Affordable Housing for People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities – Housing that Makes a Difference
By Laura Swanson
Good things take time, and the groundbreaking on July 10, 2026 at Thompson Springs housing development, over six years in the making, is definitely a good thing. Sammy’s Place board members were joined by supporters and donors to celebrate the official start of construction at the organization’s affordable, accessible housing development in Nehalem, Oregon.
Sammy’s Place acquired the three acre Thompson Road property in 2018 envisioning an opportunity to provide a community for people that experience IDD and those that support them. The ten units to come at Thompson Spring will give them a place of their own to call home. The mission of Thompson Springs is to create living choices, inspired by nature with people experiencing disabilities and those who share their journey.
For Sammy’s Place founder and board member Kathy Jean Hrywnak it truly is a dream come true. It has not been a quick or easy journey to see the construction taking place. “We did it,” Kathy Jean exclaimed as she scooped the ceremonial shovel. “This is a special time and I’m forever grateful to all our board members, Julie Chick for her tenacity and grit to get this done, and all our supporters. We couldn’t have done it without all of you.”
Over 50 people joined the celebration at North County Recreation District, welcomed by Sammy’s Place board president Leah Halstead who acknowledged the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this project and that it truly has been a team effort. From the removal of tons of debris to a land blessing by the local Native American tribe to the groundbreaking, the magic of Thompson Springs is being developed to benefit one of the most underserved populations.
Thompson Springs will include 10 homes that will be a mix of 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom, semi-detached units. All the units will be built with the principles of universal design, accessibility, and permanent affordability. Universal Design is a philosophy of design where the products and environments are usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
Sammy’s Place Board Member Frank Purdue provided the most uplifting words and perspective about the need for housing and especially for those with I/DD. “This is about giving us more than a home, this is about a special community that really cares for everyone in their community,” said Frank. Here’s a video of Frank explaining about the need for housing that was shared at the event that everyone should watch:
Disability is all around us, and we are all aging into disability, yet the existing housing stock is not built for an aging or disabled population. Universal accessibility is the principle that every person has what they need to fully participate and enjoy a place, product, service, or role independently. There is a housing affordability crisis on the Oregon Coast, but conditions are even worse for people with I/DD. Affordable housing is housing that is sold or rented below market rate and reserved for low-income buyers or renters.
Partners and funders for the development that also spoke at the event included: Mary Faith Bell, Tillamook County Commissioner, Amy Nehl, Oregon Housing & Community; Rebeka Pratt, Summit Bank, and Dominique (Dom) Merriwether, Proud Ground.
Thompson Springs is more than just houses. Sammy’s Place has wrap-around services for people with I/DD and those experiencing challenges with attaining housing. The Oregon COAAST (Communities of All Abilities Succeeding Together) provides a variety of classes, trainings, resources and activities to engage I/DD people, their families and caregivers in real community.
The Oregon COAAST Home Readiness program combines education on self-determined living and secures investment in shared equity homeownership to provide the resources for anyone in our community to create the home that works best for them. Interested in becoming a homeowner? Join the Thompson Springs interest list to receive project updates, homebuyer program information and future application details by emailing to jaimier@oregoncoaast.org
There will be regular updates throughout the construction process, and anticipating an official ribbon-cutting and move-in ceremony in the Fall of 2027. While funding for the projects 10 units has been attained, the fundraising goes on to raise $600,000 for accessibility upgrades for the people who buy, and anything extra will go toward the buy down. There is the vision for a community center at Thompson Springs and other amenities, so your donations are still needed.
Work continues to progress at Thompson Springs with site preparations, utility installations, and infrastructure improvements. In partnership with the City of Nehalem and Business Oregon, the neighborhood water system is being upgraded and portions of Thompson Road will be paved, benefitting both future homeowners and the surrounding neighborhood.
For more information about Sammy’s Place, Thompson Springs and the Oregon COAAST network, go to www.sammysplace.info.
