Small Homes Northwest Project Welcomes First Resident

Hacienda CDC and Community Vision, a local organization working to dismantle barriers to housing options and gaps in services for people with disabilities, have completed construction on the first Small Homes Northwest ADU in Portland, Oregon.

Tracy, Community Vision staff member hands keys to Amy, the first Small Homes Northwest resident.

The first resident of the Small Homes Northwest Project has received her keys and moved into her new ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) after years of seeking the independence a home of her own would offer.  

Amy, the first resident of the ADU pilot project, and an existing client of Community Vision’s housing access program is thrilled to finally have a place to call her own.

For decades Amy lived with roommates; giving up on the dream of independent living. “I just didn’t think this dream would come true,” she says. She is excited about the new opportunity of living in a brand-new dwelling that she can call her own.

Hacienda CDC’s Small Homes Northwest Project develops ADUs on existing residential properties to rent to people in need of local and affordable housing options. This model provides much-needed housing to community members and build wealth-generating opportunities for modest-income homeowners.

This first ADU, built in partnership with Community Vision, an organization that “provides services, education, and advocacy to ensure that people with disabilities direct their own lives,” was built behind an existing home owned by the organization with hopes of building new units as a less costly way to provide affordable housing to their clients.

Courtesy of Mitchell Snyder Architecture

“One of the things that’s incredibly exciting for us about the ADU opportunity is, for many people with disabilities, they dream of having their actual own place; a house, unfortunately, is not affordable for most.” says Jennifer Knapp, Executive Director at Community Vision.

An ADU requires a smaller amount of capital and subsidy than typical apartment units while increasing the demographic and socioeconomic diversity of residential neighborhoods, which studies show increases the social cohesion, tolerance, and fair-mindedness of a community.

“People are coming by to say hello already,” says Joe Wykowski, Founder and now Strategic Housing Outreach Consultant of Community Vision. He shares that local residents are supportive of the ADU development and have given their new neighbor a warm welcome.

This first ADU with Community Vision was funded in part by the Kuni Foundation and the pilot stems from years of planning spurred by funding from Meyer Memorial Trust and the Oregon Legislature. Soon, the Small Homes Northwest Project will open ADU development to homeowners’ backyards.

“I hope that the Small Homes Northwest project can provide economic prosperity for those that live in these spaces, and I look forward to seeing more of these units developed to not only provide a new beautiful building for property owners but also support the urgent housing needs in our community.” Remarks Ernesto Fonseca, Chief Executive Officer of Hacienda CDC.

 Click here for more information about Hacienda’s Small Homes Northwest initiative.