Last updated: August 2026
Sunstone Housing Collaborative is proud to launch RogueADU, a free program helping homeowners in Ashland navigate the process of building an accessory dwelling unit. RogueADU provides guidance, resources, and a cost calculator to make ADU development more accessible.
The City of Ashland, with involvement from SOREDI and local stakeholders, submitted Census Tract 19 for consideration under Oregon's Opportunity Zone 2.0 nomination process. The proposed tract includes the Ashland Attainable Housing Project site and some properties that may participate in Sunstone's RogueADU pilot. The nomination could create another tool for attracting qualified private investment if the tract is selected by the Governor and certified under the federal program.
Sunstone received a $75,000 Thriving Communities grant, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and administered through Philanthropy Northwest, to advance the AAHP and a RogueADU program feasibility study and pilot design. The Ashland-focused pilot will provide education, technical assistance and clearer pathways for accessory dwelling unit development.
In April 2026, the City of Ashland awarded Sunstone two separate $25,000 Affordable Housing Trust Fund grants. One supports the AAHP’s application for state housing resources through Oregon Housing and Community Services and related predevelopment coordination. The second supports Sunstone’s broader capacity to facilitate mission-driven affordable housing efforts involving homeowners, students, faith communities and other community partners.
Have a look at all that was accomplished in 2025! Thank you for your support!
JPR Jefferson Exchange host Mike Green welcomed Andrea Bell (Executive Director of OHCS), Geoffrey Lowry (Program Director for Oregon Child Development Coalition in Ashland), and Krista Palmer (Executive Director of Sunstone Housing Collaborative) to discuss the recent funding committed by Oregon Housing and Community Services, in partnership with BuildUp Oregon, to nine innovative projects that co-locate early care and education with affordable housing developments across the state — including the Ashland Attainable Housing Project.
This story reflects the project concept as of mid-2025. The April 2026 ENA amendment subsequently made childcare optional and subject to mutual agreement and project feasibility.
Oregon Housing and Community Services, in partnership with BuildUp Oregon, committed $850,000 to developer Edlen & Co. and Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC) in support of early childhood education co-location within the Ashland Attainable Housing Project. Childcare and ECE would be managed by established statewide provider OCDC.
This story reflects the project concept as of mid-2025. The April 2026 ENA amendment subsequently made childcare optional and subject to mutual agreement and project feasibility.
Oregon Community Foundation awarded Sunstone Housing Collaborative a $30,000 Community Grant in honor of the late Bill Thorndike. This funding supports general operating expenses as well as elements of the community-led design process for the Ashland Attainable Housing Project.
Sunstone Housing Collaborative, along with the development team for the Ashland Attainable Housing Project, hosted an opportunity for all interested community members to attend a listening and feedback session at Ashland High School.
Sunstone board member Jill Franko and Executive Director Krista Palmer, along with developer Matt Edlen, were invited to present to the Ashland Rotary Club and share about the school district housing initiative.
Providing a 'first look' event for Ashland School District staff, Sunstone hosted a listening and feedback session that included the development team and Sunstone board members.
Sunstone's Executive Director and Board Chair hosted an info table at the annual community fair organized by the Ashland Housing and Human Services Committee.
Ashland School Board approves recommendation for development team for Ashland Attainable Housing Project.
Sunstone Housing Collaborative signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oregon Child Development Coalition to explore possible onsite childcare as part of the development concept.
This MOU reflected an early exploration of childcare co-location. The April 2026 ENA amendment subsequently made childcare optional and subject to mutual agreement and project feasibility.
Sunstone Housing Collaborative and Arkitek Design and Architecture have partnered to create a Master Plan for the project that integrates community input and best practices in universal design and environmental stewardship.
Our executive director attended the Housing Oregon conference to network and explore the latest innovations and learn about established best practices in affordable housing development.
Sunstone was invited to JPR for a segment on the Jefferson Exchange to discuss the project with AllCare Health representative Julie Akins.
AllCare Health awarded a $177,500 grant to the Ashland School District and Sunstone Housing Collaborative to support land acquisition and organizational capacity building for the Ashland Attainable Housing Project.
Ashland City Council, upon recommendations by city staff and the Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee, awarded Sunstone $55,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The 2024 CDBG Action Plan also identified approximately $125,660 provisionally for the project; that provisional allocation was subsequently reallocated by the City before it was used by Sunstone.
Sunstone Housing Collaborative is officially established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, formalizing its mission to advance attainable housing development in Ashland and the surrounding region.
Increasing Enrollment Committee presents proposal to pursue development of attainable housing upon land currently owned by ASD.