CITY OF EUGENE: Council awards over $1 million to affordable housing projects in Eugene

By Press release submission

May 26, 2022

City of Eugene issued the following announcement on May 24.

Funding will support creation of 70 tiny homes for low income homebuyers and 10 units to help transition veterans out of homelessness

The Eugene City Council approved the use of Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTF) to support two low-income housing projects that applied for the funds earlier this year.

$670,000 was awarded to SquareOne Villages for Peace Village, a new development of 70 owner-occupied tiny homes for low-income households located on River Road. The project combines the use of a community land trust with a limited equity cooperative housing model. SquareOne retains ownership of land to preserve long-term affordability and residents collectively own their housing and build equity over time. The tiny homes will be built on property that was previously owned by Peace Presbyterian Church. The existing church buildings will also be used as common facilities with community kitchen, meeting and administrative space, and laundry. Construction is expected to begin later this year.
$350,000 was awarded to St. Vincent De Paul Society of Lane County, Inc. (SVdP) for Green Lane Veteran’s Housing, a new development of 10 units of transitional housing for veterans experiencing homelessness on Green Lane. The project is a partnership with the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs Grant and Per Diem Program. On-site resident services, including case management, will be included as part of the project with the goal of connecting residents to services and benefits, increasing incomes and supporting the transition to permanent, stable housing. Construction is expected to begin next year.

This is the second year AHTF have been awarded to local affordable housing projects. The AHTF was established in 2020 and is funded by a 0.5% construction excise tax on the construction of new structures and additions to existing structures in Eugene. The AHTF pays for projects and programs that increase availability and access to owner and renter occupied housing that is affordable to middle- and low-income community members.

Since the AHTF was created:

$1.3 million of AHTF has leveraged more than $48 million to support new affordable housing in Eugene
Funds are supporting the creation of 130 new rental units and 70 new owner-occupied tiny homes
Rental assistance and foreclosure prevention services supported by the fund have kept over 100 local families and individuals in their homes in the wake of the pandemic

SquareOne and SVdP applied for the AHTF through a competitive request for proposals (RFP) process. Proposals were reviewed, scored, and ranked by community members on the AHTF Advisory Committee. That recommendation was shared with the Eugene City Council, who makes final decisions for AHTF awards.

Summaries of this year’s funded projects are attached (and below), and the full proposals are available on the city’s website. For more information on the AHTF visit eugene-or.gov/affordablehousingfund.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund 2022 Request for Proposals

Peace Village

SquareOne Villages

3060 River Road

New construction proposal
70 units, 78 bedrooms: 62 one-bedroom, 8 two-bedroom units
Attached tiny homes with shared open space.
Existing church buildings would be re-used as common facilities with community kitchen, meeting and administrative space, laundry.
Combines community land trust with limited equity cooperative housing model; SquareOne retains ownership of land to preserve long-term affordability and residents collectively own housing

Residents earning up to 60% Area Median Income (AMI) would be eligible; 14 units are priced at rates affordable at 30% AMI, 56 units are priced at rates affordable at 50% AMI
Partnership with NAACP
Would assist smaller households, people experiencing homelessness, households with rent burden, households that faced eviction, and people with disabilities.

AHTF funds proposed: $670,000; City Fee Assistance approved $500,000
Total development cost: $13,633,328
Cost per unit: $194,762
Cost per bedroom: $174,786
Other proposed funding sources: State funding (HB 5006 & HB 5202) awarded; State Local Innovation Fast Track (LIFT) funds, private bank loan, fundraising

Construction is anticipated to begin by
the end of 2022

Green Lane Veteran’s Housing

St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County

101 Green Lane

New construction proposal
10 one-bedroom units
Two residential buildings and a one-story office building with meeting rooms and laundry services
Transitional housing program where residents can stay up to two years

Serving veterans experiencing homelessness
On-site resident services provided, including case management
Goal of program to increase resident incomes to transition to stable housing
Partnerships with US Department of Veteran’s Affairs: Grant and Per Diem Program
Will serve chronically homeless and homeless Veterans which may also include people with mental and/or physical disabilities, people with drug and alcohol addiction, victims of domestic violence, people with HIV/AIDS and people experiencing foreclosure or eviction.

AHTF funds proposed: $350,000
Total development cost: $2,300,000
Cost per unit: $230,000 (including resident services)
Cost per bedroom: $230,000 (including resident services)
Other funding sources: VA Capital Grant, State ARPA funds, bequest, proceeds from sale of existing properties
Will apply for a 20-year LIRHPTE