Next spring, refugees from Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine and other places from around the world will have a new option for a place to call home in Salem. Blossom Gardens, a 90-unit affordable apartment complex set to open in April 2025, will be the first apartments managed by Salem for Refugees, the nonprofit agency which has helped hundreds of refugees settle in the community since its 2016 founding.“Housing is traditionally one of the biggest barriers for resettlement, one of the largest challenges in helping refugees get established and really give them the time they need to get on their feet to develop language skills and to see their families move above the poverty line,” said Luke Glaze, executive director.Over the years, the agency has partnered with housing organizations to help families secure apartments throughout Salem – 80 families in the past year, Glaze said. Those partnerships will continue, with Blossom Gardens providing more opportunities for direct access.  Blossom Gardens is currently under construction, and will have 90 apartments below market rate for rent. Families living in the 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments will have to earn no more than 60% of the area median income, or $54,780 for a household of four. Nine of the 3-bedroom apartments will be reserved for incomes of $27,390 for a household of four.Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment would be limited to $1,233, according to state guidelines. The nine, lower-rent 3-bedroom apartments would have rent limited at $712. Recently-arrived refugees will get priority for the apartments, but anyone who meets the income guidelines can apply. Glaze said that will help fill the large number of apartments.The total construction cost of $29.4 million will be covered by the state, part of a $72.8 million package approved by the Housing Stability Council earlier this month.  The construction is already in progress and nearing completion. Salem for Refugees bought the site from a developer who wished to sell because of financial issues. Salem for Refugees is partnering with Home First Development, an affordable housing developer whose Salem projects include the Gussie Belle Brown Apartments and Courtney Place housing for veterans.   Glaze said Salem for Refugees had spent three years actively looking for a way to develop affordable housing for their clients, and considered a variety of different sites and nonprofit partnerships.“This was just the one that was able to come to fruition first,” he said.Location was an important factor, Glaze said. The apartments will be on Northeast Blossom Drive, near a major bus line, grocery stores and Chemeketa Community College, which partners with the agency to provide English classes and vocational training opportunities.“A lot of our families don’t purchase vehicles right away, they may not drive for their first year after arriving,” Glaze said. “That’s a big aspect for us.”Having a large number of units in a range of sizes was also important, because housing larger families has been a challenge for the agency, Glaze said. Salem for Refugees has served 1,000 refugees since its founding, according to its website, and has expanded its programs and housing work in the past few years. Beyond being connected to the wider Salem area, Glaze aims for Blossom Gardens to build community within the property.A clubhouse will have space for after-school programs, activities and available for tenants to host gatherings. That space will connect to a patio and play structure area, with a planned sports court.“We serve a lot of families with quite a few kids, and so just having the opportunity for some outdoor play area was really important to us,” Glaze said.Glaze said the onsite service plan is still in development, but they hope to have a council planning events and activities. They’ll offer the standard services refugees at other housing properties get, including case management and home visits.Families will be able to stay in the apartments as long as they meet the state qualifications for affordable housing, but Glaze said he hopes it will be an opportunity for their careers to advance so they can afford other options and consider home ownership. Blossom Gardens will be one of several Salem apartment complexes housing refugee families. Salem for Refugees has worked with other affordable developments for about two years, with the agency referring their clients for placement in new developments. About 30 refugee families are living at Grand Fir Apartments in south Salem. Glaze has seen the cross cultural connections formed between kids on the playgrounds. “Who become best friends despite having pretty significant language barriers up front,” he said.Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post Refugees in Salem will soon have a new place to call home appeared first on Salem Reporter.