OREGON CITY, Ore. — Oregon City has a new affordable housing community for low-income families, with some specific units reserved for farmworkers and formerly homeless veterans.
All the homes in the Las Flores community will serve low-income households who earn less than 30-60% of the area's median income.
The $71.5 million project was funded throughout a combination of public and private funding, with $16 million coming from the Metro Housing Bond.
That $600 million-plus housing bond measure was approved by voters in 2018 to create permanent, affordable homes in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties.
“We’re in the middle of the housing crisis and so here in the metro area, it’s so dire, the need," said Eric Paine, chief executive officer with Community Development Partners, one of the co-developers of the complex alongside Hacienda Community Development Corporation.
Christine Lewis with Metro said that it's important for the people who work on local farms which provide for the population to not have to worry about housing, and also live in the same area that they work.
“They can't afford to live in this community anymore, they’ve been priced out, they felt the effects first," Lewis said, "and honestly, they're probably already feeling the instability.”
Lewis said that in 20 years, the amount of housing that will be needed to serve the area is in the hundred-thousands.
“The process we’re going through right now is pointing to 150,000 units needed in the metro area, so that’s everything from Forest Grove to Fairview," she said. “We’re going to be out of bond dollars pretty soon, so we have to figure out what is next in order to be able to continue to fund affordable housing development."
“Portland voters don’t want to say yes to a new tax right now, so we’re trying to look at where we can be most advantageous of funds that are already coming in," Lewis continued, "funds that we already have access to, in order to support housing for the most vulnerable.”
This project has been in the works for years, with developers starting work on the project in 2019. The complex has eight units, with seven being residential. It also contains a playground and community gardens, as well as walking paths.
So far many new complexes have been built or are still in the works due to the Metro Housing Bond, but there’s still a lot more work to be done. However, more housing is on the way — like in Milwaukie, according to Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West.
Now, 88% of the Las Flores community has already been leased, with 72% of the units being currently occupied.
While there is a waitlist for one- and two-bedroom units, three- and four-bedroom units are available now. Those interested can apply on their website.