Francis + Clare Place, a new construction project by Catholic Charities/Caritas Housing in the Buckman neighborhood, consists of 61 affordable units serving people who have experienced chronic homelessness and have complex physical and/or behavioral health challenges. All units offer Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) with rents subsidized by Project-Based Section 8 vouchers. Catholic Charities assists tenants with case management and peer support services and has partnered with the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) for culturally specific recovery services, and Cascadia Health for behavioral health services. The project was made feasible thanks to a land purchase from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and complements the adjacent St. Francis Park Apartments (105 affordable units and 1 unrestricted manager's unit), also developed by Catholic Charities.
Amenities at Francis + Clare Place include a quiet room for relaxation, community space that doubles as a classroom, and on-site offices for property management and supportive services. The project will face Francis and Clare Commons, a pedestrian street with green space and a large plaza. Catholic Charities used Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) dollars to install heat pumps and a photovoltaic solar array in order to ensure energy efficiency, and to eliminate electrical billing for residents. The site’s location in the amenity-rich Central Eastside District offers access to workforce training opportunities, grocery and convenience stores, bike routes, and frequent service bus lines (#20, #70 and #15).
Image credit: Holst Architecture
Building Profile
| Project Type | New Construction |
|---|---|
| Location | Buckman |
| Council District | District 3 |
| Regulated Units | 61 |
| PSH Units | 61 |
| Total Units | 61 |
| Status | Open |
| Bedroom Size | Units |
|---|---|
| Studio | 54 |
| 1-Bedroom | 7 |
| 2-Bedroom | - |
| 3-Bedroom | - |
| Affordability | Units |
|---|---|
| 30% AMI | 61 |
| 40% AMI | - |
| 50% AMI | - |
| 60% AMI | - |
| 80% AMI | - |
AMI = Area Median Income
Estimated Development Cost
| Total | $28,511,633 |
|---|---|
| Portland Housing Bureau | $9,421,891 |
Development Team
- Caritas Housing and Catholic Charities of Oregon, Sponsor / Service Provider
- Edlen & Co., Development Consultant
- Holst Architecture, Architect
- O’Neill Walsh Community Builders, General Contractor
- Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA), Service Provider
- Cascadia Health, Service Provider
- AfroVillage, Outreach Partner