Short link to reach this doc: bit.ly/EugeneRental

Last updated 11.25.19.

* indicates more info to come when I have time to find it.

Guidance for using this document:

• This list is not intended to be comprehensive; these are the opportunities that we are aware of.
• Options are arranged in rough order of cost, lowest to highest. A few opportunities above $650/month that are of particular value are included.
• Many (but not all) of these options are best suited for single adults. If you have a pet, be sure to ask about the pet policy; if pets are allowed, there may be an extra deposit and/or an extra monthly fee.
• If you are seeking housing outside Eugene/Springfield, visit this page for a few tips.
• Constructive comments and contributions are welcome at redefininghome1@gmail.com.

First, consider Springfield. At the present time, it is much more supportive than Eugene of the need to provide, encourage, and facilitate housing that people of modest means can afford.

BRIDGE HOUSING / MICRO-SHELTER

• City of Eugene Car Camping Program - most sites managed by St. Vincent de Paul. Has spots for about 70 families; as of Nov 2019, program was full + about 70 more households were on the waiting list.
• Conestoga huts clustered in several Safe Spot Communities, managed by Community Supported Shelters
• OpportUNITY Village Eugene, 30 rudimentary (60-80sf) shelters with communal kitchen + bathroom facilities, managed by SquareOne Villages

SUBSIDIZED + INCOME-BASED AFFORDABLE HOUSING

These places are open only to folks below a certain income, and you have to recertify each year, which means you could lose your housing if your income increases significantly, so they may be best for people on a fixed income.

Public housing + section 8

• Homes for Good (formerly the Lane County Housing Authority) manages the Section 8 program, whose vouchers can be used at various rental properties around town. Because the need for affordable housing here is so great, the waitlist may open for only one week each year. Sign up for this email list to be notified when it will open next.
• Homes for Good also manages about a dozen properties. The waitlists are here. They are almost always closed.
• You can see photos of Eugenes low-income apartments here.

The housing liaisons at Homes for Good can advise you on your best options and help you put your best foot forward to landlords as a prospective tenant.

Nonprofit affordable-housing developers

• SquareOne Villages
  • Emerald Village Eugene, 25 N Polk: 17 tiny houses, with 5 more being completed. Rents $250-$350/mo. As of Oct. 2019, open to people with income between $500 and $1,876/mo.
  • Cottage Village, 1430 Madison Street, Cottage Grove: Under construction (about half done as of Nov. 2019).
• Cornerstone Community Housing: Eight communities providing housing for singles, families, seniors, and disabled folks.
• DevNW: owns several rental homes + small apartment complexes.
• St. Vincent de Paul -- River Road Affordable Housing: Will have 1BR, 2BR, and 3BR (total 53 apts). To break ground in late spring 2020.
• Homes for Good
  • Bascom Village: 2BR + 3BR for families
  • In the works:
    • The Commons on MLK - 51 units with wraparound social services for chronically homeless people.
    • Glenwood Place: 147 workforce housing units on the EmX line. Still being planned.

UNSUBSIDIZED / FREE-MARKET HOUSING

Land/yards for tiny-house/RV hookups

• There are occasional posts on the Eugene Conscious Community Housing Board on Facebook offering space for tiny-houses-on-wheels or RV hookups. You may wish to post your need there and perhaps in the Tiny Houses and Tiny Villages Facebook group.
• Full Circle Farms, Veneta, $250/mo.

Camping/RV sites

• Airbnbs under $21/night, some camping/RV sites, some in Albany + elsewhere: bit.ly/Airbnb20

Living in a tiny house/tiny-house village

This seems a popular goal. Unfortunately, so far developers continue to build only big houses and apartment buildings in Eugene and Springfield. We are working to change that, but for now, these are the options we are aware of:

• Emerald Village Eugene **: a self-managed community for those with very low incomes.
• A tiny house (ADU) in someones backyard. Best sources are Craiglist, Nextdoor, Eugene Conscious Community Housing Board. No clear centralized place to search. Perhaps best to post your desire to rent a tiny house and your approximate budget for rent.
• A tiny house on wheels (THOW) on someones land. **ask Renee

Co-living: Room in a quad, house, hostel, or rooming house -- usually sharing bathroom(s), kitchen + living area(s)

The Eugene Conscious Community Housing Board is a tremendous resource for community-minded people seeking modest, lower-cost shared housing. You can both respond to posts and post your own situation and what you are looking for.

