Introducing: The Susan Emmons

A recently announced Bond project is getting a new (but familiar) name in honor of our esteemed Bond Oversight Committee member and longtime Portland housing advocate, Susan Emmons. Before her appointment to the Oversight Committee, Susan served as the Executive Director of Northwest Pilot Project for nearly 30 years and chaired Portland’s Housing and Community Development Commission. Throughout her career, she has challenged elected officials and city leaders to make the needed community investments to protect older adults who lacked safe, affordable places to live. In the spirit of Susan’s enduring commitment to the safety, stability, and dignity of the most vulnerable among us, the Susan Emmons will provide 144 units of safe, affordable homes and culturally-responsive support services for seniors, veterans, Communities of Color, and individuals with disabilities in the thriving, amenity-rich Northwest District. The project will also include 48 units of Permanent Supportive Housing and 78 units at deeply affordable rents targeting households on fixed incomes.

“Susan’s decades of work have left an indelible mark on affordable housing in our city and we are honored to immortalize her service to our community with this project. The Susan Emmons will continue to serve our community, as Susan has, for generations to come,” said Portland Housing Bureau Director Shannon Callahan.