Community Resource E-Newsletter

August 15, 2025 | housingservices@washingtoncountyor.gov

Come join our Resident Advisory Board!

Do you live in public housing or have a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)? You might be a good fit to join Washington County’s Resident Advisory Board (RAB).

The goal of the Resident Advisory Board is to include the voice of community members living in public housing or a part of the voucher program. The Resident Advisory Board is a Housing Authority of Washington County public committee that meets every other month, to share their input and feedback with policy decisions, our annual agency plan, and Moving to Work plans. Members from RAB and other advisory groups were invited (pictured above) to meet and socialize at our August 5th ice cream social.

Ulysses has been a member of the County’s Resident Advisory Board since 2024 and is a Washington County rental voucher program participant. In 2023, more money went towards the Mainstream voucher program which gave Ulysess a chance towards housing stability. Mainstream vouchers help people with disabilities under-65, who are often at higher risk of homelessness. Now with stable housing and an important role on our Resident Advisory Board, Ulysses is looking forward to what’s next.

If you are interested in staying connected to your community and being part of RAB’s work, the County will be looking for new members in the fall. Members must be at least 18 years-old and in good standing. To become a member, you will need to fill out an application and take part in an interview. Members will receive a stipend for their support!

Reach out to housingservices@washingtoncountyor.gov if you are interested in applying.

Tip Box!

Beginning in October 2025, the Rental Assistance Division will require appointments for meetings in person or via phone with staff. Same day or drop-in appointments will no longer be accepted. For more information, including how to schedule an appointment, please visit visit our website.

Staying cool in extreme heat

Extreme heat can be deadly. Long-term weather trends show an increase in the number and intensity of very hot days and that night temperatures may not drop low enough to give relief from the day’s heat. Below are resources to help you prepare for dealing with hot weather. Your community is critical to preventing illness and death when it is extremely hot. During extreme heat days, be sure to check on your friends, family and neighbors, and share these resources with them.

Need a place to cool down? Washington County has cooling centers that are free and accessible to anyone who needs a place to beat the heat. For more information about hot weather resources visit StayCoolWashingtonCounty.com.

Stay cool indoors:

Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can.
Drink plenty of fluids (water is best), even if you don't feel thirsty.
Take cool showers or baths.
Close your blinds and curtains to keep sunlight out.
If the temperature falls at night, open your windows to let the cool air in (if it is safe).
Use fans but do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device when it is very hot. Instead, mist yourself with a spray bottle, and then use the fan to get the cooling benefits of evaporation.
Do not use your oven or do laundry on very hot days.
Eat small, light meals.

If you go outside:

Drink plenty of fluids. Choose a sports drink if you are sweating a lot.
Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Use sunscreen.
Exercise in the early morning when it's cooler.
Avoid strenuous activity in the heat of the day.
Never leave children or pets in cars. Read more summer pet care tips from the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association.
Get a baby pool or play in a sprinkler. Visit a local spray ground or fountain.
If you choose to swim or recreate in a local river or lake, be sure to wear a personal flotation device (life jacket) and take other safety precautions.

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.

Free Food Market

Are you finding ways to save a bit of money on your grocery bill? Washington County has free food markets throughout the county as a cost-saving resource to our community.

Beaverton-Hillsboro DHS Free Food Market

Every Second Tuesday of the Month, 1:30 to 2:30 pm

5300 NE Elam Young Pkwy

Hillsboro OR 97124

503-282-0555

Shop for free, fresh, and healthy fruits, vegetables, and pantry staples.

This food is free and anybody is welcome
No identification, name, or address needed
Please bring bags or boxes

Cornelius Centro Mercado

Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am - 12pm & 2pm - 5pm

Friday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

1216 East Baseline Street.

Cornelius, OR 97113

503-359-0446

Centro Cultural has partnered with grocery stores, the Oregon Food Bank and community organizations to provide culturally specific free food to families and individuals in our community.

Centro’s free food market is open to anyone in the community—no requirements, no appointment needed. The Centro Mercado is located across the street from Centro Cultural.

Tigard ODHS Free Food Market

Every Fourth Monday of the Month, 1:30-2:30 pm.

10777 SW Cascade Ave.

Tigard, OR 97223

Find fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with dry and canned goods.

Please bring your own bags.
Open to anyone in need of food assistance
No income verification required.

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.

Getting prepared for back to school

School will soon be back in session! It can feel overwhelming to know how to support your kids to prepare for the new school year. Below are some tips you can use to prepare and feel ready to help your student deal with the stress and anxiety the start of school can bring.

Prepare for the first day of school (Source: PBS KIDS for Parents)

Kids can have so many feelings to the first week of school: excitement and fear, wonder and worry. So, when something goes wrong, it can feel overwhelming.

Here are four ways you can help kids navigate heading back to school.

1) Talk about what to expect

Talk to your child about what school will look like in simple terms. What are the names of their teachers? What will the morning routine at home look like? What will they need to put in their backpack each day? How will they get to school? What will they eat for lunch? How will they get home?

2) Prepare for big feelings

It takes a lot of energy to get used to a new routine and get to know new teachers and classmates. Kids often hold in their emotions during the day. Those feelings often come spilling out in the safety of home. Create a predictable after school routine, including a snack and some downtime. And when your child does have a meltdown, stay close and stay calm. The storm will pass, and then you can help them work through the emotions behind it.

3) Express your confidence in them

Children read our emotions for cues about how they should react. If we show our confidence in them, they will pick up on this. When something goes wrong, you can also use it as an opportunity to share your confidence in them:

“Thanks for telling me what happened. We will figure this out together.”

“Wow, that sounds like a tough situation at recess. You did the right thing to tell your teacher.”

“I know you were really nervous about ____, but you did it. You are so brave.”

“Learning something new can be so frustrating. But you keep working at it. That’s determination.”

4) Reach out to the teacher

The parent-teacher relationship is so important to helping kids succeed. If you notice your child struggling, reach out to your child’s teacher. Finally, it’s totally normal if you as the parent are having anxiety about the start of a new year. We are all working so hard to take care of our kids that we sometimes need a reminder to take care of our own needs, too.

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