|
Housing Services E-Newsletter
| |
|
Dear Washington County,
Happy Lunar New Year.
Believe it or not, it was only a week and a half ago we were honoring the great Martin Luther King, Jr. As we grapple with the myriad Trump Executive Orders, it feels like the right time to reflect on Dr. King's legacy of justice, equality, and the relentless pursuit of dignity for all people. While we work to advance racial equity, I want to be clear that there is much work to be done: Black households in Oregon face significant disparities in housing outcomes compared to White households, with homeownership rates for Black households roughly half of what it is for White households. To better understand these disparities, please take a look at this new report from Oregon Housing and Community Services.
At the same time, the executive orders released by the Trump administration involve many of the federal programs we administer here in Washington County. The day one executive actions impacted staffing at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, rolled back protections for LGBTQIA+ people in homeless services, terminated all diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility practices and policies, threatens sanctuary jurisdictions’ (in which Oregon is one) ability to receive federal funds, and allows immigration law enforcement to enter shelters, schools, and more.
On Jan. 27 another federal order was issued that attempted to freeze all federal grants and loans (except Social Security and Medicare). Two days later, the White House rescinded this order. Every day and every hour, the information we receive seems to change but what we understand today, January 31, 2025, our funding for Housing Choice Vouchers, Public Housing, Continuum of Care and other federal programs is proceeding like it was before the executive order. Let me be clear – rent payments are going out on Feb. 3 for our thousands of households supported by our Rental Assistance Department.
In these moments of uncertainty, I am warmed by the generosity and incredible commitment of the many service providers and volunteers who made sure we had welcoming shelters during these freezing spells we have experienced the past two weekends. My deepest gratitude for the staff who conducted the annual Point in Time count to gather vital information on people experiencing homelessness. Data and tracking those experiencing homelessness is crucial to us understanding our impact and progress.
I hope the Year of the Snake brings you much health and happiness.
Best,
Molly Rogers
| |
Photo exhibit by affordable housing residents on display in Public Services Building | |
|
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 last month. From January 15 to February 14, 2025, Washington County is hosting the exhibit at the Public Services Building on 155 N First Ave, in Hillsboro 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 workshop and the exhibit check out this article by Street Roots.
|
|
|
|
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.
| | | |
Housing Authority of Washington County awarded additional VASH vouchers
Washington County’s Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) voucher program continues to grow thanks to our lease up success.
The Housing Authority of Washington County has consistently achieved VASH utilization rates above the national average, currently providing vouchers to 223 veteran households. As a result of this performance, HUD has awarded the housing authority with 50 additional VASH vouchers on January 7, 2025! This is in addition to an earlier award of 25 vouchers in March of last year.
The VASH program is a joint effort between HUD and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). HUD allocates Housing Choice Vouchers that allow homeless veterans and their families to live in market-rate rental units while the VA provides case management services.
If you or someone you know is a veteran experiencing homelessness, you can learn more here.
| |
|
HUD overhauls website to enhance community's access to services
Earlier this month HUD announced that it has completely update its website, including easier access to information about programs in Oregon. The site’s updated pages feature a streamlined design and trauma-informed elements, making it easier for communities nationwide to access vital resources, including affordable housing services, homeownership support, housing counseling, disaster recovery assistance, and more.
After a comprehensive review, HUD has reduced the total number of pages from 2,500 to approximately 100. It has made significant edits to streamline the design, prioritizing user experience and accessibility. Instead of its previous static wall of information, the website has been transformed into a more user-friendly site that centers around a self-help kiosk design that significantly improves the user experience.
The aim of this modernization is to create a more accessible and compassionate digital experience for all by responding to the needs of the residents served by HUD and its partners. We think they’ve done a great job!
| |
|
|
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.
| | | |
Jessica’s story: From financial struggle to family self-sufficiency
We are proud to offer services and programming to people across the housing continuum, and we’re proud to support families in creating a brighter future. One critical program aims to economically empower people to be financially independent. This federally funded program is called Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS).
Open to all our rental assistance clients, enrollment in FSS is free and offers numerous benefits such as a dedicated FSS case manager, financial education classes, employment support, referrals to partners who provide job training services, personal growth counseling, individual saving accounts for education, small business and home ownership, and a HUD-funded savings account.
Numerous participants have graduated from FSS over the years and in some cases, escrow funds paid to graduates enabled them to purchase their own homes, open businesses, or launch new careers. One past participant, Jessica, a single mom with an eleven-year-old son (pictured above at Disneyland) joined FSS in 2017 while she was a nursing assistant and struggling to support her family on her salary.
Jessica had her own dreams though, and FSS helped her chart her own path forward. Read about Jessica’s success story on our website here.
| |
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. | |  |
| | | |
