An aerial view of the property where Stone Creek Commons homes will be built next to Silver Rail Elementary. Bend-La Pine Schools employees will be preferred homeowners.

A beginning Bend-La Pine Schools teacher with a bachelor’s degree would make about $49,000. That falls short of what’s needed for most housing in Bend.

Taking out a mortgage would likely be a remote dream. And at that income, finding an affordable apartment to rent in Bend would be a challenge without doubling up.

What about school district employees that make less? What about other workers in Bend? Where are they supposed to live?

Bend-La Pine Schools did something about it. It partnered with Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity for an affordable homeownership project on what was district property near Summit High School in west Bend and near Silver Rail Elementary in southeast Bend.

There will be 15 cottages near Summit and 18 duplex townhomes near Silver Rail.

School district employees earning under 80% of area median income will get the first opportunity at the homes. Habitat will keep the housing affordable for decades to come.

Vazquez Painting did something similar for its employees at a site on northeast First Street in Bend. The Bend City Council recently approved a tax exemption for the six units. NeighborImpact is coordinating the income eligibility.

RootedHomes is creating a broader affordable housing opportunity for employees. It has plans for 170 permanently affordable homes throughout Central Oregon. Employers can partner to help ensure employees can find housing. Some employers participating with RootedHomes include Mosaic Community Health, BasX, Mid-Oregon Credit Union, MountainStar Family Relief Nursery and St. Charles Health System. You can find out more here: rootedhomes.org.

Not every employer has the ability to help their employees with housing, as these did. But they deserve support for what they have done.