PORTLAND, OR: Central City Concern (CCC), Portland's non-profit serving people impacted by homelessness, poverty and addictions since 1979, has begun construction on the second of three buildings in the Housing is Health initiative -- a pioneering commitment from local hospitals and health systems in supportive, affordable housing. Health systems leadership visited the Stark Street Apartments site (333 SE 122nd Ave. at Stark St., Portland) on Friday, Sept. 15.
Attendees from the Housing is Health coalition included David Russell (Adventist Health Portland), Eric Hunter (CareOregon), Bill Wiechmann (Kaiser Permanente Northwest), Cindy Grueber (OHSU) and Dave Underriner (Providence Health & Services Oregon). Legacy Health is also part of the Housing is Health coalition. The other two buildings in the Housing is Health initiative are Charlotte B. Rutherford Place (N. Interstate) and the Eastside Health Center (NE 122nd and Burnside).
Stark Street Apartments, opening in 2018, will target people exiting transitional housing programs who have gained employment and seek a permanent home, but still may have barriers to housing. CCC expects to attract potential tenants from the immediate neighborhood. The four-story building contains 153 homes total: 92 one-bedroom and 61 two-bedroom apartments. Rents will range from $412--$995 per month, depending on Median Family Income.
"These homes are important for supporting employed people with affordable housing. The health care organizations in the Housing is Health coalition understand that housing for lower income working people is critical to good health outcomes and a healthy community," says Ed Blackburn, CCC president and CEO.
Stark Street Apartments' major contributors include the Housing is Health coalition of six health organizations: Adventist Health Portland, CareOregon, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Legacy Health, OHSU and Providence Health & Services Oregon. Other major funders are Portland Housing Bureau, Umpqua Bank, US Bank Community Development Corporation, Federal Home Loan Bank and PGE.
The design and development team is Central City Concern, the architect is Ankrom Moisan and the builder is Team Construction.
September 20, 2017
