PORTLAND, OR – Home Forward, Oregon’s largest public housing authority, will begin accepting applications from community members for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and 13 Home Forward properties waitlists from 9:00 a.m. PT on Tues., April 15 through 11:59 p.m. PT on Mon., April 21. The last HCV waitlist opening was in June of 2023.

These critical programs, funded by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provide rent assistance for individuals with low incomes, making rents deeply affordable and keeping families stably housed. HCV and property-based waitlists are common because the programs are very popular, and funding is limited.

“We are thrilled to be opening waitlists for these highly popular programs because they offer deeply affordable rents to people who need it,” said Ivory N. Mathews, CEO of Home Forward. “As rents have skyrocketed in Multnomah County and across the country, we want to encourage anyone who thinks–or is not sure–they qualify to apply beginning April 15. Together with our partners, we want to make sure every person who wants to apply for the programs can do so.”

The HCV program provides rent assistance in the form of a voucher to individual households on the HCV waitlist. Home Forward will add up to 3,000 new applicants to the HCV waitlist at random through a lottery system. Vouchers are awarded on a rolling basis to individuals in the order they joined the waitlist. Once selected off the waitlist, the household is then screened again for eligibility and issued a voucher that stays with them wherever they choose to live.

Home Forward will also accept applications for 13 Home Forward property-based waitlists. This form of rent assistance is attached to the property rather than an individual. Applicants can apply to join one or more property waitlists. Home Forward will select at random enough applicants to last for the next three years, based on the current number of people on the waitlist, unit turnover, and several other factors.

Eligibility for these programs is the same and is as follows:

• Household income is less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the Portland region, which is currently up to $41,300 for an individual, and up to $59,000 for a family of four (note: will change in the next 30–60 days);
• Head of the household is at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor;
• At least one household member is a U.S. citizen or of eligible immigration status; and
• Agrees to participate in a criminal background check.

The agency says affordable housing continues to be a high-priority need for community members and is working with community partners to also spread the word about the opening. “We need to elevate this opportunity throughout the community because everyone needs a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Mathews.  

The agency encourages people who think–or aren’t sure if–they qualify for the program to apply. Home Forward has improved the online application portal (Rent Café) and encourages all applicants to apply online. Instructions will be provided in multiple languages. Tutorials, resources, and additional translation and application support is available to applicants on Home Forward’s website at homeforward.org/waitlists.

“We are committed to both supporting our partners and helping as many applicants as we can in applying for the waitlist and will be with them every step of the way,” said Jimmy Rattanasouk, Interim Director of the HCV program at Home Forward. “Our community partners are invaluable allies in this work, helping promote the opportunity to high-risk populations and supporting individuals in navigating the application requirements and system.”

For more details about the waitlist opening beginning April 15, visit homeforward.org/waitlists.

###

 About Home Forward

Home Forward is the largest provider of affordable housing in the state of Oregon. Its mission is to ensure that the people of the community are sheltered. Home Forward has a special responsibility to those who encounter barriers to housing because of income, disability, or special need. Visit homeforward.org or call (503) 802-8300 for more information.

Media Contact:

Ariane Le Chevallier (email / phone: 971-201-1214)