Federal HUD official visits Bend to deliver big check: $5 million in funding to address housing barriers

'Supply has not kept pace with demand'

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The city of Bend continues efforts to tackle the growing issue of housing in the High Desert. Tuesday marked a big win for housing in the city of Bend, receiving $5 million in federal funding.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding announced last week and formally presented at a special event Tuesday is aimed to enhance affordable housing accessibility through subsidies and reducing red tape.

"One of the aspects of the grant is to identify city barriers to housing," said Mellissa Kamanya, the city's affordable housing coordinator. "We'll be looking at, with permit times, some of our city processes that may be causing challenges for developers."

Builders often say if the permitting process was easier and cheaper, they would submit more plans for housing. The grant also will help to buy land and build new affordable housing.

Solomon Greene, HUD's principal deputy assistant secretary for policy development and research, spoke at the ceremony.

"Supply has not kept pace with demand," Greene said. "We see that in all communities, but especially in communities that are growing really rapidly, like here in Bend."

HUD awarded the funds through a competitive grant process, called the PRO Housing grant. Applications came from  175 communities across 47 states and territories. 

There were 21 recipients chosen for the $85 million in funding, including in Colorado, New York and California. 

Kamanya said, "We will be able to leave a legacy for generations to come in Central Oregon, whether that's easier systems for building affordable housing, less barriers or more units on the ground."

Greene said, "One of the things that struck me is how committed, and not just the public leaders are, from the mayor to the agency staff, but also how committed community residents are to really making a change."

Later this year, HUD will release an additional $100 million in funding available for Round 2 of the competition.