U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that 31 Oregon counties and cities – including Umatilla County – will receive about $12.8 million in federal resources from the American Rescue Plan to provide emergency housing vouchers for individuals and families.
The money will be available to those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing or trying to flee from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking.
“The economic devastation touched off by this public health crisis has magnified the housing emergency for far too many Oregonians already teetering on a financial tightrope forcing them to balance rent payments against bills for food, medicine and more,” Wyden said. “Housing is a human right and this funding from the American Rescue Plan works to help make that statement a reality by keeping vulnerable Oregonians safe and housed in urban, rural and suburban communities throughout our state.”
The Housing Authority of Umatilla County is slated to receive $205,044.
“America was founded on the basic principle that everyone deserves the tools they need to be healthy and thrive,” said Merkley. “And while we’ve never fully realized that vision, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to move toward it.”
The money comes out of the American Rescue Plan Act, which among its provisions allowed the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allocate additional emergency housing vouchers to local public housing agencies.
The $12.84 million in HUD funding will be distributed to Oregon public housing agencies to help them assist individuals and families in need.
