WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Ron Wyden today announced more than $10.6 million in public housing grants awarded to housing authorities across Oregon.
“The nation is facing its biggest housing affordability crisis in decades, with rents dramatically outpacing incomes,” Merkley said. “Every family deserves a decent home in a decent community, and while much more needs to be done, these grants will support capital projects in every corner of Oregon.”
“When Oregonians can’t afford a roof over their heads, the health of our entire community suffers,” Wyden said. “With the cost of rent and housing soaring in Oregon and across the country, this much-needed public housing funding will help ensure the availability of this basic necessity that all Oregonians deserve.”
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Capital Fund provides annual funds to public housing agencies for the development, financing, and modernization of public housing developments and for management improvements. The 13 Oregon recipients, among 2,945 grants awarded nationally, include:
- Housing Authority of Clackamas County, Oregon City: $1,320,695
- Housing Authority of Portland, Portland: $4,178,834
- Housing Authority of Douglas County, Roseburg: $387,686
- Housing Authority of Lincoln County, Newport: $298,805
- Housing Authority and Community Services of Lane Co, Eugene: $1,376,302
- Housing Authority of the County of Umatilla, Hermiston: $276,285
- Housing and Urban Renewal Agency of Polk County, Dallas: $672,074
- North Bend Housing Authority, North Bend: $268,877
- Housing Authority of the City of Salem, Salem: $743,846
- Klamath Housing Authority, Klamath Falls: $160,915
- Coos-Curry Housing Authority, North Bend: $136,568
- Housing Authority of Washington County, Hillsboro: $706,927
- Housing Authority of Malheur County, Ontario: $110,420
“An unexpectedly welcome increase!” said Komi P. Kalevor, MBA, PHM, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Washington County. “This level funding boost will go a long way to help elevate our service, responsiveness, and effectiveness given our aging Public Housing properties. We are excited beyond words.”
“We are relieved to receive Capital Fund at an increase, and the timing could not be better,” said Andy Welch, Housing Administrator of the Housing Authority of the City of Salem. “Our public housing is undergoing conversion via the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program in the near future; this Capital Fund award will ensure our public housing units perform financially and that our tenants live in safe, decent, and affordable housing.”
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