Salem, Oregon – As the first round of Pre-Development and Capacity-Building (PDCB) funds produces noticeable outcomes statewide, Oregon’s campaign to increase affordable homeownership is gaining momentum. Launched by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), the $1.6 million project aids local nonprofit developers in setting the groundwork for new houses that families can own.
Andrea Bell, OHCS’s executive director, emphasizes the value of collaboration.
“Good government is anchored in partnership and a commitment to improving everyday life. Making the dream of homeownership a reality is as critical today as ever,” Bell said. “By investing in the readiness and capacity of local organizations, we unlock their potential and increase access to affordable homeownership.”
From Tillamook County all the way to Grants Pass, 14 organizations have used their PDCB awards to enhance their operations and prepare competitive proposals for state support. The Big River Community Land Trust (CLT) near Hood River turned its volunteer-led organization into a developing homebuilder. Using grant funds, the CLT appointed executive director Alysha Sherburne, who promptly set up data systems, built community alliances, and obtained a large contribution to pay running costs.
“Without the support of OHCS to hire Alysha, our progress would not have realized many of these gains,” says Doug Baker, board president of Big River CLT. The organization has already broken ground on its first home and purchased 2.7 acres, aiming to develop 40 to 50 affordable, energy-efficient cottages in the coming years.
Meanwhile, in Tillamook County, Sammy’s Place is charting a new course in accessible design. Its proposal for Thompson Springs—a neighborhood designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—relies on universal design concepts that go beyond conventional accessibility. Consultation on site planning and housing layouts financed by the PDCB funding established the groundwork for a good application to OHCS’s Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) initiative. Thompson Springs’ early 2024 LIFT money rewarded that work.
Nine of the PDCB beneficiaries used their money particularly to become “shovel-ready,” fulfilling LIFT and other homeownership program deadlines. Grantees might seek bigger funding sources right away by covering upfront expenses—including architectural plans, environmental studies, and community outreach.
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Launched in 2023, the PDCB project complements the larger Homeownership Development Incubator Program (HDIP). Unlike other state grants aimed at fully funded programs, HDIP’s capacity-building strand leverages General Fund money to involve partners that could otherwise lack the means to start homeownership projects.
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OHCS’s strategic investment in local capacity is more than just seed money; as these early results show, it is a catalyst that enables community groups to realize vision. Oregon gets closer to its objective of placing reasonable, quality homeownership within reach for more people than ever before by strengthening the underpinnings of nonprofit developers.
