How to Locate Low Income Housing in Oregon
True to its reputation as a fairly liberal state, Oregon offers a range of housing options and programs designed to help people in need of housing assistance. Further, federal, state, and local resources provide comprehensive information on the low income housing options available in the community in question. Someone moving to Oregon and requiring subsidized housing should have no trouble finding the options that are available in any given area; though actually getting into a particular unit might be more difficult. As is the case in much of the country, the waiting periods for project-based subsidized housing - especially in urban areas - can be lengthy. However, since Oregon offers a wider range of options than some states, there is a better chance of getting into a dedicated low income housing unit than would be the case in many other states.
At the federal level, the primary resource is Section 8 housing, both project-based (tied to the specific housing unit) and tenant-based (tied to the individual person within a set jurisdiction). At the federal level, the governing entity is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD, www.hud.gov) and much of the related information pertaining to Section 8 options in Oregon can be found there. The HUD Oregon page provides a comprehensive list of all HUD-approved public housing authorities (PHAs) in Oregon, which is the authority that people looking for Section 8 housing should contact. Further, Section 8 housing is based on the applicant's income as compared against the HUD determined median income of the area in question. Basically, in order to qualify, the applicant has to make fifty percent or less of the median income of the metropolitan area or county in question. These median incomes are also listed on the HUD website, meaning that people considering applying for Section 8 housing in Oregon can check ahead to see if they qualify.
At the state level, the primary resource for people seeking subsidized housing in Oregon is the Oregon Housing and Community Resources (OHCR, www.ohcs.oregon.gov) entity. Their website provides a comprehensive overview of all of the affordable housing options available in the state as well as other programs meant to help low income people. People seeking rental assistance can learn about all of the programs that are currently in operation in Oregon: Section 8 housing, HOME Tenant-Based Assistance Program (HTBA) and the Low-Income Rental Housing Fund Program (LIRHF). Information can be found discussing the general qualification requirements, methods of application, and limits of assistance available under each program.
Further information on a local level is available from the local PHAs, a full list of which are given on both the HUD and OHCR websites cited above. These organizations can not only provide details about the basic programs and units available, but also local assistance programs and resources that may not be available in other localities. The local PHAs can also provide information about local charities and other non-profit entities that provide assistance to low income people in the local district. This information may not be readily available elsewhere, so visiting the local PHA website or office can be a good idea before committing to a particular option.