The project will be the first regulated affordable housing development within the city limits of Happy Valley.
Catholic Charities of Oregon is a step closer to building approximately 142 new affordable homes in Happy Valley, thanks to $18.3 million in Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds approved by the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners this summer. Upon approval of forthcoming city zoning, design, and building permits, Good Shepherd Village will be the first regulated affordable housing development within the city limits of Happy Valley and Catholic Charities’ largest development.
“We are thrilled to be able to welcome families to an incredible neighborhood that is too often out of reach for low-income households,” said Travis Phillips, Catholic Charities’ Director of Community Development and Housing. “This property was generously donated to us nearly a decade ago with the vision that low-income people would be able to afford to live in an area with such great opportunities and we’re excited to see that vision finally realized.”
The new development—which features studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units—will include 15 units prioritized for veterans and / or seniors and eight units of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) prioritized for those who have experienced homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. Residents will also have access to public transit, grocery stores, schools, a public library, multiple parks, and healthcare resources.
The project was approved with a slate of others as part of the $652.8 million Metro Regional Housing Bond approved in 2018 by Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah County voters. Good Shepherd Village (GSV) will be one of the first projects developed in Clackamas County using these funds. The Good Shepherd Village development is the second project to receive committed funding since Catholic Charities of Oregon announced participation in a national Healthy Housing Initiative in early 2019. The Initiative, envisioned by Catholic Charities USA, officially launched in January 2020, setting ambitious goals to reduce chronic homelessness, connect newly-housed residents with primary health and mental health care, and decrease hospital readmission rates among homeless persons. Catholic Charities of Oregon’s first project in the Healthy Housing Initiative is the 110-unit Cathedral Village apartments in the Cathedral Park neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. Construction of Cathedral Village is anticipated to begin in late 2020 with occupancy targeted for early 2022.
Our Housing and Community Development team walks the property with its design and construction teams. The land was donated by a generous neighbor.