Oregon’s Project Turnkey Gains Momentum

Oregon’s Project Turnkey Gains Momentum: $11.4 Million in Additional Grants Brings Three More Motel Properties Online to Provide Lodging for Displaced Community Members

Project Turnkey Provides Grants for Properties Located in Corvallis, Eugene and Lincoln City

Corvallis, Eugene and Lincoln City, Ore. – February 26, 2021 – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) today announced that Project Turnkey is gaining momentum with three additional grants awarded to properties in Corvallis, Eugene and Lincoln City.

Corvallis Housing First (CHF) was selected to receive one of the next Project Turnkey grants, in the amount of $2.475 million in state funds to purchase and transform a 24-room hotel in Corvallis, Oregon. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable members of the Corvallis community who are unhoused, including people with disabilities, veterans, people of color and seniors.

"We are so excited for this opportunity to provide more safe shelter options during the pandemic and permanent supported housing to people experiencing chronic homelessness in our community," said Andrea Myhre, Executive Director of Corvallis Housing First, “This project came together because of good planning as well as partners and volunteers working tirelessly to come up with new solutions for getting people into housing.”

Located at 1480 SW 3rd St, Corvallis, OR 97333, CHF anticipates the facility to be in use beginning in March 2021.

Lane County Human Services was also selected to receive a Project Turnkey grant, in the amount of $5.56 million in state funds to purchase and transform a 50-room hotel in Eugene, Oregon. Priority will be given to wildfire evacuees.

“The Holiday Farm Fire was absolutely devastating to thousands of residents along the McKenzie River,” said Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch. “Six months later and people are still struggling to find acceptable temporary housing. Project Turnkey is an incredible investment and will provide a lot of families with a safe place to live while they work through the rebuilding process.”

Located at 599 East Broadway, Eugene, OR 97401, Lane County Human Services anticipates the facility to be in use beginning in March 2021.

Northwest Coastal Housing (NWCH) in Lincoln City is another Project Turnkey grant awardee, slated to receive $3.348 million in state funds to purchase a 42-room hotel along Highway 101 in Lincoln City, Oregon. Priority will be given to community members displaced by the Echo Mountain Complex Fire.

"This is wonderful news for survivors of the Echo Mountain Fire,” Claire Hall, Board of County Commissioners for Lincoln County and Chair of Oregon Housing Stability Council, said. “North Lincoln County's critical housing shortage was exacerbated by the fire. Too many individuals and families are still living in their vehicles, are doubled up with friends or relatives, or in other unstable situations. This will give them a safe, long-term place to work on rebuilding their homes and their lives."

Located at 1014 NE Hwy 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367, NWCH anticipates the new “Phoenix Rising NW” to be in use beginning in March 2021.

“We at Northwest Coastal Housing are so grateful for this opportunity to help our neighbors impacted by the wildfires, COVID and other crisis by providing temporary lodging complete with service navigation. Our goal is to ease the trauma, provide our occupants with lodging, help them to stabilize and breathe,” stated Sheila Stiley, Executive Director of Northwest Coastal Housing. “Our agency was established to advocate for and support community efforts addressing housing needs. This is an unconventional and innovative way of accomplishing just that, which seems to be a growing trend when responding to crisis, and we could not have succeeded without overwhelming support from our partners.”

 Earlier this month OCF announced the first Project Turnkey grant of $4.2 million in state funds for Options for Helping Residents of Ashland (OHRA) to purchase and transform an Ashland motel. The new OHRA Center anticipates beginning to safely house community members negatively impacted by wildfires and COVID-19 pandemic beginning in March 2021.

“Now that the application window has closed, the Project Turnkey Advisory Committee is doubling down on efforts to review and move highly-qualified applicants through the due diligence process,” said Megan Loeb, Program Officer, Oregon Community Foundation. “We have a strong pipeline of nearly 30 applicants and are excited to see more projects awarded in the weeks ahead.”

When funds became available from the state for this project, OCF convened a diverse statewide advisory committee to create an equitable review process of all applicants. Working with urgency, and with counsel from real estate development experts, the selection committee has condensed a complicated real estate transaction into a 6-8-week process.

“The scale of this humanitarian crisis for unsheltered Oregonians is enormous,” said Dr. Ernesto Fonseca, CEO, Hacienda CDC and Project Turnkey Advisory Committee Member. “Project Turnkey is one innovative and cost-effective solution that brings affordable housing in record time to people in critical need.”

OCF has been studying root causes of Oregon’s dual crisis of homelessness and affordable housing for two years, beginning with research commissioned from ECONorthwest, “Homelessness in Oregon” which provided statewide analysis of the disproportionately large homeless population in Oregon.

About Project Turnkey

The Oregon Legislature allocated a total of $65 million for Project Turnkey for the purpose of acquiring motels/hotels for use as non-congregate shelter for people experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness. Two discrete funds were provided by the state: one totaling $30 million to be awarded in counties and tribal communities impacted by the 2020 wildfires; and one totaling $35 million for the remaining 28 counties in the state. Oregon Community Foundation is administering both funds through an application and selection process, with guidance from an Advisory Committee of state, local, and community stakeholders. For more information, please visit Project Turnkey online.

About Corvallis Housing First

Corvallis Housing First (CHF) was founded in 2007 (as the Corvallis Homeless Shelter Coalition) to provide solutions for ending homelessness and achieving self-sufficiency. CHF provides housing and services for individuals experiencing homelessness in the Corvallis community. For more information about CHF, please visit: corvallishousingfirst.org.

About Lane County Human Services

Lane County Human Services administers a range of programs that support people in communities—veterans, seniors, children, youth and families—during challenges and transitions in their lives. The resources offered by Lane County Human Services and its public and nonprofit partners open new doors to an entire network of services, providing help and creating opportunities. For more information about Lane County Human Services, please visit: lanecounty.org.

About Northwest Coastal Housing

Based in Newport, Oregon, Northwest Coastal Housing (formerly known as the Community Development Corporation of Lincoln County) was established in May 1991. NWCH is a nonprofit organization committed to developing affordable housing, advocating for and supporting community efforts that enhance affordable living options. NWCH’s mission is “to provide affordable, safe, decent, and stable housing with compassion and integrity”. For more information about NWCH, please visit: nwcoastalhousing.org.

About Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) puts donated money to work in Oregon – more than $100 million in grants and scholarships annually. Since 1973, OCF grantmaking, research, advocacy and community-advised solutions have helped individuals, families, businesses and organizations create charitable funds to improve lives for all Oregonians. Impactful giving–time, talent and resources from many generous Oregonians–creates measurable change. For more information about OCF, please visit: oregoncf.org.

Media Contacts:

Andrea Myhre, Executive Director, Corvallis Housing First
(541) 230-1297 | director@corvallishousingfirst.org

Devon Ashbridge, Public Information Officer, Lane County
(541) 682-4526| Devon.Ashbridge@LaneCountyOR.gov

Sheila Stiley, Executive Director, Northwest Coastal Housing
(541) 574-0320 | nwcoastalhousing@gmail.com

Maureen Kenney, Public Relations Manager, Oregon Community Foundation
(503) 227-5969 | mkenney@oregoncf.org