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Since its completion, Bud Clark Commons has won its share of attention. The center, which serves Portland鈥檚 homeless and vulnerable populations, has won design, engineering and green building awards.

But the project also stands out for another reason: it is one of the few buildings in the country created by a housing authority that has ventured into the world of developing its own projects.

Similar to other housing authorities in cities across the country, Home Forward is involved in affordable housing and section 8 programs locally. But the organization also has willingly waded into the complex realm of development, which comes with both challenges and benefits, according to Steve Rudman, Home Forward鈥檚 executive director.

Until 2010, Home Forward was more commonly known as the Housing Authority of Portland. The agency started in the early 1940s, when the federal government began a program to construct housing for people returning from the war. By 1948, the Housing Authority of Portland, which went by the acronym HAP, was the largest in the country. Over the years, as the need in Portland grew, the agency began focusing on serving people with low incomes.

The agency also expanded its coverage area, adding areas east of Portland 鈥� such as the western part of Gresham 鈥� to its client base. The agency eventually decided that it needed a new name, and not just to highlight the fact that it was beginning to operate outside of Portland.

鈥淗AP sounded like government,鈥� Rudman said. We decided we needed to be more aspirational 鈥� so people could see us as working to be part of the solutions to help people stabilize, to help communities rebuild.鈥�

While Home Forward does work with private developers, developing some of its own projects allows it to play an active role in that concept of rebuilding. In addition to Bud Clark Commons, the agency built Rosa Parks School for children living in the New Columbia community. It鈥檚 also serving as the developer on a new building that will serve as the main office for the Multnomah County Health Department.

Acting as its own developer also provides the opportunity to tap into a wider range of sources to pay for construction and operation of its buildings.

鈥淲e tailor a lot of different resources and work with partners,鈥� Rudman said.

Learning the finer points of development didn鈥檛 come without challenges, Rudman admits. Developing any project is a risky endeavor. But Rudman takes comfort in knowing that Home Forward has a solid staff 鈥� including Mike Andrews, the director of development and community revitalization — and has learned its lessons well.

鈥淭he downside is the risk; but it鈥檚 calculated risk,鈥� Rudman said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e made mistakes, but we have grown the capacity and the expertise.

鈥淲e have learned how to manage consultants and architects and engineers and general contractors. We鈥檙e responsible for making it happen.鈥