September 01, 2021

Wyden, Merkley: Fair Housing Council of Oregon to Receive $500,000 in Federal Grants

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Fair Housing Council of Oregon will receive $500,000 in federal Fair Housing Initiatives Program grants to provide equal access to housing for thousands of Oregonians.

“I am gratified to see a concentrated federal investment in Oregon communities hit hard by a crushing combination of the housing affordability crisis and housing discrimination,” Wyden said. “Housing is a human right and every dollar counts toward ensuring that every Oregonian has a roof overhead and a floor underfoot.”

“Every Oregonian—regardless of what they look like, their zip code, or their income—deserves a safe place to call home,” said Merkley. “If we want to turn that vision into a reality, we need to tackle the skyrocketing prices and discriminatory housing practices that have long kept families from reaching housing stability. This grant funding will help us address those crucial issues, and I will continue to do all that I can to secure the resources and housing policy reforms we need to ensure that all of our neighbors have equal access to housing.”

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds fair housing organizations and other nonprofits that assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination. The funds will be distributed to the Fair Housing Council of Oregon for the following purposes:

  • $125,000 to expand fair housing awareness and increase housing choice through key stakeholder engagement and to serve housing consumers most likely to experience housing discrimination, including people living with disabilities, families with children, and residents with limited English proficiency.
  • $375,000 to provide equal access to housing providers, housing consumers (including those with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities, and communities of color), and advocates serving the targeted consumer populations.