• They say: We are a group specifically for connecting people interested in shared housing and for property owners to find awesome tenants. Postings may include rental and for-sale properties, sublets, and house-sitting opportunities. "Conscious community" means people who are interested in living life from an empowered, aware, web-of-connection-honoring state.
• Eugene Whiteaker International Hostel (970 W. 3rd): Offers a variety of lodgings (as available) in trade for work, including a dorm w/2-5 beds, a yurt, and camping. Adventurous personalities encouraged.
• Hideaway House (715 E. 16th) is a three-story, 10-bedroom rooming house built in 1910, a few blocks from the UO campus. Unfurnished rooms rent for $395/mo plus $50 utilities. Shared kitchen, living room, 3 bathrooms, coin-operated laundry in basement.
• Quads (and the occasional quint) are a popular way to live inexpensively in Eugene, especially for students. Many, especially those farther from campus, have rents around $500-$600/mo, which often includes utilities and WiFi, and sometimes cable. (This handy chart compares the bigger buildings/brands.) Most quads allow non-students +often require less rental/credit history, especially if a co-signer will guarantee the rent. Quads look like regular apartment buildings from the street, but the floor plan arranges several individual, usually furnished bedrooms (and sometimes half-baths) around a shared common area with kitchen, living area (often with a flat-screen TV), and bathroom with bathtub and shower. (Some quads have private half-baths as well -- a nice convenience.) The bedroom doors lock to ensure privacy, making quads different from a conventional apartment. Bedrooms are usually 100-150sf and furnished with a bed and desk. There are usually laundry facilities in the building, and sometimes extra amenities like a fitness center. Most advertise on Craigslist; here are a few lower-priced buildings (arranged lowest to highest). Cedarwood Quads and Capri are simple models; the bigger ones (Titan Court, 13th & Olive) offer more amenities that compensate for your small space.
  • 2140 Harris. Unfurnished; bedroom shares common areas with just two others; very basic. $395/mo. including utilities. Managed by Acorn Properties.
  • Cedarwood Quads: The least expensive small complex (28 units). In the West University Neighborhood. $425/mo.
  • Stadium Park: The least expensive large complex. By Autzen Stadium.
  • 1827 Harris. Furnished bedroom with sink/vanity, closet, and private entryway. Very basic. Off-street parking available; on-site manager. $475-$550/mo. (including WiFi) + $25 for utilities. Managed by Stewardship Rentals, which charges no application fee.
  • 528 Tyler, efficiency studio w/private bathroom + bathtub. Large shared common area including kitchen, extra storage + living space, and laundry facilities. $550/mo + $25 for utilities. Free on-site parking. Managed by Stewardship Rentals, which charges no application fee. *furnished?
  • Titan Court, at 925 Charnelton, is next to LCC Downtown, the public library, and the transit center. Accepts students only (enrollment status will be verified), has 220 quad-bedrooms, and is almost always full. Furnished. Organizes a lot of social activities for residents. $588/mo (quad) + $644/mo (shared 2BR).
  • Capri Eugene operates eight buildings within a few blocks of the UO campus. Furnished. Around $599/mo. **
  • 13th & Olive, the big orange buildings at 1198 Willamette. 1,300 units total. Around $650/mo. *
  • Other quads include Skybox & Courtside, Element, The 515, 959 Franklin, and 2125 Franklin.
• Roomster can help connect you with potential roommates or housemates, though you have to submit proof of identity online. We are not sure, but it may charge you to connect with others on the site. ****
• The Eugene Rooms** group on Facebook can do the same without all that fuss.

Lower-cost full-size apartments

Here is a list of currently available rentals (updated every few months) offered by rental agencies in the greater Eugene/Springfield area (as far away as Veneta, Mapleton, and Florence, on the coast).

