Members of Congress, Mayor Wilson
Join Home Forward, PCC, NAYA, Metro and Other Partners to Celebrate Grand Opening of chaku kumtuks haws in Northeast Portland.
PORTLAND, ORE. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-3) and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson today joined Home Forward, the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), Portland Community College (PCC), Metro and other partners to celebrate the grand opening of the newly named chaku kumtuks haws (“learning house”), formerly known as PCC Killingsworth. The 84-unit affordable housing community in the Cully-Concordia neighborhood is co-located with the PCC Opportunity Center at 42nd Avenue with on-site early learning provided by NAYA.
“chaku kumtuks haws is more than just housing. It is a community revitalization effort that has been years in the making. It is creating a vibrant economic hub in the Cully-Concordia neighborhood that brings together housing, education, health care and other vital services to support working families,” said Ivory N. Mathews, CEO of Home Forward. “We are grateful to PCC and NAYA for their partnership in bringing this vision to life.”
Developed and owned by Home Forward, the new community offers 18 studios, 6 one-bedrooms, 45 two-bedrooms, and 15 three-bedrooms. It also includes three classrooms, designed and operated by NAYA, offering high-quality, affordable early learning opportunities to 36 children. Rents are below market rate for families with household incomes between 30% and 60% of Area Median Income (AMI). Twenty-eight apartments are reserved for households earning 30% AMI or less, with priority referral access for Native community members through NAYA.
“This community demonstrates that the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is a smart federal policy that can deliver real affordable housing and early learning results for Oregon families,” said Sen. Ron Wyden. “Housing is a human right. These 84 new units of affordable housing provide that human right for more Oregonians, along with quality educational opportunities for children to succeed. This is exactly the kind of responsible investment we need more of in Oregon and across the nation, and I won’t stop fighting for projects that directly combat homelessness by increasing access to affordable housing.”
NAYA led the naming for chaku kumtuks haws and the early learning center, chaku kumtuks illahee (“place of learning”). The early learning center operations are being supported by Multnomah County’s Preschool for All, the Oregon Child Development Coalition, the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care, and other local investors who understand the critical need for high-quality, no-cost early learning and care for all children.
“We can’t wait to welcome families and little ones to this special place for learning and growth,” said Oscar Arana, Chichimeca, CEO of the Native American Youth and Family Center. “Thanks to our partnership with Home Forward and PCC we’ll be able to provide safe, affordable housing and culturally specific early childhood education located next door to health care, post-secondary education, and workforce opportunities.”
The enhanced partnership with Home Forward and PCC reflects a shared dedication to advancing equity, opportunity, and economic mobility for residents. Over the decades, Home Forward and PCC have worked together on numerous initiatives that opened doors to education and employment—this latest step deepens that work and builds a more structured, accessible system of support. This kind of partnership is built on trust, shared values, and a long-term vision for community success.
Residents will have access to the PCC Opportunity Center at 42nd Ave, which includes workforce development services, as well as an on-site Multnomah County Health Department health clinic, an Oregon Department of Human Services office, skill building workshops, youth leadership programs, and eviction prevention resources.
“This project exemplifies our commitment to holistic community development. chaku kumtuks haws offers families the chance to pursue career, workforce training, and educational opportunities while accessing affordable housing, health care, and high-quality early learning in one convenient location,” said Dr. Adrien L. Bennings, president of PCC.
Amenities include a large community room and kitchenette, free Wi-Fi access and computer lab for residents, conveniently located coin-operated laundry facilities, food vending with nutritious options, a secure “playscape” areas for kids, bike storage, and three early childhood education classrooms provided by NAYA.
“Today marks a significant step forward for a future where every Oregon family can thrive with the opening of chaku kumtuks haws, an 84-unit affordable housing community in the Cully-Concordia neighborhood,” said Rep. Dexter. “This development represents the best of our community, and I look forward to many more investments like it in the coming years.
The $52 million project was made possible through the collaboration of multiple public, private, and community partners, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (LIHTC), Oregon Housing and Community Services (allocated LIHTC and LIFT funds), Metro (Metro Housing Bond), Portland Housing Bureau (Portland Housing Bond), Oregon Department of Administrative Services (ARPA grant for early learning center), the Portland Clean Energy Fund (energy-efficient building systems and solar), and private lenders Citibank and Wells Fargo. O’Neill/Walsh Community Builders served as the general contractor, with design by Hacker Architects. Akana Architects, a Native American-owned architecture firm, designed the early learning center with NAYA input.
“Homes like these are making good on the basic promise of the 2018 Metro Affordable Housing Bond,” Metro Interim Housing Director Liam Frost said. “Here in Cully, that means giving people with roots in the neighborhood an affordable way to stay in place, as well as resources to help them achieve lasting economic and housing stability.”
Residents have easy access to Fernhill Park, the NE 42nd Ave. commercial district, and frequent service bus lines. PCC’s Cascade Campus is nearby via frequent service bus. Community members interested in living at chaku kumtuks haws should reach out to Pinehurst Management at Killingsworth@pinehurstmanagement.com.
“The City of Portland is proud to invest in innovative, collaborative developments like this new community, which combines early education, workforce development, and affordable housing,” said Mayor Wilson. “The co-located pre-school and PCC Opportunity Center will empower families economically and set them on a path to thrive.” View an online press kit here (for reporting purposes only).
Editorial notes: Online press kit available through QR code. chaku kumtuks haws is phonetically pronounced as cha-gu-kum-ducks-house, or “learning house” (audio of pronunciation here and in online press kit). The early learning center, chaku kumtuks ilahee, is phonetically pronounced as cha-gu-kum-ducks-ila-ee, or “place of learning.”
About Home Forward
Home Forward is the largest provider of affordable housing in the state of Oregon. Its mission is to ensure that the people of the community are sheltered. Home Forward has a special responsibility to those who encounter barriers to housing because of income, disability, or special need. Go to homeforward.org or call (503) 802-8300 for more information.
About Portland Community College
PCC is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon, serving over 50,000 full-time and part-time students. It offers high-quality education and opportunities for our students, which in turn contributes to the vibrancy of Portland’s economic community. Go to pcc.edu for more information.
About the Native American Youth and Family Center
The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) is a family of numerous tribes and voices who are rooted in sustaining tradition and building cultural wealth. They provide culturally-specific programs and services that guide Native people in the direction of personal success and balance through cultural empowerment. Go to nayapdx.org for more information.
Media Contacts:
Home Forward
Ariane Le Chevallier | ariane@lcstrategies.co | 971-201-1214
PCC
James Hill | jghill@pcc.edu | 503-933-2664
NAYA
Marina Sáenz | MarinaS@nayapdx.org | 971-501-8107
