A significant step towards addressing homelessness in Central Oregon has been taken with the approval of $23.7 million in state funding for the Mountain View Community Village project in Redmond. This initiative aims to provide 75 small homes specifically designed for individuals transitioning out of homelessness, marking it as the largest supportive housing development in the region.
The funding was approved by the Housing Stability Council, a policy board within Oregon Housing and Community Services, during a meeting on March 6, 2026. With this financial backing, the nonprofit organization leading the project, Mountain View Community Development, is optimistic that construction will commence later this year. Executive Director Rick Russell expressed confidence in the project’s future, emphasizing how the funding will facilitate not only the construction of the village but also its operation for the next two decades.
“This decision is a pivotal moment for us,” Russell stated. “We’ve learned from our safe parking and microshelters participants that affordable housing is critically needed. The state’s commitment enables us to build a community, not just housing units.”
The Mountain View Community Village will be located in east Redmond, just north of Highway 126 and adjacent to Oasis Village, an existing shelter for those experiencing homelessness. The project will utilize nearly 10 acres of land leased from Deschutes County, featuring homes ranging from 400 to 600 square feet, as well as essential amenities like streets, a community garden, a dog park, and laundry facilities.
On-site services will be available to residents, including case management for accessing mental health resources and medical appointments. “What we’re trying to build is a community,” Russell explained, highlighting the importance of support services alongside housing.
The funding awarded to this project comes through the Oregon Centralized Application, a streamlined process for securing state funding for affordable housing initiatives. Krisy Willard, a council member and executive director of the Housing Authority of Malheur & Harney County, praised the project, stating, “This development really demonstrates a viable solution for stable housing paired with supportive services.”
Most of the homes in the Mountain View Community Village will be allocated to individuals earning 30% or below the area median income. Additionally, seven homes will be offered at market rates to provide an informal support system for non-homeless residents. Russell clarified that state funding will only be utilized for the income-restricted portion of the project.
This development will house nearly twice the number of individuals compared to Cleveland Commons, Bend’s first supportive housing project that opened in 2025. Local officials view projects like Mountain View Village as essential in reshaping Central Oregon’s approach to homelessness, especially as plans move forward to close a sanctioned homeless encampment north of Bend.
Russell anticipates that the new village will also address the growing population of homeless seniors and individuals with disabilities in the area. The recent state funding follows a previous award of $3 million from a federal banking group in December, bringing the total secured funding for the project to approximately 95% of its goal.
As the construction of the Mountain View Community Village moves forward, it represents a hopeful advancement in the ongoing struggle to provide stable housing and support for vulnerable populations in Central Oregon.
