In December 2021, the Eugene City Council approved the use of $1.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to support four local housing developments for low-income families and individuals. The funding, approved as part of the Supplemental Budget process, will pay for city fees that help cover the cost of the infrastructure needed to support new developments, for each project.
Together the projects will provide 255 units of new housing affordable to low and very low-income households including 57 units of permanent supportive housing and 70 tiny homes that help owners build homeownership equity. Several of the developments will focus on supporting particularly vulnerable populations that can face significant challenges to obtaining housing, including youth experiencing homeless or entering independence from foster care, survivors of domestic violence, and people with conviction histories.
Funds for city fee assistance were awarded to:
- The Grove on Garden Way by Cornerstone Community Housing: a new four-story building, that will include 122 affordable units targeted to low-income households including seven units for survivors of domestic violence.
- The Polk 2.0 by DevNW: a new, two-story building with 12 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units, including six permanent supportive housing units, focusing on youth entering independence from foster care and other system-engaged youth including youth experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness.
- Peace Village Co-op by SquareOne Villages: a new tiny home village development of 70 new, permanently affordable, resident-owned homes for people with very low-incomes.
- The Coleman by Homes for Good Housing Agency: a new, four-story building with 51 permanent supportive housing units in partnership with Sponsors, Inc. All units will be targeted to persons with histories of conviction.
Directing ARPA funds toward the creation of more income-qualified housing in Eugene aligns with the goals outlined in the City’s Housing Implementation Plan (HIP) recently approved by the City Council. Goals for the next five years include opening 835 new affordable homes including 263 new permanent supportive housing units.
For more information about local efforts to create stable, safe, and affordable housing opportunities in Eugene visit the city’s website.