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Siuslaw News
Siuslaw News
Efforts towards affordable housing take community work
NEWS &
VIEWS THAT
DEFINE OUR
COMMUNITY
Study shows roughly 30 percent of Oregonians worried of eviction or foreclosure
VOL. 131, NO. 66
A UGUST 18, 2021
F LORENCE , O REGON
WEATHER
Partly cloudy
with a high of 67
and a low of 54.
Full forecast on A3
COMMUNITY
By Reina Harwood
Siuslaw News
Before
the
outbreak
of
COVID-19, Oregonians were ex-
periencing the pre-existing symp-
toms of income inequality in 2019,
which amplified the harsh eco-
nomic fallout that erupted as the
pandemic went on.
One of the biggest impacts
has been to housing. First, when
state and federal governments
provided protections for renters
against evictions and homeowners
from foreclosure. As those mor-
atoriums have ended, the hous-
ing market has tightened yet
further, with houses selling with-
in days of listing and a scarcity of
rentals.
Despite the far reach to afford-
able homeownership and housing
availability, the Florence commu-
nity has taken it upon themselves
to collaborate and seek resourceful
ways to support employees, lo-
cal businesses, families and long-
term residents in search of a living
space.
Last year, the U.S. Census Bureau
launched a new Household Pulse
Survey. It studied how COVID-19
has impacted households and
communities across the nation to
pinpoint what areas needed assis-
tance the most.
According to the survey, rough-
ly 30 percent of Oregonians fell
under the likelihood of eviction
or foreclosure as of Aug. 2, 2021.
On a national scale, around 32
percent of the U.S. population is at
risk of falling behind on payments
and rent. Meanwhile, 4.3 percent
of Oregonians have missed their
payments in the week of Aug. 2,
and are not feeling confident.
While Oregonians have faced
financial setbacks affecting their
housing, local non-profit orga-
nizations like the Florence Food
Share, an emergency food pantry
based in Florence, continue pro-
viding resources to prevent hunger
in the community.
Florence Food Share Executive
Director Colin Morgan spoke on
the local housing crisis and its im-
pact on the food pantry.
“Hunger doesn’t just stay at the
dinner table, it goes throughout
the community,” he said.
See HOUSING page 5A
Siuslaw Teacher
Librarian Jennifer
McKenzie receives
Census data
released for
Lane County
Fulbright Award
A big birthday
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By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
PHOTOS BY
CHANTELLE MEYER/
SIUSLAW NEWS
Jennifer McKenzie
By Chantelle Meyer
Siuslaw News
S IUSLAW N EWS
2 S ECTIONS | 18 P AGES
C OPYRIGHT 2021
The U.S. Department
of State and the Fulbright
Foreign Scholarship Board
are pleased have announced
that Jennifer McKenzie of
Siuslaw School District in
Oregon has received a
Fulbright Teachers for
Global Classrooms Pro-
gram award.
As a Fulbright recipi-
ent, McKenzie will share
knowledge and foster
meaningful connections
across communities in the
United States and abroad.
“It’s such an honor, as
Fulbright awards are con-
sidered the most prestigious
international education
grants in the world,” McK-
enzie said.
Fulbrighters engage in
cutting-edge research and
expand their professional
networks, often continuing
research collaborations
started abroad and laying
the groundwork for forging
future partnerships between
institutions. Upon return-
ing to their classrooms
in the United States, they
share their stories and often
become active supporters of
international exchange, in-
viting foreign scholars and
educators to their school or
campus and encouraging
their colleagues and stu-
dents to go abroad.
According to McKenzie,
she will collaborate virtually
with a team of internation-
al teachers this academic
school year, attend a Global
Education Symposium this
spring in Washington D.C.
See FULBRIGHT page 7A
All of town’s a stage
C
ROW Advanced Acting Students presented
three showings of their “History of Live The-
ater” play around town on Friday. Two perfor-
mances drew large crowds at the Port of Siuslaw
Boardwalk and Gazebo Park in Historic Old Town
Florence. The students wrote and then act-
ed in the play, which was directed by CROW
Artistic Director Melanie Heard and her col-
league Diane David. The students also cre-
ated their own set, which had scenic design
from Brian Sandahl. The show drew laughter
as the students showed theater’s progression
from ancient Greece to “Hamilton,” complete
with singing, soliloquy and stage deaths.
For more information, visit www.crowkids.
com.
The 2020 Census was re-
leased last Thursday during
a nationwide virtual press
briefing given by U.S. Census
Bureau Acting Director Dr.
Ron Jarmin and Chief James
Whitehorne of the Redis-
tricting and Voting Rights
Office, along with other se-
nior staff members.
The release of the data col-
lected during the 2020 Cen-
sus has drawn scrutiny due
to the challenges presented
by the COVID-19 pandem-
ic and the former U.S. ad-
ministration. However, the
Supreme Court eventually
rejected the additional ques-
tions added to the census,
which asked for the immigra-
tion status of respondents.
Jarmin addressed these
concerns and the actions tak-
en by the bureau to provide
accurate and well-founded
information, which policy
makers and municipal lead-
ers will use in future plans.
The Census data is also
central to possible redistrict-
ing for Congressional seats
as well as the distribution of
billions of dollars in federal
funds.
See CENSUS page 6A
Ambassadors represent Florence
New volunteers
needed for public
functions
By Mark Brennan
Siuslaw News
The Florence Area Chamber of
Commerce represents its members
and local business interests by com-
municating news and connecting
resources. It is an essential link in
the chain which draws new residents
and new businesses to the area, as
well as supporting current members.
One of the most visible aspects
of the chamber is the all-volunteer
Florence Ambassadors, which acts
as the publicity arm of the Chamber.
Mike Bones is the chair of the
Ambassadors, which elected its new
board of directors in July.
“The Florence Area Chamber
Ambassadors had our first meet-
ing in over a year,” Bones said. “We
enjoyed getting to see one another
and getting back down to business!
We welcomed our elected officers
and we are looking forward to being
active with our Chamber activities
again.”
The board now includes President
Mike Bones, Vice President Igor
Kusznirczuk, Secretary Kathy Bones
and Treasurer Terry Woodward.
“We are looking for potential and
interested new members,” Bones
said.
Many volunteers are needed to
support local nonprofits. During the
pandemic, volunteer numbers have
dropped.
According to Bones, filling the
open spots on the board was a minor
challenge. However, the need now is
to add to the number of individuals
participating in the activities associ-
ated with the ribbon-cuttings, grand
openings and recognition ceremo-
nies that take place in and around
Florence during the year.
“We really do need some new vol-
unteers,” he said. “A lot of our mem-
bers are getting older and some have
See AMBASSADOR page 5A
Save the heavy lifting for us!
Atiyeh Bros. area rug cleaning and repair service to
the Florence area will be August 25th , with return
service September 8th and September 22nd for
repair orders. We will pick up your rugs, deep clean
them in our state of the art facility, repair if needed,
and deliver to your home. Please call us at
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