Washington, D.C. –
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that six Oregon
counties will receive 80 vouchers from the Department of Housing & Urban
Development (HUD) to fund permanent affordable housing assistance to Oregonians
with extreme mental health concerns and disabilities.?
“As the weather
continues to be wet and cold, I’m gratified to see more Oregonians get a roof
overhead,” Wyden said. “Housing
is a basic human need. These permanent housing vouchers are critical to ensuring
that more Oregonians living with mental illness and/or disabilities gain access
to a stable, safe place to call home. I am devoted to ensuring vulnerable
people get a roof over their heads in Oregon and across the country.”“I’ve heard from
many Oregonians who are struggling under the enormous weight of America’s
affordable housing crisis—a weight that is only amplified for individuals with
disabilities,” said Senator Merkley. “These critical federal housing investments will help Oregonians with
disabilities access affordable and safe housing across our state.”“People with
disabilities deserve access to affordable housing that meets their
needs,” HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said. “Today’s funding is an important step forward – one that will help
more persons with disabilities serve as fully integrated members of their
communities and allow them to live independently and with dignity.”
This housing assistance will go to assist non-elderly people
with disabilities who are transitioning out of institutional or other isolated
settings, are at serious risk of institutionalization, are homeless, or are
otherwise without stable housing. To help public housing authorities address
rental market conditions that are creating challenges with leasing, HUD awarded
both new vouchers and extraordinary administrative fees, which can be used to
support the housing search and leasing up of eligible applicants, in addition
to easing costs like security deposits, signing bonuses, vacancy payments and
damage mitigation. The funds will be allocated as follows:
- Klamath Housing Authority: 10 vouchers, $44,089
- Housing Authority of Lincoln County: 10 vouchers, $64,068
- Housing Authority of Lane County: 30 vouchers, $237,654
- Housing Authority of Clackamas County: 30 vouchers, $361,166
- Housing Authority of Washington County: $89,000 for
extraordinary administrative fees - Housing Authority of Yamhill County: $108,000 for
extraordinary administrative fees
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