclf) provides affordable financing to nonprofits, housing authorities, Community organizations, and manufactured housing cooperatives. Casa received its cdfi certification and an initial investment of grant and loan funds from the u.s. treasury in 2000. Since then, cclf has grown to nearly $19 million and offers four loan products. Cclf products include low-interest predevelopment and construction loans for affordable housing and Community facility development. Casa also provides bridge financing for manufactured home park acquisition and permanent, secondary financing for these cooperatively owned communities. The loan fund is made up of 65 percent debt (equity equivalent and program related investments) and 35 percent equity (foundation and government grants and Casa's net assets).

Miscellaneous programs - miscellaneous programs is a cost center for recording expenditures for projects and programs for which Casa does not have signed contracts or other miscellaneous revenue sources. Expenditures included in this cost center are potential new home development, Community facilities, manufactured home communities, and other affordable housing projects. It is also utilized for costs related to the exploration of programs and services that are complementary to Casa's mission.