Winter Shelters and Homeless Families Emergency Services in Multnomah County

The City of Portland and Multnomah County fund year-round, winter, and severe weather emergency shelter. There are also privately-funded organizations that provide shelter services. There are 640 emergency shelter beds and 27 family spaces available year-round.

Winter shelter is available from November 1-March 31, unless otherwise indicated below. An additional 291 beds are available during the winter season, which includes winter shelter for men (146 beds), women (85 beds), and families (60 beds).

Severe weather emergency shelter is also available when the City declares a Severe Weather Notice, based on temperatures at 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below for several nights in a row, or other life-threatening weather conditions. When severe weather is declared, up to 250 additional beds may be made available for homeless persons.
Click either link below for additional shelter information:

Thanks to Natasha Roe at Multnomah County for this important set of resources.

Clackamas County Housing Resource Fair

Free Clackamas County Housing Resource Fair

Date: March 3rd, 2011

Time: 10:00am-2:30pm

Location: Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Ave. Oregon City, Oregon

This free event will cover topics such as tenant/landlord law, affordable housing options, and housing discrimination. All are welcome. Landlords, tenants, home owners assoc, and buyers are encouraged to attend. Everyone’s welcome to come! Sessions include:

  • Housing Discrimination: Your Housing Rights and Responsibilities
  • Landlord/Tenant Law: What you need to Know
  • Affordable Housing: Local Housing Resources, What’s Available

If you have any housing questions, questions about the housing fair, call Clackamas County’s free Housing Rights and Resources line: 503-650-5750

Rent Well Tenant Education w/ Landlord Guarantee Fund

WHAT is the RENT WELL TENANT EDUCATION PROGRAM?
Rent Well is a 15 hour tenant education class that helps you become a successful, stable renter.
Renting is more complicated than many people understand. It is a business relationship, and you need to understand your rights and responsibilities to be a successful renter. Rent Well has been developed to provide you with information that will help you have a positive relationship with your landlord.

If you have been denied housing, Rent Well will help you explore any screening barriers you may have (evictions, credit problems, criminal history), take steps to address those barriers and prepare to be a successful, stable tenant in the future.

In a Rent Well Tenant Education Class, you will learn:

    • The landlord’s perspective and expectations
    • Tenant responsibilities and rights
    • How to use good communication skills with your landlord
    • How to be a good neighbor
    • How to maintain a clean, safe and healthy home

During a Rent Well Tenant Education Class, you will prepare to be a successful renter by:

    • Pre-screening yourself as a landlord would
    • Creating a personalized plan for stable housing
    • Creating a workable household budget that makes paying rent a priority
    • Reviewing rental agreements to understand common terms and expectations
    • Creating a housing portfolio that will show landlords your qualifications as renter

Rent Well Tenant Education Class graduation requirements include:

    • Full attendance
    • Completion of assignments
    • Development of a housing portfolio

Upon meeting graduation requirements, participants will receive a Rent Well Graduation Certificate that can be presented to landlords.

Landlord Guarantee Fund:

  • Starting on January 1, 2010, the Landlord Guarantee Fund offered by Multnomah County (via HAP), Clackamas County and Washington County will be available only to graduates of Rent Well. However, anyone who graduates from Ready to Rent in one of those counties prior to the implementation of Rent Well and who receives a certificate of completion, will have their guarantee honored for the full 18 months.
  • The Rent Well Landlord Guarantee Fund is designed to provide landlords with a financial “guarantee” equivalent to $2000 when renting to Rent Well graduates. Graduates of the Rent Well program receive a certificate showing that they have completed a training course on Housing Readiness Education.
  • The Guarantee must be applied for  within the first two weeks of renting to a Graduate. Applying for the Guarantee is simple and consists of a one page application.
  • Guarantee Fund Eligible Reimbursable Costs:

1. Damages in excess of normal wear and tear to the unit and exceeds the security deposit;
2. One months non-payment of rent if tenant does not vacate apartment in good standing;
3. Court costs and attorney fees where necessary to terminate a tenancy and remove a participant for nonpayment of rent of for other serious and repeated violations of the lease or state law.

HOW TO SIGN UP…
For information on classes and how to sign up please visit the following link:
http://housingconnections.org/HHNViewer.cfm?item=427

Questions regarding the implementation  of Rent Well in Multnomah County should be directed to:
Jaclyn Eaton, Rent Well Coordinator, Housing Authority of Portland
Phone: 503-335-6819
Email: Jaclyne@hapdx.org

Do You Need Subsidized Housing? Short Window for Openings

Waiting lists at six public housing communities for seniors and persons with disabilities will be open October 12 – 16, 2009.

Click here for information.

How to Apply
Application forms will be available on Monday, October 12 at the apartment communities or at www.hapdx.org. Completed applications may be submitted by mail to the addresses above. Applications must be postmarked between October 12 – 16. by fax to 503.802.8488. Only applications faxed between October 12 and 4:30 p.m. on October 16 will be accepted. in person from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. October 12 – 16 at the addresses listed above.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants and/or co-applicants must be elderly (62 or older) or disabled. Total household income must be less than 80% of the area median income to qualify. Please call one of the sites above or visit www.hapdx.org for current income guidelines.

For More Information
Call HAP’s public housing hotline at 503.288.5750, visit www.hapdx.org/options/phapply.html or contact the apartment staff at the phone numbers listed above.

* Applicants for 2-bedroom ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) apartment waiting lists will need to provide
documentation verifying they require an ADA unit prior to moving in.

Impact Northwest

Impact NW’s mission is to help people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and to prevent and alleviate the effects of poverty. In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, Impact Northwest served over 70,000 individuals.

