HERMISTON, Ore.-The Umatilla County Housing Authority hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Liberty Village, a housing development focused on supporting homeless veterans, at 588 E. Newport Avenue in Hermiston was held May 21.
The Hermiston High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) presented the colors at the ceremony attended by partners in the project, American Legion Post 37, the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce, City officials, representatives from Senator Wyden and Merkley’s offices, and community members.
“We’re excited for this milestone for the community and so grateful to stand alongside the Umatilla County Housing Authority as this project takes shape,” said Val Hoxie, Executive Director of the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce, in opening the ceremony.
For Tristin Martinez, Chief Operating Officer of the Umatilla County Housing Authority and a veteran herself, who grew up on Newport Avenue and remembers playing ball on the future site of Liberty Village, the groundbreaking was a nostalgic and rewarding experience.
“Today we are breaking ground on stability, dignity and opportunity,” said Martinez. “The veterans who will live here served their country and deserve a space to rebuild their lives.”
Roger Condie, Executive Director of the Umatilla County Housing Authority, spoke of the partnerships that made Liberty Village possible.
“Today marks an important moment in our community,” said Condie. “One possible because of partnerships, persistence, and the belief in those who served our country. At the end of the day, it’s about ensuring they are safe, supported and rooted in the community.”
Condie then recognized Suzanne Stradley, whose late husband Stan, a veteran who passed away in 2024, was instrumental in getting the project started back in 2017, from acquiring the land from the city to securing funding in 2023.
Field Representatives from Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley’s offices read statements marking the groundbreaking, and representatives from the Blue Mountain Action Council and Pacific Northwest Veterans Alliance also spoke about the project.
Liberty Village
Liberty Village is a veteran-preferred housing development project that hopes to serve veterans experiencing homelessness, providing a home and connection to resources.
The development will feature 17, one-bedroom apartment units, a multi-use community space, outdoor gathering areas and an onsite laundry facility.
The roughly $9 million project is expected to be completed and move in ready by early spring 2027, according to Condie.
Liberty Village was financed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Oregon Housing and Community Services, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.
More information about the Umatilla County Housing Authority is available online.
