Welcome to our first community-focused newsletter!

The Department of Housing Services and Housing Authority of Washington County is excited to share our first community-focused newsletter! This will be our new quarterly newsletter; intentionally written for the households we serve. All included, the Department of Housing Services provides rent assistance and affordable housing to more than 5,000 households in our community. Our households are incredibly diverse and come from all walks of life: families with children, seniors, people living with disabilities, folks who speak different languages, and so many more. We hope this newsletter will contain useful resources for all.

We’ll send this newsletter to email inboxes about once every three months. We’re planning to include content about the programs we offer, such as changes or waitlist openings, and opportunities for our clients to engage with us. We’ll also share resources, like career services or other assistance programs, and tips for your household.

Thank you for being a part of our community! If you’ve received this newsletter from a friend and would like to sign up to receive it in your own inbox, you can sign up here.

Residents at Terrace Glen discover the meaning of “home” through art

Last summer, residents of Terrace Glen, an affordable housing property in Tigard, had the opportunity to participate in a six-session photography workshop hosted by Metro, in partnership with EngageNW and Washington County. Together, residents worked to discover the meaning of “home” using 35 mm photography, written reflection, and conversation. Portland State University professor and artist Emily Fitzgerald led the group through photography foundations like lighting, composition, and subject selection. Using curated objects and photos, the participants provided responsive feedback through writing. Together, their work captures the diverse, and at times, intangible meanings of home.

The photo collection was hosted at Blue Sky in Portland during December 2024. From January 15 to February 14, 2025, Washington County will be hosting the exhibit in the Public Services Building (155 N First Ave, Hillsboro, OR 97124) for the general public to view. Afterwards, the exhibition will be permanently housed at Terrace Glen for residents and visitors to appreciate and enjoy for years to come.

One of our participants, Anna Perez, shared that she, “enjoyed the class and learned a lot. I see scenery and surroundings differently because of what Emily taught us. Home could be any part of what you have in your heart.” For more on the exhibit and to see previews of the photos, check out this article by Street Roots.

Do you have a story to share?

Do you know of someone who may want to share their housing story with us? Or perhaps you work in housing and want to inform others of a specific experience? We want to hear from you and share positive impactful stories with our community.

We all know how expensive healthcare can be, so for this reason and others, Oregon established the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) in 1994. OHP is Oregon's Medicaid program, which provides several health care programs for our state’s low-income households:

OHP Plus for children ages 0-18 and adults ages 19-64
OHP Plus Supplemental for pregnant adults aged 21 or older
OHP with Limited Drug for adults who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare Part D

Other programs available to low-income households include OHP Dental (dental-only benefits for Oregon Veterans and Compact of Free Association citizens), and Qualified Medicare Beneficiary.

OHP provides a vital resource to our communities, ensuring that health costs don’t create added hardships for vulnerable households. There is no open enrollment period, so you can apply any time of the year. Don’t miss out on healthcare for your family and apply today!

Altura affordable housing in Beaverton is now leasing

Altura apartments, formerly known as Goldcrest, will hold its grand opening next month to commemorate its introduction to Southwest Beaverton’s South Cooper Mountain community. The new affordable housing development, funded in part thanks to the 2018 voter-backed Metro affordable housing bond, is a welcome sight for folks looking for high quality, stable housing they can afford in an area where rents have skyrocketed in recent times.

The property brings 75 family homes to the market, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. It includes a multipurpose room, community kitchen, laundry rooms, plenty of parking, and a playground for kids. Local non-profit Hacienda CDC is also providing on-site services to residents. Rents currently ranges from $604 to $1,753 depending on the unit size and household income.

If you’re interested in making Altura your new home or know someone who may be interested, visit https://www.altura-apartments.com for more information on how to apply.

Interested in waitlist openings?

Keep up to date with the department's affordable housing and vouchers' waitlist openings by easily creating a profile on our portal to receive notifications. You can also check out our dedicated waitlists' webpage that includes non-county operated properties. Share with family, friends, and colleagues.

IRS-Direct Free File comes to Oregon in 2025. Don’t pay to file taxes, it’s free!

Have you ever filed your taxes and thought “why I am paying all this money to a business so I can pay the government?” No one likes a middleman. So instead of going through a third party, this year you can file directly with the IRS, and it’s not as difficult or limited as you may think.

Last year the federal government launched an online service in some states so that taxpayers can file their taxes for free in a simple manner. The new system is called IRS Direct File, and in 2025 it is coming to Oregon. This is already in addition to the state’s own free filing service, Direct File Oregon. Together combined, you don’t need to pay a single penny to file.

We know taxes can be daunting, but since it’s direct, it’ll be easier than before. And with these short tutorial YouTube videos on how to file with the IRS and the state, you'll be in great hands. If you are one of the very few cases that don’t qualify, you can always use CASH-Oregon's free service.

Tip Box!

Do you struggle to keep up with the cost of electricity? If so, check out PGE’s Income-Qualified Bill Discount program, which provides monthly help even if you already receive assistance from other agencies. Call 503-228-6322 to learn more.

A spectrum of jobs in housing are available from entry level to upper management with a competitive benefits package and a dynamic hardworking environment. Click here to view available positions and check back often as our positions' list continue to be updated.

The Department of Housing Services creates pathways out of homelessness, promotes housing stability, and invests in affordable communities for Washington County and our residents.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, OR | washingtoncountyor.gov/housing