NOHA pads rent demand, for now

Long-term solution still poses challenges as reserves funds ease August demand

By David Holley

The South County Spotlight, Jul 22, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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Rent is paid through August for the 219 Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook county residents who lost their federal Section 8 housing assistance on July 1.

During a special meeting July 16, the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority commission voted to use $79,000 from the organization’s reserve accounts to cover rent for those individuals and families. It’s the second time in two months that the board has pulled from reserves to cover rent for those who lost their subsidy.

In June, the board funneled $145,000 to pay rent for 222 individuals or families. Unused funds from that move will be used in conjunction with the $79,000 to cover August.

The decision gives the board, housing authority staff, and other involved parties another month to reach a more permanent solution for this crisis. At this point, it is clear that NOHA will neither have the budget nor enough federally-allocated housing vouchers to support previous levels of assistance.

Both Clatsop and Tillamook counties have likely resolved the dilemma through December. Uniontown Apartments in Clatsop County will be opened up to individuals who lost their subsidy, while Tillamook County is using stimulus money, said Rocky Johnson, executive director of St. Helens Community Action Team.

Initially, 88 people in Columbia County contacted St. Helens Community Action Team for help after they lost their subsidy. About 28 of those people have been covered through December, and the Community Action Team Board of Directors will discuss where to find additional funds in the coming weeks.

One option is federal stimulus money targeted to prevent homelessness, Johnson said. Columbia County could be due $56,000.

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