‘We’re quickly seeing everyone getting pushed out’: Bend Chamber, Bend YIMBY advocate for more housing in C.O.

(Update: Adding video, comments from Bend Chamber, Bend YIMBY)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend's Chamber of Commerce is looking at more ways to bring more affordable housing to Bend.

So is Bend YIMBY, whose lead John Heylin said Tuesday, "I want to live on a street where the teacher that teaches at my school can live, where the garbage men can live, because we're quickly seeing everyone getting pushed out."

Bend YIMBY - or Yes in My Back Yard - advocates for affordable housing.

During Oregon's recent legislative "short" session, lawmakers discussed the state's housing supply, but the Bend Chamber doesn't think enough was done.

Chamber CEO Katy Brooks said, "You don't build 36,000 homes a year like that. It takes a while to figure out how you fund different pathways that reduce costs, reduce the obstacles that increases the production."

Senate Bill 1537 originally had $500 million going towards infrastructure. That bill was then split into a few different bills, and the funds were reduced. 

Brooks said, "That Bend wasn't included in it was really disappointing for us. The good news is, there are a couple of other towns in Central Oregon who did get a little bit of money, but nowhere near where the need is."

The towns in Central Oregon selected -- Madras, Culver, Prineville and Redmond.

Brooks said, "One of the most expensive things about building housing, especially in new areas or expanding areas, is putting in water and sewer and broadband and all the things that you need to get ti people's homes. Well, that fund was reduced from $200 million to $75 million."

 Bend YIMBY believes more housing will cut down on work commutes and benefit the environment.

Another lead with the group, Kathryn Olney, told us the reasons.

"One tree sequesters enough carbon to offset two trips to Redmond," she said. "That means if somebody is forced to live in Redmond because it's cheaper, and they drive to work for two days, they've already exhausted all the CO2 for a year of tree carbon sequestration. So we'll never be able to get ahead of that if we don't house the people in the communities they live in."

 The Bend Chamber will be back at the Legislature next year, asking for new housing programs and funding. And Bend YIMBY is supporting a developer's proposal -- opposed by some -- to build 40-unit apartments on Awbrey Butte.