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Housing Services E-Newsletter
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Hello Washington County,
Summer is here when kids across our county are celebrating the end of the school year (mine included). In June, our department also celebrates Juneteenth, Pride Month, and National Homeownership Month.
Juneteenth is known by many names – Black Independence Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and many others. Juneteenth celebrates this final announcement of freedom from slavery; the day the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect in Texas. This day resonates with me as a time for reflection and service as we continue to identify the gaps between policy and outcomes in housing. Housing can’t just be affordable for some of us; it needs to be affordable for all of us.
Today is the end of Pride Month. We honor the vibrant, diverse, and inclusive LGBTQ+ community and its history, resilience, achievements, and progress toward equality. Originating in remembrance of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, Pride is a declaration that we are here and that all deserve the freedom to celebrate our love, identity, and accomplishments in stable, affordable housing.
Lastly, June is National Homeownership Month. I am proud to share that after six years of work on our Section 18 disposition initiative we just sold our first home to a former public housing resident, now homeowner! This hardworking family purchased the home they have lived in for many years, a once-in-a-lifetime moment that can change the trajectory of a family for decades to come. Please join me in congratulating them and thanking the staff and partners that have made this moment possible!
Best,
Molly
| | Woodland Hearth breaks ground thanks to voter-approved housing bond | | |
A new housing development is taking shape in Tigard, answering community calls for affordable family-sized apartment homes. Woodland Hearth, the latest Metro Affordable Housing Bond-funded project to break ground in Washington County, will bring 63 new two-to-four-bedroom homes to our community. On June 11, we joined elected officials and project partners, including the non-profit developer, Community Partners for Affordable Housing, in marking this milestone.
The development, slated for completion late next year, is a response to community feedback collected by local governments. The area’s community voiced a desire for more family friendly and affordable homes in the county’s Southwest Corridor. This part of the county, slated for future transportation improvements, was the perfect candidate for a new affordable housing community.
Development takes a lot of collaboration, from a multitude of parties working in diverse field from the staff here in Housing Services to the development team to the construction workers bringing the homes to life. To further invest in our community, the project includes partnerships with highly qualified local businesses that include five minority-owned businesses, six women-owned businesses, and three emerging small businesses, among others.
Washington County is proud to be funding the creation of Woodland Hearth through its allocation of the housing bond, federal HOME funds, Housing Production Opportunity Funds, and utilizing 16 Project-Based Vouchers allocated from the federal government to house extremely low-income households.
| | Hillsboro chooses shelter operator after comprehensive search | | |
Hillsboro's future year-round shelter will be operated by Project Homeless Connect – Washington County, whose staff bring more than 17 years of experience serving people experiencing homelessness in our community.
Based on the organization’s experience, commitment to equity, detailed staffing plan, and housing-focused approach, a review panel jointly convened by Washington County and the City of Hillsboro selected Project Homeless Connect after a competitive application process.
As the new operator, Project Homeless Connect will lead the development of operations and policies for the future shelter program, and engage the community in creating a Neighborhood Plan, in partnership with the City of Hillsboro and Washington County staff. Meanwhile, shelter construction is advancing rapidly with all electrical completed, dry wall in progress, solar panels installed, and plumbing underway.
Anticipated to open later this year, the PHC’s shelter program will serve adults experiencing homelessness with life-saving shelter, wrap-around services, and pathways to long-term housing support.
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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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Boards approve Department of Housing Services and Housing Authority budgets
Another year, another budget – but for us, that means two budgets for the two arms of our organization: the Department of Housing Services, embedded in the full county budget, and the Housing Authority of Washington County. On June 17, both budgets were approved by the Board of County Commissioners & Housing Authority Board of Directors.
These annual budgets are developed based on months of data gathering, input from our advisory bodies, current market conditions, and strategic forecasting of anticipated federal, state and regional revenues. The upcoming fiscal year demonstrates that we have grown profoundly in our sophistication, complexity, and diversification of business lines. While these budgets exist as separate documents, together they demonstrate how our ‘two sides of the house’ – Homeless Services and Housing Services – come together to create a continuum of stable housing for Washington County residents.
Despite the headwinds of revenue reductions anticipated at every level of funding, we can see opportunities ahead for our community. This budget will help create pathways out of homelessness, promote housing stability, and invest in affordable communities for Washington County and our residents.
For more information on the county budget, read this news release here.
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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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Jasmine’s story: A family impacted by the power of community
When Jasmine moved into her new home at Tigard’s Terrace Glen apartments more than a year ago, she didn’t foresee the impact her new affordable housing community would have on her and her family.
Jasmine’s housing crisis began in 2022 when she was forced to leave her home for safety reasons, with just her two young children and the little she had saved in her bank account. Navigating the journey home was difficult for her and her family. At first, they were placed in shelters that were challenging and did not suit her needs well. It was a difficult time after all the trauma she and her family experienced.
She persevered though, and with support from the Department of Human Services, and the shelter where she and her kids could safely rest their heads, she was finally able to get her GED.
“It was the proudest moment ever; I never excelled in academics,” shared Jasmine. “A lot of the times people, when they’re in their trenches, they want to give up... perseverance can get you where you need to be, don’t allow people’s lack of compassion, lack of knowledge, to hinder your abilities to be able to strive and make it where you need to be,” she continued.
That dedication paid off, and with the help of Family Promise of Greater Washington County shelter staff, she was referred to her new home. “It’s a beautiful three-bedroom apartment, and I’ve started to build community,” said Jasmine.
To read more about Jasmine’s perseverance and her housing journey, visit our blog page.
| | 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. | |  | | | | |
