Camas Meadows Showcases What’s Possible When Housing Solutions Come Together
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.
