(Photo courtesy of City of Bend)
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Recommendations
Federal funding will help introduce programs and infrastructure that will directly benefit community members who need them the most.
On May 6, the Bend City Council approved $498,497 in 2026 Community Development Block Grant funding after receiving feedback and a recommendation from the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. This year’s awards were given to:
- Homebuyer Assistance ($264,477): Supporting low- and moderate-income households pre-qualified and referred through local affordable homeownership nonprofits.
- NeighborImpact ($91,020): Purchasing and distributing food for Bend food banks, pantries, and community kitchens.
- Nativity Lutheran Church Food Pantry ($6,000): One month of operating support, including food and staffing costs.
- City of Bend Sidewalks ($137,000): Installing sidewalks near housing that serve very low- and low-income households to improve access to transportation options.
The food bank and sidewalk projects focus on parts of Bend where they’re needed most — areas where more than half of nearby households are low- to moderate-income.
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) Evaluates Applicants for Affordable Housing Funds
Bend was the first Oregon city to introduce an affordable housing fee, and our community continues to benefit from the program.
The application window for $1 million in awards from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) closed on May 18 and will be reviewed by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) at its June 2, 2026 meeting. AHAC will review the proposals and make funding recommendations at its July 7, 2026 meeting, with final consideration by City Council scheduled for August.
Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) Grant Boosts Housing Stock
The PRO Housing grant dollars have been allocated and will result in additional places for low-and moderate-income households to live.
In 2025, the City of Bend got the green light to put $5 million in PRO Housing grant funding to work. City Council directed $4 million toward buying land for two new developments that will bring 222 affordable apartments to the community. The land is secured, and the next step is locking in construction financing.
The remaining funds will help make it easier to build housing in Bend. The City is wrapping up four pre-approved home designs that will be available for free next month and bringing in experts to help streamline permitting and review timelines. Staff are also creating simple, user-friendly guides to make the development process easier to navigate.
Housing Options Made for Everyone (HOME) Committee Work and Timeline
Did you know that community members are helping develop policies to add more housing in Bend?
Formed in mid-2025, the HOME Committee is close to finishing its work reviewing more than a dozen programs and policies identified by Council. In December 2025, the committee shared recommended actions that could be put in place quickly and will return to Council in July 2026 to share its final recommendations.
The Committee reviewed programs that encourage development as well as potential options for generating new City revenues to support additional and expanded housing efforts. All Committee meetings are open to the public, and recordings are available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Homeless Services in 2025
Did you know that the 2026 Point-in-Time count showed a 16% decrease in homelessness in Bend? In addition to that number, we want to share some background about the City of Bend’s work to provide solutions.
The City of Bend has responded to the homelessness crisis by leveraging state, federal and local funds to bolster the homeless response system and support the production of transitional, affordable and middle housing. In 2025, the City provided funding to 11 nonprofit organizations to provide emergency shelter, Safe Parking, outreach and housing-focused case management and eviction prevention services.
That work has translated into some positive outcomes for our community members experiencing houselessness:
- 332 Positive Housing Transitions:
- 251 into permanent housing
- 66 into temporary housing
- 15 into shelters
- Prevented 447 people from becoming homeless
- 2,721 people served in shelter, Safe Parking, street outreach and eviction prevention programs
- 90,047 Nights of shelter and Safe Parking provided (90% utilization)
- 102,670+ Client engagement
- Expanded Safe Parking from 16 to 35 spaces
Accommodation Information for People with Disabilities & Language Assistance Services:
You can obtain this information in alternate formats such as Braille, electronic format, etc. Free language assistance services are also available. Please email accessibility@bendoregon.gov or call 541-693-2198. Relay Users Dial 7-1-1. All requests are subject to vendor processing times and should be submitted 48-72 hours in advance of events.
Servicios de asistencia lingüística e información sobre alojamiento para personas con discapacidad:
Puede obtener esta información en formatos alternativos como Braille, formato electrónico, etc. También disponemos de servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Póngase en contacto en correo electrónico accessibility@bendoregon.gov o número de teléfono 541-693-2198. Los usuarios del servicio de retransmisión deben marcar el 7-1-1. Por favor, envíe sus solicitudes con 48-72 horas de antelación al evento; todas las solicitudes están sujetas a los tiempos de procesamiento del proveedor.
