Funding Opportunities
The City of Bend utilizes various funding programs to support the development of affordable housing and public services to benefit low-to-moderate income community members.
Each year, the City of Bend requests proposals from non-profit organizations and agencies undertaking eligible projects. The proposals are reviewed by the City’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, which then submits its funding recommendations for consideration and approval by the Council. Funding is awarded from City programs such as City of Bend’s Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) and Commercial and Industrial Construction Tax Fund (CICT), as well as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Funding (PRO Housing).
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Funding Availability
The City of Bend is accepting Public Improvement (Infrastructure) applications for its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Approximately $495,000 for public improvement (infrastructure) projects will be available.
Applications must be targeted to the construction of public improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, sidewalks, and street improvements, and must benefit low- and moderate-income persons or households earning 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) or less.
In 2026 the City intends to release another Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) for the development of affordable housing and the Commercial and Industrial Construction Tax (CICT) for affordable housing development, housing related services, and programs that assist people earning 30 percent of AMI or less.
Schedule
CDBG 2026-2027 Schedule
Applications opened on Friday, January 9, 2026 and must be submitted before 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026. Applications are accessed and submitted at https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/BENDOR/Participant.
Pre-Application Webinar
The pre-application webinar was held virtually on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. A recording of the webinar is available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/live/8eM1rltq2EA.
Pre-Application webinar slides_January 8, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Technical questions should be directed to housing@bendoregon.gov and please include “2026 CDBG Funding Application” in the subject line.
The FAQ period is from 1/9/2026 – 1/26/2026. The schedule is as follows:
- FAQ #1 from Pre-application webinar held on 1/8/2026.
- FAQ #2 answers emailed questions, if needed. Posted 1/19/2026.
- FAQ #3 answers emailed questions, if needed. Posted 1/26/2026.
City Funding Programs
In July 2006, the City of Bend was the first city in Oregon to implement an Affordable Housing Fee. Proceeds from this fund have been used to develop a wide variety of housing throughout Bend. Currently, the Affordable Housing Fund is used to acquire land for deed restricted affordable housing, develop the land, construct homes, or rehabilitate homes. All funded developments are required to undertake a deed restriction, guaranteeing the homes will be affordable to lower income residents well into the future.
The fee is one third of 1% of the total valuation on all building permits submitted to the City of Bend. Collection of the fee started at the end of October 2006. According to the ordinance, priorities for this funding are based upon the goals identified in the five-year City of Bend 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan.
Visit the Notice of Funding Opportunity section above for current information on the funding cycle.
In 2021, the City Council adopted the Commercial and Industrial Construction Tax (CICT) Fund into Bend’s Municipal Code, section 9.45.010. The City of Bend assesses the CICT at one-third of one percent on building permits for commercial and industrial improvements that result in a new structure or additional square footage. The CICT excludes residential permits and purposes and Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 320.173 specifies several exemptions.
Half the funds generated from the CICT must be used for housing related proposals, and the remaining funds must be used for support services and programs for people making up to thirty percent of Area Median Income.
Visit the Notice of Funding Opportunity section above for current information on the funding cycle.
The City periodically sells city owned land for development as affordable housing. Properties are usually sold for the cost of titling and Requests for Proposals are issued. See a map of City owned land on our City-owned property viewer.
There are no open or active Requests for Proposals at this time.
Community Development Block Grant Program
The City of Bend began the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program in April 2004. The CDBG Program is a federal funding program that provides assistance for housing and community development projects that benefit low- and moderate-income people. The funds are provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and are utilized or distributed by the City of Bend.
The CDBG Program is guided by the City of Bend 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan, a comprehensive housing and community development strategy that was prepared with extensive public involvement.
Visit the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) tab for current information on the funding cycle.
The Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) is a required document that outlines how the City of Bend will encourage and involve citizens, especially low- and moderate-income community members, in the planning and implementation of CDBG-funded projects. The plan ensures the public has reasonable access to information and opportunities to provide input on community development needs, proposed activities, and program performance.
The City of Bend is required every five years to produce a plan called the Consolidated Plan. The current plan covering 2023-27 provides an assessment of community needs, a market analysis and based on that includes draft program goals, priorities and strategies to address the community needs. The five-year Consolidated Plan also includes the first year Action Plan.
Annual Action Plans detail how the City of Bend will use Community Development Block Grant funds to meet its affordable housing and community development needs. The plan details the levels of funding available for the fiscal year in reference, the list of projects with funding allocations, and the Consolidated Plan Goals that these projects will further. The proposed projects are based on community needs assessment, public comments, and consultation with area service providers.
