Rent Assistance with Other Community Programs

Rent Assistance with Other Community Programs

On this page

  1. Multnomah County Rent Assistance
  2. Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) [OHP members only]
  3. Health Related Services Funds - "Flex Funds" (HRSF) [OHP members only]
  4. HRSN and HRSF – what’s the difference?
  5. Washington County Rent Assistance
  6. Clackamas County Rent Assistance
  7. General Assistance Program
  8. Domestic Violence and Crime Victim Assistance

Multnomah County Rent Assistance

Home Forward Short Term Rent Assistance Program - Call 211 or visit 211info.org for current rent assistance availability.

Community Rent Assistance Programs:

  • Oregon Eviction Prevention Rapid Response Program (OR-EPRP) - Public Partnerships (PPL) in partnership with the Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) oversee the Oregon Eviction Prevention Rapid Response Program (OR-EPRR). Funding opens on the 1st of the month.
    • Must have an active eviction court case number, meet income level requirements
    • Eligible Expenses: Rental fees (pet fees, housing related legal fees, application fees, etc.), Past due rent, future rent up to 1 month, security deposits, utilities, repairs and damage remediation for up to $2500, partial payments to reduce the housing debt.
    • Oregon Eviction Prevention Rapid Response (EPRP) - Intake Form
  • Multnomah Stability Initiative (MSI) - The Multnomah Stability Initiative (MSI) assists homeless and low-income households leave poverty and become self sufficient. A wide array of services are provided including: Emergency Services, Energy Assistance, Rent Assistance, Housing, Case Management, Skill-Building, Early Childhood Programs, Information & Referral to other Services. Call 211 for more information or visit the weblink above for this program for other area agencies that can refer to these services.
  • Rose City Resource Guide (Street Roots) - Renters Services
  • Islamic Social Services - Housing Needs Assistance Click on the link titled Resource Aid Form to apply and complete their Release of Information.
  • Bienestar de la Familia - 503-988-3509. Leaving a message does NOT mean they will call you back - applicants need to speak to someone. Once the applicant has talked with someone, they will then be contacted for an appointment with a case manager, who will assess eligibility. Applicants must have eviction notice to qualify for assistance.
  • SEI Community and Family Programs (503) 285-0493
  • Catholic Charities - (503) 489-6842
  • St. Andrews Catholic Church - They offer limited rent or utility assistance to people who live within our service area boundaries as well as registered parishioners. Service Area: From I-5 east to NE 25th and from Ainsworth south to Shaver Street. Location: 4940 NE 8th Ave., 971-244-0339, emergencyservices@standrewchurch.com. Visit their website for additional details. 

  • Coalition of African and African American Pastors/Imams - Emergency rent assistance program targeting assistance to African & African American Oregon residents. 

  • Path Home Homelessness Prevention Program - Assists households with children that are at risk of losing their housing.

Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) [OHP members only]

Health Related Social Needs (HRSNs) are social and economic needs that impact an individual's ability to maintain health and well-being. Through Oregon's 1115 Medicaid waiver, the state will be able to cover HRSN services for eligible Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members. The HRSN Benefit offers nutrition services, housing supports, and climate devices to OHP members experiencing an eligible life transition and clinical health need. Not all OHP members qualify for HRSN benefits. Members must have specific health, living and financial conditions.

HRSN housing benefits aren't meant for emergencies. It takes time to approve and receive HRSN housing benefits. Times can vary by provider. Members with an eviction notice or urgent need should contact their regional Community Action Agency (CAA) or 211. 

HRSN Resources:

 

HRSN Service Categories:

  • Climate supports - devices to keep you safe during climate events
  • Nutritional supports - help with food benefits and keeping a healthy diet
  • Housing supports - help getting housed or staying housed

Click here for CareOregon's Social Needs Assistance Guidelines which covers eligibility and supports for all 3 categories of HRSN services and includes information about HRSF "Flex Funds" (more on that further down on this page). The CareOregon's Social Needs Assistance webpage is an additional resource for information on all benefit categories. 

Housing Related Supports include the following:

  • Help paying rent for up to 6 months.
  • Help paying utilities for up to 6 months
  • Storage Fees for up to 6 months
  • Medically Necessary Home Changes (Home Owners and Renters can apply for this benefit)
  • Payment for Hotel or Motel stay only if member can not stay in their home during approved HRSN home changes.

For details refer to the Qualifying for OHP Housing Benefits download. 