Their clients include low-income children, adolescents, adults with disabilities, seniors, and families. Working with schools, businesses, faith communities, community-based organizations, and governmental agencies, Impact Northwest creates a safety net and springboard for Portland residents seeking to improve their quality of life.

Safety Net Services:

  • homeless family shelter
  • rent and housing assistance
  • utility assistance
  • food, clothing, transportation
  • information and referral
  • client support services
  • access to health care & income assistance

Education Support Services:

  • youth tutoring & mentoring
  • social & educational activities
  • early childhood education
  • community school coordination
  • youth development
  • before & after school activities (SUN)

Employment Support Services:

  • youth employment training
  • Richmond Place homeless transition services
  • skill-building classes
  • beyond shelter homeless transition services
  • access to vocational training
  • job referral

Community Involvement Services:

  • volunteer placement
  • student internship and work study site
  • public education
  • employee & group community service site
  • system advocacy & community organizing

Seniors and Adults with Disabilities:

  • transportation
  • advocacy/case management
  • meal sites and activity centers
  • legal and tax assistance
  • low-income energy assistance
  • shopping trips and friendly visits
  • respite
  • health promotion activities
  • multicultural events
  • service access

Youth Employment Institute Listing of Housing Resources

Youth Employment Institute has posted a slew of housing resources on their website. Check it out here.

Permanent Housing

Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT) – Hotline for renters’ rights information. Educates and empowers renters to demand safe, stable, and affordable rental housing. Also organizes Building Repair Forums

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Shared housing program.

Fair HousingFor residents of Washington County

Friendly HouseCall once a week for availability of housing assistance. Serves homeless families with children

Habitat for HumanityIncome guidelines. Applicants must be willing to work 500 hours.

Hacienda CDC (Community Development – Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00. Affordable housing with rents based on income for 50% and 60%. 1,2,3, & 4 bedroom apts. available. $35 application fee and $300 refundable security deposit. Also provides a variety of community programs and classes and an onsite county health clinic

Housing Authority of Clackamas County – Subsidized rental housing in Clackamas County

Housing  Authority of Portland (HAP) Section 8 Housing  –Administers the Rent Assistance Program (RASP). Must go in and apply. There is a waiting list for next subsidized apartment. Office opens for applications only at 7:30am

Housing Authority of Washington County (HAW)

Housing Connections Provides lists of low cost and special needs housing on website. Covers Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties. Use online calculator to determine affordable rent based on income

Human Solutions Transitional housing for families. Please call for appointment and information

Innovative Housing, Inc.

Patton HomeSRO for individuals who make less than $28,500 per year. Furnished rooms available with communal dining area. Meal service available, accepts Oregon Trail Card. $30 application fee. $395 per month, utilities included

Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc. Affordable housing provider–call for availability and eligibility. Also offers services such as a parent network, emergency childcare funding, and a gardening program

Portland Housing CenterFor low-income people who need assistance with negotiating payments of low mortgages. Ready to Rent classes. First time homebuyers educational program

Portland Impact – May have a waiting list for rental assistance. Eligibility based on income

REACH  Community DevelopmentLow income housing available, though there is a waiting list for 6-12 months

Rose Community Rentals and homes for sale in SE Portland

St. Vincent de Paul Occasionally have funds to assist with emergency housing or rental assistance

Transition Projects, Inc Provides rental assistance for single people who are homeless

Click here to continue reading YEI’s list of resources

Visit Oregon Helps to Find Out What Services You’re Eligible For

Oregon Helps is an online clearinghouse that takes you through a series of questions online to determine what services you or your loved one might be eligible for. The site’s services are available in multiple languages. Check it out here.
Services covered include:

Food and Nutrition

  • Food Stamps
  • Emergency Food

Housing and Utilities

  • Federal Housing Assistance
  • Low-Income Energy Assistance (LIEAP)
  • Portland Water Bureau’s Financial Assistance Program

Children and Family Resources

  • National School Lunch Program
  • Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program(WIC)
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Employment Related Day Care (ERDC)
Health Care

  • Oregon Health Plan

Veterans’ Services

  • VA Health Care System
  • VA/Military entitlements
  • Veterans’ Home Loans

Financial Benefits

  • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
  • Child Tax Credit (CTC)
  • Federal Elderly/Disabled Tax Credit
  • Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)
  • Oregon’s Working Family Tax Credit
  • Oregon Dependent Care Tax Credit
  • Property Tax Deferral
  • Home Care Tax Credit
Senior and Disabled Services
  • Social Security
  • Social Security Disability Insurance
  • Supplemental Security Income
  • Medicare and Medicare Savings Program
  • Medicaid Long Term Care
  • Senior Drug Program
  • Employed Persons with Disabilities
  • Senior Farmers’ Market

Care to Share in Washington County

Care to Share is a Washington County based assistance program that helps individuals with emergency food, energy assistance, rent support and more. Check out their website or see below for more details.

Financial Aid

Clients facing financial crisis may apply to a special fund Care To Share maintains.   Utility – When funds are available clients may request help on a limited basis if they are facing a shut-off.   Rent – One day a month (the 3rd Thursday of each month) qualified clients may call to request assistance with rent for the following month.   We do not provide: cash, bus tickets, transportation or costs, motel room rent, or medical costs.

Back to School

Each August, Care To Share provides backpacks filled with new school supplies for at-risk children attending Beaverton School District schools.  These supplies are distributed though the school administration.

Oregon Heat

Care To Share has been given a contract with Oregon Heat to provide assistance for PGE clients to receive assistance with gas, electricity, wood, pellets and oil.   Clients must call to set an appointment and to verify eligibility.

Water Grants

Care To Share provides water assistance to low income families facing shut-offs.   These funds come to us from three different sources.   We are thankful to Tualatin Valley Water District, Clean Water Services, and City of Beaverton Water.   Without these contributions we could not provide this much needed assistance.