b7 business planning casa strategic plan 2012-2015

1 CASA Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015

Building hopes, homes and financial healthCASA of Oregon Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015


Here’s the truth. Many

farmworkers and other

low-income families

in Oregon are existing

on the edge – living

outdoors, in vehicles

or in abandoned

buildings. They face

high unemployment,

overwhelming financial

pressures, and little or

no access to education

and resources.

Still, there is hope on the horizon. At CASA, we are developing low-income housing and creating foundations to provide struggling Oregonians with a secure financial future. By partnering with with public and private agencies, investors, banks and developers in innovative ways, we are helping low-income families improve their lives.

CASA – the hub where solutions happen Today, CASA is recognized nationally as a key intermediary in the fields of farmworker housing and economic and community development. We do everything from piecing together federal, state and private resources, to hiring architects and builders and ensuring compliance with all regulations. We also work with local non-profits to provide families with tools and support, including the

means to build assets in Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).

In addition, our advocacy has resulted in dedicated funding streams for farmworker housing, better coordination among state and federal agencies, and growing public awareness about housing issues.

The path forward

We have ambitious goals in mind for the next three years.

• Increase affordable housing options in rural Oregon.

• Develop 540 new housing units

• Preserve an additional 360 units of existing housing.

• Create safe and affordable childcare options by building two new Head Start facilities in rural Oregon.

• Preserve affordable housing for 350 mobile home park residents by creating 6 resident-owned park communities.

Transforming Lives Across Oregon


• Provide 1,500 low-income Oregon families with financial education and Individual Development Savings Accounts.

• Advocate at state and federal level for continued support of fair, equitable housing policies, particularly in rural areas.

• Advocate for a strong consumer-focused comprehensive financial reform, ensuring an inclusive economy that provides equal access to opportunity

Our missionDeeply rooted in service to farmworkers, CASA of Oregon improves the lives of Oregonians in underserved communities by building affordable housing, neighborhood facilities, and programs that increase families’ financial well-being.

Core principlesCollaboration: Collaborating with partners in both public and private sectors is the keystone of our success. It enables efficient and effective service and unites organizations on common ground, producing positive change in our work and communities.

Excellence: We pursue excellence through inquiry, learning and critical thinking. The result is high-quality support in program development, technical assistance and funding.

Making a difference

CASA (Community and Shelter Assistance Corporation) was established in 1988, primarily to serve the housing needs of Oregon farmworkers and their families. To date, CASA of Oregon has produced:

• 1,136 housing units built or rehabbed

• 1,300 on-farm beds rehabbed

• 4 MHPP (Mobile Home Parks Purchase program) parks converted into cooperatives

• 157 MHPP residents turned from renters to owners

• 2,666 IDA (Individual Development Account) participants

• $4.8 million in IDA funds invested in the Oregon economy

Innovation: Through research and development, we design innovative programs that meet the needs of our clients and partners. Our results show this entrepreneurial approach adds great value to the communities and clients we serve.

Opportunity: Our goal is to build housing, family support systems and an economy that creates equal opportunity – for everyone.


Our Vision Help provide decent, safe

and affordable housing and

services to farmworkers and

other low-income households

through access to financial and

technical resources. Increase

CASA’s effectiveness to develop

projects in light of changes in

housing finance markets.

Objectives Quality housing and commu-

nity facilities that improve the

lives of families and enhance

their neighborhoods and

communities.

Housing and Community Development

“Oh, we have a home. We just need a house to put it in.”

– Anonymous child

Increase and preserve affordable housing options for farmworkers and other low-income families by expanding the products offered and agencies served.

• Conduct two annual feasibility studies for housing in rural areas in Oregon.

• Annually obtain funding for two new housing developments.

• Annually complete construction of at least two new housing developments resulting in the production of approximately 180 units.

• Preserve two existing affordable housing complexes in rural areas.

• Identify at least one new and/or nontraditional source of financing for development activity.

• Increase CASA’s ability to directly finance predevelopment and interim activities by 20%.

Help communities develop neighborhood facilities that improve the lives of underserved people, including farmworkers and other low-income families.

• Obtain funding and complete construction on two community facilities focusing on federally funded health clinics and Head Start centers.

• Explore opportunities to partner with other organizations engaged in multi-sector approaches to community development.

