The program permits some qualifying adults who are enrolled in Oregon’s Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan, to receive up to six months of rental assistance.
The Oregon Health Authority believes that 125,000 Oregonians currently enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan may be eligible.
Eligible Will Be Given Prescription For Rental Assistance
Those who qualify would be given a “prescription” for housing aid, with the concept being that stable housing is medically important to maintain one’s health.
Thousands of individuals in Oregon spend the night in tents or on the street, and thousands more are at risk of becoming homeless.
The strategy, which would employ $1 billion in federal Medicaid funds to prevent homelessness, is slated to be implemented by OHA.
Read More: California Adjusts Electric Car Rebates To Prioritize Low-Income Buyers
Proposal Nears Final Federal Approval Stage
The proposal is nearing completion, according to OHA’s interim director, Dave Baden, and the federal government only needs to sign off on the details.
For individuals who qualify, the plan will begin in November of next year.
According to Jimmy Jones, executive director of Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action, the initiative will not initially aid those who are chronically homeless, but it will put organizations like his in a better position to do so.
Caseworkers must be registered as community health workers in order for organizations to take use of this.
For example, Jones began requiring all of his caseworkers to become trained as community health workers last year. Smaller, generally rural providers, do not have the staff or funds to perform this kind of planning.
The initiative would also allow federal Medicaid funds to be utilized for things like buying air conditioners during a heat wave.
Read More: Child Tax Credit Alert: 11 US States Offering Up To $1,750 – Are You Eligible?