Community Resource E-Newsletter

December 15, 2025 | housingservices@washingtoncountyor.gov

Enjoy low cost to free holiday festivities in your community

Looking for ways to celebrate the holidays without spending much money? Our community offers many free and low-cost holiday events for everyone. Check out our list below to find fun holiday activities happening near you.

Winter Village @ Orenco Station

November 30, 2025 – January 11, 2026*

Jerry Willey Plaza at Orenco Station

934 NE Orenco Station Loop, Hillsboro, OR

Find seasonal cheer at this outdoor ice-skating rink. Winter Village is a beloved Hillsboro event. Bring your friends and family to a skate session or rent the rink for your private party. Don't miss exciting special events and skate days!

*The rink will be closed on the following days:

Wednesday, December 24

Thursday, December 25

Thursday, January 1

Lightopia: An Illuminated Journey

December 9, 2025 – December 28, 2025*

Mon - Thur: 5:30-8 p.m.

Fri - Sun: 5:30-9 p.m.

Gordon Faber Recreation Complex

4450 NE Century Boulevard, Hillsboro, OR

Drive through a glimmering landscape with colorful characters and holiday icons in bold, beautiful lights. Plan your own seasonal playlist for more fun.

New this year: no tickets or reservations required! Lightopia is a free event. All visits are first-come, first-served 7 days a week.

*Lightopia will be closed: December 24 & 25

Beaverton Winter Lights

December 1, 2025 to January 3, 2026

Winter Light displays will be on from 4 p.m. – 8 a.m.

Beaverton City Park

SW 5th St. and SW Hall Blvd.

Gingerbread Houses

December 19, 2025

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Cornelius Public Library

1370 N Adair St

Join their traditional gingerbread house-making program! Showcase your construction talents by building your gingerbread house. They will supply all the materials; bring your family and creativity along! While supplies last. Everyone is welcome.

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.

Find a local food pantry near you

As SNAP food benefits are under threat and food costs are going up, it can be hard to meet basic needs. Our community provides resources, such as food pantries, to help community members access food. If you or someone you know needs access to free food, below is a list of food pantry options. For more information on more options, please contact 211 or use their food resource finder.

Washington County HOPE Center

Daily Sack Lunch

9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Food, bread, hygiene products

Hours: 1-3:45 p.m.

Open: Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri

1440 SE 21st Ave

Hillsboro

Tualatin Food Pantry

Depending on availability, frozen meat, frozen veggies, and other frozen items as well as a variety of deli items. Prioritize having milk, eggs, and margarine. Offers fresh produce—typically what is in-season locally. Gluten free options and culturally responsive staple items.

Hours:

Mon: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 4-7 p.m.

Wed: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Thurs: 4-6 p.m.

Fri: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

3550 SW Borland Rd

Tualatin, OR 97062

Community Table Food Pantry

Cornelius United Methodist Church

1095 S Beech St. Cornelius OR 97113

Open twice a month, first Wednesday, 1-3 p.m., third Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

St Matthews Lutheran Food Pantry

10390 SW Canyon Rd, Beaverton

Appointments required to shop. Walk-in clients will receive a bag of food.

For appointments, please call:

Care to Share - 503-591-9025

Mon-Fri: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Food Pantry Hours:

Mon: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Tue: 5 – 6 p.m.

1st Wed: 1 – 2 p.m.

2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Wed: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Thurs 11 a.m.– 12 p.m. and 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Holy Trinity Food Closet

For appointments, please call:

Care to Share - 503-591-9025

Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Food Pantry Hours:

Tue, Wed, and Fri 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Looking for affordable housing opportunities?

The Housing Authority of Washington County helps create affordable housing options. We work together with the public and private sectors to build homes that cost less money, helping build thousands of affordable homes in our community. Some of these homes are owned by the housing authority, some in partnership with private companies, while other homes are owned completely by our partners.

Current openings at the following properties:

Aloha Park (Beaverton)

360-695-1538

One, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments on SW 185th Avenue near Baseline. Close to Willow Creek MAX Stop and TriMet bus.

Bonita Villa (Tigard)

360-695-1538

One to three-bedroom apartments at the intersection of SW 76th Ave and SW Bonita Road. Three-story, garden-style buildings. Near TriMet bus.

The Ridge at Bull Mountain (Tigard)

360-695-1538

One and two-bedroom apartments on SW 112th Ave between Highway 99 and SW Gaarde Street. Two-story buildings. Near TriMet bus.

Bridge Meadows (Beaverton)

503-953-1100

Bridge Meadows offers 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom units for elders (age 55+) and units for families.

For details, please contact each property via its phone number and/or website. Non-county-operated properties are not an exhaustive list; more can be found on our finding rental housing webpage.

Tip Box!

Keep an eye out for our recently improved zone-based housing waitlist, which will open on a permanent basis in early 2026. With more than 4,000 households applying last month, demand is high. You can check waitlist openings by creating a profile on our portal to receive notifications. You can also check out our waitlists' webpage.

Be prepared to file your taxes in the new year

Have you ever filed your taxes and thought “why I am paying all this money to a business so I can pay the government?” Why not save some money when filing your taxes? Below are some low cost or free ways you can file:

IRS Free File

Free tax preparation software, available only on IRS.gov, from eight private companies partnering with the IRS for eligible taxpayers. Last year, taxpayers qualified if 2024 adjusted gross income (AGI) was $84,000 or less. IRS Free File also provides fillable forms for use by any taxpayer, regardless of income, who is comfortable preparing their own return.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/Tax Counseling for the Elderly

IRS certified volunteers at some community organizations who provide free tax help for eligible taxpayers including working families, the elderly, the disabled and people who speak limited English. AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide, part of the Tax Counseling for the Elderly, is billed as the nation’s largest free, volunteer-staffed program to help people prepare and file taxes. In 2024, nearly 28,000 volunteers helped almost 1.7 million taxpayers file returns, it said.

MilTax

A Department of Defense program that generally offers free return preparation and electronic filing software for federal income tax returns and up to three state income tax returns for all military members, and some veterans, with no income limit.

H&R Block Online Free Edition

While H&R Block no longer participates in Free File, the tax preparation giant offers its own free service. According to the website, 52% of taxpayers qualify for Online Free Edition. You must have a relatively straightforward return.

TurboTax Free Edition

TurboTax, too, offers free tax preparation to taxpayers with relatively simple returns. Roughly 37% of filers qualify.

Direct File Oregon is an interview-based software that allows most full year residents to file their personal state income tax return electronically directly with the Oregon Department of Revenue for free.

You can also receive in person tax preparation help. CASH Oregon provides free, high-quality tax preparation and culturally responsive outreach to communities likely to face barriers to accessing tax credits. CASH Oregon Tax sited will reopen in January 2026. Visit this page to keep informed on tax sites that will reopen in the new year.

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