From Sept. 20 to 26, the Housing Authority of Washington County opened its Public Housing waitlist, offering 900 available slots in total for two-to-four-bedroom units for the first time since February 2020.  

Participating families in the Public Housing program contribute around 30% of their income towards their housing costs, with the authority covering the remaining. Current tenant monthly rents, which are based solely on income, average around $421. By the end of the application period, almost 2,000 households have applied. 

Interim Director Michael Buonocore shared, “Time and time again we are reminded in our community about how difficult it is to find affordable housing. These public homes are a lifeline for our community’s families who struggle to find stable housing.” 

For those who could not apply this time, the County has streamlined its waitlist process, hoping to provide more opportunities for residents to apply by shortening its waitlist opening periods.  

For more on Washington County’s Public Housing program, visit its webpage.

New LATS Program integrating health & housing for homeless residents launches next month 

As our homeless response system expands, the need for a safe place for people to stay that includes medical support is clearer than ever. Many participants have complex health needs that require medical assessments, skilled health service navigation, and in-home support to help them attain stability. To meet this need, the County has set aside 10 rooms at the Hillsboro Bridge Shelter managed by Greater Good Northwest for the new LATS (Low Acuity Transitional Services) two-year pilot program's demonstration period.

Departmental quarterly updates

Check out these short informative quarterly update videos on the progress of Washington County's affordable housing bond and supportive housing services below, presented by Program Manager Andrew Crampton and Assistant Director Jes Larson respectively: 

Rose's story

Before moving into the Terrace Glen Apartments in Tigard, Rose shared a two-bedroom apartment with her parents and two teenage daughters for three years. She was working four jobs to pay the rent and bills, which meant she had little time to spend with her family. “It’s doable but it’s not sustainable,” she said. “You can do it to survive but you cannot sustain it. It’s crushing you. It is consuming every single bit of energy that you have."

Rose came to the United States in 2002 as a political refugee. Back in her home country, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Rose had started working as a journalist at a newspaper known for criticizing the government. Her work there led to threatening letters and visits from government officials. Because of this history, Rose has asked that we not specify the country....

After years of struggling to support her family and experiencing guilt and shame that she couldn’t afford more, Rose knew she needed to make a change. As a social worker, she was used to helping others access support, but didn’t qualify for assistance herself because she was just over the income line. She compared her situation to that of many other households in the area who are just barely getting by and little more, paying rents that take the majority of their paycheck.

Then she found out about Terrace Glen, a new affordable housing complex in Tigard with 144 apartments, ranging from studios to four-bedrooms. They are designated for households making 30% AMI or less ($36,570 for a family of five) and 60% AMI or less ($73,140), with current rents between $592 to $1,706. Rose and her family were some of the first building's first tenants, moving in just before the grand opening in June.

To continue reading this in-depth story by Metro, click here.

Missed the Plambeck groundbreaking this summer?

Designed by Carleton Hart and under construction by LMC, the Plambeck Gardens, Tualatin's latest affordable housing property, allows for flexibility in space usage, incorporating trauma-informed and universal design concepts for residents to thrive. Coming next fall!