Dec. 18, 2024
Southern Oregon organizations received over $1.7 million to help small businesses
SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announces its first economic revitalization awards via the Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Revitalization (PIER) program, which is part of the ReOregon effort to help areas hardest hit by the 2020 Labor Day Disasters to recover.
OHCS has awarded more than $1.2 million to the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCanDO). The organization will use the money for two initiatives in Jackson County:
- Revolving Loan Fund: Fixed, low-interest rate loans to increase capital and encourage credit building to help small businesses in fire-affected areas to launch or expand.
- Microenterprise Grant Program: Flexible funding through an accessible grant program for low- to moderate- income microbusiness, which are often sole proprietors of businesses that are run from home, such as hairdressers, construction tradespeople, food producers, etc.
Federally funded by the $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, PIER provides grants in the disaster’s eight most-impacted counties to address unmet infrastructure, planning, and economic revitalization recovery needs.
“The PIER funding is just the start of the $42 million OHCS will be sending to local communities to help their continued recovery from the devastating and long-lasting effects of the 2020 fires,” said Shannon Marheine, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at OHCS. “We will continue to work with PIER selection committees in each affected county to evaluate and fund other projects to help restore existing infrastructure and make communities more resilient to future disasters.”
OHCS PIER also awarded over $500,000 to the Southern Oregon University Small Business Development Center (SOU SBDC) to support IVCanDO’s grant and loan beneficiaries with technical assistance, consultation, and support services. The relationship between IVCanDo and SOU SBDC sets up microenterprises for successful launch and/or expansion of their businesses by providing capital, education, and advice on the best ways to use funding for long-term recovery.
"IVCanDO is committed to helping wildfire-affected businesses in Jackson County rebuild and thrive in the wake of the catastrophic 2020 Labor Day fires,” said Malcolm Voyager, Revolving Loan Fund manager at IVCanDO. “We have nearly 25 years of experience supporting and providing capital to small businesses in Southern Oregon and are honored to be able to help our southern neighbors create economic vibrancy through grant and loan funding opportunities."
To learn more about PIER and other ReOregon programs, visit re.oregon.gov or sign up to receive e-mail notifications. For more information about IVCanDO, visit www.ivcdo.org.
About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. Visit OHCS’ website for more information.
18 de diciembre de 2024
El programa de Planificación, Infraestructura y Revitalización Económica de ReOregon otorga los primeros fondos
Organizaciones del Sur de Oregón reciben más de $1.7 millones para ayudar a pequeñas empresas
SALEM, Ore. – El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios de Oregón (OHCS, por sus siglas en inglés) anuncia que otorgó los primeros fondos del programa de Planificación, Infraestructura y Revitalización Económica (PIER, por sus siglas en inglés). Dicho programa es parte de los esfuerzos de ReOregon para ayudar a la recuperación de las zonas más afectadas por los incendios del Día del Trabajo de 2020.
OHCS otorgó más de $1.2 millones a Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCanDO, por sus siglas en inglés) que utilizará el dinero para dos iniciativas en el Condado de Jackson:
- Fondo Revolvente de Préstamos: Préstamos de interés fijo y bajo para aumentar el capital y fomentar la creación de crédito con el fin de ayudar a iniciar o ampliar a pequeñas empresas ubicadas en las zonas afectadas por los incendios.
- Programa de Subvenciones para Microempresas: Otorga fondos flexibles a través de un programa de subvenciones para microempresas con ingresos bajos o moderados, que suelen tener un propietario y se operan desde el hogar, como peluquerías, comerciantes de la construcción, productores de alimentos, etc.
PIER ha recibido fondos federales de los $422 millones de la Subvención en Bloque para el Desarrollo de la Comunidad y la Recuperación de Desastres. Por medio de PIER se otorgarán fondos a los ocho condados más afectados por los incendios para pagar por la infraestructura, planificación y revitalización económica que se necesita para lograr la recuperación.
“Los fondos otorgados por medio de PIER son solo el comienzo ya que OHCS enviará $42 millones a las comunidades locales para ayudar a que se recuperen del daño devastador causado por los incendios de 2020 que aún permanece”, dijo Shannon Marheine, directora de la División de Manejo y Recuperación de Desastres de OHCS. “Continuaremos trabajando con los comités de selección de PIER en cada condado afectado para evaluar y otorgar fondos a otros proyectos con el fin de ayudar a restaurar la infraestructura existente y hacer que las comunidades sean más resilientes a futuros desastres”.
