April 15, 2025 (PORTLAND, Ore.) – Home Forward, Oregon’s largest provider of affordable housing, is accepting applications for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program waitlist and 13 Home Forward apartment community (or property-based) waitlists in Multnomah County today through Mon., April 21 at 11:59 p.m. The agency, which last accepted applications for the HCV waitlist nearly two years ago, plans to add 3,000 applicants at random to the HCV waitlist. Applicants will also be randomly selected to join one or more property-based waitlists to fill anticipated vacancies for the next three years.

“These are critical programs that help families, seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans afford their rent,” said Ian Davie, Chief Operating Officer at Home Forward. “The focus of these programs is housing stability. When families have stable housing, we see expanded affordable housing opportunities, greater workforce participation, improved educational outcomes, and better community health.”

HCVs and property-based rent assistance programs make rents deeply affordable. Rents are approximately 30% of a household’s income. Home Forward has reminded the community that waitlists for these federally funded programs are common and wait times vary. Resources are limited and these are very popular programs.

“As a property manager and a member of this community, I can confidently say that the Home Forward program is one of the most important tools we have for ensuring access to stable, dignified housing,” said Coty Thurman, President and Principal Broker at Living Room Property Management. “It allows us to rent to incredible tenants who may not otherwise be able to afford market-rate rents—students, single parents, seniors, and people living with disabilities. Some of our longest-term, most reliable residents are part of the Home Forward program. I’ve seen firsthand how this program changes lives—not just professionally, but personally.”

People interested in applying should know the following:

• Applications for one or more waitlists will be accepted until April 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. at org/waitlists (one application for all waitlists). The Home Forward Applicant Helpline is open April 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21 (weekdays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 503-415-8050. Applying does not guarantee rent assistance. Call volume is high and people should call later in the week if they do not want to wait on the phone.
• The application is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Somali. Language assistance is available through the Applicant Helpline.
• Anyone can apply for a waitlist but must be eligible for a program if selected from a waitlist:
  • Household income must be less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which is under $5,170 per month for a household of four in Multnomah County.
  • Head of household must be at least 18 years old or is an emancipated minor.
  • At least one person in the household must be a U.S. citizen or have an eligible immigration status.
  • Every adult in the home must agree to a criminal background check.
• Applicants are selected at random via a lottery to join waitlists and will be notified around September. Anyone who applies before April 21 at 11:59 p.m. will be entered into the lottery.

HCVs have become increasingly popular because they allow participants to choose where they want to live, including market-rate housing, and the voucher stays with the household as long as they are eligible for the program.

“Landlords are critical partners in ensuring people with HCVs can find a home of their choosing,” said Jimmy Rattanasouk, Interim Director of the HCV program at Home Forward. “The partnership has been very successful over the years. We’re grateful that so many landlords in our community participate by providing safe and accessible housing. They are part of the solution and provide a vital resource, while benefiting from guaranteed housing assistance payments.”

Resources for helping people apply are at homeforward.org/waitlists. More than 500 community partners from more than 100 organizations participated in trainings to help people apply for the waitlists.

“This is the largest waitlist opening we’ve seen in recent memory because we are opening both the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist and 13 propert-based waitlists,” said Home Forward’s Director of Property Management Elise Anderson. “Applicants chosen from property-based waitlists receive rent assistance as long as they live at that property and remain eligible. This ensures they have stable and affordable housing for the long term.”

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About Home Forward

Home Forward is the largest provider of affordable housing in the state of Oregon. Home Forward’s mission is to create a better community by providing housing stability through affordable housing development, housing choice expansion, services that support quality of life, and advocacy to improve local and national housing systems. Go to homeforward.org or call (503) 802-8300 for more information.

Media Contact:

Ariane Le Chevallier (email)