Salem, Oregon – The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has set aside $23 million in grants to help low-income citizens’ homes be repaired and rebuilt in an attempt to solve the links between housing quality and public health. Benefiting the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon as well as 34 other local groups, this financing project resulting from the Healthy Homes Grant Program (HHGP).
The Oregon Legislature founded the HHGP in 2021 with the intention of improving living conditions for economically underprivileged areas so decreasing health problems and lowering relocation risks. The funding program aims to solve structural problems and other risks compromising resident health so enhancing environmental health and safety in homes.
“Research has shown there is an inextricable link between a person’s health and housing status, and that quality of housing is a social determinant of health,” said Oregon Public Health Division Director Naomi Adeline-Biggs, MBBS, MPH. “With the Healthy Homes grants, Oregon is helping to prevent and reduce short- and long-term negative health outcomes by addressing the quality of housing as a public health issue.”
With about $20.4 million, the HHGP funding were distributed via a competitive process to 34 organizations—including community action agencies, municipal housing authorities, and nonprofits. Selected from a pool of 75 candidates, these organizations have shown outstanding capacity to improve the health or safety of the homes they assist. The funds, which go from $199,980 to $750,000, are to be used over three years.
OHA has also set aside $3 million specifically for the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon, therefore attesting to the state’s commitment to assist tribal communities and acknowledging the special government-to-government connection. Every tribe will work with OHA to make best use of the allocated money.
Projects sponsored under the HHGP are varied and aimed at urgent needs in local communities. Among these are evaluations of structural and urgent repair needs, energy-efficient updates, roof replacements, and mitigating strategies meant to lower exposure to wildfires. Furthermore under emphasis will be the reduction of health risks including radon, mold, and lead-based paint in the projects.
Along with filling important financing gaps, this grant program allows leveraging of other state and federal resources such the Weatherization Assistance Program and Community Development Block Grants. These cooperative projects are intended to significantly boost the influence of the HHGP, therefore increasing the lifetime of homes and improving living conditions throughout Oregon.
The excitement among beneficiary groups and communities rises as OHA finishes funding agreements. All agreements should be in place by the end of January, therefore enabling radical changes over the next three years. Interested parties may visit the HHGP’s dedicated homepage at oregon.gov/healthyhomes for further specific project details on the award recipients.