State awards Bend’s Thistle & Nest $10.3 million to help build 74 affordable homes off SW Murphy Road
(Update: Adding rendering, other projects funded around the state)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Housing and Community Services Housing Stability Council on Friday awarded more than $10.3 million to Thistle & Nest, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding affordable housing options for Central Oregon’s workforce. This funding will help the organization build 74 affordable homes off SW Murphy Road in Bend, as part of a broader initiative to address regional housing challenges.
The homes will be part of Ponderosa Commons, a new affordable housing community that will ultimately offer 104 homes in total. This award adds to previous funding that enabled the first 30 homes, planned to be available in 2026. Thistle & Nest’s plans for Ponderosa Commons aim to foster a vibrant, inclusive neighborhood for families and individuals seeking affordable, energy efficient, high-quality housing in Bend.
In addition to Ponderosa Commons, Thistle & Nest is currently developing two other communities in Bend: Woodhaven Estates (off Pettigrew Road) and Larch Grove (off NE Franklin Avenue).
The organization is also expanding beyond Bend, with plans to build 20 homes in Madras and 20 in Prineville in 2025-2026. These homes will allow Central Oregon families to live closer to where they work, build home equity, and secure long-term housing stability. Together, these projects will bring 282 affordable homes to Central Oregon over the next three years.
“OHCS’s support will help us bring much-needed affordable housing to Central Oregon, enabling families to stay in the area they call home,” said Amy Warren, Thistle & Nest’s board president. “We are committed to making homeownership accessible and sustainable for our local workforce and underserved communities.”
Thistle & Nest is currently matching buyers for 10 homes at Woodhaven Estates and is adding future applicants to the waitlist for other development phases.
To qualify, households must earn less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and meet program requirements. Information is available in both English and Spanish on Thistle & Nest’s website, a reflection of the organization’s commitment to serving the diverse communities of Central Oregon. To better support Hispanic families, Thistle & Nest has a (native) Spanish-speaking member on its homeownership services team.
Additional details about the program are available on the organization’s website www.thistleandnest.org.
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Oregon Housing and Community Services invests $165 million to build 550+ affordable homes across Oregon (Photo)
Oregon Housing and Community Services - 11/04/24 2:36 PM
SALEM, Ore. — On Friday, the Oregon Housing Stability Council approved a significant $165 million investment to help address the affordable housing crisis. This funding will support the construction of eight new housing developments, delivering more than 550 affordable homes to communities statewide. These projects will include 465 new rental homes, 87 homes for low-income homebuyers, and offer rental assistance and support services for residents at The Commons on MLK in Eugene.
“We know there is more work to do, yet these gains show what’s possible when we work together,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “With each new home, we are building a brighter future for the state we love. A future where families won’t be forced to move multiple times in a school year to find an affordable place to live. A future where progress is driven by the community and supported by the state. A future where we bridge the gap between our current reality and our potential, making life better for all Oregonians.”
Development details:
Rental
| Development name | City | Number of homes | Awardee |
| Elmonica Station | Beaverton | 81 | REACH CDC and Mercy Housing Northwest |
| Gussie Belle Commons | Salem | 120 | Green Light LLC and Seed of Faith Ministries |
| Legin Commons | Portland | 124 | Our Just Future and Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon |
| Marine Drive | Astoria | 33 | Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare and Edlen & Co |
| Woodland Hearth | Tigard | 63 | Community Partner for Affordable Housing |
| Colonia Libertad II | Salem | 44 | Farmworker Housing Development Corporation |
| The Commons on MLK | Eugene | 51 | Homes for Good |
Homeownership
| Murphy Crossing 2 | Bend | 74 | Thistle & Nest |
| Thompson Springs | Tillamook | 13 | Sammy's Place |
These developments address a critical need for affordable housing and community resources. Many of the rental developments will include spaces for resident services, such as community rooms, playgrounds, and on-site programs. For example, Colonia Libertad II in Salem will offer after-school programs and financial literacy workshops to support agricultural workers and their families.
Homeownership developments, such as Thompson Springs in Tillamook, are designed with affordability and inclusivity in mind. Thompson Springs will incorporate universal design features to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities.
About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.
