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Pastor says church provided below‑market housing but gaps remain for other workers
Summary
The pastor of Yachats Community Presbyterian Church said the church developed housing that made living in town possible for some staff, but he and other speakers said many workers still face unaffordable rents and frequent moves.
Bob Barrett, who identified himself as pastor of the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, said the church eventually built housing described as below market rate that made living in town feasible for some staff. He characterized that housing as necessary because market rents had risen faster than local wages.
"The church eventually built housing for us, which is still not cheap, but it is below market rate," Barrett said. He added that despite that effort, many service workers and families continue to struggle with affordability and repeated relocations.
Speakers presented the church housing as a partial response to a broader shortage: it helps some employees stay in town but does not replace a comprehensive housing strategy for a town that relies heavily on seasonal tourism and local labor. No formal church or municipal housing program was proposed during the comment period; speakers urged the council or planning staff to consider targeted, scaled approaches to support workers.
