1. Housing Challenges on the Oregon Coast
Claire Hall

2. About Me: Portland native, coast resident since 1987
25 years in journalism
Lincoln County Commissioner since 2005
Volunteer with local non-profits
Active in the Housing Alliance
Frequent testifier in Salem
Member of the Housing Stability Council

3. Quick Plug: The Oregon Housing Plan

4. A Picture of Lincoln County
High level of children in foster care (Almost 2x state average for preschoolers)
Poverty rate for families with young children is 25 percent, 11 points higher than average
More than 1,000 students identified as homeless under McKinney-Vento, 11 percent unaccompanied
High rates of drug abuse, child abuse and domestic violence
Highest alcohol and tobacco consumption levels in the state

5. What drives this? Many low-paying, seasonal jobs
Industries where substance abuse is culturally accepted or tolerated
Lack of a strong social safety net
Changing demographics, isolation of some groups

6. What about housing?
Median rent increase since 2010 is 25 percent, to $862 per month
Less than state average, BUT our median income has actually declined

7. Limited Opportunities to Rent or Buy
23 percent of renters are severely rent burdened. Housing supply gap not only at 30 percent and 50 percent of MFI, but at 80 pct too! Oregon since 2000: 155,000 deficit in housing creation. Worse in rural areas…..access to financing and developer capacity big issues.

8. Unique Coastal Drivers
Short term rentals
Seasonally occupied homes
Limited land mass available for development
Protected forestlands, wetlands. Water frontage or view adds at least 30 percent to land price.

9. Solutions: Looking at a Spectrum
2007 plan, “At Home in Lincoln County”
Existing oirganizations and initiatives strengthened, new ones launched

10. Land Trust Now Part of Proud Ground
Two homes through Neighborhood stabilization fund, three more from Governor’s workforce housing pilot

11. LIFT is beginning to have an impact
Fisterra Gardens Town Homes, Yachats (21 units)
Surf View Village, Newport (110 units)
County and cities have supported property tax breaks for these and older affordable developments

12. Permanent Support Housing
2007: Housing first funding, Lincoln County got more units than any county except Multnomah (18 units in two buildings) 2019: State $20 million PSH pilot

13. New culture of Collaboration

14. Kudos to grassroots, and to leaders
The four housing bills governor brown signed last week: OHCS budget, end to single family zoning in larger cities, targeted help for DV survivors, requires regional housing needs analyses. This on top of end to no-cause evictions passed earlier.

15. Questions?