Portland, county seat of Multnomah County, is the largest city in Oregon, with a 1980 population of 368,139 and 100 square miles of land. In 1980 the median household income in the city was $23,098. The average 1983 home price in the county was $70,607; new homes generally ranged from $69,000 to $81,500.

HUD designated Portland and builder/developer Mike Robinson participants in the Affordable Housing Demonstration in 1983. Black Bull Enterprises, Robinson's company, began construction on the 6-acre demonstration site, North Meadow Village, in 1984.