More money approved for subsidized housing project for veterans in Grants Pass

On Thursday, Josephine County commissioners committed about $157,000 of the county’s COVID relief funds to the project, despite ideological concerns about the viability of public housing.

“I’m telling you that this low-income housing is a plan,” Commissioner Herman Baertschiger said at the meeting. “And I don’t say that in a summary way. It’s a plan. I think there will be some big problems that will come our way in the future. And I just hope that whoever becomes the administrator will be able to keep everything running properly.”

Commissioners were concerned about the future of the project and what happens if residents can no longer pay their rent. The apartments are intended for people who earn no more than 60% of the region’s average income.

But ultimately commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the funding.

Doug Walker, the volunteer project manager, says the Hillcrest Veterans Village on the city’s north side will fill an important need.

“Grants Pass makes the difference between housing costs, housing availability and what people can afford. And then veteran housing because we’re passionate about veterans. I am a veteran. Many of us are.” “Veterans are involved in this project,” he said in an interview Monday.

The project is run by the nonprofit Mid Rogue Foundation. The group had previously spent about $93,000 of the county’s COVID relief funds looking for another location, but the state determined it was insufficient. They are now continuing the project at the new location on NE Hillcrest Drive, which is owned by the foundation.

“This project is a perfect fit for the community’s housing needs, the opportunities this location provides and, most importantly, the needs of our veterans,” said Susan Clark, executive director of the foundation, in a statement on the foundation’s website.

The project received more than $10.6 million in grants from the state earlier this month. Clark said at Thursday’s meeting that the project also received funding from coordinated care organization AllCare Health, the city of Grants Pass and fundraising efforts.

The project will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments. 22 of the apartments will be reserved exclusively for veterans, while the remainder will be given priority for veterans.

Walker said there is still much work to be done, including running a water line to the site, completing architectural drawings and applying for permits.

“We do project management contracts and things like that. “All of these contracts are for the next four or five months and then hopefully we’ll start building the actual homes, maybe, if everything goes well, May,” he said.

The foundation’s website says the project will include features for older adults and people with disabilities, including grab bars, walk-in showers and accessible kitchens.