Through an emphasis on creating a partnership with the local business community, Vancouver-based Affordable Community Environments hasn’t had to worry about its $2,000-per-month rent for awhile.
The not-for-profit group was created in 1989 to provide affordable and accessible housing in Clark County, and since its inception has done so in three housing developments of 115 total units and taken on a pledge of sustainability.
Affordable Community Environments moved into new housing of its own – an office downtown at 16th and Broadway streets – in May, when it launched an unusual fundraiser. The group asked for support from the local business community to offset rent costs, allowing it to put more money toward building local affordable housing for others, said Executive Director Pam Brokaw.
The Raise the Rent appeal has ACE’s rent covered through mid-February.
Vancouver-based Team Construction pledged to pay the rent for January to coincide with a celebration of its own – the 17th anniversary of the company.
Team and ACE have collaborated on all three of the not-for-profit’s projects and supports its mission.
“They’re fulfilling a need in the community for affordable housing,” said Team CEO Brian Wells.
Enterprise Community Partners and YW Housing each paid for two months’ rent, and Bank of Clark County, U.S. Bank and Washington Mutual each paid a full month’s rent.
Vancouver-based Pacific Lifestyle Homes, Currie and McLain accountants, Planning Solutions Inc., Normandeau Assoc., Architects Associative, Berger/Abam Engineers Inc./J.D. White Co. and E.G. Kassab Cos. and Portland-based Princeton Property Management also contributed.
“I think it’s tremendous that in our community, the development community and local businesses are saying we want to do our part,” Brokaw said. “We want to make sure there’s affordable housing out there for folks. That partnership is very important to us and we worked hard on that in 2007.”
In the last year, ACE joined forces with the Clark County Department of Community Services to develop a green transitional housing project on the Veterans Affairs campus and is in the midst of planning its first mixed-use development, to be located in the Fruit Valley area. And in response to the neighborhood’s desire for more youth-centered activities, ACE has had several conversations with the
Boys and Girls Club about locating a club in the future building.
Both projects are moving forward well, Brokaw said.
Megan Patrick can be reached at mpatrick@vbjusa.com.
