Friday, Jan 18 2013 3:15PM
New affordable housing complexes in Oregon are designed for low-income farmworker families.
Low-income residents in Oregon expressed relief and excitement regarding the opening of Juniper Gardens, a new affordable housing complex constructed by local nonprofit organization Bienestar for farmworkers and their families, according to the Oregonian.
The $6 million facility currently houses 23 farmers and their families. In order to qualify to live in the new affordable townhouse condos, applicants must earn an annual income of less than $36,500 for a family of four, the newspaper reports. Once accepted into Juniper Gardens, families will pay no more than a third of their income in housing costs. Although the current facility only has 24 units, developers are expected to build 22 additional units in the near future.
In addition to affordable housing assistance, the complex also offers other resources for residents, such as computer literacy courses for adults and a homework club for kids, the news source reports. The facility is also considered energy efficient by regulators, and offers such amenities as a community garden for tenants to enjoy.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has made a number of loans and grants available to communities to provide affordable housing assistance to low-income residents. These programs may range from rental assistance programs, to funding for building or refurbishing existing low-income housing.
For more information, check out this resource: The Oregonian