Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity Celebrates 200th Family with Completion of Redmond Project

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Building homes for affordable homeownership since 1989, Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity recently celebrated its 200th family service with the completion of 10 affordable townhomes and nine secondary suites in Redmond. .

Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity has a lot to celebrate with this project. Mellissa Kamanya, Director of Grants Management, said, “Welcoming our 200th family to a life transformed by homeownership is an important milestone for our organization! At the same time, we pay tribute to a total of 10 families who are proud new owners on this site! »

These townhouses are Bend-Redmond Habitat’s second Net-Zero project built with additional energy efficiency measures and environmental sustainability in mind. This is also their second permanently affordable project, establishing a lasting legacy of affordable homeownership in Redmond by reselling them only to low-to-moderate income families.

In an exciting first for Bend-Redmond Habitat, working closely with the City of Redmond, nine accessory housing units have also been built at this location and are permanently established for affordable housing.

Bend-Redmond Habitat’s 200th family is a single father of two young children. After a difficult divorce, he moves in with his children in his parents’ basement to try to get back on his feet. He worked hard to save money for a space of his own, but with the high cost of housing and two dependent children, it felt like an impossible dream.

He says he “looks forward to feeling like my kids are in a safe community, where I know everyone and everyone supports each other.” As he prepares to move in, he looks forward to living near a park and giving his children a room of their own.

Habitat successfully provides affordable housing through widespread support from donors, state and city partnerships, community members and volunteers. Oregon Housing and Community Services is a major project sponsor for this site.

Becky Isom, senior program manager at OHCS, said, “We know the need for housing in central Oregon is great, and we can’t meet our goal of providing housing for everyone in Oregon. Oregon only by creating lasting partnerships that address the root causes. of the housing crisis. We are so proud that by using the resources provided by our agency, Habitat for Humanity was able to quickly get to work on the project and begin construction in less than a year.

John Roberts, Deputy City Manager of Redmond, said, “In partnership with the City of Redmond, Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity has built affordable housing that brings stability to our workforce and our neighborhoods. These affordable townhouses and ADUs create a lasting legacy of hope and change for hard-working families in Redmond. »

Bend-Redmond Habitat is one of the few affordable housing builders in central Oregon to provide homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate income people who live in unstable housing and earn 40% to 80 % of the region’s median income.

With their homeownership program, families and individuals are required to volunteer hundreds of hours as a down payment for the home, attend monthly financial education classes, and participate in a homeownership program. savings for closing costs. When these conditions are met and the house is built, families and individuals buy it with a loan at below market rates for 30 years.

Habitat does not build these homes alone. In fact, it takes about 5,000 people, directly or indirectly, associating with each house for people to have a chance to live a different life. A house creates an opportunity to become stable, secure, a sense of tranquility, and allows people to become better people. To find out how you can help Habitat build and serve more, visit www.bendredmondhabitat.org.

About Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity

Bend-Redmond Habitat builds strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable homeownership for families and individuals in Bend and Redmond. We are committed to changing lives by bringing people together to help make a difference in our communities through affordable housing. Since 1989, Bend-Redmond Habitat has served 200 families with affordable housing and repaired homes, providing more than 1,100 children and adults with a safe, secure and healthy home. bendredmondhabitat.org 541.385.5387.

The Bend ReStore is a home improvement resale center that accepts and sells a wide variety of building materials, appliances, and furnishings. All proceeds from the ReStore benefit Bend-Redmond Habitat’s mission. For more information, restorebend.org, 541.312.6709.