Senators: Over $3 million coming to Oregon for housing assistance and coordination, including $180K to Housing Works

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development will be awarding communities across Oregon more than $3 million from the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program fund. 

These funds will be used to assist families who are struggling with housing affordability to maximize their housing assistance and connect them with training and services to ultimately help them become economically self-sufficient.

“Access to safe and affordable housing is vital to growing strong and vibrant communities, but I have heard from many Oregonians about the need for more housing resources and the crushing weight of our affordable housing crisis,” said Merkley. “This funding will provide critical support for communities and individuals across the state struggling to find affordable housing, and I will continue fighting to ensure Oregonians have the housing resources they need to live safe and healthy lives.”

“Many challenges that Oregon families face on a day-to-day basis, like access to consistent childcare and work, can’t be addressed until they find reliable housing,” Wyden said. “In my town halls across all of Oregon, I hear from folks calling for more affordable housing. I am excited for this award and I will continue to help drive new housing opportunities for those in need.”

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program allocates grants to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) for supporting the salaries of FSS program coordinators. These coordinators play a crucial role in helping participating families maximize their housing assistance by connecting them with training and services aimed at enhancing economic self-sufficiency.

Grants incentivize the development of community-level plans that align public and private resources, with the ultimate goal of empowering participating families to achieve economic independence and reducing dependence on welfare assistance and rental subsidies.

Oregon awardees and funding amounts can be found below:

• Mid-Columbia Housing Authority based in The Dalles: $70,353
• Marion County Housing Authority based in Salem: $84,350
• Housing Authority and Urban Renewal Agency of Polk County based in Dallas: $88,567
• Housing Authority of Washington County based in Hillsboro: $168,000
• Northeast Oregon Housing Authority based in La Grande: $175,346
• Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority based in Redmond: $180,748
• Housing Authority of Jackson County based in Medford: $184,305
• Linn-Benton Housing Authority based in Albany: $235,116
• Homes for Good Housing Agency based in Eugene: $239,522
• Housing Authority of Yamhill County based in McMinnville: $370,039
• Housing Authority of the City of Salem: $389,697
• Home Forward based in Portland: $849,503

Lesly Gonzalez, Housing Choice Vouchers director for Housing Works, said, "Even though these funds do not directly provide financial support to families, this initiative supports families in setting and achieving goals by providing one-on-one coaching."

Gonzalez said, "These Family Self-Sufficiency program coordinators play a vital role in guiding participating families, connecting them with essential services, and providing training aimed at fostering economic self-sufficiency through education and employment aimed at reducing or eliminating their need for public assistance."

Learn more about Housing Works' PATHworks program at: https://housing-works.org/pathworks/