October 19, 2020

Wyden, Merkley: Feds Investing $7.2 Million for Affordable Rental Housing in Morrow, Tillamook and Yamhill Counties

Resources will help preserve 122 units in Heppner, McMinnville, Newberg and Tillamook

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed more than $7.2 million in federal resources to renovate affordable housing units in Heppner, McMinnville, Newberg, and Tillamook.

“Oregonians working hard to pay rent as well as their bills for groceries, prescription drugs and more know full well how the pandemic’s economic fallout has worsened the longstanding challenge of affordable housing,” Wyden said. “This much-needed investment will help rural Oregonians to meet that challenge, and I will keep fighting for all available affordable housing resources for all Oregonians needing them.”

“Everyone—regardless of the color of their skin, their zip code, or their income—deserves a safe place to call home, especially during a pandemic,” said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA. “But we still have a long way to go, in our rural and urban communities alike, to meet serious affordable housing shortages. I’m grateful that these resources are headed to Oregon where they will help tackle this urgent problem in some of our rural communities, and will continue to do all that I can to secure the support needed in every corner of our state to put roofs over Oregonians’ heads.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Glenhaven Park LLC will buy and renovate four apartment complexes using $7.25 million in loans from the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing that have been guaranteed by USDA Rural Development. The apartments will maintain affordable rates and retain rental assistance provided by USDA for eligible low-income residents. The renovations by Chrisman Development, Inc. will preserve 122 units of affordable rental housing, along with rental assistance provided by USDA for 110 low-income residents at these apartments to help ensure they pay no more than 30 percent of their income on housing.