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Habitat asks Bend committee for $400,000 in down‑payment assistance for Bear Creek Village
Summary
Habitat representatives told the committee they are seeking $400,000 in buyer‑targeted down‑payment assistance to preserve permanently affordable homeownership at Bear Creek Village; construction is underway and buyers have already been selected.
Scott Nordquist, presenting for Habitat, asked the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee to commit $400,000 in down‑payment assistance to support Bear Creek Village homeownership units under construction in Bend.
“We are here today requesting 400,000 in down payment assistance for our Bear Creek Village project,” Scott said, describing a development that uses a land‑trust/shared‑equity model to keep homes permanently affordable. He said construction is already in progress and buyers have been selected.
Scott explained Habitat’s long history in the area, the organization’s homebuyer education and volunteer model, and the role of DPA funding as a contract between the buyer and the city that fills the affordability gap. He emphasized the program’s workforce and accessibility features, noting the homes are designed with universal design elements and built to high efficiency standards; he said the Bear Creek homes aim for passive‑house performance with solar and low utility costs.
Committee members asked detailed finance and program questions, including whether the DPA could instead be used to reduce interest rates and how the shared‑equity model impacts resale formulas. Scott said Habitat is exploring alternative lender products and that the down‑payment assistance helps the nonprofit serve a broader range of incomes while preserving long‑term affordability.
No vote or final award was taken at the hearing; the committee will review the application as part of the July deliberations and may request follow‑up materials.
