Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is set to receive a significant boost in federal funding, securing $8 million to create housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This development comes as part of a larger initiative by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), delivering more than $138 million to various state housing agencies throughout the nation.
In a determined move to directly improve the lives of people with lower incomes who are living with disabilities, OHCS aims to use this grant to generate 153 affordable homes. "The Biden-Harris Administration is hard at work delivering results to make everyday life better for people. These investments are a continued testament to this," OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell voiced in a statement, her commitment reflecting the agency's larger mission to eagerly to advance housing equity, as mentioned in a press release.
The funding is part of HUD's Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) for Persons with Disabilities program, which targets state housing agencies for assistance. The Northwest Region, encompassing Oregon and its neighbor, Washington state—which has also been awarded an equal $8 million to construct 158 housing units—altogether has received a total of $16 million from the federal funds.
This initiative goes beyond numbers; it will directly impact a community often on the edge of housing security. "OHCS remains relentless, through the lens of humanity, to advance housing progress that creates a better future for the people and the communities we serve," said Bell in a press release. OHCS is one of 18 state housing agencies recently receiving support from HUD, highlighting the government's role in addressing housing needs for disabled citizens.
