Eugene Seeks Affordable Housing Project Ideas for 2025 Funding
Eugene is inviting proposals for affordable housing projects to secure funding in 2025
Eugene, Oregon, Affordable Housing, Housing Trust Fund, Community Development
Since its launch in 2019, the AHTF has already helped create 280 new affordable housing units, totaling over $3.3 million in funding. That’s pretty impressive, right?
If you’re interested in getting involved, make sure to send in a letter of interest by February 5 and a full application by 5 p.m. on March 5.
To qualify, projects need to be within Eugene city limits, have at least four units, and meet certain affordability criteria. They’re especially keen on developments that are ADA-accessible and cater to those who’ve been historically left out of housing opportunities.
One cool example is Peace Village, a cooperative that offers 70 affordable units, partly funded by the AHTF.
The funds come from a construction excise tax on new buildings and renovations, plus some extra help from city fee assistance and general funding.
The AHTF money can be used for buying existing homes to turn into affordable housing, helping with down payments, or even providing direct rent assistance.
A recent decision by the city council said that 75% of the AHTF funds should go towards creating permanent housing, while the rest can help renters and homeowners directly.
Emily Sikora just moved into her new place at Peace Village, just in time for the holidays.
The AHTF Advisory Committee is the group that reviews all the proposals and decides how to allocate the funds. They focus on projects that are affordable for households earning 100% or less of the Area Median Income.
Last year, five proposals were submitted, and thanks to an extra $1 million from the city council, three projects got funded. A report released in December 2023 showed that the AHTF has supported the development of 173 affordable housing units and provided significant rental assistance.
If you’re a developer looking to get involved, you can find all the info you need about the proposal process online at the city’s website.
Hannarose McGuinness is the growth and development reporter for The Register-Guard. You can reach her at hmcguinness@registerguard.com.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund to back local projects in 2025.