Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Director Andrea Bell today joined the Bend community for two groundbreaking ceremonies. OHCS helped fund the construction of 73 homes for both homeownership and rental that will bring much-needed affordable housing to the area.
Director Bell, alongside city and county elected officials uplifted the Simpson Community, a rental and homeownership development, as a model of innovation centered on community voice and creative financing. Rooted Homes, formerly Kôr Community Land Trust, is developing the housing community of 40 permanently affordable and sustainable homes for communities of color and workforce households. These homes not only will provide much-needed housing but also low-impact features such as solar panels, electric bikes, and electric vehicle charging stations.
“This will be the largest permanently affordable and sustainable homeownership community in the City of Bend,” said Director Bell. “Today we celebrate the kind of progress that can happen when public and private partners work collectively and innovatively to provide housing solutions to the people and communities that need it the most.”
It was a double celebration for the community as Director Bell later joined Housing Works for the groundbreaking of the Cleveland Commons Apartments, which will offer 33 homes with supportive services on-site for people experiencing chronic homelessness.
“One thing that makes this development unique is that it’s 100% permanent supportive housing, or PSH, meaning every home in this complex is for those who have experienced homelessness for many months and even years in some cases,” Director Bell said. “I would like to congratulate Housing Works, the City of Bend, Deschutes County, Central Oregon’s Continuum of Care, and many others for bringing this development to life.”
PSH is an evidence-based model that recognizes that sometimes just having a place to live is not enough. All individuals, families and communities need support in order to thrive and by providing services on-site, Cleveland Commons is creating not just shelter but a place people can reach their full potential—a place to call home.
