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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW 105 temps expected for Rogue Valley ... Storm blows good fortune toward salmon ... 'Captain Fantastic' director coming home to Ashland ... 105 temps expected for Rogue Valley ... Storm blows good fortune toward salmon ... 'Captain Fantastic' director coming home to Ashland ... OUR VIEW Our View: Housing hurdles Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 11, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 11, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News An Ashland couple forced to move by the impending sale of their rental house are discovering just how difficult it can be to find housing in an area with a vacancy rate under 2 percent and rents on the rise. What makes their situation notable is that Jason and Vanessa Houk have made it their life's work to help those who don't have housing or enough to eat. The Houks, who in their own words have supported their family over the years with "a series of cobbled together jobs," now face the reality that Ashland is not a city they can afford to live in. The house they have rented for six years is for sale for $350,000 — below Ashland's average price of $450,000 but well beyond the Houks' means even if they could come up with a down payment. Local communities seeking to address the problem face long odds, too. Oregon prohibits rent control, and a new law allowing cities to require developers to construct a percentage of affordable housing units was weakened to the point it likely would have little effect here. Rules allow landlords to give 30 days' notice of eviction or rent increases — a hardship when rentals are plentiful but an impossibility in today's market. Ashland should consider requiring a 90-day notice, as other cities have done. That and other steps were discussed in a housing forum Wednesday. There is no magic solution, but the Houks and others will welcome even incremental steps. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 11, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501