Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity recently finished construction of ten townhomes and nine accessory dwelling units in Redmond, providing housing for 19 local families.
“This is a really big deal for us,” said Mellissa Kamanya, director of grants management for the nonprofit. “It’s really exciting that this project has been completed and families are moving in.”
Kamanya said the ten, three-bedroom homes were purchased by low- to middle-income residents who attending financial training with Habitat for Humanity and expressed a need to secure stable housing.
According to Kamanya, one family moving into a home is a single father of two young children. After a difficult divorce, the three of them into the man’s parents’ basement to try get back on their feet. The father worked hard to save money for a place of their own, but the high cost of housing and two children to care for made it difficult.
Kamanya said the resident “can’t wait to feel like my kids are in a safe community, where I know everyone and where everyone supports each other.” As he was preparing to move in, he said he was looking forward to living near a park and giving his children their first bedroom of their own.
The location of the homes and their new residents are not being identified. Some residents of the homes have been victims of violence and Habitat for Humanity has a policy of not publicizing their new addresses.
The one bedroom accessory dwelling units on the property are the first of their kind built by Bend-Redmond Habitat. They required partnerships with the city of Redmond in order to permit construct and construct the homes. The city, as well as local, private donors, provided considerable funding for the project, said Kamanya.
John Roberts, Redmond’s deputy city manager, said “these affordable townhomes and ADUs are creating long lasting legacies of hope and change for hard working families in Redmond.”
Kamanya also noted the build is a “significant milestone” for the organization. The 19 families who moved in mean that Habitat for Humanity has now built housing for 200 families in Central Oregon.
But that’s not the only big news in Redmond for Habitat for Humanity. Kamanya said they plan to open a ReStore location in Redmond in the fall of 2023. Kamanya said they plan to erect a new building near the current Motel 6 in Redmond, south of downtown between Highway 97 and Canal. The store will offer employment and volunteer opportunities, as well as a place to recycle and purchase discounted materials.
Habitat has similar stores operating in Bend and Sisters.
Originally Published here: https://www.redmondspokesman.com/news/habitat-for-humanity-builds-19-homes-in-redmond/article_8ea0eb74-0d1a-11ed-95d4-db7e337e2dd4.html