 

Am I Eligible For Housing Supports? 

To be eligible, all of the following must be true:

  1. You are a current OHP member (can be a child in the assisted household)
  2. Your household income is under the 30% Median Income Limits.
  3. You have a qualifying medial condition:
    • Developmental disability
    • Complex physical health needs
    • Complex behavioral health needs
    • Needs assistance with Activities of Daily Living (e.g., personal hygiene, eating, dressing)
    • Interpersonal Violence (DV)
    • Repeated use of crisis services, such as the Emergency Department
    • Pregnancy or up to 12 months post partum
    • Age (under 6, over 65)
    • Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs (Ages 19-26 with special health care needs)
  4. You are in a Covered Population per the following:
    • Rent/Utility/Storage Supports - the member must be in one of the following living situations:
      • Currently renting with a rental agreement or equivalent (can not be a home owner),
      • Need financial support to maintain their housing
      • Lacks sufficient resources or support networks to prevent their homelessness
      • Not be a Homeowner
      • Not be facing eviction for reasons other than financial hardship
    • Home Changes (Modifications and Remediation) -  the member must require the clinically appropriate home modification or remediation, and be in one of the following HRSN Covered Populations:
      • Adult Discharged/released from a behavioral health facility or from incarceration
      • Currently or previously involved with Oregon Child Welfare
      • Have been released from custody or a residential behavioral health setting
      • Transitioning from Medicaid-only to both Medicaid and Medicare coverage
      • Have a household income that’s below 30% median income AND lacks sufficient resources or support networks to prevent their homelessness
      • Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs (Ages 19-26 with special health care needs)

Please review the document Qualifying for Oregon Health Plan housing benefits for more information. 

 

Ready to apply?

If you are requesting housing support, please note that OHP housing benefits are not set up to address housing emergencies. Housing benefit applications may take several weeks to be reviewed and several months before a referral takes place to a housing support provider agency who would process the assistance payments. These benefits are designed to support people before they have an eviction notice—and help them stabilize. Please allow 15-20 business days for an initial call back or before following up on your request. 

In order to understand how to apply for assistance you will need to determine which Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) the OHP member receives service through. Healthshare and Trillium are the CCO's serving the Portland Metro Area (see below). CCO Contact Information for all providers can be found here.  

Health Share of Oregon - HRSN Eligibility and Application 

  • The link above provides an overview of the benefits available, eligibility criteria and information about how to apply. Health Share of Oregon serves member receiving OHP benefits through one of the following CCO's:
    • CareOregon
    • Kaiser Permanente
    • OHSU
    • Legacy Health PacificSource
    • Providence Health Assurance
  • Submit a digital application or call 503-416-4100 for assistance
  • Can also submit Housing Request Form (pdf) to hrsncx@careoregon.org or fax 503-416-1376

Trillium - HRSN Eligibility and Application

  • The link above to Trillium's HRSN website provides information regarding eligibility and how to apply. The application can be found under "How do I find out if I am eligible?"
  • Submit a Trillium HRSN Online Application or call Trillium Member Services at 1-877-600-5472, or
  • Email Trillium's Community Health Workers to apply at CHW@TrilliumCHP.com 

OHP Open Card - HRSN Eligibility and Application 

  • OHP Open Card applications for HRSN benefits are processed by Acentra Health.
  • Request Form for HRSN OHP Open Card members - complete the request form and send it to Acentra Health by email ORHRSN@acentra.com or fax it to 1-833-551-2607.
  • You can also call Acentra Health's HRSN team at 888-834-4304.
  • For fee-for-service (Open Card) members can contact Care Coordination at 800-562-4620 

If you do not know your OHP Coordinated Care health plan...

  • Check your ID card. You should have received an ID card from you health plan that will have it's name and your member ID on the front.
  • Or you can call OHP Client Services at 1-800-273-0557.

 

Health Related Services Funds - "Flex Funds" (HRSF) [OHP members only]

Flex Funds can pay for a variety of services that will help keep you healthy, and that you might not expect would be paid for by your health plan. Examples of services that can be paid for include:

  • Housing support: Furniture, application fees for housing, rent, deposits, state-issued ID, moving costs, etc.
  • Phone/video appointments: A cell phone, tablet, an internet connection for better access to providers, etc.
  • Food support: Meal delivery, food vouchers, farmers market funds, etc.
  • Living environment: Air conditioners, athletic shoes, items that improve mobility, etc.
  • Comfort items: Weighted blankets, sleep aids, vouchers for yoga classes, etc.

