Federal investments made to address crisis
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
Oregon will be receiving $71 million in federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to tackle various housing issues around the state, Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Monday.
“Housing is a human right, and these federal resources will help to make that right a reality for Oregonians needing a floor under their feet and a roof over their heads,” said Wyden, author of the Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All (DASH) Act.
The monies allocated are good step forward to help provide affordable housing statewide, Wyden said, but he indicated there’s more to be done and he promised to continue pushing for an even greater response to the housing crisis.
The Community Planning Development awards include nearly $35 million for Community Development Block Grants to build and secure decent housing and suitable living environments, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
The funding includes nearly $20 million for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program which provides grants for building housing, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people.
Another $10 million was allocated for the Housing Trust Fund, giving local governments monies to exclusively produce and preserve affordable housing for extremely low and very low-income households; and another $2.5 million for the Housing Opportunities for Persons
With AIDS program which provides stable and permanent housing assistance and supportive services to one of the most vulnerable populations – low-income people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
In addition, nearly $3 million was awarded to the state’s Emergency Solutions Grant program, providing support for first responders helping people in a housing crisis and engaging with people living on the streets.
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