Community Voice: River Bend Place in Ontario, OR

As a rural city in Oregon, Ontario has struggled to access resources to help its diverse agricultural and trucking population become and stay affordably housed. Thanks to a new, innovative permanent supportive housing facility, over 50 individuals will have a place to call home.

River Bend Place originally started as a senior care facility in the 1950s. Over 50 years, it operated as a care facility until it ended its operations in 2017 due to deteriorating building conditions. The community saw a need for affordable housing and thus, an opportunity to convert this building into affordable housing. This is when Northwest Housing Alternatives (NHA) heard of this potential project as a nonprofit developer experienced in converting infrastructure to affordable housing across the state. From 2017 to 2019, NHA put together the funding package to purchase the property. OHCS awarded $11.7 million in 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and the rest of the financing was provided by HUD HOME program funds, private mortgages, and smaller foundation grants totaling $17.8 million. The River Bend Place project team also participated in the ‘20-21 Oregon Supportive Housing Institute. During this time, NHA worked with community organizations to assist in creating services for residents and getting feedback on the design of units and common spaces.

By July 2022, River Bend Place officially opened with 56 studios and one- and two-bedroom affordable apartment homes. Not only were these homes for individuals and families with low incomes, but rental homes were set aside specifically for those who have experienced chronic homelessness and/or serious persistent mental illness. This includes six PSH homes with rental assistance and supportive services funding provided through the OHCS PSH program for households experiencing chronic homelessness. By November 2022, River Bend Place was fully leased up. Ten community organizations provide on-site supportive services, including case management, and one full-time resident service staff. The community room, named after the Rev. Raymond L. Wilson who was the founder of the elder care facility in the 1950s, serves as a gathering place for events such as resource fairs, support groups, and community meetings.

River Bend Place has filled a housing gap in the Ontario community by increasing the supply of affordable housing paired with behavioral health services. Some of the residents at River Bend Place who have experienced homelessness had been unsheltered in the community for two to six years in large part due to a lack of available affordable housing. With the addition of River Bend Place, there is also more access to behavioral health services with partners being able to focus on providing preventative care rather than just crisis care.