October 31, 2020
The take-away from the article: “Pizzi, the chief executive director for Providence Medford Medical Center, said local hospitals already had trouble before the fires attracting and retaining workers because of the lack of housing and high prices in the Rogue Valley.
Providence is working with city councils and builders to advocate for more high-density, multi-family housing to serve all residents, he said.
Providence moved quickly to build the temporary trailer parks, but knows they don’t represent a long-term fix to the area’s housing woes, said Dr. Tom Lorish, chief executive for the Providence Southern Oregon Service Area.
“There was a crisis before the wildfires and it’s been made much more acute. It’s a good opportunity for the community to come together to make sure people have a reasonably priced, affordable place to live,” he said.
Right now, the immediate task is creating temporary housing for fire survivors. But the community has to look ahead as it transitions to rebuilding Talent and Phoenix — while also boosting affordable housing in all communities, Lorish said.
“The real target needs to be, ‘What are we going to have in two years?’” he said. Read the entire article online https://mailtribune.com/news/top-stories/hospitals-house-fire-displaced-employees-in-trailer-parks?fbclid=IwAR2m0H2p3SKYG5qJjVFypFNc9lgs_AoD6AeE5u0wnID6Arl-WuRZByZky6c
