A campaign built on faith and accountability is now facing a growing list of questions that extend beyond politics and into business practices, public statements, and nonprofit operations. In Josephine County, those questions are no longer confined to private conversations. They are moving into the public square as residents begin comparing campaign messaging with documented experiences and publicly available records.
County Commissioner candidate Chad Hansen has positioned himself as a values-driven leader, emphasizing ethics, trust, and personal responsibility. It is a message designed to connect with a community that places a high value on character. Yet as the election approaches, a different narrative is taking shape, one that raises concerns about consistency, transparency, and follow-through.
Efforts by the Grants Pass Tribune to engage Hansen directly on issues have not resulted in meaningful response. Despite multiple attempts to seek clarification on both campaign statements and business-related concerns, communication has remained non-existent. At the same time, Hansen has publicly indicated that such outreach has not occurred, creating a contradiction that has become central to the broader discussion.
That contradiction gains weight when paired with firsthand accounts from homeowners Albert Jones and Heather Vanderhoff, who describe an ongoing and costly experience tied to a home constructed through Hansen’s company, Home Bridging. According to their account, issues began almost immediately after their purchase in April 2022.
They report widespread flooring instability, early signs of material failure, and multiple installation problems, including a dishwasher that flooded shortly after move-in. A broken kitchen fixture reportedly took more than a month to address. Outside the home, improper grading allowed water from surrounding properties to flow directly into their yard, resulting in pooling that required personal expense to correct.
The situation escalated in the following year. The homeowners describe structural concerns in a shower floor and standing water beneath the home itself. While initial inspections acknowledged the issue, they state that follow-up action never materialized. An independent estimate placed repair costs at more than nine thousand dollars. According to their account, repeated attempts to resolve these issues directly with Hansen went unanswered.
Today, drainage remains one of the most serious concerns. Information provided to the Tribune indicates that water runoff from nearby elevation was not effectively diverted. Instead, alterations to the property allegedly allowed water to move toward and beneath the structure. Long-term implications of such conditions can include structural damage, mold, and compromised safety, raising legitimate questions about construction standards and oversight.
The homeowners also describe a breakdown in professional boundaries. They state that communication was redirected through individuals connected to Edgewater church community and that resolution of construction issues became entangled with personal relationships. They were told, according to their account, that Hansen’s word carried more assurance than a traditional warranty. Regardless of how that statement is interpreted, the outcome remained unchanged. The issues persisted.
Beyond individual homeowner experiences, broader questions are now being asked about Hansen’s organization, Home Bridging GP. Public records show that the entity is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the Internal Revenue Service under EIN 85-3872864, with tax-exempt status dating back to February 2021. The organization presents itself as a housing-focused nonprofit, promoting affordable housing initiatives, rehabilitation projects, and assistance for underserved populations throughout Southern Oregon.
However, federal nonprofit databases classify Home Bridging GP under the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities code I60, a designation associated with law enforcement agencies and police departments. That classification does not align with the organization’s publicly stated housing mission. While such discrepancies can occur during the filing process, the classification has remained unchanged across multiple reporting periods, raising questions about why it has not been corrected if it does not reflect the organization’s true function.
Financial filings indicate rapid growth. In the 2024 fiscal year, the organization reported more than eight hundred fifty thousand dollars in revenue against just over eight hundred thirteen thousand dollars in expenses, resulting in a net surplus. Total assets were reported at approximately 1.69 million dollars, with liabilities near 1.49 million. Revenue sources include contributions, program-related income, and smaller amounts tied to investment activity. Leadership listed in filings includes Hansen as president, alongside other officers, all reporting no compensation in available records.
Public documentation also links the organization to government-related housing efforts. Records from the City of Cave Junction reference an intergovernmental agreement involving a housing rehabilitation program administered by an entity identified as Homebridging GP LLC, with Hansen acting in a representative role. The use of an LLC designation in municipal documentation introduces another layer of complexity, as federal filings identify the organization as a nonprofit corporation. While not uncommon for organizations to operate multiple entities, the distinction raises questions about structure, oversight, and clarity.
Independent nonprofit evaluators present a mixed picture. Charity Navigator assigns the organization a low rating, citing limited financial transparency and the absence of independently audited financial statements. At the same time, other sources describe its work as focused on housing access and community support, often framed within a faith-based context.