The CAPER reports on expenditures, accomplishments, and progress made on the strategies and goals outlined in the Consolidated Plan and the projects and activities detailed in the Action Plan. The CAPER outlines progress in achieving the goals defined in the 2023-27 Consolidated Plan.
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI) is a study completed by communities receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to identify and overcome barriers to fair housing. It is a comprehensive review of public and private policies, practices, and procedures that may limit housing choices based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability. The AI is the basis for a community’s commitment to affirmatively further fair housing, which involves taking action to address identified impediments and reporting progress.
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
October 14, 2025
City of Bend
710 NW Wall Street
Bend, OR 97701
541-388-5514
On or about October 27, 2025, the City of Bend will authorize The Latino Community Association to submit a request to HUD for the release of Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing funds under 24 CFR Part 570 of the Community Development Block Program, as amended, to undertake project known as Bella Pines for the purpose of the acquisition of vacant land, estimated funding from HUD of $2,250,000 at Deschutes County Property Tax Lot Number 171223BD03100, Bend, Oregon.
The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project on file at https://www.bendoregon.gov/departments/community-development/housing. A copy is available at the permit counter at City of Bend, and may be examined or copied on weekdays from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to City Hall, 710 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon, 97703, or to housing@bendoregon.gov. All comments received by October 24, 2025, will be considered by the City of Bend prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The City of Bend certifies to HUD that Racheal Baker in her capacity as Certifying Officer for Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-related Environmental Documents for all Programs subject to 24 CFR Part 58 consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Bend to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Bend’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Bend; (b) the RE has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants In the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD at 1220 SW Third Avenue, Suite 400, Portland, OR 97204-2830, or to Portland_RROF@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Racheal Baker, Certifying Officer, City of Bend
Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Funding
In 2024, the City of Bend was awarded a $5,000,000 in Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Approximately $4,000,000 of the PRO Housing grant establishes the PRO Housing Fund. This Fund can be used for land acquisition, infrastructure, homebuyer assistance, new housing construction, and other housing-related costs through competitive RFP processes.
The PRO Housing Fund is intended to be offered in competitive application cycles along with annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) offerings. Applicants may choose to apply for any/all the funding sources, greatly amplifying the amount of funding available for affordable housing development. Funds will be targeted to developments with high feasibility of success, low risk, and near-term deadlines, who, without additional funding, will be unable to proceed in the near term.
By offering the Fund to developers as loans, as opposed to grants, repayments of loans are refunneled into future application cycles, resulting in a long-term impact on the community’s housing and community development needs.
The City’s PRO Housing Action Plan, approved by HUD in February 2025, identifies and addresses barriers that have resulted in historic underproduction of affordable housing and widespread housing cost burden in Bend, Oregon.
Public Comment and Hearings
December 16, 2025: Public hearing for the proposed amendments to the 2025 Annual Action Plan.
Aviso público para enmendar el Plan de Acción Anual de CDBG 2025
The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the 2025 Annual Action Plan at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Oral comments are welcome. Meeting information is available on the committee website at www.bendoregon.gov/committees/affordable-housing-advisory-committee.
The City of Bend proposes to amend its 2025 Annual Action Plan for the allocation of funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program (for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026).
The City of Bend prepared a draft of the amendments to the 2025 Annual Action Plan. From Monday, November 24, 2025, through Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the draft amendment will be available for review on the City’s web page https://www.bendoregon.gov/departments/community-development/housing. Interested parties may also contact the Housing Division at housing@bendoregon.gov or (541) 323-8550 to request copies sent through the mail. City staff welcome written comments regarding the proposed amendments to the 2025 Annual Action Plan on or before noon on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, to the Housing Division at housing@bendoregon.gov or at P.O. Box 431, Bend, Oregon 97709. City staff will consider the written comments received.
Accommodation Information for People with Disabilities
This meeting/event location is accessible. Sign language interpreter service, assistive listening devices, closed captioning, a reader to review materials with the sight impaired, a language interpreter, materials in alternate formats such as Braille, large print, electronic formats and CD formats, or any other accommodations are available upon advance request. Please contact the Housing Division no later than Friday, December 12, 2025, at housing@bendoregon.gov and/or (541) 323-8550. Relay Users Dial 7-1-1. Providing at least 3 days notice prior to the event will help ensure availability.
Public hearing and public comment periods are archived and available for review as of January 1, 2026. Previous notices are available upon request by contacting housing@bendoregon.gov.