Multco Chair cheers healthcare organizations’ $21.5 million for 382 new housing units

September 23, 2016

From left: Central City Concern's Executive Director Ed Blackburn, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury and City Commissioner Nick Fish
Central City Concern announced today it will build 382 new housing units in three locations across Portland next year. Half the cost -- $21.5 million-- will be covered by six healthcare organizations in an unprecedented partnership to house people with very low incomes and health issues. Chair Deborah Kafoury joined Ed Blackburn, executive director of Central City Concern, in announcing the news.

“I’m really happy to be standing up here with six healthcare organizations who recognize that the key to good health is stable housing,’’ Chair Kafoury said at a press conference.

“None of us can end homelessness alone, but working together, we truly can change lives.’’

CareOregon, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health, Oregon Health & Science University and Providence Health & Services are each contributing $4 million while Adventist Health is  contributing another $1.5 million.

The non-profit Central City will finance another $20 million in costs through tax credits, fundraising, bonds and other sources.

Leaders from all six health systems said that they have learned that people can’t recover from hospitalizations, manage chronic conditions or overcome addiction if they don’t have a place to live.

“We know that health is more than medical care,’’ said Andrew McCulloch, president of Kaiser Permanente Northwest.

Dr. George J. Brown, president and chief executive officer of Legacy Health, said “Adequate housing is a component of good health for our community. I am proud to work with Central City Concern and my healthcare colleagues to contribute to housing projects that will truly make a difference within our community and world.”

Central City Concern and Chair KafouryCentral City’s Blackburn called the contribution a “transformational recognition that housing for lower income working people, including those that have experienced homelessness, is critical to improve health outcomes.”

“This housing will remain affordable for generations and it couldn’t come at a better time,’’ Blackburn said.

Here are the planned units and schedule for construction:

Eastside Health Center at the northwest corner of 122nd Avenue and Burnside Street at 25 N.E. 122nd Ave.

The Eastside Health Center will combine clinical services with on-site housing that serves medically fragile people and people in recovery from addictions and mental illness. Central City Concern will own the building and operate the programs.

The health center will have two floors of integrated primary care, substance use disorder treatment, domestic violence counseling and wellness services. The center will provide housing for 176 people over the top four floors of the six-story building with a mix of studios, single-room occupancy and private/shared rooms.

On the third floor,  medically-served units with intensive staff support will include 45 beds for medical respite and palliative patients and 17 beds for people transitioning from a mental health crisis. The fourth and fifth floors will have  80 single-room occupancy units. There will be 34 studio units on the sixth floor.

The building will be equipped with 75 underground parking spots.

The total capital construction budget is $40.5 million. The six healthcare organizations will provide $20 million, and Central City Concern will finance the remaining $20.5 million through tax credits, private fundraising, bonds and other sources.

Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2017 and finish in winter 2018.

Central City Concern and Chair KafouryStark Street Apartments at 12647 S.E. Stark St.

The Stark Street Apartments will provide 155 apartments for workforce housing, primarily one-bedroom apartments. The apartments will be available to individuals making up to $30,900 or to families of four with incomes up to $44,100.

The total capital construction budget is $19.7 million. The six healthcare organizations will provide $1 million. The Portland Housing Bureau will provide $7 million. Central City Concern will finance the remaining $11.7 million through tax credits, loans and private fundraising.

Construction is scheduled to start in August 2017 and finish in September 2018.

Interstate Apartments  6905 N. Interstate Ave.

The Interstate Apartments will provide 51 apartments designed for families. The apartments are part of the City of Portland’s N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy that gives priority access to applicants who have been displaced from the area or who are at risk of displacement. The apartments will be available to individuals making up to $30,900 or to families of four with incomes up to $44,100.

The total capital construction budget is $7.6 million. The six healthcare organizations will provide $500,000. The Portland Housing Bureau will provide $2.2 million. Central City Concern will finance the remaining $4.9 million through tax credits, loans and fundraising.

Construction is scheduled to start in July 2017 and finish in June 2018.