I'm Rick Russell and I’m running for Deschutes County Commission, Position 4, because our communities deserve wholeness, where families can stay and thrive for generations.
My years helping unhoused neighbors find housing have shown what works. As your Commissioner, I'll tackle housing affordability, homelessness, wildfire readiness, and healthcare access with practical solutions that serve everyone. Let's build a future where all can thrive—together.
Priorities
Housing
Affordability
Deschutes County is a wonderful place to live—but it should also be a place where everyone can afford to thrive. Right now, our community faces a housing crisis fueled by high demand, limited supply, and slow development, pushing out families and long-time residents. This isn’t just about buildings—it’s about keeping our community whole and protecting what makes us who we are. As your County Commissioner, I’ll work with local governments, nonprofits, and builders to expand housing options that meet our growing needs—while preserving the natural beauty that makes Central Oregon so special.
Homelessness
Solutions
For years, I’ve worked alongside community organizations to help our unhoused neighbors find stability, dignity, and a path forward—because housing is more than shelter; it’s the foundation for healthier lives and stronger communities. As County Commissioner, I’ll build on that progress by taking a results-driven approach: partnering with care providers, nonprofits, and local governments to expand access to housing, health services, and long-term support. And we’ll do it with the compassion and urgency this crisis demands, because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
Wildfire
Resiliency
In Deschutes County, wildfire risk isn't a question of if—the danger is here now. With longer fire seasons and drier conditions, this growing threat is already putting our homes and livelihoods at risk every year. As your Commissioner, I'll take urgent action by partnering with forest agencies, emergency responders, and local communities to reduce threats through aggressive forest management and expanded defensible spaces. When disaster strikes, we won't just react—we'll be prepared. I'll ensure a swift response with the resources, shelter, and support our families need to not just recover, but rebuild stronger than ever.
Rick in the News
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Kids break ground on new playground for unhoused families
REDMOND, Ore. -- Armed with Tonka trucks and kid-sized shovels, a team of young “construction workers” helped break ground Sunday on a project aimed at supporting unhoused families in Central Oregon.
The expansion at Mountain View Fellowship’s Safe Parking site includes a playground, four microshelters, a pergola and landscaped space for families experiencing homelessness. The effort is led by Mountain View Community Development, the nonprofit that operates the program.
Since 2021, the Safe Parking program has provided a safe place for families living in vehicles. Over the last two years, 75 children have stayed at the site. The new space will give them a place to play and connect.
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Redmond Embraces Pod Structures as Shelter Option
Redmond will begin allowing micro-shelters at safe parking sites within the city, offering another shelter option for individuals taking part in the program. The City Council unanimously approved the amendment to its code on Jan. 28 following an overwhelmingly favorable public hearing.
Mountain View Community Development (MVCD), the nonprofit that operates Redmond's safe parking program, will start with a total of eight structures at a select number of private sites.
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Deschutes County Leases Land for Supportive Housing
Deschutes County voted to lease land in east Redmond for a 75-unit permanent supportive housing project, known as Mt. View Community Village. Redmond nonprofit, Mountain View Community Development, which runs a safe parking program in Redmond and Bend, will lease the land to provide housing for those experiencing homelessness and individuals on fixed incomes.
