REDMOND — The housing market for some of Redmond’s most vulnerable families should look a little more promising in the future.

The Redmond City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to award approximately $150,000 in federal grant money to three local nonprofits, including $102,727 to Families Forward Inc., that will go directly to the creation of eight low-income single-family housing units.

Through the federal Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant program, Redmond had almost $200,000 in government money to give to organizations that, according to the program’s objectives, “develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, an expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income.”

Through a competitive application process, the city’s housing and community development committee chose three recipients to receive block grants for various projects.

Families Forward ($102,727), the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon ($24,300) and the Boys and Girls Club Redmond/Terrebonne ($25,000) were selected to receive one-time awards.

Families Forward’s money is slated to help with a land purchase that will eventually lead to eight manufactured homes, at least five of which will be available to families that earn 50 percent of Deschutes County’s average median income. (The latest AMI numbers for a family of four in Deschutes County is $63,000.)

The Opportunity Foundation, a nonprofit that helps improve the lives of those with disabilities, looks to hire a full-time job developer with its grant money, while the Boys and Girls Club of Redmond/Terrebonne will accept the grant money into its general fund, with the goal of adding services in Redmond, specifically for children from low-income families.

“We aim to establish 10 people with disabilities with private-sector jobs,” Suzanne Michaels, the Opportunity Foundation’s development director, told the City Council after her organization was awarded its grant money.

In other council business Tuesday, Andrew Spreadborough, the executive director of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, gave the council an update on COIC’s 2015 goals and a refresher on what services the regional organization provides. The group runs Cascades East Transit, among other things, providing transportation between Central Oregon communities. COIC recently expanded its transportation services into Warm Springs, Spreadborough said, and in 2015 looks to grow services in Jefferson County and Bend.

Rob Tremper, from the Dickey and Tremper accounting firm, presented the council with a quick rundown of the city’s 2013-14 fiscal year audit. And Jason Neff, Redmond’s budget and financial manager, gave a midyear financial report.

— Reporter: 541-617-7829,

beastes@bendbulletin.com.