Additional $50 Million in State Funding Awarded to Create Affordable Housing, Sept. 9

441 additional new affordable homes were funded bring the 2020 total to 1,574 homes funded by the LIFT program. – SALEM, OR – Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is excited to announce an additional round of Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Housing Program funding awards. The LIFT program was established with the goal of creating affordable homes for vulnerable families across Oregon. Since the launch in 2016, the LIFT program has helped thousands of underserved Oregonians attain keys in their pockets and a roof over their heads. The program focuses on rural communities, communities of color, and historically underserved Oregonians. “Housing is a basic human need, and ensuring all Oregon families have a safe and affordable place to call home, particularly in our rural communities, is all the more crucial during this pandemic,” said Governor Brown. “The LIFT program ensures more children and families throughout the state have safe and stable housing.”  In July OHCS awarded $75,028,069 to build 1,262 new affordable homes across the state. During the August Special Session legislators allocated $50,000,000 in additional LIFT funding to address the mounting need for affordable housing, adding nearly 500 additional affordable rental homes in the development pipeline. OHCS provided these funds to developments that, due to insufficient resources, were unable to receive funding in July.  “This funding addresses the urgent housing needs across the state,” said OHCS Executive Director Margaret Salazar. “We are grateful to Governor Kate Brown and the legislature for these resources to fund 441 more homes. This year’s additional investments in this innovative housing program come at a critical time to provide more than 1,500 Oregonians with a safe, dry, and affordable place to call home.” The four additional developments awarded funding by the Oregon Housing Stability Council are: · 53rd Flats in Corvallis, $9,300,000 to develop 100 homes; · Colonia Paz II in Lebanon, $15,425,000 to develop 109 homes; · Shore Pines at Munsel Creek in Florence; $10,075,000 to develop 67 homes; · USA Powell in Portland, $15,200,000 to develop 165 homes. The awarded proposals explicitly addressed Oregon’s Statewide Housing Plan priorities including: adding affordable rental options to the housing stock, ensuring development targets are met for communities of color and rural communities, and by addressing equity and diversity through contracting, sub-contracting and professional services with Minority-owned, Women-owned, and emerging small business (MWESB).