Many other rentals are offered independently, principally via the online listing services in the next section. Pro tip: Older rentals near the UO (not the new luxury ones) may be cheaper and require less rental/credit history because they cater to students, especially if a co-signer guarantees to pay the rent.

Below are a sampling of specific buildings (mostly older) with units under $650/mo. They may or may not have vacancies. Click the link to inquire, or ask to be on their waiting list if they have one.

• Bright Apartments has some lower-priced units, including $575/mo. studios near campus and in the Whiteaker, and $875 2BRs at Rivers Edge Apts (945 Lewis Ave., near the river & Owen Memorial Rose Garden).
• Florence Apartments, 1272 Willamette, about a hundred years old. Basement studios $450/mo., other studios $570/mo., 1 BR $645/mo. Near downtown transit center & library. No parking, no pets. Historic charm, Murphy beds + a very slow elevator. (Sherri lived here 35 years ago + it is still the same.) Managed by Bell Realty (which has terrible reviews on Yelp).
• Jennings Group
  • 663 E. 23rd, 1BR, $575/mo.
  • The Orbit, 1405 Mill, 1 BR with some shared facilities, $595/mo. **Is this a quad?
  • 2BR, 1BA house, 1615 Walnut Alley, $995/mo.
• Redwood Park Apartments, 4103 W. 18th, studios (300-400sf), $615/mo. Call (855) 812-3469 to get on waiting list.
• Whitman Properties, 746 E. 19th, studio, $635/mo.
  • This rental agency is owned by a local family and actually has a glowing Testimonials page -- a rarity in this industry.
  • They say (caps theirs): ALL OUR PROPERTIES ARE SINGLE HOMES, DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, OR SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS; MOST WERE BUILT BETWEEN THE 1920’S AND THE 1960’S, WITH THE CHARM OF EARLIER ERAS, BUT UPDATED WITH IMPROVED WEATHERIZATION, EFFICIENCY, AND APPLIANCES.

Online listing services for rooms & apartments

• Craigslist seems to still be the go-to in this area for individuals and real-estate companies/rental agencies, despite its cluttered nature. Many co-ops and intentional communities also use it when they have an opening.
• Hotpads is a pleasant-to-use rental-listing service; unlike Craigslist, it's specifically designed to help people search for rentals (not furniture, garage sales, or a boyfriend). To search for rooms (rather than whole apartments) in Eugene, click here.
• Nextdoor is a online social network that connects people who live in the same or nearby neighborhoods. People frequently post room rentals and rental-wanted ads. These tend to be of the small-cottage-in-the-backyard, help-pay-my-mortgage type, as opposed to big real-estate firms with lots of overhead, so rents are usually lower.
• Stewardship Rentals: For those with larger needs, this agency manages some 3-5 BR rental houses and doesnt charge an application fee.
• Zumper is another easy-to-use rental-listing service.

Airbnbs

• There are about 15 Airbnb listings in Eugene and 50 in Springfield at $20-$35/night. Some offer discounts for weekly or monthly stays, which could bring the more-expensive ones under the $650/month maximum of this document. This may be an especially attractive option for those seeking only temporary accommodations.

Senior living (55+)

• Eugene Abbey (494 W. 10th, at Washington): Senior apartments in a leafy neighborhood four blocks from the downtown library and transit center. About 51 residents. The smallest units (1 BRs around 400sf) rent for $1,400-$1,500/mo, which includes dinner and continental breakfast, utilities, WiFi, and biweekly housekeeping as well as amenities including a library, plant-filled solarium, art studio, a private park/garden, and several outdoor decks.

Housing Co-ops and Intentional Communities

Notes:

• Applicants for these types of opportunities must be committed to living in a cooperative community and adhering to the communitys chosen form of collective decision-making (likely sociocracy, consensus, or a similar method). Experience living in community is desirable.
• No co-living companies (Bungalow, Common, Ollie, OpenDoor, etc.) operate in Eugene/Springfield at present, although Bungalow and OpenDoor are in Portland.

