The Housing Authority of Clackamas County’s application process for the first $40 million in Metro Housing Bond funds opened Jan 22. Over $116 million will be issued over the next seven years through the Housing Authority.
“After a robust community engagement process, the Housing Authority’s Implementation Strategy has been approved and we are thrilled to begin taking proposals for housing solutions,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader, of Canby. “We are happy that voters saw the importance of addressing the housing crisis and look forward to seeing the creative ideas brought forward in this process.”
Metro-area voters approved the $652.8 million general obligation bond to address the shortage of affordable housing within Metro’s urban growth boundary. The bond funds give the Housing Authority the opportunity to invest in the development of new housing resources for some of our most vulnerable and historically marginalized residents.
“The housing crisis has become a Public Health crisis,” said Director of Health, Housing & Human Services, Richard Swift. “Individuals and families cannot be healthy without stable, reliable housing that they can afford.”
The Housing Authority’s goals for the bond funds are to create housing for over 2,500 county residents, develop approximately 812 new affordable housing units, meet the needs of families by making at least 406 units two-bedroom or larger, create affordable homes for low-income families, and develop and make accessible at least 333 units to extremely low-income families.
“Clackamas County has about 41 percent of the affordable homes needed to meet our residents’ needs,” said Jill Smith, Director of Housing and Housing Services. “The housing created with this money will shape the county’s landscape and serve our community’s housing needs for decades to come.”
All projects considered for funding will serve low-income county residents. Proposals will be reviewed and scored by county staff and members of the Housing Advisory Board.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing what types of project proposals are brought forward,” said Stephen McMurtrey, Director of Housing Development. “We’re eager to get projects underway, so project readiness will be a big factor that is taken into consideration during the review process.”
An information session for this NOFA will be held on Feb. 4 at the Clackamas Heights Community Room located at 13900 S. Gain St Oregon City, 97045, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Applicants are encouraged to attend.
Interested parties can find more information and apply online at https://www.clackamas.us/metrohousing/NOFA. The application period closes at 3 p.m. on April 6.
For questions about the application process, email Devin Ellin, Senior Housing Developer, at dellin@clackamas.us.