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To a Friend of OR Ecobuilding Network, I am writing to you on behalf of our community who have urgent need for clean, ie. scent-free, smoke-free, pesticide-free, formaldehyde-free, and non-toxic affordable housing. Over the past ten years, our members have researched and gathered housing surveys to look for solutions. The model of Cohousing has been the best source of inspiration due to the advantages of shared expenses with like-minded friends and neighbors. Finally, we have a great opportunity to address this healthy housing issue with your help. We have an exciting offer to buy a City of Wood Village Apartment Complex on contract! The main reason for a non-toxic healthy home is to improve health to be able to be financially viable and able to work. A 2001 Massachusetts survey stated 73% of respondents have had to live in a place that made them ill. 59% had been homeless at some point since the onset of multiple chemical sensitivity; chronic intolerance of pollution of low levels of varied toxic chemical exposures that includes livelong asthma, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, allergies and more. Many find their careers, marriages and support systems dissolving with the onset of chronic illness and poverty. In Portland this year, the Oregonian reported 16,000 homeless. In 2001 the Urban Institute tabulated 800,000 homeless nationwide. With the ability to purchase a smaller healthy dwelling rather than waste hard earned income on rent on a sick building, our model of housing will help a segment of people before crisis and homelessness. For higher wage earners, house or duplex in a Condominium Association has proven very successful, but many are not in that income bracket. More could qualify for $48,000 mortgage, when assisted by grants and your donation to remodel with healthy building materials. ReBuilding Center of United Villages has just generously donated reclaimed tile and oak flooring for one apartment. In the ten years of our operation, hundreds of desperate callers have asked our nonprofit to provide non-toxic housing, which can be life-saving, especially for children, folks with compromised immune systems, asthmatics, and elderly. The community-minded owner has offered to sell this complex to Oregon Ecobuilding Network on contract, IF we can find grants and donations to provide the proposed down payment of $86,000 on the total of $430,000. Rental income covers the mortgage, until a community of purchasers in a condominium association is finalized. A 784 sq. ft. two bedroom apartment at $47,800 is affordable compared with a conventional home and comes with great benefits of healthier environment, shared expenses and good neighbors. Each of nine apartments are occupied and are initially rented during some of green renovation, then owned under a Condominium Agreement for investment in equity for retirement. We are presently applying for grants and asking our supporters for tax deductible donations in order to reach this $86,000 fundraising goal. For background, OR Ecobuilding Network is a grassroots nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization working for toxic-free living in healthy buildings. As a member of the OR Precautionary Principle Coalition for the National Center for Children’s Environmental Health, OR Coordinator representing the National Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome Association, and the OR State Chapter of National Coalition for Chemically Injured, we offer many resources to the northwest. For ten years, our programs have expanded to include our lecture and peer support meetings, website, resource guide, members’ tips package, member phone network, library, email research, and speakers bureau presentations. Our 2004 Financial Statement shows total income of $4,066.38, total expenses $6,187.06 with end of year total assets $2,566.60. We have shared many in kind donations of vitamins, kitchen supplies and clothing with members at support group meetings. New callers urgently need help, the public needs education to avoid also becoming chronically ill, our members are in poverty, all staff are volunteers, and we need fundraisers. We already have reached many desperate people in need of our grassroots support and now have this fantastic opportunity to provide a safe and clean housing model. Your tax deductible donation, item to share with members, VISA or MasterCard purchase of HEPA and Activated Carbon with Zeolite Air Filter, and any other investment is vital for our goal to provide toxic-free living in this healthy apartment complex. We respectfully request your tax deductible donation towards the down payment of $86,000.00. Please call Roslyn Hamilton, Executive Director, (503) 618-8115 with any questions. Thank you very much for your support of this vision to improve the future. Best regards, Roslyn Hamilton, Executive Director (Also read cohousing details) |
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