HOOD RIVER — Big River Community Land Trust (BRCLT) announced on Feb. 11 it has been awarded a $2 million grant from the 2026 Oregon appropriation fund, part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development budget passed last week by the U.S. Congress. The funding will enable the development of more than 40 additional permanently affordable homes for purchase on sites including Avalon Drive in Hood River. BRCLT thanks Sens. Merkley and Wyden for their support of this funding to help address the severe challenges of affordable housing in the Gorge.
According to a study by Oregon Housing and Community Services, Hood River County is now the least affordable place to buy a home in the state.
The grant supports BRCLT's work to create and steward permanently affordable, sustainably built housing This project will serve households earning 60–120% of area median income in Hood River County and neighboring areas. With this infusion, the organization can accelerate planning, site preparation, and construction for moderately sized homes designed to remain affordable in perpetuity through the community land trust model.
“This $2 million grant is a game-changer for our community,” said Doug Baker, board president of Big River Community Land Trust. “In Hood River, where housing prices continue to outpace wages, this funding allows us to build more homes that keep agriculture workers, teachers, firefighters, healthcare professionals, and other essential residents rooted here. We’re deeply grateful to Oregon’s leaders for prioritizing affordable homeownership and community stability in the Gorge.”
While the grant significantly offsets building costs for the project, BRCLT is only halfway to its $4 million fundraising goal needed to fully cover development expenses, including administrative costs. The organization is now turning to the community for additional support to reach this target and bring more affordable homes to our region.
Community members and local businesses can help by donating directly through the BRCLT website at bigriverclt.org or by contacting the organization to learn more about our work.
BRCLT has already demonstrated success with its first completed home on Tucker Road (built on land gifted by the City of Hood River) and is expanding to a larger 2.7-acre development on the Avalon Drive site, acquired to create a cluster of affordable cottages and homes. The new grant will help scale these efforts, incorporating sustainable building practices to enhance the dynamic character of the region while addressing workforce housing shortages.
Big River Community Land Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and stewarding permanently affordable, sustainably built housing in Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat, and Skamania counties. Using the community land trust model, BRCLT separates land ownership from home ownership to keep homes affordable for future generations. For more information, visit bigriverclt.org.
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