As the needs of community organizations has changed the center has changed its programs. In the early stages, the focus was on basic computer literacy. More recently classes have shifted toward more sophisticated computer applications and information managment. Technical assistance and training has taken on a new dynamic meaning through the center's desktop publishing service. The service provides a way for nonprofits to learn how to design, typeset and layout their own publications using desktop computers. In 1987 CUE will continue to provide a wide range of computer applications classes, technical assistance in computer system development, and access to computer technology in the computer lab. Several new programs are invisioned. A new electronic bulletin board system will be provided that will operate 24/hour a day. A financial managment service, database management service and information transfer service will be implemented to offer community organizations . help in three critical areas. COLUMBIA WILLAMETTE FUTURES FORUM The Columbia Willamette Futures Forum (CWFF) is completing a busy year of work focused on the future of Oregon's health care system. The May 1986 conference, Critical Choices '86, provided a vehicle for public discussion of several emerging issues for our health care system, including providing service for the growing number of frail elderly, integrating the concept of wellness into our acute care system, creating a vocabulary for considering ethical issues in health care delivery, and guaranteeing that the techniques of modern health care be available to all segments of society. CWFF recognized that the complexities of the health care system can not be addressed in the scope of a two day conference,.but that the forum could develop and disseminate a new way of thinking about these issues. As a result, the forum has spent the fall months developing a thirty-minute videotape and workbook to introduce groups and individuals to the techniques of "futuring."The videotape provides a "how-to"guide to futuring while showing one group of interested citizens actually engaged in deve1nping a scenario for the future of our health care system. The tape and workbook are Page 44 RAIN Fall 1986 available to groups in all disciplines wishing to explore the long-term possibilities for their interest area and looking to take positive steps today to ensure that their desired future becomes a reality. For 1987, the Futures Forum is turning its attention to the problem of community leadership. We believe that many groups with differing views on current policy issues can·find common ground when they discuss how our community should look thirty years into the future. As many groups in Portland explore how they can make a more effective contribution to the leadership of our region, they will benefit from giving explicit attention to the skills of futuring, consensusbuilding, and communicating with groups ai:td individuals representing the wide diversity 'of contemporary Portland. The forum welcomes yoµr interest and participatfon in addressing the "leadership problem"from a broad-based and futures-minded point-of-view. SHARED HOUSING Shared Housing is a self-help project whose purpose is to meet the growing need for affordable housing on the part of elderly and other low to moderate income residents of the Portland metropolitan area, by better utilizing existing housing stock. The program seeks to offer a better standard of living by reducing housing costs and providing social and emotional support through the home sharing process. Of special significance are contributions made through the program to support services for the frail elderly, enabling them to remain at home, as well as a growing role as provider of transitional housing to homeless people of all ages. The Shared Housing Program began in 1982. In the four-year history the program has received over 5000 inquiries and processed about 2000 home sharing applications of which 95% have received at least one homeshare match. About 75% of all homeowner clients are over 55, and nearly 40% of tenant clients were homeless at the time they apply. In all, nearly 700 individuals have home shared. For further information about Shared Housing, call 222-5559, or write Shared Housing, 335 NW 19th Ave., Portland, OR 97209.
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