Community Recovery and Rebuilding
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For the Fire-Affected Community of Southern Oregon
Welcome to the Community Recovery and Rebuilding Newsletter. Our goal is to keep the fire affected community up-to-date and to help with individual and community recovery by sharing available resources. To see our latest resource list, please visit https://jccltrg.org/resources
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Highlights from our 2022 Anniversary Event!
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HUD approves state’s Action Plan to spend $422 million federal grant on recovery from 2020 Labor Day Fires
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved Oregon’s Action Plan to spend $422 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to assist communities and survivors who continue to recover from the 2020 Labor Day Fires. Although recovery of the more than 4,300 homes in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion counties has taken far longer than anyone hoped, HUD approval of the Action Plan is an important step.
“Recovery has been tough for families and individuals who have struggled during the past two years to find safe and permanent housing,” said Alex Campbell, chief external affairs officer of the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Division at Oregon Housing and Community Services. “With the approval of the Action Plan, we are on step closer to bringing much needed funding to these communities. The next step will be completing a grant agreement with HUD. We are asking survivors to get ready to apply by collecting documents and talking to a disaster case manager.”
Administered by OHCS, the federal money will be used to set up several new programs to help individuals — regardless of residency or citizenship status — households, and communities to recover. This effort, which is called ReOregon, will begin to provide new permanent housing in the areas most impacted by the fires in 2023. In addition, a number of new affordable housing projects for fire survivors are under construction or will be built soon.
Help with navigating housing recovery for 2020 fire survivors is already available thanks to funding put into place by the Oregon Legislature called Wildfire Recovery and Resilience Accounts, or WRRA. Survivors can access WRRA support through a local community action agency or similar organization. WRRA can help with both rent and move-in costs and, in some cases, financial assistance for replacing lost homes. Find a local contact for WRRA at Re.Oregon.gov by clicking “Assistance available now.”
ReOregon includes several programs to assist fire survivors. First is the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP), which will launch early next year. The first phase of HARP will be open to fire survivors who are low or moderate income and have not yet completed their recovery, i.e., do not yet have a permanent, safe home. Low or moderate income will be defined as an annual household income, adjusted for household size.
For example, a two-person household earning $58,150 or less would qualify for phase one.
For eligible survivors who have not started rebuilding, OHCS will provide new manufactured or modular homes to replace lost homes. The size of the replacement home will be based on the size of the home that was destroyed and, in some cases, by need based on number of individuals in the household. For homeowners who have already started to rebuild, or have already made a substantial down payment toward the purchase of a new manufactured home, the HARP program can help fund remaining costs. Survivors will contribute any previous benefits, such as an insurance payment or FEMA structural damage award, toward the project.
Survivors should take several steps this fall to make sure they are ready to apply for ReOregon benefits:
• Connect with a disaster case manager (DCM). A DCM provides a case management approach with a defined plan and recovery goals that identify unmet needs. They work toward those recovery goals with the survivor and provide services such as referrals for housing navigation, employment training and procurement, family stabilization resources and mental/behavioral health connections. If survivors aren’t currently connected to a DCM, they should call the DCM hotline at 833-669-0554.
• Housing navigators are the best point of contact for housing recovery issues, including help with finding a new rental or accessing financial assistance to help rebuild or replace the home. Find a local housing navigator at Re.Oregon.gov by clicking on “Assistance available now."
• Collect the documents that survivors will need to apply:
• Evidence of fire impact (type of home, proof of loss, household size)
• Income and bank statements (survivors will need their most recent documents at the time of application)
• Record of any other benefits or recovery supports received, including insurance payments
• Photo ID for all household members over the age of 18
• Sign up for (bilingual) email updates at Re.Oregon.gov.
Multiple affordable housing options, including rental and homeownership opportunities, are in various stages of development and will be accepting applications in the coming year. Projects with OHCS funding will provide hundreds of new homes that will be built for low- and moderate-income households with a preference for survivors in the counties hardest hit by the 2020 Labor Day fires.
For more information, visit Re.Oregon.gov.
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Affordable Housing Now and in the Future: Big plans for Low-cost Communities
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Housing Developments Completed/Under Construction
The Merrick:
Fortify Holdings is renovating and remodeling 3 hotels to be a permanent affordable apartment complex. The Merrick will include 123 affordable efficiency apartments. It is located in downtown Medford.
The Roxy:
Fortify Holdings is renovating and remodeling 3 hotels to be a permanent affordable apartment complex. The Roxy will include 84 efficiency apartments that are rented out at market rate. The location is near downtown Medford
The Loring:
Fortify Holdings is renovating and remodeling 3 hotels to be a permanent affordable apartment complex. The Loring will host 174 efficiency apartments located in north Medford.
Snowberry Brook I & II:
The Housing Authority of Jackson County developed this affordable, multi-family apartments project. Eligible residents will earn 30-50% of the Area Median Income or below. Snowberry Brook hosts 60 affordable apartments. These apartments are located in Ashland.