Focus on affordable green building techniques to decrease carbon footprint and increase operating efficiency for tenants.

• Reduce tenant energy costs by 10% at two developments through Green Enterprise measures.

• Develop one LEED-certified neighborhood facility.

Goals and Strategies1.

2.

3.


Fatma Hajimonhamed, proud new homeowner and VIDA program graduate, with her family


Our Vision Provide long-term security and

asset growth for manufactured

housing park residents in Oregon

through the creation of resident-

owned communities.

Objectives Creation of a comprehensive

manufactured housing

community acquisition and

preservation program providing

financing and technical assistance

to manufactured homeowners

in Oregon who wish to purchase,

govern and manage their

communities.

Manufactured Housing CommunitiesGoals and Strategies

Achieve program scale and sustainability

• Convert two manufactured home communities serving 100 families in 2012 and 2013, and three manufactured home communities for 150 – 200 families in 2014.

• 90% of conversions operate at 3% or less vacancy by 2013.

• Reduce time required for conversion by 50% by 2015.

• Reduce reliance on public/private grant funding by 30%.

Increase access to affordable financing

• Seccure lottery-backed bonnds to assist the purchase of up to 5 manufactured housing communities serving 500 families by 2015.

• Achieve 10% increase in CASA CDFI funds for park purchases.

Devise affordable replacement strategy for manufactured home-owners in resident-owned communities

• Increase access to affordable financing for green technology and/or energy efficient improvements for 8 communities by 2015.

• Achieve 15% increase in banks/credit unions offering single-family financing to qualified manufactured homeowners in Oregon in 2012, and 25% increase in years 2012 and 2013.

• Provide 100% of qualified homeowners with access to IDA match funds by 2013.

• Advocate for inclusion of manufactured housing communities in local, regional and state land use planning.

• Provide funding for replacement of dilapidated septic systems

Improve resources for post-conversion operations and management

• Provide technical assistance and management support to all con-verted communities.

1.

2.

3.

4.

“Workers will have decent, affordable housing in the commu-nity where they work Well done.” – Debbie Radie, business owner in

Boardman, OR


Increase efficiency and productivity in Individual Development Account operations.

• Open a total of 1,500 Individual Development Accounts, totalling 9 million dollars by 2015.

• Increase productivity and reduce overhead costs by 20%.

Increase financial sustainability and decrease reliance on current sources.

• Increase non-IDA program revenue by 15% in 2012.

• Increase non-IDA program revenue by 15% annually through de-veloping new programs/products by 2015.

• Generate $50,000 in unrestricted donations through individual giving and private foundation grants.

• Diversify department revenue sources.

Expand technical assistance to partner organizations to ensure quality counseling and service delivery to consumers.

Identify and develop diversified financial products

• Design a demonstration asset-builder loan program serving people with disabilities needing adaptive technology to maintain employ-ment or stay self-sufficient in 2012.

• Develop a business plan and implement the demonstration loan program in 2013.

• Raise at least $100,000 in initial loan capital by 2014.

• Obtain Department of Education support for the MESA Program through technical assistance contracts or direct funding for MESA IDAs.

Our VisionProvide all individuals and

families with equitable access

to education and resources

so they can participate and

prosper in their communities.

Engage youth, stabilize families

and form inclusive communi-

ties so all may contribute to the

well-being of society.

Objectives Underserved families will have

increased access to financial

services and educational

opportunities that enhance

economic sustainability and

security.

Family Economic Opportunity ProgramGoals and Strategies1.

2.

3.

4.

“The IDA program gave me the support, help and ability to provide a better life for my family.”

– Courtney Jepppsen, Small Business IDA graduate


Multifamily Housing and Facilities: Advocate for state and federal policies that improve opportunities to provide housing for farmwork-ers and families in rural communities.• Establish methods for measuring need and demand for farmwork-

er housing that is acceptable to funders and sponsors.• Focus attention on the ongoing need for agricultural worker hous-

ing as a member of the Farmworker Facilitation Team.• Demonstrate the financial leverage gained and ability to meet

pressing housing needs by the state prioritizing projects with fed-eral project-based rental assistance.

• Work with national partners to support permanent program status for USDA’s rural housing preservation program

• Work with community partners to prioritize state funding alloca-tions for those with the lowest incomes.

