The Clifford Apartments is an 88-unit, former hotel and apartment community, that IHI will adapt for use as a 100% Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) apartment complex. The Clifford rehabilitation project will entail a “down-to-the-studs” renovation of the Clifford, which has operated as an affordable housing community in IHI’s portfolio since it was acquired by the agency in 2010.

The Clifford, originally built in 1911, is located just a short walk away from downtown Portland in the East Portland Grand Avenue Historic District. Its location near critical downtown and on major transit thoroughfares make it a great option for people needing access to downtown community services, healthcare and hospitals, and employment. A mix of SROs and Studios have historically made the Clifford a great option for people living on fixed incomes and/or households earning very low incomes (less than 30% of the area median). However, due to the building’s age, it needs recapitalization in order to replaced aged building systems and to bring the structure itself up to modern standards.

While the Clifford has operated as housing for many years, it has limitations in its current design that hinder serving its target population who tend to have extremely high-needs and high barriers to housing. Primarily, the first-floor layout lacks enough community and office space to offer the type of programming that would be expected at a 100% PSH building.

The project will tailor building to the population it will continue to serve by transitioning the entire ground floor—formerly about 50% commercial storefront space—into spacious resident services and community common areas that will better serve a 100% PSH population. Residents at the “new” Clifford will have much more space to create community through meals and resident services-led events, and they will also be able to access critical services right where they live (e.g., Qualified Mental Health services, food pantry, and Housing Stability/Peer support). Trauma-informed elements like art, indoor greenery, open lines of site throughout all common areas, and material selection will help maintain a calming and welcoming look and feel throughout common areas.

IHI plans to seek Oregon Housing and Community Services resources such that all units would have subsidized rent, allowing IHI to rent units to households earning at or below 30% of the area median. This subsidy, combined with onsite services also funded via OHCS, will help people who have experienced homelessness and access vital services that contribute to housing stability.