Heather Buch was born and raised in Lane County and has spent her professional career running a small business to help people access and afford housing in Lane County. Heather pursued this career path because, as the daughter of a single, working mother growing up in Veneta, she learned firsthand the effects of unstable housing.

At the age of eight while her mother was at work, Heather read the classified sections of local newspapers, calling advertisers in a determined effort to find affordable, stable housing for her family. This vivid memory, along with her mother’s dedication and resilience, shaped the values and priorities Heather holds today. Heather knows that success in life begins with stable housing, and that’s why she works every day to find housing solutions for individuals and families throughout Lane County.

Heather attended International High School at Sheldon and after graduation studied at Seattle University while simultaneously working multiple jobs and practicing martial arts. She received her degree in business administration and then returned to Lane County to find a job.

After several years in retirement planning, she decided to open her own small business in commercial real estate and property management with a specialization in affordable housing. She continually grew that company and oversaw multimillion-dollar projects and assets.

Heather also spent several years working as the Special Projects Director for St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc, Lane County’s largest nonprofit human services organization, where she helped the agency work towards community-driven goals. She worked on many unique, innovative community-based projects and took a lead role in the nonprofit’s acquisition and rehabilitation of aging mobile home parks – a new approach and solution to the need for more affordable housing that the state and local governments are working to replicate throughout Oregon. Due to her family relationship to this agency, Heather has declared a potential conflict of interest and will abstain from voting on any matters that pose an actual conflict.

As the mother of an energetic young daughter and wife to a Merchant Mariner and U.S. Navy reservist, Heather is fully invested in our community, and excited to put her skills, experience and insights to work in the public sector.

(Note: Heather Buch’s last name is pronounced “Buck.”)