Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development joined its partners for the grand opening of Heritage Heights, a new apartment complex in The Dalles. This project, which received significant USDA funding, will provide affordable rental housing for farm laborers and their families.
“In Wasco County, as in many rural areas, agricultural jobs play a significant role in the local economy,” said Rural Development State Director Vicki Walker. “Unfortunately, safe, reliable housing with affordable rent is often difficult to come by for farmworkers. New apartment complexes like Heritage Heights will significantly improve the lives of these hard-working families and help to address the critical shortage of housing in the area while also strengthening the rural economy.”
With assistance from a USDA Rural Development grant of $1.5 million and a loan of $1.5 million provided through the Farm Labor Housing Program, the nonprofit Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation and consultant Community And Shelter Assistance Corporation of Oregon (CASA of Oregon) constructed Heritage Heights, an apartment complex that can accommodate 23 farmworker families and will provide one apartment for on-site staff.
Families have been eager to move into the two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments available at the new facility. Heritage Heights began accepting tenants in August, and they have already filled every unit. Rural Development is providing rental assistance to those 23 farmworker families, ensuring their rent payments do not exceed 30 percent of their income.
Additional funding for this project included $2.9 million in tax credits and grants from Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and a $24,000 energy incentive from Energy Trust of Oregon. Washington Federal purchased the OHCS tax credits for the project. An interim loan of $1.7 million was provided by CenterPointe Community Bank until the tax credits took effect upon the completion of construction.
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (@USDARD) has helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses; funded nearly 7,000 community facilities, such as schools, public safety, and healthcare facilities; helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses; and financed more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov/results.