TELL US YOUR HOUSING STORY: A healthcare professional in Bend

We hear stories nearly every day of our friends, neighbors, and family members struggling to find affordable homes in order to stay in Central Oregon. Today, we hear from a healthcare professional in Bend. We are grateful that they have shared their story with us and respect that they prefer to stay anonymous.

As someone who has worked hard my entire adult life and constantly strives to improve my career opportunities, expand my education, and find potential for personal growth in each situation, it is difficult to put into words my frustrations with "affordable housing" in Central Oregon.

I have a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in biological/health sciences and research. I raised my son as a single parent and was the first in my family to go to college, relying on scholarships, grants, and student loans to get me through university. My goal was always to make a stable life and respectable income for myself and my son.

At the time, I had no idea how deeply I would become entrenched in my student debt - and how it would destroy any opportunity to own a home - despite no other debt and a solid career in medical research.

I moved to Bend in 2020 after being laid off from a general surgery practice in Portland due to the pandemic. I came into a career opportunity where I could use my background in science and help patients get treatment they otherwise may not have access to. With my two degrees, I am earning approximately $60,000 / year.

Rent in Central Oregon is formidable. Even my small apartment requires over one full paycheck, not including utilities.

In spite of my making a solid income and having no other debt outside of student debt, I am unable to qualify for a home mortgage, not even with the most generous of assistance programs. The one time I attempted to get pre-qualified for a loan, the lender told me, "No one will EVER give you a loan" because of my student debt. I have made ON TIME payments monthly for 19 YEARS and only have 8 payments left.

The situation I am in is humiliating. It is isolating. And it is highly stigmatizing.

I have seen many comments online from members of the Bend community who shun affordable housing - stigmatizing low-income tenants as people who live off the government, are criminals, and whose presence lowers property values.

As someone who has needed these services in the past, I can say whole-heartedly that these stigmas are false. These are people like me, who check you in at your doctor's appointment, who fix your vehicle, who coordinate your cancer treatments, who assist the vet for your pets.

It is unconscionable to me that as a hardworking, educated, experienced healthcare worker, I can barely afford a 1 bedroom apartment, utilities, wi-fi, and groceries. And I am NOT alone in this. I live on a single income and, despite that I love my job and being part of the Central Oregon healthcare community, I fear that not having any opportunities to live comfortably and save money and one day be a homeowner may be the deal-breaker that forces me to move away.

We would love to hear about your experience with finding and affording housing in Central Oregon. Telling real stories supports our vision to educate the public and our elected leaders on bold solutions that increase housing supply and lower housing costs in Central Oregon.

Please fill out the form below and we will reach out to coordinate on telling your story on social media and in outreach campaigns.

Tell us your housing story