Douglas County to see an increase in housing for senior citizens
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - With a housing shortage for seniors in Douglas County, one company is adding more options for those in need.
This lot located off of Edenbower Boulevard in Roseburg will soon be turned into a senior living and memory care facility by a Eugene based company called Compass Senior Living.
"There's a lot of demand,” said Will Forsyth, the Vice President of Compass Senior Living. “Existing assisted living and memory care communities are well occupied."
The center will have 73 assisted living units and 21 memory care units, with amenities like transportation, something the county says is needed in the area.
"Assisted living facilities and the types of facilities like this new one coming on they fill up pretty quickly,” said Jerome Webber, with Douglas County Senior Services. “So I do think there's a need there. We could also use some of the housing in the lower end range also though."
Webber says there are government senior living communities where rent is capped at 30-percent, but the waiting list can take well over a year.
"We're seeing more seniors that are living in their vehicles or having to stay in shelters,” said Webber.
As for the new center, Forsyth says prices will stay close to other communities in town, but will try and help people get the care they need.
The center is set to open next summer so seniors in the area can have a roof over their head year-round.
