RootedHomes chooses five C.O. employers for Rooted at Simpson workforce housing community in SW Bend
(Update: Adding video, comments from Keogh, Mosaic Community Health staff member)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A major challenge in attracting people to Bend is finding a place they can afford to live. RootedHomes, which takes on that problem, now has another new workforce housing site in the works in southwest Bend.
"Mosaic is very excited to be partnering with RootedHomes to be able to bring affordable housing opportunities to our employees," Elaine Knobbs-Seasholtz, Mosaic Community Health's director of strategy said Wednesday.
Nonprofit RootedHomes creates sustainable and affordable homes for workers in Central Oregon.
Its planning for the opening of its second workforce housing site on Bend's Simpson Avenue.
RootedHomes Executive Director Jackie Keogh said, "In most of our communities prior, we had hundreds of people apply for a few units. And what that said to us was two things: One, we've been building more units to meet our community needs. And two, we want to be a little bit more intentional about who has access to these homes."
Five local business partners have been approved for the new community. Anyone can apply to Simpson, but preference is given to partnering employers: BASX Solutions, Mid Oregon Credit Union, Mosaic Community Health, MountainStar Family Relief Nursery and St. Charles Health System.
While the lot on Simpson is currently empty, there will be 40 available homes come next year where people can move into. This will be the largest community RootedHomes ever built.
There are qualifications when applying for the July housing lottery.
"You need to be a first-time homebuyer and be income-qualified," Keogh said. "Our income cap is 80% of the Area Median Income, and that is dependent on household size."
You also need to be able to afford the purchase price - a two-bedroom unit is $240,000, a three-bedroom $280,000.
The homes at Rooted on Simpson will provide the opportunity for dozens of people to stay and work in Central Oregon.
Knobbs-Seasholtz said, "We know that our staff need housing, and it's RootedHomes that have made this the possibility for all of us."
Selected homebuyers are notified one week after the application period closes on August 28th. The houses on Simpson will be completed by early summer of next year.
Here is the news release from RootedHomes:
RootedHomes announced Tuesday that its second workforce housing employer selection is complete. Five local business partners have been approved for its newest community, Rooted at Simpson, located on Simpson Avenue in Bend’s Westside.
Employees of BASX Solutions, Mid Oregon Credit Union, Mosaic Community Health, MountainStar Family Relief Nursery, and St. Charles Health System will be given preference points during RootedHomes’ upcoming housing lottery in July.
According to Jackie Keogh, executive director of RootedHomes, the organization is proud to continue its goal of 100% of homebuyers being from the local workforce.
She added, "We are being more intentional about partnering with the business community to not only move the needle on the affordable housing crisis but also address the economic challenges of hiring and retention that our community faces given the high cost of housing in Central Oregon."
Each of the five employer partners is sponsoring at least one home for their employees. BASX is sponsoring two homes; MountainStar, two homes; St. Charles, one home; Mosaic Medical, 10 homes; and Mid Oregon Credit Union, one home.
Employees of these employers who qualify based on income will receive preference points in the lottery, increasing their chance of being selected for one of the 40 homes available when the build is complete in 2025.
Rooted at Simpson will be similar to Rooted at Poplar, the organization's first workforce housing employer selection, which prioritized Central Oregon essential workers.
The new community will include 40 single-family homes with two or three bedrooms and net-zero energy standards. It will also feature on-site vehicle parking, electric vehicle charging, covered bike parking, community gardens, and an open green space with tree-lined walking and bike paths.
“We’re excited that more local employers are getting involved and helping their employees start the process of homeownership,” said Katy Brooks, Bend Chamber CEO.
For more information on RootedHomes and Rooted at Simpson, visit https://rootedhomes.org.
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About RootedHomes
RootedHomes, formerly Kôr Community Land Trust, is a nonprofit that creates sustainable, affordable homeownership communities for Central Oregon’s workforce. Using the Community Land Trust model, RootedHomes ensures the community can access healthy, affordable homes for generations. RootedHomes develops to goal net-zero energy standards to ensure equitable access to energy-efficient homes and the health and savings that come with it. RootedHomes is committed to providing access to healthy homes to homebuyers who have been excluded from the opportunity to build wealth through homeownership. To learn more about RootedHomes, visit https://rootedhomes.org/.
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Mosaic Community Health Partners on Workforce Housing for Employees
Partnership with RootedHomes Workforce Housing Initiative Announced
Bend, Oregon, May 7, 2024 – Mosaic Community Health, a nonprofit community health center providing quality care for all in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras and Sisters, announces a partnership with RootedHomes to provide preference for Mosaic employees in an upcoming housing lottery for the Rooted at Simpson community. Located at 19755 Simpson Ave. in Bend, the community will include 40 single-family homes of two- and three-bedroom homes designed to net-zero energy standards. Currently under construction, homes are expected to sell through the first half of 2025 with home prices starting at $240,000.
“We have amazing employees committed to Mosaic’s mission who are struggling to afford living in Central Oregon,” said Jennifer Stewart, Mosaic’s director of human resources. “We have been searching for a community partner to support affordable home ownership for our employees in need. We are very pleased to partner with RootedHomes and look forward to working with them to educate our employees about the program and facilitate the application process.”
Mosaic employees who qualify based on income will receive coaching from RootedHomes staff on the pre-approval process with lender partners and assistance with the housing lottery application process. The lottery for the Rooted at Simpson community in Bend is expected to open in July of this year.
“Mosaic was looking for housing solutions for their employees, and we are happy to help,” said Jackie Keogh, executive director of RootedHomes. “They see the need to retain and hire people who want to serve the Central Oregon community but can’t afford to live here. Our program helps keep our community thriving.”
RootedHomes helps community members with good jobs but whose income is not enough to purchase a home. The Rooted at Simpson community is the organization’s second workforce housing initiative, and more plans are in the works for other communities across the region.
Other interested local employers who meet qualifications can apply to provide preference to their employees in future housing lotteries. Since its pilot, RootedHomes has also partnered with Sisters School District, St. Charles Health System and St. Regency Pacific to house their employees in Rooted Homes communities. The Bend Chamber of Commerce supported the pilot workforce housing program.
“Retaining talent is getting harder in Bend due to the cost of housing,” said Katy Brooks, CEO of the Bend Chamber. “We know that people stay at their jobs and in their communities longer when they have a pathway to home ownership, and this development can help employers create that opportunity and retain their employees.”
For more information on the RootedHomes workforce housing program visit: rootedhomes.org/homebuyers/workforce-housing-program.
About Mosaic Community Health:
Mosaic Community Health (formerly known as Mosaic Medical) is a nonprofit community health center that serves Central Oregonians from all walks of life. Through a network of more than a dozen clinics, we offer integrated health services that address each patient’s medical, dental, behavioral health, nutrition and medication needs. Our care is never influenced by how much money our patients make, what language they speak or the status of their insurance coverage. Mosaic Community Health provides quality care for all. For more information, please visit MosaicCH.org.
