As housing prices continue to go up again, it is pricing more and more people out of hte market.

 

It was a topic of discussion during this month's League of Women Voters meeting.

 

Lynne McConnell with Neighbor Impact told the group they have several affordable housing complexes, but no availability.

 

"Housing Works currently has a dearth, a lack of affordable housing for 55 hundred in the city of Bend. These are people who work here, live here and need somewhere to stay."

 

The working poor often live at the Bethlehem Inn, the area's homeless shelter, or in rural areas like Gilchrist or LaPine that have cheaper housing, but they have to fund larger transportation costs.

 

Jim Long is the Affordable Housing Manager for the City of Bend.

 

He says the current median home price in Bend is 343-thousand dollars.

 

"So if you really want to play with the numbers.  If you can afford to put ten percent down, it would be 34 thousand dollars and say you get a five percent loan, maybe, maybe  not.  Your payments will be two thousand dollars a month.  That means you have to make $79-thousands dollars which is 126 % of the area's median income for owning a house in this town."

 

The Bend City Council is slated to look at several options to increase affordable housing in the area.