Hermiston project gets huge federal grant

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

HERMISTON – Oregon Housing and Community Services has awarded $7.5 million in funding to develop Liberty Village Apartments in Hermiston. The property will focus on veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless.

The property is being built by Umatilla County Housing Authority and Casa of Oregon. When it’s completed, the project will provide 17 total homes, 15 with rental assistance. They are considered primarily affordable at 30 percent of a family’s median income.

This is the first award from a one-time $25 million HOME American Rescue Plan federal investment.

OHCS Director Andrea Bell said strengthening local organizations and expanding housing opportunity in rural communities are essential in advancing real progress for people experiencing homelessness.

“They are a foundation upon which we create a future where every individual has a place to call home,” she said.

Hermiston officials are pleased with the grant.

“We’ve been working with the developers of that project for several years now, so I’m glad to see funding finally come through for it,” Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan said. “Housing has been a part of the city council’s annual goals every year now dating back to 2017, and that is in response to the fact that every time we do community outreach about community livability, ‘housing’ is always included. That’s why the city of Hermiston’s commitment to housing continues to focus on simply increasing the supply of housing across the board in all forms and at all price points. So these 17 units will fit in nicely with the broad mixture of housing development that we have seen over the past three years which includes 390 new market rate units for sale or rent, 108 income-restricted rental units, and 61 manufactured homes.”