RVCDC History & Purpose
Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation (RVCDC), an Oregon 501(c) 3 nonprofit, was created in 1990 to serve low- and moderate-income people’s need for community development and community self-help. To date, these community development activities consisted primarily of rehabilitation of single-family dwellings for sale to low-income households (80% Area Median Income). Homes are sold with restrictions that ensure affordability for subsequent low-income buyers.
RVCDC’s first projects were the creation of nine new units of affordable housing in Ashland in partnership with a private contractor.
In 1994, West Medford was named among the ten most distressed neighborhoods in the state. In 1996, we formed a partnership with the Medford School District’s Foundations program. Through this program, high school students, many at risk of dropping out of school, did renovation work on RVCDC houses under the direction of a teacher with construction experience. They gained school credit, hands-on work experience in construction and related trades, and learned skills in math, communication and teamwork, confidence, pride in their work, and the desire to stay in school. Due to budget cuts, that program was discontinued. Rogue Community College’s construction students have been involved in renovating some of our projects. Since 2000, we have rehabilitated and sold eight homes in West Medford, one in Eagle Point, and finished two more in West Medford in December 2002.
In 2000-2001 RVCDC renovated a two-story, 5-bedroom house and cottage for lease to service providers. A nonprofit operated a teen parent program at the house.
For a decade, RVCDC served as the sponsor of the Shelter Development Committee, a caring group of people that have worked to address the difficulties faced by homeless citizens. Many of the committee members (also RVCDC Board members) have been homeless themselves. The group supports efforts to create a homeless camp.
Most recently RVCDC has focused on growing our capacity and expanding services we offer to low-income families and individuals. Additional staff and training has engaged RVCDC to begin work with an expanded capacity.
RVCDC’s work is funded by Federal, State and local government grants, and through the generosity of private foundations, local businesses and individuals in our community.
Recent History
Mutual SelfHelp Housing
The USDA’s Rural Development Program has been working with RVCDC all year to cooperate on building 15 new homes in Ashland. The City of Ashland has provided the funding for the land purchase, and RD has provided very low interest rate mortgages with no downpayment requirement.
Currently, RVCDC is providing technical assistance to homebuilders of nine units of single family homes in Ashland known as the Siskiyou Project, working with Families and with USDA Rural Development. A second round of this SelfHelp Housing will begin later this year on a site nearby on Siskiyou Blvd. Families have worked on these homes during weekends all year and have learned construction task skills to complete 65% of the work of their homes.
In Medford, RVCDC is currently constructing a total of eight single family homes known as Grape Street Village. Those homes are now being advertised to the public. They will be supported by the City of Medford Down Payment Assistance Program and families involved with this project will accomplish 100 hours of work on the completion of these homes prior to moving in.
Youthbuild
Youthbuild is a nationwide movement to prepare our youth for a future in their community. Youth who have dropped out of high school and need to complete their GEDs receive educational classes and counseling as well as direct training in construction education. This last year our crew learned skills at every stage of our home construction at Siskiyou.
Youthbuild, which is a partnership project involving RVCDC, Rogue Community College, and Job Council in training a crew of young workers in construction education also receive GED education and job placement. They are working now on both current RVCDC building projects at Grape Str. Village and Siskiyou. Last year 10 crew members received their GEDs and 14 were placed into jobs. One graduate led a reconstruction team in New Orleans.
RVCDC Land Trust
Upon completion of the 23 homes currently under construction by RVCDC, the land under them will be part of a community land trust to be administered by our Board of Directors. Representation on our Board of Directors of households from these projects will ensure an ongoing connection to the homes we have built in partnership. This will provide a long term method of preserving t he homes and monitoring resale.
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