OUR STORY
Working Homes LLC is a response to the shortage of affordable housing for many in Wallowa County.
In 2008-2009, the Wallowa County Economic Action Plan identified "workforce housing" as a core part of the integrated vision and priority strategies.
This is a long-standing problem.
The recommendation offered the following: "The city and county governments must take an active role in the provision of renovated and new workforce housing by partnering with a to-be-formed community development corporation, or more specifically a community housing development organization, that can handle federal funds…This new non-profit should partner with local government to ensure the proper mix of housing types and costs through the downtown development areas."
The Action Plan recommended that 30% of all new homes be developed as affordable/moderate-income homes.
The 2018-2023 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Wallowa County identified lack of housing as the second greatest priority.
In 2018, the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners created an Economic Advisory Committee, and its founding charter called workforce housing a priority issue. Wallowa County's 2021 Economic Opportunity Analysis calls out the challenges of housing shortages: insufficient housing inhibits economic growth and impacts household and community well-being.
Today, the need is even greater than it was first identified 15 years ago.
The shortage that was recognized then has been made worse by the shift in housing stock (and investment) to high-end homes – including second homes and vacation rentals.
25%
Of Wallowa County’s housing consists of second homes and vacation rentals.
130%
Of a typical house appreciation in Wallowa County over the last ten years.
36%
Of household income increase in Wallowa County over the last ten years.
In the summer of 2023, the median house price in Wallowa County was $395,000. A few years ago, it was $275,000. Pressure on our housing market remains strong – fewer than 20% of home listings are priced at less than $300,000. There's a growing mismatch between home prices and what our local workforce can afford.