news anchor background tiny home in city

The project idea began years ago, but construction plans were delayed due to Covid and the 2020 wildfires as United Way pivoted to respond to more immediate needs. The nonprofit bought three parcels of land for the project in May 2021 from the city of Salem for a total of $60, Wolf said. “We don’t want the seniors to just be holed up in their house,” she said. Wolf said United Way has talked with Swegle Elementary leaders and the Center 50+ about partnering on activities or volunteer work. Wolf expects the development will cost about $3 million - roughly $110,000 per cottage. A rendering from United Way shows plans for a tiny home cluster to house rent-burdened seniors in Salem. “If we were to open tomorrow, by the end of the day tomorrow it would be filled,” Wolf said. She said projects like this are badly needed to help prevent seniors from sliding into homelessness. Rhonda Wolf, United Way CEO, said their organization looks to fill gaps in existing services in Salem. Cottages would have a kitchen and be friendly to seniors with disabilities, with grab bars in showers and doors wide enough for wheelchairs. Rent on the units would be capped at $500 a month, intended to be affordable for those living on an average Social Security payment, and houses would be for single seniors or couples 55 and older. United Way leaders hope to break ground this year on a unique development in northeast Salem meant to be affordable for seniors like Roy who struggle to afford housing on Social Security alone.Ĭalled Cottages United, the development is a community of 25 400-square foot cottages located on either side of Northeast Market Street next to Swegle Elementary School. He came to United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley looking for help,įreshour met Roy in late 2021, when she was helping county residents apply for rental assistance as United Way’s donor steward.įor her, he was the perfect illustration of a problem she saw too often: seniors in danger of homelessness as fast-rising rents outpaced their fixed retirement income. After she died of Covid, he also faced a rent increase. They’d been getting by because Roy’s wife – then in her 80s – was still working at McDonalds.

News anchor background tiny home in city