Flex Funds are available for individuals on the Oregon Health Plan. Access to Flex Funds is available through Oregon Health Plan Coordinated Care Organizations .

If a member has OHP but is not sure which CCO they are in, they can call the Client Service Unit at 1-800-273-0557 or email: ask.OHP@okhsoha.oregon.gov

Steps for requesting funds:

  1. Talk to your provider or care coordinator about what’s keeping you from getting and staying healthy. Members of your care team or your case manager can make requests for health-related services funds.
  2. If your diagnosis or treatment calls for an item or service not otherwise included in your health coverage, your health provider or you case manager will need to fill out a Flex Funds request (see links above for specific forms depending on the Coordinated Care Organization).
    • Flex funds requests must be signed by your physician.
    • Attach medical or clinical records documenting the health related reason for the need.
  3. The Coordinated Care Organization will contact you regarding the request.

HRSN and HRSF – what’s the difference?

Some Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members can get support for non-medical challenges. These include things like housing, nutrition and staying healthy during extreme weather. These supports are known as health-related services. They improve health outcomes and decrease health care costs.  

OHP members have two ways to get health-related services 

1. HRSN benefits

OHP members who qualify can apply for OHP health-related social needs (HRSN) benefits. They don’t need to be enrolled in a CCO. 

2. HRSF “flex” funds

OHP members enrolled in a coordinated care organization (CCO) can ask their CCO about flexible (flex) funds to pay for health-related services (HRS).   

Here’s how to understand the difference:  

  • Oregon Health Plan HRSN benefits are covered entitlements 
    • Oregon Health Plan offers HRSN benefits to any member who qualifies whether they’re in a CCO or not.  
    • Unlike flex fund services, HRSN benefits are an entitlement. That means they’re always offered and available to members who qualify. 
    • Each HRSN benefit has different requirements for qualifying. It’s important to know that not all OHP members will qualify.  
  • CCOs can use flex funds to provide optional health-related services   Most OHP members get their health care through a CCO. CCOs are local organizations that provide medical, dental, mental health and pharmacy services in the areas where members live. 
    • CCO flex funds are optional – CCOs aren’t required to offer them. 
    • Some years there might not be enough funding for them. 
    • Services can vary from year to year and from one CCO to another. That’s because CCOs get to choose the services they’ll offer based on the needs of their members. 
    • Flex fund services are available only to OHP members enrolled in a CCO.  

To find out more about HRSN benefits, visit the OHP health-related social needs web page.

Washington County Rent Assistance

  • Community Action - You can submit an online application for rent assistance or you can reach them by calling 503-615-0770. Please check the website for updates on the availability of funding.
  • Community Connect - Seeking eviction prevention or homeless assistance? Contact the Community Connect homeless response system at: 503-640-3263 or communityconnect@caowash.org
  • Centro Cultural - Provide access to supportive wraparound services, housing, employment and education services for underserved and marginalized populations.
  • Beaverton Resource Center - With a physical drop-in center and online resource, they offer a central hub for the Beaverton community struggling with hunger, housing insecurity, and poverty.

Clackamas County Rent Assistance

  • Clackamas County Coordinated Housing Access - This is the central point of intake for rent assistance resources in Clackamas County. An online referral form can be completed or you can reach them by phone at 503-655-8575.

General Assistance Program

The intent of the General Assistance (GA) program is to provide OSIPM Presumptive Medicaid individuals or married couples with severe disabilities and no dependent children, who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and who are waiting to be awarded Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits with the following:

  • Interim housing assistance.
  • Utility assistance.
  • Cash assistance.
  • Free professional assistance with the Social Security application and appeals process.

These payments are funded with General Fund dollars and may be recouped when individuals are awarded SSI benefits. 

Please visit the Oregon State General Assistance program webpage for eligibility and program benefit details. More information can also be found on the General Assistance Program brochure, the General Assistance Program Manual and Worker Guide and in the slide deck below:

How to Apply

For more information or to get the application in other languages, large print, braille contact the Collaborative Disability Unit at dbl.referral@odhs.oregon.gov or 1-866-535-8431 or 503-373-1473. 

Domestic Violence and Crime Victim Assistance

Return to IDD Housing Resource Guide Homepage

Last reviewed November 27, 2024

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