Madras Farmworker Housing Funds Set

Construction to Begin on Canyon East Project

REDMOND, Ore. -- Housing Works announced Wednesday that it has been awarded nearly $750,000 in supplemental funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Department of Rural Development.

The USDA Oregon office had requested a grant from the Administrator’s Reserve Fund.

The money represents the final piece of funding necessary to start construction on Canyon East, a multi-family community that will provide affordable rental housing for agricultural workers and their families.

In total, Housing Works has been awarded just over $3.2 million in addition to project-based rental assistance for 23 out of the 24 units.

The federal USDA dollars have been leveraged with $1.1 million allocated for the project by Oregon Housing and Community Services in May of 2007.

Housing Works and Community And Shelter Assistance Corporation of Oregon (CASA) teamed up to develop the 24-unit apartment complex in northeast Madras.

The project will be built on a 1.83-acre site owned by Housing Works.The design calls for 2, 3, and 4 bedroom units along with a community building featuring meeting space, laundry facility and on-site management offices. A playground and basketball half-court are also planned.

The site is located in a neighborhood that is being redeveloped through a unique partnership between Housing Works, the City of Madras and Jefferson County. It is close to shopping, recreation, services and downtown Madras.

“This announcement represents six years of hard work by all partners invested in creating quality housing for agricultural worker and their families," said Cyndy Cook, executive director of Housing Works, the assumed business name of the Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority.

"Jefferson County, the city of Madras, USDA Rural Development and Oregon Housing and Community Services have remained committed to the project in spite of the enormous challenges in securing funding,” Cook added.

Construction is planned to begin this month and scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011. The year-long build-out will provide multiple local jobs.