Bend AHAC recommends $4 million in pro-housing awards; committee also backs $1.5 million in affordable and CDBG grants

At its July meeting, the Bend Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) voted to recommend that City Council direct funding from three local housing pools to five projects across Bend.

The committee voted to recommend $4 million from the city's pro-housing acquisition fund split between United Housing Partners' Bella Pines (2.25 million) and Housing Works' West Side project (1.75 million). AHAC also recommended $1 million from the city's Affordable Housing Fee fund to Housing Works and $500,000 to Vital Housing (Cedar West preservation). Finally, AHAC recommended a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant award to Bella Pines.

The recommendations will be forwarded to Bend City Council for final action. AHAC committee members announced the votes as unanimous on each motion.

Why it matters: the awards target land acquisition and early site costs for projects the committee found most likely to move quickly to permit and construction. Several presenters told AHAC that site control or immediate acquisition was critical: "Without funding support today, we will lose site control," United Housing Partners' Seth O'Connell told the committee, describing the Bella Pines site option. The choices reflect AHAC's emphasis on projects that can use city funds quickly and that fill distinct needs, from culturally specific family units to deeper-income rental housing.

What AHAC recommended

Votes at a glance (committee recommendation to City Council) - Pro-housing acquisition fund: Bella Pines (United Housing Partners) — $2,250,000; loan terms as…