Por otro lado, el programa PIER de OHCS también otorgó más de $500,000 al Centro de Desarrollo de Pequeñas Empresas de la Universidad del Sur de Oregón (SOU SBDC, por sus siglas en inglés). Este dinero es para apoyar a las personas elegibles con asistencia técnica, consultas y servicios de apoyo. Se espera ayudar a capacitar a los microempresarios para iniciar y/o ampliar sus empresas con éxito, proporcionándoles capital, educación y asesoramiento sobre las mejores formas de utilizar el dinero para lograr la recuperación a largo plazo.
“IVCanDO se compromete a ayudar a las empresas afectadas por los incendios forestales en el Condado de Jackson a reconstruir y prosperar tras los incendios del Día del Trabajo de 2020”, dijo Malcolm Voyager, gerente del Fondo Revolvente de Préstamos de IVCanDO. “Tenemos casi 25 años de experiencia apoyando y proporcionando capital a las pequeñas empresas en el Sur de Oregón y nos sentimos honrados de poder ayudar a nuestros vecinos a crear vitalidad económica a través de oportunidades para otorgar fondos y préstamos”.
Para obtener más información sobre PIER y otros programas de ReOregon, visite la página de internet re.oregon.gov o inscríbase para recibir correos electrónicos. Si desea más información sobre IVCanDO, vaya a www.ivcdo.org.
Acerca del Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios de Oregon (OHCS)
OHCS es la agencia de financiación de viviendas de Oregón. La agencia estatal proporciona apoyo financiero y de programas para crear y preservar oportunidades de vivienda a precio asequible y de calidad para los habitantes de Oregón con ingresos bajos y moderados. OHCS administra programas que proporcionan estabilización de la vivienda. OHCS ofrece estos programas principalmente a través de subvenciones, contratos y acuerdos de préstamo con organizaciones locales y proveedores comunitarios. Para obtener más información, visite: oregon.gov/ohcs.
Dec. 9, 2024
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services is funding the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of more than 400 affordable homes across the state. These homes will help fill the need for housing for Oregonians with low incomes, including seniors, youth, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
“We know there is more to do, but these are the types of community driven housing gains that are possible when we work together,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Under Governor Kotek’s leadership, we remain relentless in getting things done that will make life better for the communities we serve.”
The Housing Stability Council approved $72.8 million to fund 421 homes through the agency’s Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) process. Part of this funding will be used to rehabilitate the Rosemont Court in Portland, which will serve seniors. Another housing development funded is Blossom Gardens in Salem, which is under construction, will focus on serving refugee families. The funding will also preserve two manufactured home parks for homeowners who live at the Rimrock Court Cooperative in Madras and Surfside Mobile Village in Newport.
The Council approved the following housing development projects for funding:
- Blossom Garden Apartments, Salem, 90 homes
- Cesar Apartments, Portland, 47 homes
- Columbia View Apartments, Cascade Locks, 12 homes
- Rimrock Court Cooperative, Madras, 38 homes
- Rosemont Court, Portland, 100 homes
- Sierra West Apartments, Hillsboro, 56 homes
- Surfside Mobile Village, Newport, 33 homes
- Willow Park Apartments, Forest Grove, 45 homes
The Housing Stability Council also granted the Homeownership Division approval to update two programs to help spur development and purchase of homes for Oregonians with low incomes.
The Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Homeownership changes include:
- A shift from determining loan amounts based on appraised land value to per-home subsidies.
- A shorter application for small projects.
- Soft set-asides to spur development by small, culturally specific, and emerging developers, and projects in underserved counties.
The Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit (OAHTC) Homeownership was expanded to support limited equity cooperatives, an innovative homeownership model with growing interest in Oregon. By offering tax credits to the developer’s permanent lender, OAHTC Homeownership reduces financing costs, and the savings are passed on to residents to ensure housing affordability for those earning 80% or less of the area median income.
About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.
Dec. 6, 2024
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is excited to launch a new online community platform, Balance of State Community Hub, a communication and resource sharing portal for rural Oregon. Like LinkedIn meets Reddit, the Balance of State Community Hub connects providers and staff from agencies and organizations in the Balance of State (BoS) communities working to end homelessness in rural Oregon.
