Pop Up House – Open House
A “pop up” open house is set for Saturday morning to give a chance to get a closer look at First Step Florence’s “Folding House”. Norma Wood with First Step says they received the innovative “folding house” in December and did have a public viewing before the first family moved into it.
“That person’s going to be moving out and moving on to other secure housing. We have another family in need that’s moving in on Monday.”
Wood says that gives them time to clean it up in preparation for that next family, and allow the public to get a look at it Saturday between ten AM and noon. The “Folding House” is on the grounds of Presbyterian Church at 3996 Highway 101. Wood says First Step Florence has other temporary homes for families.
“And we have four housing units. All of those people are kind of shuffling around because they’ve been really successful, and getting jobs, and becoming stable, and are able to move into some different situations.”
The fact that families have been successful in making the transition from homelessness to permanent and secure housing makes Wood “euphoric”, but she says she’s also concerned about the future because much of the money they use to provide those services is getting tight.
ADA Improvements
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce is making big strides toward inclusive travel along the Oregon Coast. Thanks to partnerships with Wheel the World and David’s Chair, and the addition of Mobi-Mats and Hearing Loops, Florence is expanding access for visitors with mobility and hearing challenges. Improvements include accessible beach mats at Heceta Beach, free all-terrain track chairs at Driftwood Shores, and upgraded ADA-compliant infrastructure through the ReVision Florence project. Hearing Loops are also now available at several public venues, with more to come.
Online Training for Abuse Reporting
The Oregon Department of Human Services has launched its first-ever interactive online training to help the public and mandatory reporters recognize and report suspected child abuse. The rollout coincides with Child Abuse Awareness Month and is part of a broader Child Welfare safety initiative. The course, which replaces an older video, covers recognizing abuse, reporting procedures, and understanding when a family needs community support rather than a child welfare report. In 2024, 80% of Oregon’s child abuse reports came from mandatory reporters, mainly in education, law enforcement, and healthcare.
Wildfire Awareness Month
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and Oregon officials are reminding residents that wildfires can happen any time of year, including spring. Keep Oregon Green, along with state and federal agencies, is urging Oregonians to prevent careless fires and create defensible space around homes. In 2024, human activity sparked 723 wildfires, burning more than 92,000 acres. Before heading outdoors, check fire restrictions and remember: only you can prevent wildfires. More prevention tips will be shared weekly throughout May at keeporegongreen.org.
