LATEST AT REACH

On August 6, REACH Community Development welcomed Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Metro Council President Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, and housing partners from across the region to Camas Meadows, an affordable housing community currently under construction in Beaverton. The visit provided an opportunity to see firsthand how public investment, private capital, community partnerships, and thoughtful policy can work together to create more affordable homes for Oregon families.

For REACH, the conversation centered on a simple but urgent challenge: Oregon needs more affordable housing, and meeting that need requires practical solutions that help communities build homes more efficiently, sustainably, and equitably.

A Community Designed for Opportunity

Developed through a partnership between REACH Community Development, Mercy Housing, Bienestar, Salazar Architect, and COLAS Construction, Camas Meadows will provide 81 affordable homes for Beaverton residents. Among those homes, 33 are designated for households with extremely low incomes, helping ensure that families with the greatest housing needs have access to stable, affordable housing. The community will also include 15 three-bedroom apartments for larger families and five fully accessible homes for residents with accessibility needs.

Beyond housing, REACH will provide resident services designed to help individuals and families thrive. Future residents will have access to community programming, economic empowerment opportunities, and an on-site food pantry, creating support systems that strengthen both households and neighborhoods.

Building More Than Housing

The discussion at Camas Meadows also highlighted the broader economic impact of affordable housing development.

Projects of this scale create construction jobs, generate economic activity, and provide opportunities for local businesses and contractors. Affordable housing investments do more than produce homes; they support a network of workers, suppliers, and community partners who help bring developments from concept to completion.

Speakers emphasized the importance of creating pathways for COBID-certified and minority-owned businesses to participate in development opportunities. Expanding access to contracting opportunities strengthens local economies while helping ensure that the benefits of investment are shared more broadly across the community.

Turning Policy Into Homes

The roundtable focused on the recently enacted 21st Century Road to Housing Act and how its provisions could help address barriers that often slow or complicate affordable housing development. Participants discussed how changes to federal housing programs may increase private investment in affordable housing, streamline development processes, and create new opportunities for communities to access resources that support housing production.

For housing developers and nonprofit organizations like REACH, these changes have the potential to translate into something tangible: more homes for people who need them.

At a time when housing construction costs remain high and demand continues to outpace supply, policies that reduce unnecessary barriers and encourage investment can play an important role in helping communities deliver affordable housing more effectively.

Partnerships Make Progress Possible

One of the clearest takeaways from the visit was that no single organization can solve Oregon’s housing challenges alone.

Camas Meadows is the result of collaboration among nonprofit developers, architects, builders, financial partners, elected leaders, and local governments that share a commitment to expanding housing opportunity. The project would not have been possible without support from partners including the City of Beaverton, Washington County, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, and many others who helped move the development forward.

By bringing together leaders from different sectors, the event provided an opportunity to discuss not only the successes of Camas Meadows, but also the policies, partnerships, and investments needed to create the next generation of affordable housing communities.

Looking Ahead

As construction continues at Camas Meadows, the development stands as an example of what can be achieved when communities align around practical solutions to the housing crisis.

REACH remains committed to creating opportunities for all people to thrive by developing and promoting equitable access to quality, affordable homes, supportive services, and community. Together with our partners, we look forward to building on this momentum and creating more opportunities for Oregon families to find a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

Small obstacles can have outsized consequences when someone is working to secure or sustain employment. A missed certification fee, lack of work clothing, or a transportation issue can mean the difference between stability and setback. The Job Jumpstart Fund, exists to address these moments, providing timely, flexible support that helps residents move forward in their employment journeys.

Between June and December 2025, Job Jumpstart supported 36 residents across nine REACH communities, investing just over $33,000 in critical employment needs such as certifications and licenses, tools and equipment, work clothing, transportation, and short‑term training. These rapid‑response micro‑grants—typically between $200 and $2,000, help residents pursue job opportunities without taking on debt or risking housing instability. As a result, 78% of participants maintained or moved closer to rent‑current status within 90 days, highlighting the close connection between employment stability and housing security.

For residents like Catherine Garvin, a certified clinical and therapeutic musician, Job Jumpstart made it possible to maintain required professional credentials and expand income opportunities. With support for continuing education and new equipment, Catherine secured additional paid work, especially Irish and Celtic performances in high demand locally, while continuing to serve clients in memory care, hospice, and assisted living settings. As she shared,

“The funding assisted me in completing the remaining CEUs I needed to stay certified for 2026, and the bodhran drum expands my job search because now I am booked for Irish Celtic music gigs.”

Job Jumpstart remains a priority for REACH, reflecting its strong outcomes and cost‑effective impact. With future investment, the program is poised to serve more residents, support stacked credentials, and deepen partnerships with workforce training providers and employers, helping residents move from survival to stability, and from short‑term work to long‑term careers.

Download the full Job Jumpstart Fund Impact Report to explore outcomes, participant stories, and detailed program data.

