Lincoln County has purchased a 2,000 square foot building one block off U.S. Highway 101 in the Oceanlake area of Lincoln City to serve as its second homeless shelter.
Including closing costs, the price was $350,000, said Jayne Romero, director of the county’s Health & Human Services Department.
The property at 1516 N.E. 14th St. had been used as a storage facility and is basically an open shell of building that will need insulation, drywall, bathrooms, a kitchen and a fire sprinkler system. Romero said an architect will design the interior and the county should have the renovations done so it can open Oct. 1.
The cost of renovations won’t be known until the design work is done and bids received, she said.
“It’s really an ideal property for us at a reasonable acquisition price,” Romero said.
She said her department “braided together” funds from a variety of local, state and federal sources to buy the property.
The county had been looking for property to buy in Lincoln City since last summer when commissioners gave the go-ahead to launch its first six-month shelter program for the homeless. The Housing Authority of Lincoln County was able to find and purchase a building on Southwest Seventh Street in Newport, but both entities struggled to find suitable property in Lincoln City.
After not being able to find a home for its Lincoln City shelter, the county this winter stepped up a motel voucher program for that area.
The shelter program operates from Oct. 1 to March 31 no matter the weather.
The county has mailed a letter to neighboring property owners explaining the purchase. The letter said the Newport shelter has served 47 people who said they lived in Lincoln City and the program averaged 12-14 people a night using the motel vouchers.
This has to have tight control with no drugs, alcohol or other issues. Residents should have assigned jobs such as neighborhood clean up, cooking and cleaning of the inside area. No vehicles, tents within 2 or 3 blocks.
It will be an overnight-only shelter like the one in Newport. They have very stringent rules for folks to spend the night there. They cannot stay there during the day.
The address in the article was initially incorrect, but has now been corrected. The building is at 1516 NE 14th St. This is somewhat less residential surrounding it than if it was on 16th Street as initially reported. There is the Mini pet Mart to the North and another industrial looking building to the West.
I can tell you this for a fact: Last season, I saw extensive encampments along Highway 101. They build up spots that have massive furniture, tents, etc.
They even set up in the walk-in spaces where people will not go. It is their lifestyle. The majority don’t want help. They prefer to keep their own amenities.
No vehicles within 2 or 3 blocks? Why shouldn’t homeless people be allowed to have vehicles? The shelter’s agreements will include good behavior but I really don’t see why they aren’t allowed to have vehicles. Do you think that because they are homeless they shouldn’t be allowed to have transport?
Sure, you can have a vehicle, as long as it has insurance and is currently registered.
A lot of multi-unit buildings are being built around Lincoln City. Do we have the capacity to employ the numerous residents that will occupy these? If not, we are trading a housing shortage for other socioeconomic problems that may well be worse for our community.
I keep hearing that there is a housing shortage, particularly low income housing. I am not sure what you consider “a lot” I am aware of precisely two multi unit low income developments in Lincoln City. Given the number of places still advertising to hire more staff at the moment I would think that we would be able to provide employment for those people.
Would you rather that they didn’t have anywhere to live and that we closed down some of the businesses as they can’t find sufficient staff?
The casino is always hiring
I have heard that too. Commissioner Hall kind of spells out things on her campaign website: https://www.voteclairehall.com/clairehallpriorities
I’m glad. Will there be laundry facilities? We have to start doing something for people homeless. How about a place to make resumes and get jobs. A donation site for cloths and shoes would be helpful too. Thank you for your efforts.
Some people think we will be inviting people from other areas to use the facility. I think these folks don’t realize that we have a need for our local citizens. Could you kindly report how many high school students are actually homeless in Lincoln County on average. How many elderly and that we have a new service building for folks that need them. Also there has to be a way to employ people. There’s a need for service people in hotels restaurants etc. We have a good temporary employment service in town; maybe they should be hooked up with a resource plan? We can do this. Please be kind and put yourself in these people’s shoes. Can you imagine your child or grandchild in this situation with no one to help? Thanks for reading, Julie.
You make a very good point. I think I saw some recent stats somewhere (cannot remember where) about the increase in families and children who are unhoused–all over the state/nation, not just Lincoln County. It would be great if Yachats News could publish an article about those (apologize if they have an I just haven’t seen it). But, also, I do not think a new warming shelter and resource center is going to “invite” unhoused people to the coast anymore than the coast already invites them (due to climate). So they will either be living unhoused on the street, or receiving support, nourishment, and resources to move off the street. I think unhoused people are more dangerous to others when they are desperate. The shelters help eliminate that threat. This is not inviting more homelessness. It is the opposite of that.
I see this differently than you. The Newport shelter published data about whom they are serving which YachatsNews printed. I was surprised at the number of unhoused who said they live outside of Lincoln County but spend nights at the Newport shelter. I doubt these unhoused would be coming to Newport if there were no overnight, tax-payer supported accommodations.
I’m hoping south county once again won’t be left out of the equation. All we seem to hear is Newport and Lincoln City. I’ve personally had to scramble to find help for families living in the woods in Waldport during the bad storms when the shelter in Newport was full with a waiting list.
Hi Greg. The shelter in Newport does not have a waiting list and has never turned anyone away because it is full.
Just ban air bnb and have reasonably priced rentals. I have worked with good people not on drugs or any addiction issues but can’t find a place to rent so they sleep in their cars and go to work everyday it’s the developers or greedy owners who are causing this housing crisis
Another part of the problem is that many of the homeless are either physically or mentally unable to care for themselves. The existing shelters are not equipped to provide any sort of medical care and the hospital just turns them loose even if they can’t do basic tasks. There is nowhere to send individuals who can’t be left to fend for themselves but aren’t connected with services that can provide assistance. It’s a complex problem that needs more than shelter to address.
At least the surrounding property owners in Lincoln City were notified by Romero/Lincoln County before the the property for the shelter was purchased and announced to the public. The surrounding property owners of the Newport shelter were not given that courtesy. We had it sprung on our residential neighborhood and continue to deal with the problems this shelter’s location has created.
The fact is a large majority of the American population is just are a few paychecks away from being houseless, with rising costs on homes, food, clothing, transportation (the basics); then add that to low wages and it has the possibility for a perfect storm, come an illness or injury. We all are in this human experience together and we can all do some part, using skills we’ve learned throughout our lives, to help each other no matter how large or small and without judgement and just love.