In a notable move to address Oregon's housing crisis, the state's Housing and Community Services Department has earmarked $10 million for the construction of 63 new affordable homes, according to the State of Oregon. This allocation was made through a novel non-competitive process named Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA), which streamlines funding for housing projects demonstrating readiness. Designed to expedite the development of affordable housing units, ORCA was launched to replace the previous system of issuing Notices of Funding Availability (NOFA), aspiring to offer a more equitable and efficient way of distributing resources.
Two housing projects—Lighthouse Village Apartments in Lincoln City and Shortstack Belmont Apartments in Portland—have become the first beneficiaries of this system. They have been granted preliminary approvals for funding reservations, as outlined in a recent announcement by the agency. Receiving a letter of interest to fund, the projects are expected to attract additional resources and firm up their readiness for forthcoming stages of development.
"Governor Kotek’s housing production goals are a call for action. ORCA is one way the agency is developing new ways of working to help get housing built more quickly," explained Andrea Bell, OHCS Executive Director, ensuring the innovation serves Oregon's residents well. She notes that "Innovation is at its best when done through the lens of advancing progress for the people of Oregon. Our aim is to grow new ideas and make sure the people we serve can benefit from it. Lighthouse Village Apartments and Shortstack Belmont Apartments mark the beginning of a new chapter of affordable housing development," as stated by the State of Oregon..
In line with Gov. Kotek’s strategic goals, these allocations through ORCA suggest an evolution in the drive to meet the housing needs of the state. OHCS's push with ORCA to simplify access to funding and enhance streamlined resource allocation spotlights the pressing urgency for affordable housing across Oregon’s increasingly diverse population.
