U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., stopped by Bend Tuesday morning to talk about the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) being used to create affordable housing in Central Oregon. The Legacy Landing Apartments, built with LIHTC money, has been operating for about a year near St. Charles Hospital.
“Wonderful projects like this were a natural for older people because they could stay where they wanted most: in their home,” Wyden said.
He added that this was not just an ethical move, but a good financial one as well.
“It was such a cost effective idea to ensure that older people could be in the community getting good care rather than getting sick and having the alternative which so often we know was long term care,” Wyden said.
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Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler explained what is possible when this kind of housing exists in Central Oregon.
“[The Legacy Landing Apartments] provides 47 apartments for low-income seniors who are making or receiving 50% of the area median income or less with six apartments reserved for Mosaic Medical for patients with chronic medical conditions and four available for houseless veterans,” Kebler said.
Deborah “Snow” Jones, a 66-year-old resident of the apartments, was the first person living in the property.
“Being here is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Jones said.
She has benefitted a lot since moving in. Jones says she has experienced homelessness and was in a severe car accident two years ago, which left her injured and without options. This opportunity has given her a second chance at life.
“I walk into my apartment, I look back and I go, ‘Wow, I have a bathroom. Wow, there’s a walk-in shower. I go into my living room back and forth- what can I do here?’ It’s like being in a candy store and it’s Christmas everyday,” she said.
