Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is excited to announce the award of $53,906,900 to fund the development of 837 new affordable homes for Oregon families through the Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) housing program. These awards will bring much-needed housing stability to historically underserved Oregonians in rural and urban communities across the state. Oregon is at the precipice of an unprecedented housing crisis. In response to the crisis, the 2017 Oregon Legislature committed an additional $80 million in Article XIQ general obligation bonds to the LIFT housing program. This commitment follows the 2015 Legislature’s investment of $40 million to the LIFT program. To date, LIFT has funded the development of over 1700 new and affordable homes across the state. “All Oregonians deserve a decent, stable, affordable place to call home. By investing in housing opportunities like LIFT, we can create an Oregon with a better future for all of us,” said Governor Kate Brown. “I was pleased that the Legislature answered my call for these critical resources, and that the state is working hand in hand with local communities to improve housing accessibility for our families.” This round of LIFT funding will fund a total of nine affordable housing communities across the state including developments in Lincoln, Umatilla, Multnomah, Marion, Polk and Washington counties. Each of these developments is highlighted by robust service partnerships and targeted outreach to ensure that historic disparities are overcome and that the future residents have opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency. OHCS Director Margaret Salazar said, “We are absolutely thrilled to provide these much needed housing opportunities for communities of color and rural Oregonians who have been disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis. But we still have more work to do. With another round of LIFT funding coming this fall, we are confident that we can bring housing stability back into reach for many.”
