{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-wyden-merkley-announce-nearly-1-million-support-affordable-housing", "Salinas, Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $1 Million to Support Affordable Housing for Oregon Farmworkers", "2024-10-22", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), along with Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $956,333 for a project to rehabilitate Villa Del Sol, a multifamily affordable housing complex in McMinnville that serves farmworkers and their families.\n\n\u201cDespite being the backbone of our agricultural economy, many farmworkers still can\u2019t afford to feed their families or put a roof over their heads. As the daughter of a former farmworker, I\u2019m committed to changing that reality \u2013 which is why I am so proud to announce this federal funding for Community Home Builders in Yamhill County,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cThese dollars will be used to deliver safe, affordable housing for farmworkers and their families here in the mid-Valley. It\u2019s a critical step in the right direction, and I\u2019ll keep fighting for investments just like this one that will help us make housing more accessible and affordable for Oregonians.\u201d\n\n\u201cHousing is a human right, and farmworkers in Oregon deserve affordable and secure living options,\u201d said Sen. Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m gratified this McMinnville housing complex has earned nearly $1 million in federal funds to provide that housing for farmworkers and their families. And I\u2019ll continue pressing for similar investments in housing for agricultural workers and every person statewide.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaking sure families have access to safe and affordable housing in the communities where they work is essential,\u201d said Sen. Merkley. \u201cThis federal investment will help ensure safer, more modern housing for the farmworkers in Yamhill County who work every day to help feed families across Oregon and America. I will keep fighting to deliver necessary housing resources like this so everyone in our state can thrive and live healthy lives.\"\n\n\u201cUnder the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development has invested over $1 billion in creating safe, affordable housing options for rural Oregonians,\u201d said USDA Rural Housing Administrator Joaquin Altoro. \u201cWe are proud of our partnership with Community Home Builders and it is an honor to see these investments increase the health and wellbeing of Oregon\u2019s farm workers.\u201d\n\nThe funding comes from USDA Rural Development\u2019s Off-Farm Labor Housing Program, which helps property owners make health and safety repairs, accessibility improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, and more to benefit their tenants. Across five states, the Off-Farm Labor Housing Program is awarding a total of $18 million in grants and loans to improve approximately 500 homes, including Villa Del Sol in Oregon.\n\nCommunity Home Builders in Yamhill County will use the $956,333 federal award to significantly rehabilitate eight two-bedroom, 12 three-bedroom, and four four-bedroom units at Villa Del Sol. The improvements will not only enhance living conditions for the 24 tenants who are expected to benefit from the project, but all future farmworkers and their families who will call the housing complex home.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-wyden-merkley-announce-nearly-1-million-support-affordable-housing"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7693497464060783, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}