In January 2023, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued Executive Order 23-02 (the EO), which declared a state of emergency due to homelessness that remains in effect until January 10, 2024. The overall goals of the EO are to rapidly expand the state’s low-barrier shelter capacity, to rehouse people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and to prevent homelessness to the greatest extent possible. The EO provides funds and target metrics across seven counties in Oregon including Jackson County, which was awarded $8.8 million to help combat the homelessness crisis. Administered by ACCESS and the Jackson County Continuum of Care, the directives include creating 67 additional shelter beds and housing 133 unsheltered households.

OHRA, along with other regional organizations in the Continuum of Care, is part of the Jackson County Multi Agency Coordination Group (MAC Group) tasked with achieving the goals laid out in the EO specific for Jackson County. In addition to the funding provided by the EO, Jackson County was awarded $1.4 million in Oregon Eviction Diversion and Prevention funds. These funds will go directly to providing prevention services to 385 households in our community.

OHRA is well-positioned to utilize these funds to move more people into permanent housing and to help more families stay housed through our low-barrier model that includes resource navigation paired with emergency shelter. This means that current guests and residents of Jackson County will have access to funding through OHRA for eviction prevention (past due rent balances, utility bills in collections, court fees, credit issues, etc) as well as for deposit and rental assistance for those looking to get housed.

If you or someone you know are looking for assistance, please reach out to The OHRA Center and make an appointment with a resource navigator. OHRA may be able to help remove barriers related to housing if you are currently experiencing homelessness or be able to help you stay housed if you are struggling with rent or utility payments.