Updated With Photos And Video: Rapid Rehousing Program Provides Homes For Holiday Farm Fire Survivors (Photo) -11/12/24
Interview footage for your use available at https://vimeo.com/1029061232/858390926d?share=copy
The speakers are:
- Robert Campbell – homeowner and Holiday Farm Fire survivor
- Mary Ellen Wheeler – McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group program manager
- Cassidy Rain Campbell – Robert’s granddaughter
There are also two photos attached for your use.
Photo 1: Robert Campbell and Cassidy Campbell in front of Robert’s new home.
Photo 2: Robert and Cassidy with members of the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) and others in front of his new home. Pictured from left to right: Kathy Nix Gillette with J&M Homes (the housing manufacturer); Lane County Recovery Manager Matt McRae; LTRG Executive Director Devin Thompson; LTRG Associate Director John Moriarty; LTRG Program Manager Mary Ellen Wheeler; Robert Campbell, homeowner; Cassidy Rain Campbell, homeowner’s granddaughter.
Lane County and the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group (MVLTRG) partnered to provide new manufactured homes for families displaced by the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire.
In total, 11 new manufactured homes will be placed on properties in the McKenzie River Valley to house families who lost their homes in the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. The first home was placed on May 14, 2024. Three additional homes were placed during the week of September 16. Two more homes are permitted and will be placed in December. Placement of the five remaining homes is expected early in 2025.
The MVLTRG coordinated the process to match fire survivors with homes in this program. Fire survivors who are 62 or older or living with a disability and in temporary housing since their homes were destroyed in the fire were prioritized. The homes were also outfitted with appliances and other furnishings. Ownership of the manufactured homes will be transferred to the receiving families.
“It has been a struggle for many families to stay on the river after the Holiday Farm Fire,” said Mary Ellen Wheeler, MVLTRG project manager. “For four years since the fire, they have had to live in RVs due to a lack of any affordable housing alternative. The gulf between available insurance payments or financial assistance and what it truly costs to rebuild would be insurmountable for many without this program.”
Robert Campbell, 73, lost his home in the Holiday Farm Fire and recently moved into his new home this fall. Campbell, who will be joined by his grandson, has lived on his property in the McKenzie River Valley since 2003.
“I don’t know how to thank everyone who helped me,” said Campbell. “I have never been one to ask for help, but somehow I found myself standing in line and getting more help than I deserved.”
Media Opportunity: Mr. Campbell has graciously invited media to meet him in his new home in Vida, and to talk about his experience, on Tuesday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m. If you would like to attend, call Devon at 541-682-4526 for the address. Plan for a commute of about 40 minutes from Eugene.
“Being able to partner with the Long Term Recovery Group on this effort was a game-changer,” said Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch. “Lane County received the state’s funding, but the Long Term Recovery Group had deep connections with fire survivors and a community network that allowed them to reach out to people who could most meaningfully benefit.”
Funding was provided to Lane County by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) as part of its Oregon State Wildfire Recovery Funding, which was allocated by the Legislature for housing-related wildfire recovery.
About the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group
Established in 2021, the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group is a non-profit organization serving people and organizations in the rural and unincorporated Holiday Farm Fire area. Its mission is to recognize needs, find resources, and help individuals and families recover from disaster. www.McKenzieValleyLTRG.org
About Lane County’s Recovery Program
Lane County’s efforts to support wildfire recovery include community and transportation planning in the Blue River area, coordinating recovery funding, and advocating for recovery resources and legislation. www.McKenzieRebuilds.org
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