Welcome to Commissioner Nick Fish's website

Portland gets Another $3 Million from HUD for Lead Abatement in 300 Homes

In the Oregon Housing Blog

Selling the Public on Public Housing

Sarah Goodyear on TheAtlanticCities.com

Steve Duin: Is Portland learning from its mistakes?

Steve Duin in The Oregonian

Burying the Cleaver- Tension Between Hales, Cogen Gives Way to Deal on Crisis Center

Denis C. Theriault in The Portland Mercury

2013 Rose Festival Kicks off May 24

In The Skanner News

Portland housing agency extends its REACH

Wendy Culverwell in the Portland Business Journal

Rebuilding Oregon's housing policy

Joanne Zuhl in Street Roots

The Portland City Council will recognize and honor the Grant High School Constitution Team for winning first place at the National Finals of the 26^th annual We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competition in Washington, D.C.

The ceremony will be held during the Council Meeting on May 29 at 9:30am.

Nick, who proudly serves as a judge each year in a regional We the People competition, will read a Proclamation on behalf of the Council.

Grant’s championship team placed first among fifty-six of the nation’s best high school teams competing in Washington, D.C.  The We the People competition, designed to simulate congressional hearings, teaches students about the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.

In 2012, the Lincoln High School Constitution Team won nationals, making this the second year in a row an Oregon school earned first place!

The Grant Constitution Team brings great distinction to their school and our community. Congratulations to the students, coaches, teachers and parents, as well as the Classroom Law Project, sponsor of the local We the People program.

Grant Constitution Team finishes first in nation; second year in a row Oregon team wins

Larry Bingham in The Oregonian

Champion Grant High Constitution Team: "We Care About Everyone"

Matt Kauffman in Willamette Week

Photo courtesy of The Oregonian

This morning, Nick was honored to march with kindergarteners from the Parkrose School District to promote a 100% graduation rate in Oregon by the year 2025.

The march today signified the educational journey this year’s kindergarteners will go through to graduate from Parkrose High School in 2025! The morning was filled with music and cheers from the Parkrose High School band and cheerleaders, multi-cultural dances by current high school students, and a special focus on the importance of education and achieving your goals.

Oregon is falling behind in education. Our current generation of young adults ages 25 - 34 is less educated than their parents’ generation. Almost a third of our students are failing to graduate with a regular diploma after four or five years in high school.

This is unacceptable.

The “40/40/20 Goal,” launched by Governor Kitzhaber, states that 40% of Oregonians will earn a bachelor’s degree, 40% will earn an associate’s degree or post-secondary credential, and the remaining 20% or less will have earned their high school diploma by 2025.

These kindergartners took the first step this year in making the 40/40/20 goal a reality.

Working together, we can ensure all Oregon youth have a high school diploma by 2025!

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Portland as one of 38 communities nationwide awarded grant funding to protect low-income children and families from the dangers of lead-based paint and other home safety hazards.

The City of Portland, through the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB), will receive $3 million to create healthier homes for 300 local families. The award is part of a $98.3 million national allocation to address hazards, train workers in lead-safe work practices, and increase public awareness about childhood lead poisoning. PHB will partner with the Community Alliance of Tenants, the Community Energy Project, Growing Gardens, the Fair Housing Council of Oregon, the Healthy Homes Coalition of Multnomah County, and Multnomah County on this work.

This grant is especially important for our community, which has a high number of homes built before lead-based paint was banned in 1978. Exposure to lead-contaminated dust can lead to tragic health consequences for children, including reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and physical impairments. At high levels, it can cause kidney and central nervous system damage and can lead to anemia.

This significant award speaks volumes about the Portland Housing Bureau's track record of working efficiently and effectively with local partners to create safer homes for low-income kids in our community.

The City of Portland has a strong track record with this competitive grant. Since 1998, and including this latest award, the City has received $20 million from HUD's Lead Hazard Control Grant Program. That funding has helped create safer homes for more than 3,300 local kids. This grant will allow PHB to continue helping local children get off to a healthy start.

Portland Gets Another $3 Million from Lead Abatement in 300 Homes

Oregon Housing Blog

Right now, the Oregon legislature is considering a bill that could make a great deal of difference in helping veterans who are experiencing homelessness access safe, permanent homes.

House Bill 2417 would ask Oregonians who sell a piece of property, like a house, to pay an additional $5. The revenue raised by the increase would go into a fund to help Oregon’s veterans find a safe and affordable place to call home.

Today, 1 in 6 Americans who are homeless are veterans. Veterans aged 18 - 30 are twice as likely as their peers to end up homeless. That is unacceptable.

Our partners at Central City Concern are asking you to show your support for House Bill 2417 and add your name to the list of Oregonians supporting the bill.

Together, we can help ensure that our veterans get the homecoming they deserve.

Testimony for House Bill 2417

Traci Manning, Director of the Portland Housing Bureau