Portland, Ore. — A federal court today ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately stop deploying tear gas, smoke grenades, pepper balls, and other chemical munitions in ways that expose residents of Gray’s Landing, an affordable housing community in Portland, to toxic substances inside their homes. The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon ruling prohibits federal officers from using chemical munitions that are likely to reach Gray’s Landing while the case proceeds, except when necessary to protect human life.

For months, federal agents have fired chemical weapons toward and around the 209-unit housing complex during protests at a nearby Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, despite knowing that the chemicals regularly seep into apartments, hallways, and common areas. Residents, including children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, have reported respiratory distress, chest pain, panic attacks, and repeated emergency medical visits, as well as being forced to wear gas masks indoors and seal their homes.

The plaintiffs, Gray’s Landing residents and REACH Community Development, are represented by Democracy Forward, Protect Democracy, Jacobson Lawyers Group PLLC, and Bradley Bernstein Sands LLP. Their filings argue that this conduct violates the Fifth Amendment by infringing on residents’ rights to bodily integrity, among other rights. The court found that defendants were likely deliberately indifferent to the harms to the plaintiffs “based on the quantity of chemical munitions used, the distance from the Portland ICE Facility to the impact areas, the fact that chemical munitions are being used contrary to the advice in agency use of force manuals, and particularly in light of Defendants’ specific notice of harm to Resident Plaintiffs.” The court noted that this threatened “the Resident Plaintiffs’ rights to the most fundamental aspects of liberty known since the early days of our democracy.”

“This ruling affirms what residents have been saying for months,” said Margaret Salazar, CEO of REACH Community Development. “Gray’s Landing is home to families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who have experienced repeated exposure and real harm. Today’s decision acknowledges that impact and reinforces that government action must respect clear constitutional limits when it reaches into residential communities. This is an important step toward accountability and the protection of residents’ rights in their homes.”

“This is a powerful victory for people who have used their voices to fight back against unconstitutional government violence,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The court recognized that poisoning a residential community with toxic chemicals is a profound abuse of power. This decision protects basic health and safety and the right to live in one’s home without fear of chemical weapons being used by the government. Residents should not be harmed simply because they live next to a site of public protest.”

“Today’s ruling is a victory for the families at Gray’s Landing, but it also serves as a fierce rebuke of a federal agency that believes it can wage war on American neighborhoods with impunity,” said Katie Schwartzmann, Special Counsel at Protect Democracy. “From Los Angeles to Chicago to Minnesota, and in Portland too, we have witnessed a coordinated campaign by DHS to sow chaos and terrorize communities—citizens and non-citizens alike—under the guise of immigration enforcement. This court has now affirmed what we have long argued: the government cannot knowingly poison families in their own homes.”

“We are both thrilled and relieved that the Court has provided protection to our clients that have been suffering from the government’s shocking conduct for months. Our clients simply want to be able to live and breathe in their own homes without being subject to poison toxins released by their own government, and this order will help ensure they can,” said Dan Jacobson of the Jacobson Lawyers Group PLLC.

The case is REACH Community Development et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al. Read the decision here and the complaint here.

Join Us in Protecting Gray’s Landing

The court’s order protects Gray’s Landing residents, but it does not provide damages or funding to cover the extensive costs REACH has already incurred. To date, we have absorbed more than $300,000 in expenses as we worked to safeguard the 209 families who call Gray’s Landing home.

Families at Gray’s Landing, an affordable housing community developed by REACH, are facing an unimaginable challenge: repeated exposure to toxic chemicals inside their own homes. Today, REACH and residents joined together to ask a federal court for immediate relief to stop the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using tear gas and other chemical munitions near Gray’s Landing.

For months, federal officers have deployed tear gas and smoke grenades during protests near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility next door. These chemicals don’t stay outside—they seep into apartments where families live, where children sleep, and where seniors and veterans seek safety. Residents have reported coughing indoors, struggling to breathe, and even needing emergency medical care. Some have resorted to sealing windows and wearing gas masks inside their homes.
This is not just unacceptable—it’s dangerous. Tear gas and similar chemical agents are banned in warfare because of their harmful effects. Yet they are being used in ways that predictably expose innocent people to toxins in their own homes.

REACH and Gray’s Landing residents, represented by Democracy Forward, Protect Democracy, Jacobson Lawyers Group PLLC, and Bradley Bernstein Sands LLP, have filed a motion asking the court to block further use of these chemicals near Gray’s Landing while the case proceeds. The lawsuit argues that the government’s actions violate constitutional rights to safety, bodily integrity, and the peaceful use of one’s home.

“Gray’s Landing is a residential community,” said Margaret Salazar, CEO of REACH Community Development. “Families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities are repeatedly exposed to chemical agents deployed from the ICE facility just feet from their homes. Daily life has become a source of stress and fear. REACH is standing with residents to protect their health and well-being while the court considers our case.”