• Work with national partners to support the inclusion of resident services as an eligible expense under USDA’s Rural Development multi-family programs.

• Support the Streamlining Compliance Initiative and take the lead in engaging USDA to participate in such efforts to increase report-ing and record-keeping efficiencies.

• Plan, host and organize the 2013 Farmworker Asset and Property Management Conference.

Manufactured Housing Communities: Develop an education and advocacy strategy which supports state and federal policies that increase opportunities and resources for resident ownership. • Develop legislative policy recommendations, including Opportu-

nity to Purchase legislation.• Support the renewal of the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credits• Collaborate with the Housing Alliance to support issuance of

lottery-backed bonds for funding resident purchases of manufac-tured home communities.

• Provide recommendations to state housing agencies on legislation

Our Vision CASA and partners will work

in broad-based coalitions to

advance national, state and

local policies that promote

investment in rural and under-

served communities and their

residents.

Objectives Expanded resources, oppor-

tunities and access for the

most vulnerable Oregonians,

helping Oregon communities

recover from adverse economic

conditions.

Advocacy and TransformationGoals and Strategies1.

“We have completely turned our lives around thanks to the VIDA program.” – Danne Wilson, Homeownership

IDA graduate


and policies that successfully remove barriers in preserving manu-factured home parks in Oregon.

• Work with local, regional and state policy makers to include manu-factured housing park preservation and resident purchases of parks in land use plans.

• Market the resident park purchase program as a viable exit strat-egy to manufactured community owners and real estate brokers

• Collaborate with national partners on federal legislation for manu-factured housing.

• Educate regional and national foundations and social investors to attract investment and enable CASA to provide more subordinated park purchase loans, particularly for parks in rural areas.

• Collaborate with public and private partners on a replacement strategy to give homeowners in resident-owned communities ac-cess to affordable single-family financing – for home replacement or upgrades, including access to energy-efficient green housing.

Family Economic Opportunity: Advocate at state and federal levels to improve asset-building opportunities for low-income families.• Collaborate with partners to form the Fair Finance Coalition, a

group of state organizations that share a consumer-oriented eco-nomic justice mission.

• Improve public awareness of low-income families and the im-portance of asset building using newspaper op-eds, articles and online media.

• Secure the support of Oregon’s federal delegation for the Savings for Working Families Act and the Children’s Savings Accounts -En-act ASPIRE Act – two pieces of federal legislation that would make IDA-type programs universal and scalable.

• Initiate on-going newsletter series for stakeholders addressing trends and policies affecting low-income familes.

• Collaborate with partners to organize an annual state conference to highlight the need for state initiatives that support asset build-ing and financial security for low-income residents.

• Continue participating in policy advisory groups to develop and test pilot asset-building projects serving specific populations.

“A better life is my dream. CASA is my hope.”

– who??



• 1,136 units of multi-family housing have been built or rehabilitated for farmworker families.

• 1,300 beds have been provided for farmworkers in rehabilitated on-farm housing facilities.

• Two Head Start facilities have been built, providing quality child care for low-income families in Newberg and McMinnville.

• Two medical and dental clinics and three Community Center facilities have been built, serving residents in rural areas.

Manufactured Home Park Program (MHPP)

• CASA organized residents in 4 mobile home park communities, and pro-vided training and education on cooperative ownership.

• 157 former renters became owners through the conversion of 4 mobile home parks.

Family Economic Opportunity Program (FEOP)

• 2,666 Oregonian families have built savings through the Individual Devel-opment Account (IDA) program, enabling them to invest in a first home, small business, post-secondary education and other assets.

• More than $4.8 million in IDA funds has been invested into the Oregon economy, providing financial support for thousands of families.

• 299 new small businesses have been funded with IDA funds.

• 235 students have used their IDA to fund part of their college education.

• 382 new homeowners have purchased homes with affordable mortgages.


GovernmentFederal, state, local

CASA

Non-profits

Financial institutions

EmployersDevelopers, businesses

Donors

Programs

Mobile Home Parks Purchase (MHPP)

Family Economic Opportunity Program

Partners

CASA Changes LivesAccomplishments

212 East First StreetNewberg Oregon 97132503-537-0319 www.casaoforegon.org

b7 business planning casa strategic plan 2012-2015

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