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Habitat leaders urge Salem Housing Authority to preserve 33 homes through rehab-and-sell program
Summary
Habitat for Humanity representatives testified before the Salem Housing Authority to support a partnership to renovate 33 publicly owned homes, using a silent second mortgage and resale restrictions to preserve affordable homeownership for households earning roughly 50–80% of area median income.
Katrina Osborne, director of programs for Habitat for Humanity of the Mid Willamette Valley, told the Salem Housing Authority that the nonprofit’s homeownership model targets working families earning 50–80% of area median income and couples rehabilitation with financial education and a silent second mortgage to keep prices affordable. “These are households that earn 50 to 80% of the area median income in Marion and Polk Counties,” Osborne said, explaining the program’s eligibility rules and long-term supports.
Jerry Ambrose, executive director of the local Habitat affiliate, described the economics driving the proposal and the practical advantages of rehabbing existing homes rather than building new units. He said Habitat can address deferred maintenance and system upgrades on the 33 units more quickly and at lower cost than building from scratch. Paul Hamalian, a long‑time Habitat volunteer and former Habitat International staffer, outlined Habitat’s Fund for Humanity model and the silent second mortgage that preserves subsidized equity while recycling funds into new housing.
Salem Housing Authority deputy director Jessica Blakely provided details about parallel development proposals under discussion: the agency’s planned partnership would add to an existing portfolio of public‑private affordable units and is expected to keep the properties deed‑restricted at roughly 60% of area median income for an extended term. “Their percentage of area median income will be at the 60% mark,” Blakely said, noting unit mixes typically include one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom apartments and that rents are set by county AMI charts.
Supporters said preserving these 33 homes also frees up rental units for other households and creates pathways to long‑term stability. “This partnership would allow Habitat to acquire and rehabilitate 33 publicly owned homes, creating more affordable homeownership opportunities for local families,” volunteer Annie Bate said. The Housing Authority took public testimony on the item during its consent calendar; the Housing Authority’s consent calendar later passed on a roll call vote.
