When Cottages United opened in early June, Melinda Freshour’s main goal for the affordable housing project was to build a community for the seniors who would live there.
So far, the residents of the 10 one-bedroom cottage-style homes have been thriving, Freshour, United Way’s community relations director, said. They are located on Northeast Aguilas Court, just steps away from Swegle Elementary School.
“It has really been a dream over there. They’ve all planted flowers out in front of their doors, and they now have a monthly newsletter that they share amongst them with all the highlights,” she said. “It has just been one story after another of just how much they feel like this is home.”
Soon, United Way hopes to soon launch its next phases of construction to add 15 more cottages. The cottages include a kitchen, bathroom and laundry, and are accessible for mobility devices.
The cottages, which rent for $500 a month, give seniors at risk of homelessness an affordable place to live. The average social security benefit in 2023 was $1,782 a month and the average Salem rent was over $1,100, according to United Way.
Phase two of the project will build seven cottages, and phase three will add eight. Those phases will cost $2 million total to complete, Freshour said.
A $50,000 donation from WaFd Bank’s foundation in August, with support from its Northern Oregon Regional President Gary Haines, kicked off the fundraising effort. That investment allowed United Way to begin the permitting process, Freshour said. So far, they’ve raised a total of $200,000.
There are 188 seniors on the waiting list hoping for a spot in one of the cottages as of Sept. 17, Freshour said, and she gets phone calls and online requests to join it every day.
Meanwhile, the existing residents have made themselves at home, Freshour said. In addition to the resident-run newsletter and gardening, Freshour’s husband recently added a gazebo and outdoor furniture which has become a gathering place for neighbors.
She’s expecting the relationship with Swegle Elementary to grow, and residents are considering volunteering as crossing guards. A resident also helped serve teachers and staff back-to-school meals from United Way and the Salem Leadership Foundation.
“It’s just been so sweet to have our residents say ‘We’re so excited that school’s back in session, because we can hear the children now, playing and laughing,’ and it brings life to our residents,” Freshour said. “It’s just a little magical part of the world that we get to be a part of.”
Construction has not yet been scheduled for the expansion, and Freshour said they want to raise enough to know it will be completed. They’re accepting donations for the project online. The first phase took about nine months to build once it started.
“We are so excited about it, so we want to keep doing it,” she said.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
