Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has issued a call for public input on a proposed amendment to the action plan for using a $422 million disaster recovery grant. The funds, originating from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, are aimed at aiding recovery from the devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires and winds.
Aiming to reallocate funds to bolster resources for renters and homeowners, OHCS, driven by the disproportionality of impact upon those of low incomes, has made the draft Action Plan Amendment available for public review. According to a statement obtained by the OHCS website, "These proposed program changes will create new programs to provide more resources for renters and homeowners such as rental and down payment assistance, and counseling services.”
Oregon residents are invited to share their perspectives through a public comment period spanning 30 days. Several public hearings have been scheduled where the community can provide firsthand their feedback, supplemented by the option to submit comments via online form, email, mail, or telephone. Instructions and access links for providing input can be found on the OHCS website. Printed versions of the plan are available upon request for those preferring a physical copy.
"We strongly encourage members of the public, especially direct survivors of the wildfires, to provide their input on how these program changes may affect their recovery," Neil Barrett, the Disaster Recovery and Resilience external affairs officer at OHCS, told the OHCS newsroom. He went on to emphasize that policies shaped by lived experiences tend to be the most efficacious. The hearings, set to commence on October 22nd at various locations, will include Spanish language translation services upon request.
All comments must be submitted to OHCS by 11:59 p.m. on November 8. Following the comment period, OHCS will integrate public feedback into the final plan before submission to HUD for review, a process that may take up to 45 days. OHCS has committed to addressing each comment received, in compliance with HUD’s requirements.
