As Lincoln City sees additional affordable housing projects developed, efforts are underway to include dwellings for people with severe and persistent mental illness.
Lincoln County Health and Human Services and the Housing Authority of Lincoln County are joining forces to create 28 units of housing dedicated to HHS clients with mental illness, according to Housing Authority of Lincoln County Director Karen Rockwell.
The Lighthouse Village project is planned to include 26 one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units at the north end of Lincoln City, north of the Logan Road intersection. HHS plans to build a new clinic next door.
Resident services will include assigned case management outreach from Lincoln County Behavioral Health.
“Case management in this setting includes resource navigation, helping individuals connect with community resources, skills training and reinforcement, which includes practical living skills training such as budgeting, cooking, how to keep up your own home, and group socialization opportunities, utilizing the on-site community room,” Rockwell said. “These activities are included on an individual’s clinical service plan. The community room, which will include a small office space with internet access, will be open to use by other community partners to meet with residents, improving access and reducing transportation barriers.”
According to Rockwell, supportive housing for persons with severe and persistent mental illness is a critical need in Lincoln County. In 2022, Lincoln County Behavioral Health served 1,351 adults in its outpatient program; it had 803 crisis contacts. At least 10 percent of those served have no housing, inadequate housing or unsafe housing. In addition, the population is aging and demonstrating a greater need for supportive housing.
“Currently, there is one nine-bed supportive housing apartment complex in the county that serves this population,” Rockwell said. “There are a number of subsidized housing options for people, however, the waiting list for subsidized housing is over a year, sometimes longer. Another challenge is the small housing stock as well as the number of units that have/are being transitioned to vacation rentals.”
Lincoln County Health and Human Services is providing the bulk of the funding for the estimated $7 million project through grant funds and reserves. In exchange for that funding, the housing will be dedicated to HHS clients with severe and persistent mental illness under a referral system, which will be documented in a restrictive covenant on the property. The additional funds are being sourced through an Oregon Housing and Community Services application by HALC.
The project is in development review with Lincoln City with an anticipated groundbreaking in fall of 2024.
Beyond mental health client housing
Lincoln City Economic Development and Urban Renewal Director Alison Robertson said other housing being developed includes two new affordable (income-qualified) projects opening this year — Lincoln 25 (107 units) being built by Innovative Housing Inc., and Wecoma Place (44 units) built by the Housing Authority of Lincoln County (Stewardship Development).
“The city has a housing needs assessment from 2017 that calls to build new housing units — rental and sale — of 91 on average per year, for the next 20 years,” Robertson said. “The city is currently working with a confidential developer to construct housing on the Fernwood site within the Villages at Cascade Head. All other housing production would be through private market transactions.”
In her State of the City address April 23, Lincoln City Major Susan Wahlke outlined the progress the city has made in developing new affordable housing through the city’s planning and development department. She highlighted Innovative Housing Inc., across Highway 101 from Oceanlake Fire Station; and Wecoma Place.
“These two new projects can provide affordable housing for our local workforce years into the future,” she said. “This is an exciting time for our city.”
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