Project Turnkey Gains More Steam, Creating Diverse Geographic Footprint of Safe Shelter for Displaced Oregonians

$5.6 Million in Latest Grant Awards in Klamath, Medford and Pendleton Brings Total Motel Property Count to Seven and Provides Safe Lodging for Hundreds of People

Klamath, Medford and Pendleton, Ore. – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) today announced that Project Turnkey is gaining even more momentum with three additional grants awarded again this week to properties in Klamath, Medford and Pendleton, Oregon.

Klamath County was selected to receive one of the next Project Turnkey grants, in the amount of $1.779 million in state funds to purchase and transform a 29-unit motel and 35-stall RV park along Highway 97 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. “Project Homefront” will initially offer shelter to people vulnerable to or in need of quarantine due to COVID and survivors of the 242 Fire. Longer term, the property will be used to support people releasing from incarceration under the guidance and operation of Klamath County Community Corrections in partnership with Klamath County Public Health. The RV Park is envisioned to offer veteran’s housing in the future.

“Housing continues to be one of the largest barriers Klamath County faces in our effort to stimulate significant growth. This project brings us one step closer in accomplishing strategic investments that bring us closer to realizing those goals. I want to thank the Oregon Community Foundation for seeing the need and potential in Klamath County and the many individuals that worked tirelessly to make this come together,” says Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot.

Located at 5225 N Highway 97, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, Klamath County anticipates the facility to be in use beginning in March 2021.

Co-applicants Rogue Retreat and the City of Medford were also selected to receive a Project Turnkey grant, in the amount of $2.55 million in state funds to purchase and transform a 47-room motel in Medford, Oregon. Priority will be given to individuals and families displaced by the Almeda Fire, as well as people vulnerable to COVID who need to isolate.  

“We’re grateful to the Oregon Community Foundation for helping make this effort a reality. The need for housing in our community is at a dire level and the Almeda Fire only exacerbated the problem,” says Medford Mayor, Randy Sparacino. “Myself and the Council have made housing a top priority and our support of this project is a step in the right direction to help provide affordable housing options to individuals and families in need.”

Located at 722 N Riverside, Medford, OR, Rogue Retreat and the City of Medford anticipate the facility to be in use beginning in March 2021.

Community Action Partnership of Eastern Central Oregon (CAPECO) in Pendleton is another Project Turnkey grant awardee, slated to receive $1.269 million in state funds to purchase and transform a 35-room motel in downtown Pendleton, Oregon. The property will offer non-congregate shelter for a wide range of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

“Oregon faces an unprecedented housing shortage. Project Turnkey is brilliant in its design of providing a roof over the heads of those without one for a fraction of the cost of building new – in some cases probably ten times less,” says Umatilla County Board of Commissioners Chair, George Murdock. “The CAPECO plan offers hope and a transition into something more stable for people facing a wide array of challenges including mental health issues, addictions, employment problems and other misfortune. Project Turnkey offers a cost-effective, humane and practical solution that will serve our community well.”

Located at 205 SE Dorion Ave, Pendleton, OR 97801, CAPECO anticipates use beginning in March 2021.

In recent weeks OCF announced four other properties that came online in Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene and Lincoln City.

“The Advisory Committee of diverse stakeholders continues to center equity and local community needs in the decision-making 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.”

OCF has been studying root causes of Oregon’s dual crisis of homelessness and affordable housing, beginning with research commissioned from ECONorthwest, “Homelessness in Oregon” which provided statewide analysis of the disproportionately large homeless population in Oregon. Motel conversion is one strategic tool to address this crisis. OCF continues to be engaged in solutions across the continuum¾from emergency shelter to transitional housing to affordable housing to affordable home ownership.

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 Klamath County

To learn more about Klamath County, please visit: klamathcounty.org.

About the City of Medford

To learn more about the City of Medford, please visit: ci.medford.or.us.

About the Rogue Retreat

Rogue Retreat provides affordable housing/shelter and case management to homeless individuals and families in Jackson and Josephine Counties, Oregon, to teach them the skills they need to live independently. To learn more about Rogue Retreat, please visit: rogueretreat.org.

About Community Action Partnership of Eastern Central Oregon

Community Action Partnership of Eastern Central Oregon (CAPECO) is a nonprofit organization “envisioning the success of every person to eliminate poverty and promote independence in ways that move individuals from surviving to thriving.” CAPECO serves Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam, Wheeler, Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties. To learn more about CAPECO, please visit: capeco-works.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:

Derrick DeGroot, Commissioner, Board of County Commissioners, Klamath County
(541) 851-3683 | ddegroot@klamathcounty.org

Kristina Johnsen, Communications & Marketing Manager, City of Medford
(503) 407-7002 | Kristina.Johnsen@cityofmedford.org

Matthew Vorderstrasse, M.A., Development Director, Rogue Retreat (Medford, OR)
(541) 499-0880, Ext. 1060 | matt@rogueretreat.org

Paula Hall, Chief Executive Officer, CAPECO (Pendleton, OR)
(541) 276-1926, Ext. 113 | PHall@capeco-works.org

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