Ellensburg site purchased for affordable housing development

The Coos-Curry Housing Authority (CCHA) announced the purchase of a new development site in Gold Beach this week. The Ellensburg site, located near Gauntlett St. and Colvin St. was acquired using funds from State of Oregon- Oregon Housing and Community Services Land Acquisition Program; Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (“NOAH”); and AllCare CCO.

In a partnership with the State of Oregon, the CCHA will look to secure further funds to develop 26 affordable housing units for Curry County. The units will be catered toward seniors, as CCHA looks to stem the effects of the housing crisis that has swept along the Southern Coast.

With property values climbing at a rate incongruous with economic growth, many citizens are finding themselves priced out of areas they could once afford. This is a major problem within the elderly community, as many retirees planned for a future that could not accommodate the rampant inflation we are experiencing, among other contributing factors like ballooning medical costs and insufficient Social Security pay-outs.

With older adults among the fastest growing demographics in terms of homelessness, this will be a welcome boon to the community. The CCHA anticipates that construction will be able to start by 2026, as further funding for development must still be secured.