The entire state of Oregon is facing a housing crisis, and the coast — where second homes and short-term rentals can skew the market — is no exception. “Think Out Loud” traveled to Lincoln County recently to hear about solutions.

We had a series of conversations about different approaches residents and organizations are taking to create more units, more affordability and more stability so that existing homeowners can stay in their homes.

We started in Newport, where Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center is putting the finishing touches on a new apartment complex. When it’s done, the building will house visiting researchers and students.

Bob Cowen recently retired as the director of the center. He took us on a tour of the building and talked about the need for workforce housing in Lincoln County.

We then traveled to the Siletz reservation, about 20 minutes inland from Newport. The tribe’s “Home of Your Own” program is meant to transition renters into homeownership.

Sami Jo Difuntorum is the executive director of the Siletz Tribal Housing Department. Gail and Kevin Barker bought a home through the program about a decade ago. They joined us to talk about some of the challenges Native American communities face in finding and keeping housing.

We ended back in Newport at Surfside Village, a manufactured home park just a few blocks from Nye Beach.

Residents of the 55+ community recently banded together to form a co-op, meaning they now collectively own the land beneath their homes, as well as the houses themselves.

Terry McCoy is the secretary of the new co-op board. She took us on a tour of the park and introduced us to some of her neighbors.

We caught Bonnie Good and Tom Vincent watering the plants and reading in the garden, respectively. The couple has lived at Surfside Village for 25 years. We also spoke with 87-year-old Veloris Kaufmann in the airy corner unit she’s lived in for almost 15 years, and ended at the home of Ed Cameron. He’s the park’s oldest resident at 94 years old.

They all talked with us about the need for affordable housing on the coast, and the stability the new co-op model affords them.

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07/08/lincoln-county-housing-oregon/