University District

Students only

• Student co-ops (Janet Smith, Lorax Manner, and Campbell Club, all on Alder Street between 16th & 18th Streets): These three decades-old co-ops offer a room in a shared house, utilities, and food for as little as $375/mo. Applicants can be students at any type of school, including massage school. Residents agree to share in chores, including meal prep, and participate in consensus decision-making.
• Trinity House (1987 University) and Alpha Omega House: Christian cooperative living residences for college-age women and men, respectively, owned and operated by First Baptist Church. About $795/month (2018-19) for lodging, utilities, and three meals a day on weekdays only. Video on the websites.

Everyone

• Duma Community (2244 Alder): An intentional community in a 10-bedroom 1920s house (built as a home for wayward girls). Residents agree to share cooking and other household-maintenance chores. Rents are $395-$495/mo plus food and an equal share of the months utilities.
• Walnut Street Co-op (1680 Walnut): A social-change-oriented cooperative. Info on joining here: "While we prefer folks who are interested in making a long-term commitment [5+ years], we are also open to people who might only be around for 3 to 12 months, as long as you participate with good energy while you’re here."

West Eugene

• East Blair Housing Co-op (940 W. 4th): Serves low-income residents and has a very simple application; click link to join email list for notices of future vacancies.
• Heart & Spoon (Friendly neighborhood). A small socially conscious community that shares a house with the aim of eventually buying some rural land.
• Maitreya Ecovillage (near Almaden & Broadway): Offers a variety of living arrangements (triplex, tiny house, room in large house) in a collection of buildings on five adjacent city tax lots. Because of the close quarters and cooperative nature of the property, prospective residents must be invited to apply by an existing member of the village. Video tour here.

Some other communities in the Foundation for Intentional Communities directory, with which we are not personally familiar:

• Lorane Cohousing
• **
• **

Out in the country/back to the land

Join the Eugene Conscious Community Housing Board on Facebook to see many opportunities and/or post your request for housing.

The Foundation for Intentional Communities has an extensive, free searchable online directory listing opportunities across the USA, including Oregon. A few are urban, but most are rural.

Some specific places:

• Breitenbush Hot Springs (Detroit, Oregon): A retreat center, worker-owned cooperative, and intentional community in the Cascade Mountains. Breitenbush provides housing + a number of other benefits (discounted massages!) for all workers, including fill-in positions. Specific job openings; general info on working at Breitenbush.
• Cerro Gordo: Will add info after we visit.
• Herb Pharm (two hours south of Eugene): A well-established business/community offering two-month live/work internships year-round (except in winter). A modest monthly contribution for communal food purchase is required. For availability and deadlines for application, see website.
• Lost Valley Education + Event Center/Meadowsong Ecovillage (Dexter, Oregon): A variety of options, including RV/tiny-home hookups. Click the link + inquire.

Some places to park a tiny house

• Dexter: Lost Valley Education + Event Center/Meadowsong Ecovillage
• Veneta: Full Circle Farm, $250/mo, composting toilets only
• Waldport: Tiny Tranquility ($575/mo if long-term; more if short-term)
• Individual(s) posting recently on the Tiny Houses and Tiny Villages Facebook page:
  • Driveway in West Cascades; Christian woman, prefers to trade for handyman/carpentry work (11.24.19)

Homeownership opportunities

Not our focus, but here are a few resources that have come our way.

• There are more than a dozen cooperatively owned mobile home parks in Oregon. The nearest ones may be in Dexter and Vida.
• Springfield has a $3 million grant to create a new manufactured home park and is looking for land.
• Barnraising project near downtown Springfield, for three working families who want to build their own small house (2 bedrooms, 790sf) with guidance. Aimed at folks earning $20K-$35K/year.
• DevNW:
  • Offers assistance saving for a down payment, managing funds, getting out of debt, and affording a home.
  • Developing a cottage cluster of ~25 3BR homes around 1200sf in the Bethel area that will sell for below market rate (likely under $250K) via a community land trust model (DevNW retains ownership of the land). Hope to break ground in late spring 2020.
  • Houses at a similar DevNW project in Cottage Grove, nearing completion, will be available for $170K-$205K.
• Rohr Real Estate: The link offers advice from a longtime local real estate agency on finding a local home under $300K.