“Our mission is to create lasting, sustainable solutions to end homelessness across rural Oregon, and collaboration is a key part of that success,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “The community platform will allow us to break down barriers and support our partners more effectively, ensuring that resources and information are always within reach for our dedicated community organizations.”
Over the past six months, Civic Roundtable and OHCS have been working one-on-one collaboratively with almost 30 BoS service providers to create community spaces that meet the following needs of those doing this critical work.
- Connect Grantees: Connect housing and homeless service providers across rural Oregon. The online platform supports up to 1,000 providers.
- System Integration: Connect and search databases, websites, and existing resources.
- Access Information: Learn about upcoming and current local, state, and federal resources including funding opportunities, grant applications, and requirements.
- Share Resources: Uploading resources, templates, and other useful information to the hub’s resource library
- BoS Calendar: Sharing events and learning about events in BoS communities
- Reclaim Time: This platform’s purpose is to preserve the most valuable resource of this work—time.
“Access to this new tool is a much-needed addition to communication efficiency in the 26 counties that make up the Balance of State,” said Balance of State Continuum of Care Program Manager Brooke Matthews. “It allows us to share vital resources and updates quickly and efficiently, ensuring that direct service agencies are able to collaborate effectively when delivering housing and support services. This initiative strengthens our ability to work together with other organizations and truly make a difference in resolving homelessness in some of the most underrepresented communities in Oregon."
Civic Roundtable’s communication and resource-sharing platform emerged from Harvard Innovation Labs with grant funding provided by Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. By strengthening ties and fostering collaboration, the platform will support BoS’ strategic goals and enhance its ability to serve Oregon’s most vulnerable populations.
About the Balance of State Continuum of Care
The Balance of State Continuum of Care encourages members communities to develop comprehensive systems to address the range of needs of homeless (and at-risk of homelessness) populations by providing a framework for organizing and delivering housing and services. The overall approach is predicated on the understanding that homelessness is not caused merely by a lack of shelter but involves a variety of underlying and unmet needs— physical, economic, and social.
Currently, the Balance of State Continuum of Care includes members from the 26 counties that are not covered by any other Continuum of Care: Baker, Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler, and Yamhill. For more information, please visit: https://oregonbos.org/.
About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit https://oregon.gov/ohcs.
Nov. 26, 2024
Two new loan products provide competitive interest rates to help eligible Oregonians buy a home
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) recently completed a $163 million bond sale to finance first-time homebuyer loans through its Flex Lending program, which now offers two new loan products: FirstHome and NextStep.
“FirstHome and NextStep continue OHCS’ mission of increasing access to stable housing by establishing more pathways to homeownership for traditionally underserved Oregonians, especially first-time homebuyers and veterans on low incomes,” said Keeble Giscombe, director of Homeownership at OHCS. “OHCS is constantly exploring innovative ways to get more people into homes throughout the state, whether it’s by changing how we fund development projects or improving existing programs like Flex Lending to make it easier for people to get a home.”
The FirstHome loan product incorporates elements of the traditional Oregon Bond Residential Loan program, which is being phased out, offering first-time homebuyers, veterans, and previous homeowners (if purchasing in Targeted Areas, which are defined by the U.S. Census) a mortgage loan with a below-market interest rate. This loan is designed to increase purchasing power and keep monthly payments affordable.
Homebuyers may also receive a down payment assistance (DPA) loan of 4% or 5%, which can cover up to 100% of the borrower’s cash requirements at closing. This assistance may be used for down payment, closing costs, prepaid items, upfront borrower-paid mortgage insurance, and other allowable fees.
The NextStep loan product is similar to FirstHome, but without a first-time homebuyer requirement and with more flexible qualification requirements. Income is capped at $125,000.
Homebuyers interested in either Flex Lending product need to work with an OHCS-approved lender. First-time homebuyers are required to take a homebuyer education class through a certified housing counselor at one of the homeownership centers throughout the state.
More information and a list of participating lenders can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/homeownership/homebuyers/Pages/flex-lending.aspx. Lenders who wish to participate in the program can visit https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/homeownership/lenders-real-estate-professionals/Pages/default.aspx.
About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. Visit OHCS’ website for more information.