5 Million Dollars for 33 Affordable Homes on School Land

Bend just got rare good news on housing.

Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity was awarded $5.065 million in state funding to build two affordable-homeownership communities — Stone Creek Commons and Skyline Crossing — creating 33 permanently affordable homes. Twenty-five will serve households at 80% or less of area median income; the rest go up to 120%, with school district employees getting first pick.

The clever part: the land comes from Bend-La Pine Schools, which contributed surplus district property after years of losing would-be hires who couldn't afford to live here. Stone Creek Commons — 18 duplex-style townhomes next to Silver Rail Elementary — just broke ground.

Housing affordability is THE Bend conversation, and most of it is grim. A schools-plus-nonprofit partnership turning surplus land into 33 homes people can actually own? That's a win worth talking about.

More of this, please.