By Laura Swanson
It’s been over a year in the works, made possible by grants* and local support, Tillamook Family Counseling Center will begin to accept applications for the 30 unit Turnstone Commons community (the former Kilchis House) on April 22nd. The renovations were more extensive than anticipated, and Supportive Housing Coordinator Shauna Johnston has been working side-by-side with an amazing crew of local contractors – day and night — to ready the building for residents. “I want to give a huge shout out to our local contractors who have gone above and beyond to get us here,” said Johnston. “Coming in after hours, after a full day of work to work here, in their spare time. It’s truly been amazing, and we really feel the community’s understanding for the great need that this project is fulfilling. Marklyn Lienert of 800PaintJob, Eric Fry Flooring, Austin Cherry of Cherry Plumbing, and Glen Anderson Construction to name a few of the great people that have helped. We’ve updated the paint with nature-inspired hues, we’re adding new art and furniture for the common areas,” said Johnston. “We have created a trauma-informed, calming, and uplifting atmosphere for our residents.” There will be a kitchen area, onsite laundry and more wrap-around services. Turnstone Commons has 24 studio and 6 one-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes.
Any type of housing is needed in Tillamook County, and this community will fill an especially impactful need. An affordable housing community, Turnstone Commons units will accommodate several income ranges at 30%, 50%, and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Tillamook County. Rents (will include utilities, electricity, water and sewer) will range from $400 to $1,100, depending upon AMI. Additional information will be available online by April 17th, and the waiting list will open on April 22nd at 9 am. See below for website and more information.
“Our residents will be joining a community,” said Housing Coordinator Shauna Johnston. “This is more than just a place to live, my plan and hope is that the people that become our residents feel a part of a community that takes care of them and that they care about their community.” There will be an onsite maintenance person (a resident) as well as a part-time resident services coordinator.
Applicants will need to meet the following criteria to qualify for units at Turnstone Commons:
- Must be Tillamook County residents and qualify based on income. Residents’ income must be at or below the designated AMI for the unit they are applying for. Residents must also have monthly income that is at least 1.5 times the rent of the unit.
- One resident per unit must have a qualifying mental health diagnosis. The list of qualifying diagnoses will be posted on this site with the other rental criteria.
- Residents must pass a background check. Please note that sex offenses will result in an immediate denial of an application.
- Residents must not owe money to a previous landlord or have a history of negative rental references. Lack of rental history will not count against applicants.
Full rental criteria (including income limits, rent amounts, list of qualifying diagnoses, background check parameters, and direct contact information for the property) will be available on the Turnstone Commons webpage – https://tfcc.org/turnstone-commons/ by April 17, 2024. This will be a multi-stage application process, and there will be assistance for those that need help navigating the process. The waiting list will open at 9am on April 22, 2024. As residents are approved, move-ins will begin sometime in May.
**Please do not contact the Tillamook Family Counseling Center office with questions regarding the property. After the rental criteria is posted, please feel free to contact Turnstone Commons directly with any questions.**
Turnstone Commons is another great housing option for Tillamook County residents. Tillamook Family Counseling Center’s support and dedication to providing a safe housing option for folks with mental health issues helps these people to continue to be positive, contributing citizens in our community. Turnstone Commons is located at 4212 Marolf Plaza, Tillamook, adjacent to Tillamook Bay Community College and convenient to local transportation and services.
*Here are links that detail transition from Kilchis House to Turnstone Commons.