Wyden, Merkley: More than $2.5 Million to Oregon in Housing Vouchers

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that 21 public housing authorities throughout Oregon will receive a combined more than $2.5 million in additional housing choice vouchers. These 251 vouchers are in addition to the 44,500 vouchers already in use by Oregon households.

“As we head into fall and winter, I’m gratified to see more Oregonians get a roof overhead,” Wyden said. “Housing is a basic human need. These permanent housing vouchers, paired with critical services, will help many Oregon families get into long-term housing. I will continue to fight so that in the wealthiest, strongest nation on earth, all Oregon families have a warm, safe, affordable and stable place to call home.”

“We all need a safe place to live that we can afford, and Oregonians should not have to struggle in order to find affordable housing,” Merkley said. “That’s why I’m glad to see these new housing vouchers going to areas that need them the most. Every Oregonian deserves the right to have a home, and I will continue fighting to make that a reality in every corner of our state.”

Housing choice vouchers allow very low-income families to choose and lease decent, and affordable privately-owned rental housing. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program provides housing assistance to over 2.3 million American families. These funds will be added to the funding Oregon already receives for vouchers, which help house tens of thousands of low income Oregon households, and will be allocated as follows:

“Our housing affordability crisis demands a response from all levels of government,” says Clackamas County Commissioner Sonya Fischer. “I am so pleased that HUD will be providing additional vouchers that will help families who experience homelessness or domestic violence find safe, stable housing. It is only by us all working together that we will make homelessness rare, non-reoccurring, and brief.”

“The flexible Housing Choice Voucher Program, that places the choice of housing in the hands of the individual family, is critical in the fight against homelessness. Thanks to Sen. Ron Wyden’s steadfast efforts and those of the rest of Oregon’s federal delegation, more of our most vulnerable neighbors in Washington County will receive the support they need to find an affordable home,” Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington said.

“This is a fantastic and timely opportunity for the affordable housing community overall to provide assistance to more households that qualify for rent assistance. There is such need in our communities, and this is one great way to help meet it. We applaud the work to make it happen,” said Monica Foucher at Home Forward.

“Homes for Good has always been proactively supported by Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley and this new allocation of Housing Choice Vouchers is another example of the support we will continue to receive that addressed the affordable housing crisis that people in our community are experiencing,” said Jacob Fox, Executive Director of Homes for Good. 

A web version of this release is here.

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