February 17, 2023

Wyden, Merkley: Portland & Habitat for Humanity of Oregon Earn Total of $4 Million in Federal Healthy Homes Grants

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the city of Portland and Habitat for Humanity of Oregon have each secured a $2 million federal Healthy Homes Production grant to make health and safety repairs to local housing as well as support cost-effective and efficient healthy homebuilding methods in their communities.

“Housing that’s affordable must also be safe and free of environmental dangers for Oregonians who deserve to know they’re not somehow exposing themselves to hazards when they walk through their front door,” Wyden said. “These federal investments in our state will help to achieve that essential home safety goal for children, families and older Oregonians. I’ll keep battling for similar resources throughout Oregon.”

“Every Oregonian deserves the security that comes from having a safe, affordable place to live,” said Senator Merkley. “This funding will help ensure more Oregonians of all ages have that foundation to build a better life, and I’ll keep working to make sure all of us have that chance.”

The Healthy Homes Production grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are designed to maximize the number of vulnerable residents protected from housing-related environmental health and safety hazards and the number of housing units where these hazards are controlled; and to identify and remediate housing-related health and safety hazards in privately owned, low-income rental and/or owner-occupied housing, especially in units and/or buildings where families with children, adults 62 years and older, or families with persons with disabilities reside.

The grants also aim to promote cost-effective and efficient healthy home methods and approaches that can be replicated and sustained;  support public education and outreach that furthers the goal of protecting children and other vulnerable populations from housing-related health and safety hazards; build local capacity to operate sustainable programs that will prevent and control housing-related environmental health and safety hazards in low- and very low-income residences, and develop a professional workforce that is trained in healthy homes assessment and principles.

The grants can be used to promote integration of the Healthy Homes Production program with housing rehabilitation, property maintenance, weatherization, healthy homes initiatives, local lead-based paint hazard control programs, health and safety programs, and energy efficiency improvement activities and programs; build and enhance partner resources to develop the most cost-effective methods for identifying and controlling key housing-related environmental health and safety hazards.