Residents like Mindy King, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, describe the impact firsthand: “This is my home, and chemical agents have repeatedly entered our apartments. The exposure has made it harder to breathe and disrupted everyday life for me and my family.”

The case is REACH Community Development et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al. We will continue to share updates as we fight to ensure that everyone at Gray’s Landing can live safely and with dignity.

For 53 years, Sheryl has lived in the same Southeast Portland home—a place filled with memories, laughter, and generations of family. It’s where she raised her children, tended her garden, and built a life rooted in community.

Earlier this year, Sheryl faced a big decision: whether to purchase her home or move to another affordable unit. Like many longtime renters, the idea of homeownership felt daunting at first. But with support from REACH and her trustee, Sheryl discovered that owning her home was possible—and life-changing.

“I feel like I lost a thousand pounds now that it’s not hanging over my head. This is mine.”

Expanding Pathways to Homeownership

Sheryl’s story is part of a new chapter for REACH: creating affordable homeownership opportunities for families who have historically faced barriers to owning a home. Through the Rose City Partnership, REACH is helping current tenants and first-time buyers purchase homes and build long-term stability. This initiative includes:

• Mortgage counseling
• Down payment and closing cost assistance
• Home repair resources

And we’re partnering with organizations like Brick By Brick Housing Corporation, Housing Partnership Network, and Proud Ground to make it happen.

Why This Matters

Homeownership is more than a financial milestone—it’s a foundation for stability, security, and generational wealth. Yet for many Portlanders, especially families of color and first-time buyers, it remains out of reach. Sheryl’s success shows what’s possible when we work together to remove barriers and create pathways to ownership.

Watch Sheryl’s Story

🎥 See Sheryl’s inspiring journey from renter to homeowner:

Help More Families Like Sheryl’s

Your support makes homeownership possible for families who have waited decades for this opportunity. Every gift helps provide down payment assistance, home repairs, and counseling services that turn dreams into reality.

Donate today and help expand pathways to homeownership

Together, we can create a future where homeownership is within reach for everyone.

How REACH’s Job Jumpstart Fund is Fueling Futures

REACH’s Job Jumpstart Fund is helping residents take bold steps toward economic stability and career success. Thanks to a generous grant from KeyBank, the fund provides micro-grants to cover costs like certifications, gear, training, and transportation—removing financial barriers that often stand in the way of employment.

One inspiring example is Taeo Estrella, a lifelong REACH resident who is now pursuing her dream of becoming a trauma nurse.

Taeo grew up in REACH scattered site housing and is currently enrolled in nursing school while working at a hospital emergency room front desk. Her journey hasn’t been easy—she’s a first-generation college student with health challenges—but with support from REACH, she’s thriving.

Through the Job Jumpstart Fund, Taeo was able to purchase essential nursing school supplies: a stethoscope, compression socks, clinical attire, and more. “Some of those items are pricey,” she says. “I was worried about how I’d afford them. This support made it possible for me to focus on school without sacrificing other needs.”

She also participated in REACH’s Individual Development Account (IDA) program, saving toward a reliable vehicle that helps her get to school, work, and medical appointments. “Having a car has made a huge difference in my ability to pursue my education and support myself.”

Taeo’s goal is to become a traveling trauma nurse, gaining experience in pediatric emergency care across the country while keeping Portland as her home base. “I want my future kids to have the same experience I did growing up here.”

Her advice to other residents? “Go for it. It takes patience, but it’s worth it. These programs have helped my family build stability and even generational wealth. It’s not just short-term help—it’s long-term impact.”

We’re excited to announce that Mei Lee has joined our team as Chief Financial Officer. Mei brings a wealth of experience in financial leadership, auditing, and strategic management across both the public and private sectors.

Mei has held key finance leadership roles with organizations such as Xerox Corporation, Welch Allyn Inc., Portland Public Schools, and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), in addition to her early career with a Big Six accounting firm. Throughout her career, Mei has developed a reputation for strong financial stewardship, cross-sector collaboration, and a deep commitment to mission-driven work.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mei to the REACH leadership team,” said Margaret Salazar, CEO of REACH. “Her exceptional experience across sectors, combined with her values-driven approach to finance and community, will be a tremendous asset as we continue to strengthen REACH’s long-term stability and impact.”

Mei holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Portland State University and an active Certified Public Accountant license with the Oregon Board of Accountancy. She has also contributed to the community as a mentor at Portland Public Schools, Board Member at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden, and Qualification Committee member at the Oregon State Board of Accountancy.

“I’m very excited to join REACH and contribute to its mission of creating affordable, equitable housing and thriving communities,” said Mei Lee. “I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents and in the broader community through sound financial leadership and collaboration.”

Please join us in warmly welcoming Mei to REACH!