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Housing On The Horizon
Talent Mobile Estates Housing Cooperative:
This collaborative effort between CASA of Oregon and Coalición Fortaleza will support 89 modular homes within a cooperative, resident-owned park. The project is expected to be completed by mid 2023. The location is in south Talent. Contact Celestina Teva celestina@casaoforegon.org for more information.
Renaissance Flats:
This project from affordable housing developer Commonwealth will host 72 affordable 2- and 3- bedroom apartments. It is expected to be completed by late 2023. Fire-affected folks will be prioritized, but to be eligible one must be at or below 30-60% of the local “Area Median Income”. The location is near downtown Talent.
Prescott Gardens:
This project, developed by the Housing Authority of Jackson County, will consist of 98 affordable 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom multi-family apartments. The site for these apartments is secured and it is expected to be completed within 2024. To be eligible one must be at or below 60% “Area Median Income”. The location is northeast Medford.
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Rogue Ridge Apartments:
This OHCS and Columbia Care project will host 28 affordable, multi-family and supportive apartments. Eligible residents will have income at or below 70% “Area Median Income”. The project is expected to be completed by the end of Autumn 2022. The location will be south Ashland.
The Dolores Huerta:
OHCS is developing 113 affordable, 1 and 2-bedroom multi-family apartments. Expected completion is mid-2024 Eligible residents will have income at or below 60% “Area Median Income”.
Mosaic:
This OHCS project will have 148 affordable, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom multi-family apartments. The site for this project is secured and the expected completion is late 2023. Fire-affected individuals will be prioritized, but to be eligible one must earn between 80 & 120% “Area Median Income”. The location will be northeast Medford.
The Genesis Apartments:
This Medford Urban Renewal Agency project will have 62 multi-family apartments. 60% of these apartments will have rent set at an affordable price while the other 40% will be at market rate. Eligible residents will earn within 80-120% “Area Median Income”, and people in the workforce are prioritized. Completion is expected within mid 2023. The location will be near downtown Medford.
Summit Gardens:
This North Development Group project will host 34 affordable, multi-family apartments. To be eligible one must be at or below 60% “Area Median Income”. The project is expected to be completed late 2023. The location will be central Medford.
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There is still a 10,000 housing unit deficit during the current housing crisis in our valley, but there are steps being taken to reduce this burden. Below are the current and future options for those looking for long-term housing, as shown in Firebrand Resiliency Collective’s Recovery Dashboard.
For more information about housing availability visit: www.accesshelps.org or call (541) 414-0318. For information on the Talent Mobile Estates Housing Cooperative, email Celestina Teva at: celestina@casaoforegon.org.
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Super 8 (Project Turnkey):
Options for Helping Residents of Ashland renovated and remodeled Ashland’s Super 8 hotel to create an affordable apartment complex. This project includes 52 transitional efficiency apartments. These units are specifically targeted for individuals experiencing houselessness. There are currently 36 rooms, with two more scheduled for completion by the end of September 2022. The location is south Ashland.
Redwood Inn (Project Turnkey):
Rogue Retreat renovated and remodeled the Redwood Inn to create an affordable apartment complex. This transitional housing project hosts 47 affordable efficiency apartments. Low-income, fire-affected and COVID-vulnerable individuals are prioritized. The location is near downtown Medford.
Gateway Project:
The Gateway is a transitional housing project that prioritizes families in the Phoenix and Talent School District. This Talent Urban Renewal Agency project hosts 53 RVs and trailers. Eligible households are low- and moderate-income. The location is off of Pacific Highway 99 near downtown Talent.
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Orchard Meadows:
This project, developed by the Housing Authority of Jackson County, will consist of 98 affordable, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom multi-family apartments. The site for these apartments is secured and it is expected to be completed within 2024. To be eligible one must be at or below 60% “Area Median Income”. The location is southwest Medford.
Royal Oaks:
This project, developed by the Housing Authority of Jackson County, will host 120 affordable, 2-bedroom, single story 1000 sq.ft. homes. Low-income, fire-affected or displaced individuals & families are eligible. Completion is expected to be early-mid 2023. The location is off Pacific Highway 99 in north Phoenix.
Freedom Square II:
This project, developed by the Housing Authority of Jackson County, will consist of 50 multi-family apartments. It is under construction and expected to be completed in October 2022. To be eligible one must be at or below 50% “Area Median Income”. The location is White City.
Talent Senior Apartments:
This project being developed by OHCS will consist of 22 apartments set up as a cottage cluster. Seniors at or below 60% “Area Median Income” are eligible. Completion is expected within 2023. The location will be Talent.
Northgate Marketplace:
This OHCS project will consist of 400 multi-family apartments. The apartments will be rented at market rate, but folks earning below the “Area Median Income” are prioritized. The project is expected to be completed within 2025. It will be located in north Medford.
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