Habitat for Humanity scores stimulus funds

Sisters Habitat for Humanity learned this week it will receive $150,000 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds for the purchase of bank-owned bare land within the city of Sisters.

"This is big news, great news," said Executive Director Sharlene Weed.

The funds will come in the form of zero-percent interest-deferred loans. Weed expects the funds will allow Habitat to buy five local properties on which they can build homes for low-income families.

Families that qualify for this program will have an annual income of 50 percent of the median. A family of four, for example, would require an income of $31,600 or less.

The NSP, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist communities suffering from foreclosures and home abandonment.

As it became clear that Sisters met the criteria of a "distressed" community, Weed submitted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the City of Bend.

Bend's Affordable Housing Office has been instrumental in acquiring NSP funds for the tri-county area of Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook Counties and for the state as a whole.

Jim Long, affordable housing manager for the City of Bend, wrote a consortium application on behalf of the city, state and individual counties.

"Every jurisdiction gave me a blessing and told me to go do it," Long said.

It was a highly competitive process. Out of hundreds of applications, the City of Bend's was one of only 53 granted nationwide, resulting in 6.8 million dollars for the state of Oregon. Of that, 2.3 million was awarded to Central Oregon.

The majority of the funding is actually intended for individuals who earn up to 120 percent of the median income, to assist with the purchase of properties that have been foreclosed on or are in the foreclosure process.

City of Bend's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee reviewed RFPs to determine how to allocate the portion of NSP funds earmarked for non-profits that assist lower-income families.

According to Long, Weed "wrote a good app, showed need and a proven track record. Sisters Habitat received more than any other non-profit that applied."

"The money is readily available, sitting there," said Weed. "With this program, if we take out the land cost, we're able to sell the homes for a lower price than we normally do. Taking bank-owned properties out of the inventory will help the town as a whole. It's exciting."

Weed is calling a meeting of Habitat's land committee to discuss and recommend land offers. She encourages families to get started with the application process.

"Now is a great time. We need families that meet the 50 per criteria," she said.

Weed also hopes to get the word out that NSP funds are available to those with incomes up to 120 percent of the median through the City of Bend. To learn more about that program or to request an application, contact Jim Long at 541-312-4915 or [email protected] Contact Marie Clasen at Sisters Habitat for Humanity for more information or to apply for a Habitat house at 541-549-1193.