I.V. HOPE Village gets funding from HB 5019

I.V. HOPE Village Programs Manager Laura Mancuso received good news from United Community Action Network Executive Director Shaun Pritchard Sept. 12. It was announced by the Oregon Housing & Community Services Team in Salem that I.V. HOPE Village received $799,029 from House Bill 5019 that addressed “shelter funding.”
It was also announced that UCAN will receive $1,239,691.05 with the goal of rehousing 31 households in Josephine County by June 30, 2025.
“The I.V. HOPE Village Steering Committee and Illinois Valley Living Solutions Board were very pleased and relieved to hear about the funding coming to Cave Junction,” said Mancuso. “The huge amount is just what we need to make the transitional housing project happen. Now we have the money to complete the building construction, opening phase of the Village and the first year’s operations.”
The plans for the Village started in 2022 when State Rep. Lily Morgan awarded the Valley $630,000 to start a project to help unhoused residents. “I am so grateful to Mid Rogue Foundation (formerly AllCare Community Foundation) for agreeing to be our financial sponsor until the Illinois Valley Living Solutions board is stable and running successfully before taking the financial reins.
“The progress that our steering committee has made is very exciting,” said Mancuso. She explained that currently the project is awaiting the structural engineering and architectural plans after the land use hearing with Cave Junction City Council was approved July 10 for the property located on Kerby Ave. and Schumacher Street.
Cave Junction City Council President Jean Ann Miles was also excited about the funding award. “I am grateful that all of our council came together to support this project. This will help out all the citizens of the community, especially those who want to get out of houselessness.”
Mancuso said that Mid Rogue Foundation and the IVLS board approved the purchase of the property in 2022 for $220,000. Although, the I.V. HOPE Village project has received shelter funding, the facility will not be anything like a mass shelter. The Village will have 16 tiny housing units with beds along with a community building that will include, bathrooms with showers, laundry room, community kitchen, living area, community garden, dog park, mail service and case management offices. “Participants will be required to be engaged in services or counseling that they need in order to be eligible to move into stable housing. Services could include drug or alcohol counseling with OnTrack, mental health case management with Options, a job search with WorkSource Oregon or appointments with Cave Junction DHS eligibility workers,” explained Mancuso.
Illinois Valley Community Development Organization Executive Director Lindsey B. Jones is on the I.V. HOPE Village Steering Committee and helped the group with their strategic planning. Jones had the following to say about why I.V. HOPE Village was selected for the funding: “I.V. HOPE Village was in the right place at the right time for the goals of this funding. This project will provide 16 of the State’s goal of 100 new beds by June 2025. Because this project had already taken the first steps of securing land, creating plans and gaining approval from the city of Cave Junction for land use, it was steps ahead of a brand new project. Our area has also demonstrated a high need for this type of housing assistance. There are no other options in the Illinois Valley. This project will change lives.”
UCAN Director of Housing Stabilization Holly Fifield spoke more about the funding award and explained that the $1.2 million awarded to UCAN will be used for rapid rehousing. These programs help people be homeless for shorter periods of time than if they stayed at a shelter or in transitional housing. More information about rapid rehousing will be released at the Homeless Task Force meeting in Grants Pass at UCAN’s office.
If you would like to learn more about I.V. HOPE Village you can visit ivlivingsolutions.org or email Mancuso directly at ivlivingsol@gmail.com or call or text 971-415-0281. If you are interested in volunteering please reach out to IVLS Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Connie Dillinger at 951-236-8240 or email connie.wcst@gmail.com.