October 15, 2007

The ground has been cleared on west May Street for Tyler Terrace, the newest affordable housing project by HOPE (HOusing for PEople).

Eighteen homes, ranging in price from approximately $165,000 to $195,000, will be available sometime next spring to the waiting list of qualified buyers.

“Basically, it’s first up, best dressed; second person has second choice, and so on,” said Richard Sassara, executive director, referring to the waiting list. “The prices will depend on the subsidies we have involved.”

In addition to the low-cost housing, the Tyler Terrace project will offer other lots at market rate, the proceeds of which will help subsidize the low-cost housing. There are also a couple of separate lots for sale; two along Rocky Road and May, and a 1-acre lot with a historic log cabin (built by Capt. Charles Patterson McCan in about 1912 and dubbed his “roadhouse”) which will also help subsidize the project.

HOPE has been working to provide low-cost housing in the community for nearly 20 years. The organization got its start in 1986 when The Rev. Gary Young moved to Hood River to become the new rector at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

For many years the church had had an open-door policy — it was open 24 hours a day for anyone who needed a place to stay, whether homeless or just passing through. But by 1986 it was becoming apparent that for security reasons, it was time to find another way to solve the problem.

The problem was also getting bigger as housing became more and more expensive. Young drafted an open letter to the community, inviting all interested persons to a brainstorming session to discuss the issue. Nearly 50 people showed up at that meeting, including Ron Cohen, Sharon Smiley and Colin Wood, who continue as HOPE board members to this day.

As the number of meetings grew, the group began to formalize its efforts, setting up a board of directors and creating bylaws; and by 1990 the group had achieved nonprofit status. HOPE’s mission was, and is, “to provide safe, affordable housing and community-based economic development opportunities for the communities of the Gorge.”

With the mission defined, the board of directors began to focus on the two issues it deemed most critical: permanent, safe, affordable housing, and emergency needs/transitional housing.

To raise public awareness of the new organization and issue of affordable housing, Young (to celebrate his 47th birthday) planned “The Great Hood River to Timberline Walk of HOPE,” with Dr. Mike Pendleton. The two men walked from the hospital emergency room to Timberline Lodge.

(The doctor told the Hood River News at the time that he figured Young was smart to take a doctor along, to which Young replied: “Maybe so; but Pendleton is wise to take along a priest.”)

They raised nearly $4,000, enough to rent an office —complete with a card table, donated chairs and a borrowed phone.

But this was not enough to actually create any affordable housing — even in the 1980s. With the help of a grant from the State of Oregon, HOPE began its first project: the White Salmon Senior Center, which continues to provide homes for seniors in White Salmon.

Other projects completed in the ensuing years have been the Riverside Apartments, Bella Vista, Wy’east Vista and Queens Heights apartments; as well as Anna Acres, 24 homes in Odell of which 16 were USDA Self-Help.

Through the apartments HOPE has provided permanent, safe, affordable housing for an estimated 12 percent of the population of the city of Hood River.

The organization provides short-term relief for those needing shelter by funding and administering an emergency voucher program, in place since 1990. HOPE also participates in the U.S. Self-Help Program, which requires that each household provide 65 percent of the labor needed to build their home.

HOPE has also assisted in the construction or rehabilitation of Helping Hands Against Violence and the Mid-Columbia Center for Living in Hood River, and the Migrant Head Start Building in Parkdale.

Several of HOPE’s efforts have been recognized as models of efficiency by outside groups including the state of Washington Housing Division, National Equity Fund, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Affordable Housing Finance magazine.

Though 12 percent of city residents are being helped already, another 7 percent — translating to approximately 80-100 families — remains on a waiting list. Simple math shows that the 18 homes being built on May Street only helps a fraction of those, but it’s a start.

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