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Housing Services E-Newsletter
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Hello Washington County,
As we close out Fair Housing Month, I want to address a recent federal proposal that would bar “mixed-status” families from receiving HUD-funded assistance. This change would dismantle a longstanding policy allowing families with different immigration or citizenship statuses to stay housed together as a family, with assistance adjusted only for the members who qualify. If adopted, this rule would force families to separate, lose assistance, and/or become homeless, including 39 families in Washington County. Our Housing Authority Board of Directors, advisory committees, and I have all strongly opposed this harmful proposal, which would punish families already following strict federal requirements and undermine the stability the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is intended to provide. While federal timelines are moving quickly, we are preparing to use every available tool to support affected households.
No matter what comes next, our department remains committed to standing with our community and protecting safe, stable housing for all Washington County families. This commitment is reflected in our recently updated Fair Housing Statement, which ensures our commitments remain clear, steady, and actionable even as federal policies shift.
Amid these larger conversations, we recognize Arab American Heritage Month, a time to honor the history and contributions of Arab Americans, knowing many around the world are facing significant hardship. In this newsletter edition, you will meet Ahmed, a former Public Housing resident who recently purchased the home he once rented. His journey as an Arab American immigrant is especially meaningful this month and reminds us why Fair Housing protections around national origin and other marginalized populations remain essential.
Thank you for your partnership as we carry the spirit of Fair Housing Month forward and continue building a Washington County where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Best,
Molly
| | Housing Authority Opposes Mixed-Status Rule Threatening 24,000 Families Nationwide | | |
In April, the Housing Authority Board of Directors (HABOD) discussed a new federal proposal that disqualifies mixed‑status households from receiving federally funded housing assistance. Mixed‑status families include members with different immigration or citizenship statuses. Today, mixed‑status families can stay together in housing supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and their rent assistance is prorated based on eligibility. This long-standing policy helps parents, children, and spouses maintain stable homes.
The proposed rule would remove that option and require full eligibility for the entire household to continue receiving assistance, arbitrarily putting over 24,000 households at risk of family separation, eviction, and homelessness across the country. In Washington County, as the rule is written today, 39 families in Washington County could be directly affected, and we are actively planning how to support these families if the policy moves forward.
The HABOD, Housing Advisory Committee, and Homeless Solutions Advisory Council all submitted public comments, opposing the rule change. The federal timeline is moving quickly: the public comment period closed earlier this month, with potential changes beginning as early as this summer. If the proposal is finalized, we would begin notifying families immediately.
We are committed to using every available extension, resource, and tool to give households as much time, clarity, and help as possible. Supporting housing stability remains at the center of our work. No matter what comes next at the federal level, the Department of Housing Services will continue standing with our community, supporting families, and working to protect safe, stable housing in Washington County.
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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.
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Meet Our New Advisory Council & Committee Leadership!
We’re excited to welcome two newly elected co-chairs to our advisory leadership team.
Kim Haughn was elected Co-Chair of the Homeless Solutions Advisory Council. As a first responder with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Kim brings an intersectional approach and firsthand experience supporting people experiencing homelessness during moments of crisis. Her background in community risk reduction and regional homelessness response will strengthen the council’s work, guiding strategies and investments for the County's homeless services system. Kim Haughn will serve alongside Kim Marshall, Executive Director of Project Homeless Connect, who continues in the second year of her two-year term as cochair.
We’re also pleased to welcome Hayley Purdy as the new Co-Chair of the Housing Advisory Committee (HAC). A Principal Architect at Scott Edwards Architecture, Hayley has helped shape hundreds of affordable housing homes, designing over 400 units of affordable housing and multiple community health spaces across the region. She brings three years of HAC service to her new leadership role and will partner with Ryan Cain, who continues his two-year term as Co-Chair. The HAC advises on affordable housing policies, programs, and development, and Hayley’s expertise in affordable housing design and equity-focused planning brings valuable insight to the team.
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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.
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Momentum builds at Just Compassion Resource Center as expansion breaks ground
We’re excited to share that Just Compassion broke ground this month on a major expansion of their access center, located in Tigard. The project will add six private meeting rooms and two new group spaces, giving guests more places to connect with case managers and meet with behavioral health providers. This work is powered by Washington County’s voter-supported Supportive Housing Services funds, along with help from Trillium Community Health Plan.
This step forward strengthens the network of services available to adults experiencing homelessness in Washington County. Right now, the Just Compassion Resource Center serves hundreds of people each week with meals, hygiene access, behavioral health support, and help navigating the housing system.
Interested in what’s next for Washington County's homeless services system? Check out our recently released Supportive Housing Services FY 2026-27 workplan, which includes draft workplans for opening two new access centers in Hillsboro and Western Washington County.
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Ahmed’s story: From danger abroad to a doorway in Washington County
When Ahmed arrived in Oregon, he carried memories of a life lived under constant risk and one priority that outweighed everything else: his family’s safety.
He began rebuilding his life with determination, creating lasting friendships and representing his community in many volunteer roles. While translating for a neighbor, he discovered Washington County’s Department of Housing Services. A simple pamphlet about rent assistance became his first step toward stability, and the County’s Public Housing program helped him form the foundation he needed to grow and contribute to the community he proudly calls home.
Years later, a letter arrived inviting him to purchase the home where his family had built their new beginning. The moment felt almost unreal. Thanks to the support and guidance of Washington County’s housing programs, a dream that once felt impossible became something he could hold in his hands and Ahmed purchased his home.
“I’m the first person, in my entire family, to own a house in the United States.” He shared with quiet pride. “When you buy a house, you earn a part of that house every day. It’s not just a dream, it’s an investment. It will stay for your kids and your grandkids.”
Interested in knowing more about Ahmed’s incredible journey? Click here for the full story.
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Department of Housing Services
WE ARE HIRING!
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.
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The Department of Housing Services creates pathways out of homelessness, promotes housing stability, and invests in affordable communities for Washington County and our residents. | |  | | | | |
