More Than a Building: Creating Opportunity at 73Foster

^{Photo: Au Nguyen, REACH Volunteer}

This week, we celebrated the grand opening of 73Foster, REACH’s newest affordable housing community in Southeast Portland. Located in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood, adjacent to Portland Mercado, the community adds 64 affordable homes at a time when safe, stable housing remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors.

As we gathered with partners, supporters, elected officials, and community members to mark this milestone, we were reminded that 73Foster is about much more than a new building. It represents opportunity, stability, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to call home.

The community includes 42 apartments affordable to households earning up to 60% of Area Median Income and 22 permanent supportive housing apartments for people who have experienced chronic homelessness. But what excites us most is not the number of homes we’ve created. It’s the lives that will be changed because those homes now exist.

We know that housing is the foundation on which so much else is built. A stable home can help people focus on their health, pursue educational and employment opportunities, strengthen family connections, and plan for the future with confidence.

For some residents, a home is only the beginning. That’s why strong partnerships are central to the vision for 73Foster. Through our partnership with El Programa Hispano Católico, residents living in the community’s permanent supportive housing apartments will have access to onsite case management and supportive services. This critical support helps residents who have experienced chronic homelessness build stability, navigate challenges, and remain successfully housed over the long term.

We’re also proud to partner with APANO, which supported development, lease-up, and resident services efforts, and Community Vision, which helps connect adults with disabilities to housing opportunities. Together, these partnerships help ensure that residents have access not only to housing, but also to the resources and relationships that help people thrive.

The grand opening also marked the launch of our annual Winter Joy drive and the beginning of a new food pantry serving residents at 73Foster. Guests helped stock the pantry with donations of nonperishable food and everyday essentials, demonstrating that community support doesn’t end when construction is complete.

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also mindful that the need for affordable housing remains urgent. Communities like 73Foster are possible because people, organizations, and public partners continue to invest in solutions that create lasting opportunity. We remain committed to that work and to ensuring that more people have access to the stability, dignity, and opportunity that a safe, affordable home provides.

For us, creating community is about more than building homes. It’s about showing up for one another, investing in our neighbors, and helping people thrive. As residents begin moving into 73Foster, we’re excited to see that community take shape.

Thank You

We’re grateful to the many partners who helped make 73Foster possible and joined us to celebrate its opening. Thank you to Metro, the Portland Housing Bureau, Oregon Housing and Community Services, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, Energy Trust of Oregon, APANO, Community Vision, Holst Architecture, and Walsh Construction for their partnership and investment in this community. We also appreciate the leaders who joined us to mark this milestone, including Steve Novick, Roberto Franco, Duncan Hwang, and Sam Baraso. Together, your support is helping create opportunities for residents to thrive.