Time is running out for Oregonians affected by the devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires, as the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP) is set to stop accepting new applications at the end of December. HARP, a key component of the ReOregon initiative, has provided critical assistance to homeowners seeking to rebuild or repair their homes, replace them, or even purchase new ones following the disaster, according to the Oregon Housing and Community Services.
The program, backed by a substantial $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has widened its eligibility criteria, in a push to support as many survivors as possible before the deadline. "We really want to encourage survivors of the 2020 wildfires to apply for HARP as soon as possible before the Eligibility Questionnaire closes on Dec. 31," Shannon Marheine, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at OHCS, conveyed in a statement obtained by the Oregon Housing and Community Services newsroom.
For those unsure about applying, Oregon Housing and Community Services has set up a new webpage designed to shed light on the experiences of those who've successfully navigated the HARP application process and received aid. It's hoped that these survivor stories will inspire others to step forward and seek the help they need.
Among the beneficiaries is Dierdri Muñoz, from Jackson County, "I had just gotten my order of alfredo when I overheard a waitress talking about how her mother-in-law got help to rebuild her home," Muñoz recounted, according to a interview with Oregon Housing and Community Services. With the assistance of ACCESS, a ReOregon partner, her application for a new home to replace the one taken by the Almeda Fire was approved. She joyously anticipates her first Christmas in her new residence with her granddaughter.
Applying for HARP is a two-tiered affair, starting with an Eligibility Questionnaire which paves the way to the full application for qualified homeowners. Oregon Housing and Community Services is advocating for survivors to initiate the process promptly as it can be time-consuming to collate the necessary paperwork. To facilitate this process, Regional HARP Intake Centers are ready to offer support. Up to now, the program has supported 70 survivors in acquiring new homes, while 31 have been reimbursed for their recovery efforts. Many are still making their way through the application stages. Details on the application process and broader eligibility requirements are available on the HARP website.