In context, the available information outlines an operation that sits at the intersection of nonprofit housing services, faith-driven outreach, and development activity. At the same time, inconsistencies in classification, structural references, and transparency metrics leave several questions unanswered.
These concerns are further compounded by Hansen’s past public statements on county operations. In prior discussions, he questioned the need for additional staffing within the Josephine County Planning Department based on his own experience as a builder. Those remarks stood in contrast to detailed presentations from department leadership describing reduced staffing levels and increasing workload demands. While those comments are part of the past, they remain relevant as voters assess his approach to governance and public communication.
What has emerged is not a single issue, but a pattern. A campaign message centered on accountability is being measured against accounts of limited responsiveness. A housing-focused nonprofit carries a classification that suggests an entirely different function. A builder promoting trust is linked to unresolved homeowner concerns while using Edgewater Church as a shield.
For voters, the question is not simply whether any one issue is definitive. It is whether the collective weight of these issues reflects a candidate prepared to meet the expectations of public office. Local elections often turn on trust, and trust is built not through messaging alone, but through consistency, transparency, and action.
As more residents come forward and additional records are reviewed, the picture may continue to evolve. What remains clear is that the conversation surrounding Chad Hansen, his campaign, and his business operations is far from settled.
This is an ongoing investigation by the Grants Pass Tribune. More articles will continue to follow as we speak to more residents of this “faith based” subdivision.
As the Grants Pass Tribune continues its investigation into Home Bridging and this subdivision tied to County Commissioner candidate Chad Hansen, questions surrounding the organization’s nonprofit classification and its apparent inconsistencies remain unresolved. A formal request for clarification has already been sent seeking answers on the original filing, why the designation appears incorrect, and why it has not been corrected to date. Additional inquiries into the organization’s financial structure and use of funds are also ongoing. Reporting will continue as outreach expands to residents within the development and others with direct knowledge of the project. The Tribune remains committed to documenting the facts as they emerge, following the evidence wherever it leads, and presenting a clear and accurate account to the community without assumption or conclusion.
Dear Mr. Hansen,
I am writing to you in my capacity as editor of the Grants Pass Tribune regarding questions that have arisen from publicly available records associated with Home Bridging GP.
As part of an ongoing review of nonprofit filings and organizational representations within Josephine County, we have identified a discrepancy that warrants clarification. Federal records indicate that Home Bridging GP is registered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under EIN 85-3872864, with its exemption dating back to February 2021. The organization publicly presents itself as a housing-focused nonprofit, emphasizing affordable housing, rehabilitation efforts, and assistance to underserved populations.
However, federal nonprofit databases classify the organization under National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities code I60, a designation associated with law enforcement agencies and police departments. This classification appears inconsistent with the organization’s stated housing mission and has remained unchanged across multiple reporting periods.
To ensure accurate and fair reporting, we are requesting your response to the following questions.
Were you aware that Home Bridging GP is currently classified under an NTEE code associated with law enforcement agencies, and if so, when did you first become aware of this classification?
Who was responsible for preparing and submitting the original application for 501(c)(3) status, and was this classification intentionally selected, assigned in error, or applied by the IRS or a third-party database?
Does Home Bridging GP have any past or present operational connection to law enforcement activities that would justify this classification?
If the classification does not accurately reflect the organization’s mission, why has it not been corrected since the organization received its tax-exempt status in 2021?
Have any steps been taken to amend or update this classification with the Internal Revenue Service or other reporting entities? If so, please provide details.
Has the organization received grants, funding, or other financial benefits where its classification may have been a factor, and if so, how was the organization represented in those applications?
What internal oversight exists within Home Bridging GP to ensure compliance and accuracy in federal filings and public representations?
Finally, will you commit to correcting the classification if it is determined to be inaccurate, and what timeline can the public expect for that correction?
The Grants Pass Tribune is committed to providing factual, balanced, and transparent reporting to the community. We welcome your full response and are prepared to publish it in its entirety to ensure your perspective is accurately represented.
We respectfully request a response within 24 hours of receipt of this email. If additional time is needed, please advise accordingly.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
John Oliver Riccio
Grants Pass Tribune
www.grantspasstribune.com