Sunday, August 23, 2026 / Florence / Siuslaw region
Thirty-two Florence apartments are open; child care comes next
Elm Park's income-restricted homes are nearly full, and an adjacent early-learning center is scheduled to add almost 80 seats on Sept. 8.
Florence's Elm Park Apartments are open, placing 32 income-restricted one-, two- and three-bedroom homes beside a child-care center scheduled to open Sept. 8. As of mid-July, local reporting found all but one apartment rented and most already occupied.
The housing uses income limits from 30% to 50% of area median income. Next door, the early-learning center is planned for four classrooms with space for nearly 80 children: 32 Head Start openings and up to 38 full-day Stepping Stones spaces, plus younger-child programming described by Head Start.
This is a capacity story, not a vacancy promise. Families should confirm apartment availability with the property manager and child-care enrollment or eligibility with the named providers before making plans.
Field notes
What changed: Elm Park's 32 income-restricted apartments opened in Florence, with an adjacent early-learning center scheduled for Sept. 8.
Why it matters: The two projects add scarce affordable housing and child-care capacity in the Siuslaw region.
Who may be affected: Florence-area households seeking income-restricted housing or child care, including families who may qualify for Head Start.