November 9, 2021 – Housing
Stephanie Hadley, Regional Housing Coordinator (stephhad@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/southernoregoncoastregionalhousing)
Video of new housing projects on the south coast
Regional steering committee will serve as a hub – community partnerships and relationship building are key in moving housing projects forward
Committee members include Stephanie, Commissioner Cribbins, Commissioner Boice, Rodger Craddock, Marie Simonds, Sam Engel, Judy Duffy, Bob More, Haley Sheldon, Meredith Howell, and Mike Lehman
Stephanie also works with the Coos Housing Action Team and Curry Housing Committee
Coos: monthly, 2nd Thursday 11am-12pm
Curry: monthly, 2nd Friday 2-4pm
Started to discuss partnership with Northwest Housing Alliance to support affordable housing projects regionally
2022 goals: continue to build out housing resource hub (e.g. web site in the future, in the interim contact Stephanie); finding solutions for labor force on south coast to support housing projects; planning 2022 housing summit
Additional housing updates from community partners
Tara Johnson – Coalbank Village has had many recent successes thanks to partnerships with community organizations, have seen rapid positive changes in clients
Scott Cooper – AYA now has temporary pallet shelters for homeless youth, also has Recapture House for homeless families
Pastor Ford has four temporary shelters at Harmony United Methodist Church
David Ross – new Facebook group to help with neighborhood beautification, Oregon Bay Area Beautification (North Bend, Coos Bay & Charleston)
Community updates
Welcome new participants
Kyle Motley (Front Street Community Bike Works, ) – free bikes to those in need, supporting transportation needs in our community, looking for community connections
Gene McVae (new Director of Housing at Adapt, eugenem@adaptoregon.org) – various housing projects for individuals in recovery
Kara Long (Coos Health & Wellness, kara.long@chw.coos.or.us) – helping to coordinate resources (rent, mortgage, utilities, food) for people isolating/in quarantine due to the pandemic
Kelsey Taylor (South Coast Head Start Port Orford/Gold Beach, ktaylor.schs@orcca.us) – gathering resources for families
Erin Porter (new Behavioral Health Director with AllCare Health)
Community news
Dane Zahner (HIV Alliance, dzahner@allianceor.org) – full services available at Harmony United Methodist Church in Coos Bay (Tuesdays 2-4pm), Coast Community Health (Tuesdays 10am-12pm), Brookings Resource Center on Railroad (Fridays 12-3pm); testing available at St Tim’s the 4th Friday of each month
Jerry O’Sullivan (Adapt) – transferring Curry County mental health program to Adapt starting January 1
Connie Hunter (connie.hunter@outlook.com)
See flyers for OABHI events coming up.
HB2153 directs the Director of Veterans Affairs to establish Oregon what is being called “veterans community” to include residential units, medical and social services for veterans and family members. This legislation also directs ODVA’s Director to contract with non-governmental entity for construction, operation and management of Veterans community. This bill authorizes incorporated cities to acquire real property for sale or donation to Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of veterans community and to encourage that for such acquisitions. Allocates lottery money is for purpose of Veterans community. As of Jun 26, 2021: this bill is in committee (upon adjournment).
Workgroups are being formed, as follows – contact Connie if you are interested: * Student Housing Advocates for Curry Campus, “Homeownership for Veterans” initiative will be sponsored by the Veterans Task Group, Curry County Suicide Awareness and Prevention Council, * Low-income home ownership initiative workgroup, * Major prospect development workgroup
Construction Contractors Board live 3-hour webinars have been scheduled through December. You can view the schedule on this website: https://www.oregon.gov/CCB/Pages/ccbclasses.aspx. If you don’t have time for a webinar, CCB’s classes can be taken on demand online.
From David Ross: Side note relating to Veterans – you can support local veteran’s crafts at the South Coast Veteran and Spouse craft and art showcase. Pony Village Mall 10am-5pm daily until Nov 21.
Erlette Upshaw: Coos Elderly Services and OHA is hosting vaccine events the next two Thursdays at Pony Village from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. We will be doing vaccinations, along with boosters and testing. No appointments needed.
Mellissah Hendrickson: South Coast Business has lots of on the job training opportunities and scholarships available. We serve Coos, Curry and Douglas You can refer people to our program through our referral form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/a0839c97058848cea6e533f14395b616
Maria Walker (WorkSource): Please refer job seekers to Maria at WorkSource Oregon Employment Department in Brookings, OR 541-469-9836, maria.walker@employ.oregon.gov
Ariana Ryzebol (North Bend VA) – If anyone has any questions about VA suicide prevention services please email me: Ariana.ryzebol@va.gov
Renee Menkens: Help that Helps guidebook is now available, helpful for families and kids. See the South Coast Together web site for details.
David Ross (Waterfall): Youth Action Council in place at Marshfield High School to work on projects addressing mental health, bullying, etc.
Rachael Espy (The SAFE Project): COVID funds available for housing assistance for survivors, TREM program starting soon. The SAFE Project is no longer covering the crisis line for Oasis.
Bear Lawrence (Bear Cupboard, Coquille): Have to vacate building by January, have partnered with Myrtle Point Food Bank to continue to provide services. Looking for a distribution site in Coquille and working on a mobile unit to help with food distribution.
South Coast Social Services Connect meetings will continue virtually through year-end, but we are looking to host smaller in-person regional networking meetings as COVID permits.