SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announces the approval of nearly $23 million toward creating 157 new homes across the state. These investments will continue to help establish concrete pathways for Oregonians to pursue homeownership.
“While no one community is identical, there is a shared need across communities for more affordable housing options. Even in this tough economy, our imperative is to continue fighting to ensure that Oregonians can still realize the dream of homeownership,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell.
This year, OHCS changed how it grants Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Homeownership funding for the development of new affordable homes through a rolling application process.
“By providing multiple opportunities for developers to apply for funding instead of all at once, this new process can help accelerate new construction timelines in service to getting homes into communities faster, especially in rural areas,” Bell said.
In fact, 30% of the awarded projects will be built in rural communities. The Hope St. Project is a prime example of that and is the first affordable homeownership community in Hood River.
“After 32 years of building in the Gorge, Columbia Gorge Habitat for Humanity is very excited to build permanently affordable homes for the first time in Hood River,” said Chad Krause, executive director of Columbia Gorge Habitat for Humanity. “With the help of Oregon LIFT funding, these new homes will be built and sold to hardworking members of our community who can’t afford market-rate homes. Hood River teachers and retail workers—needed desperately in our small town—may now be able to purchase their own Habitat homes.”
Here are the 10 developments receiving this round of funding awards:
| Project | Location | Awardee | Units | Total Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1201 E 5th St | Newberg | Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity | 2 | $400,000 | |
| Adams Commons | Sisters | Sisters Habitat for Humanity | 19 | $3.8 million | |
| Breath of Life | Medford | Turning Point Program | 38 | $6.02 million | |
| Hope St Project | Hood River | Columbia Gorge Habitat for Humanity | 4 | $800,000 | |
| Myrtlewood Way | Gresham | Habitat for Humanity Portland Region | 20 | $2.68 million | |
| Rooted at 19th | Redmond | RootedHomes | 22 | $2,599,996 | |
| Rooted at Antler | Redmond | RootedHomes | 18 | $1.47 million | |
| Southtown II | Corvallis | DevNW | 16 | $2,815,610 | |
| Timber Cottages | Redmond | Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity | 13 | $1.45 million | |
| Woodlands | Sisters | Sisters Habitat for Humanity | 5 | $950,000 | |
Since the creation of the program in 2018, $71.3 million in LIFT funds have resulted in 47 projects with a total of 752 homes that are affordable to Oregonians.
For more detailed information about each recommended project, please refer to the Housing Stability Council packet from April 26, 2024.