Ensuring equitable access to opportunities - regional equity atlas project phases 1 & 2 completed

This year we published the long-awaited Regional Equity Atlas. The Atlas synthesizes research
developed during a four-year process which maps the geographic distribution of people and
assets in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area, along with the relationship between the two.

We also launched phase two - a broad community outreach campaign - to share the Regional
Equity Atlas findings with leaders and citizens in and beyond the region. We presented Atlas
results to over 2,000 residents and engaged thousands more through the project website
(www.equityatlas.org) and online forums as well as at national conferences. In 2008 we will begin
phase three--putting the research into action.

From cars to people - shifting the balance in regional transportation

CLF advanced a new approach to the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) that aims to
dramatically refocus the direction of investments and choices by prioritizing people, not cars and
trucks. We successfully influenced the RTP policy framework in the following specific ways:

• The creation of a goal in the framework focused on enhancing human health;
• The inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions targets and performance measures consistent with state-adopted carbon reduction goals;
• The addition of new language that focuses on investments that link transportation and affordable housing; and
• Changing the way environmental justice is measured, and ensuring that the people who rely on public transportation most have access to it.

Results of our advocacy on the I-5 Columbia River Crossing Project include successfully winning
support for inclusion of a lower-cost, less infrastructure intensive transportation alternative in the draft environmental impact study; successfully bringing attention and project resources to focus on environmental justice issues; and successfully getting staff to conduct a series of bike and pedestrian workshops focused on the design of these facilities for the Crossing.

Improving access to parks & nature

During 2007, we worked with community groups, affordable housing developers, and
Metro to ensure that grants made through the new program created by the 2006 regional
greenspaces bond measure get invested in places where access for low income individuals is
protected in perpetuity. Potential projects are being explored in low-income and park deficient
neighborhoods in East Portland, West Gresham, Northern Clackamas County, and Cornelius.

The bond measure secured $227.4 million for the purposes of purchasing natural areas and
protecting water quality and wildlife habitat. It includes over $212 million to purchase lands for
habitat and water quality protection, and creates a $15 million capital grants program to re-nature
communities where access to nature is most limited. Using results of our Equity Atlas research,
CLF was successful in convincing the Council to adopt a measure that gives priority to re-naturing
projects in low-income neighborhoods funded by the capital grants program.

Creating affordable housing - METRO allocates $1 million to create regional housing fund

In fall of 2007 the Metro Council unanimously approved the allocation of $1 million to establish
a regional affordable housing fund. CLF organized and coordinated its members to shape and
support the Fund. The Regional Housing Choice Revolving Fund will help implement the 2040
Growth Concept by catalyzing mixed-use, mixed-income patterns of development in regional
centers and town centers, in light rail station communities, and along main streets and corridors. Since its creation, CLF has been working with partners to leverage Metro’s $1 million seed contribution with $9-$19 million in matching contributions from public, private, and charitable partners.