Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced recent Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Housing Program funding awards to Redmond, Bend and other cities across the state.

2020 LIFT Homeownership Awards:

• 27th Bend in Bend, $900,000
• Orchard District Cottages in Bend, $340,000
• Quince Townhomes in Redmond, $705,000
• Yeoman Townhomes in Bend, $600,000

2020 LIFT Rental Awards:

• Barnes Butte Vista in Prineville, $4,750,000

The LIFT program was created by Senate Bill 1582 during the 2016 legislative session with the goal of creating affordable homes for vulnerable families focused on rural communities and communities of color residing across Oregon. The LIFT program can fund homes for rent or purchase. This year’s award of $75,028,069 will build 1,262 new affordable homes across the state especially for historically underserved communities.

“Everyone in Oregon deserves a warm, safe, dry, accessible, and affordable place to call home,” said Gov. Kate Brown. “The LIFT program is a critical tool to ensure more children and families throughout the state have safe and stable housing.”

OHCS worked with community members to review and rank applications. Members included representatives from Communities of Color, diverse geographical representatives and industry experts. Applicants were asked to address equity and diversity targets in their proposals around contracting, sub-contracting and professional services with Minority-owned, Women-owned, and emerging small business (MWESB). The Oregon Housing Stability Council reviewed the recommendations and awarded funding on Friday.

“As a result of historical and current discriminatory housing practices and policies affordable housing remains an urgent need for Black, Indigenous, People of Color communities,” said OHCS Executive Director Margaret Salazar. “The LIFT program explicitly addresses these disproportionate housing affordability challenges in communities large and small. We are grateful to Governor Brown and the legislature for their foresight in investing in this innovative housing program.”

The full details of the 2020 awards are available online.