Over $10 million headed to Central Oregon for affordable housing projects
SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ)-- This week, over $10 million was brought into Central Oregon to build new affordable housing. In Sisters, Habitat for Humanity received over $4 million to help build 24 new units.
"It's a wide swath of people that are stuck in that scenario where they cannot afford to buy a house. We're going to make that opportunity available to these vital members of our community," Peter Hoover, executive director of Sisters Habitat for Humanity, said Thursday.
A total of $23 million in projects were approved across the state as part of the LIFT (Local Innovation and Fast Track) homeownership program, it was started in 2017 to fund more affordable housing developments.
A lottery system will be used to determine homeowners. Those who make 80% AMI (Area Median Income), or about $70,000 to $80,000 a year. In Sisters, an average home costs nearly $800,000 -- more than double the national average.
"What has happened in Sisters is that within the last three or so years, the median home price has gone up over 70%. And that has just priced out people who are vital members of our community out of the possibility of buying homes," Hoover said.
Five units will be built in the Woodlands area in Sisters, and another 19 will be built off Adams Avenue.
Bend state Rep. Emerson Levy worked on the grant, as Central Oregon is one of the fastest-growing areas in the state.
"Central Oregon, is having a housing crisis, and our prices are almost more expensive than anywhere else in the state, but we're also prepared and we work collaboratively and we're ready to take this money and do something with it," Levy said Thursday.
The grant money will fund homes beyond Sisters, as a total of 77 units will be built across Central Oregon.
Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity received $1.45 million for 13 units. RootedHomes was awarded nearly 5 million for 40 houses.
"Some of these homes, the lottery price will be around $200,000," Levy said. "So do we want our teachers to be able to stay here? Do we want our nurses to be able to live and work in our community? That's a policy choice, and I'm glad it's a policy choice that we've made together as a community."
