Oregon healthcare organization purchases Seaside hotel, plans to create permanent housing

SEASIDE, Ore. — A Seaside hotel has been purchased with plans to turn it into housing units for medical staff and people with behavioral health needs. Healthcare organization CareOregon tells KATU News that they purchased the Red Lion Inn & Suites in Seaside, located at 900 South Holladay Street.

The project will create 50-60 housing units with two-thirds reserved for healthcare workers and the remaining one-third will be dedicated as permanent supportive housing for Columbia Pacific members with behavioral health needs. Officials say the project will fill a need by creating both workforce and permanent supportive housing.

“Over the past several years as we’ve engaged in conversations about what our region needs to be healthy, we’ve continuously heard that housing is among our greatest needs,” said Mimi Haley, Columbia Pacific CCO executive director. “Converting the Red Lion into housing for providers and community members is part of a larger strategy to improve overall community health.”

CareOregon says they anticipate opening the building to residents by Spring 2024.

“The per capita rate of houselessness here in Clatsop County is the highest in the state and by a long shot” said Amy Baker, Clatsop Behavioral Health executive director. “It's six times the state average and 4.6 times Multnomah County’s per capita rate of homelessness. So, being able to provide permanent supportive housing, it's going to make a tremendous difference in our community. Importantly, access to housing for our employees will be a gamechanger. Our agency loses about 30% of the applicants in our job pipeline because of lack of housing. We need more access to housing here on the coast. This project is part of the solution.”