In 2024, California ranked 3rd in the nation as the hardest state to live in price-wise, with New York ranking second and Hawaii first with the highest percentage of housing costs. In 2026, the median price for a single-family dwelling has increased by 7.1%.
Because of these facts, a group of concerned community members in Siskiyou County came together to create the Siskiyou Housing Alliance. This nonprofit organization is working toward creating more affordable housing for middle- and lower-class working people. The Siskiyou Housing Alliance is simultaneously supporting more affordable housing and preparing to hold land trusts in Siskiyou County to help the local economy by keeping working-community members from leaving the area.
One of the projects the Siskiyou Housing Alliance is working on is bringing in tiny houses. A new city ordinance in Mount Shasta now allows a tiny-house village with nine tiny houses on a city lot. They are currently hosting housing surveys and want people to participate to learn more about the needs of people living in Siskiyou County. The survey can be found on their website at SiskiyouHousingAlliance.org.
The Siskiyou Housing Alliance is looking for state, federal and private grant funding for their housing projects and has looked into housing and land donations, reaching out to professionals such as attorneys, financiers and development professionals who are community-focused. Some of these alternative housing models include Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), granny units, modular homes, and tiny houses on wheels or on water.
The Siskiyou Housing Alliance started in 2024 with just a handful of concerned members. Evan Drake is the president of this 501(c)(3) organization, and he says, “Ultimately, we want to keep people who work here to stay here and live well. The survey on our website is to help us understand what people in Siskiyou County need and want.”
Siskiyou Housing Alliance board member Rachel Streeter says, “The working class is vital for this area to thrive. I feel the world is out of balance. We all know it’s time for change.”
Treasurer John Sanguinettl says, “We are a great group of people with big hearts and best intentions.”
For more on Siskiyou Housing Alliance, visit SiskiyouHousingAlliance.org.
