Bend housing advocacy group hosts event to remember those priced out of Central Oregon
Claire Elmer
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Monday is World Habitat Day, a time for communities around the globe to reflect on the fundamental right to housing and the ongoing challenge of ensuring that everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.
In Bend, this year’s observance carries special weight as local advocacy group Bend YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) stages an event titled “Remembering Our Neighbors.” The gathering serves to honor residents forced to leave the area because rising costs have made it impossible for them to remain.
Bend YIMBY, a volunteer-driven organization, is dedicated to advocating for an increase in all types of housing throughout the city—ranging from townhomes and apartments to infill development. The group’s central goal is to promote affordability and ensure that people who work in Bend can also afford to live there.
With the city’s rapid growth and soaring cost of living, many long-term residents find themselves priced out of their neighborhoods, resulting in a loss that, organizers say, resonates across the wider community.
“Anyone who’s lived in Central Oregon for some time has likely faced the heartbreak of seeing neighbors and friends uprooted as housing prices climb,” explains John Heylin, volunteer and organizer with Bend YIMBY. “Frankly, the cost of living here is incredibly high, making it increasingly difficult for people to stay. After years of watching friends leave, I wanted to host a memorial event—because those departures represent a real loss for the community.”
The “Remembering Our Neighbors” event goes beyond simply recalling those lost to the housing crisis. The aim is to prompt honest conversations about what Bend stands to lose if the trend persists and to motivate collective action around solutions.
Bend YIMBY hopes the event will spark dialogue about practical steps to address the crisis—such as boosting the overall housing supply and supporting policies that lower barriers and costs for building new homes. The organization’s message remains clear: maintaining Bend’s vibrance depends on enabling residents of all income levels to call the city home.
The “Remembering Our Neighbors” event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday night at Bevel Brewing, creating space for community members to gather, reflect, and chart a path toward a more affordable future for all.