Oregon
Oregon’s new Medicaid rental assistance aims to prevent homelessness
Beginning Nov. 1, Oregon’s Medicaid program takes on a new approach to improving overall health via housing benefits.
Qualifying Oregon Health Plan members will be eligible for six months of rent payments, including missed payments. Those receiving rental support also can apply for six months of storage and/or utilities assistance. And the Oregon Health Plan will provide tenant support like help understanding a lease or navigating transportation systems.
To qualify, an individual must be an OHP member who meets designated income requirements and does not have the resources to prevent homelessness, has a qualifying health condition and an existing lease.
In Salem, for example, an individual must make $19,200 or less to qualify, or 30% of the area’s average yearly income, which is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as one of the markers someone is at risk of homelessness. For a family of four, the maximum income is $27,400.
Members also can be covered for medically necessary home improvements, such as adding wheelchair ramps or pest removal, and the costs of associated lodging during work on the project. These benefits have different requirements than the rental and tenant assistance programs. More information on how to qualify can be found on the Oregon Health Authority website.
Other states have begun implementing similar programs but, “we’re the first in the country to test out the structure of this being a benefit, meaning that eligible members are entitled to receive these benefits,” according to Steph Jarem, OHA 1115 waiver policy director.
Dave Baden, OHP’s deputy director for policy and programs, emphasized the purpose of the program is to keep people at risk of homelessness in their current housing.
“It really is focusing on trying to keep those most at risk still housed, hopefully leading to them being able to have some short-term help that would lead them to some better long-term outcomes,” Baden said during a media briefing. “Preventing people from becoming homeless really is about expanding preventive services.”
The rental assistance is just one piece of Oregon’s current 1115 waiver, which lets states ask the federal government for permission to try new things with Medicaid. The current waiver began in October 1, 2022 and will continue until September 30, 2027 when it can be changed or continued for another five-year period.
“The 1115 more broadly is meant to be a demonstration to show that new innovative things can happen in the Medicaid program. … It’s an opportunity for states to lead with new innovative ideas to address and improve health for the people that the Medicaid program serves,” said Oregon Medicaid Director Emma Sandoe.
Oregon implements different programs under its Medicaid waiver
The current waiver implemented several programs.
One aspect of the waivers is intended to address health-related social needs, which housing falls under. Also included are outreach and engagement, climate and nutrition. Benefits addressing these needs already are in place, except the nutrition assistance which will start in January.
Oregon has a maximum of $904 million in federal funding to spend on the current waivers’ health-related social needs benefits. As part of the deal, the state must contribute at least $71 million.
An additional $119 million was set aside for Community Capacity Building Funds, $38 million of which already has been distributed based on total enrollment to Coordinated Care Organizations around the state. These organizations oversee local Medicaid services and providers.
More of the funding will be given out next year. The grants “will be invested in infrastructure to be able to deliver on the waiver program and benefits,” according to PacificSource vice president of Medicaid programs Erin Fair Taylor. PacificSource is the Coordinated Care Organization for four regions in the state.
More than $3.8 million was granted to PacificSource Marion/Polk with $244,000 set aside for the Salem Housing Authority.
The housing authority plans to use the funds “to provide housing support services, including case management to address landlord/tenant conflicts, referrals to community resources, and financial support,” said spokesperson Sarah Murray.
“We also have been talking quite extensively with our local housing providers and collectively they have been sharing that preventing homelessness is more cost effective than helping families in a shelter find housing,” Jarem said.
“Helping families move from that homelessness space into housing can cost about $15,000 on average per household, and that would be compared to about $3,000 on average per household to prevent homelessness in the first place,” she said.
Applications for rental assistance through the Oregon Health Plan open Nov. 1
OHP members can apply for many of the new benefits. They will be eligible one time to receive the six months of rent assistance until the trial period ends in 2027.
Jarem said other benefits, such as tenancy supports, are more flexible.
Applications open on Nov. 1. Applicants should anticipate about two weeks to process and an additional wait to receive the benefit, if eligible.
Preparations for the 2027 to 2032 waiver application will begin next year.
“We have an external, third-party evaluation, and they’ll have a midpoint evaluation that will help inform some of that, and we’ll work with CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to understand what they’re seeing in other states as well,” Jarem said.
“Ultimately, they are the deciders of whether or not benefits like this will continue,” she said. “Overall, though, we’ve built the structures into our systems with the understanding that this will, that there is an effort to create stability in the program.”
Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.
The Oregon Ducks have been progressing through the class of 2027 with hopes of landing some of their top target’s commitment on both the offense and the defense.
With many names left on the board, the Ducks have started to receive some great news, including some news from someone they have been targeting since they offered back in January of 2025.
Darius Johnson Releases His Top Four Schools
One of the Ducks top targets’ in the 2027 class at the cornerback position is Darius Johnson. Johnson recently released his top schools with Hayes Fawcett, as he is entering a crucial part of his recruitment. The four schools he has listed at the top include the California Golden Bears, Michigan Wolverines, UCLA Bruins, and the Oregon Ducks.
Johnson is one of the better cornerbacks in the country. He currently ranks as the nation’s No. 178 prospect in the country, No. 20 player at the position, and the No. 14 player in the state of California, according to Rivals. Landing his commitment would be major for any of the schools, as he is someone who could see the field early due to his size, and his growing ability to lockdown a side of the field all by himself.
More About Darius Johnson
Johnson currently measures in at 6-1 and 155 pounds, and will be someone who continues to add weight through his high school program, and will eventually have the chance to really improve his frame when he gets to college. As of now, each of the four schools has a solid chance to win its recruiting battle, but there seems to be a clear leader at this moment.
The leader for the Ducks target seems to be the Michigan Wolverines, who have the only scheduled official visit at this moment. It seems likely that the talented prospect will schedule his other official visits sooner rather than later now that he has officially cut down his list. If the Ducks want to land his commitment, they will need to get him on an official visit because they are likely trailing at this point.
What If He Committed to Oregon Today?
If he were to commit to the Ducks today, he would be the ninth commitment for the Ducks in the class of 2027. He would also be the third cornerback commit for the Ducks in the class of 2027, which is a position they have been recruiting heavily. The cornerbacks the Ducks have at this moment are four-star Ai’King Hall from the state of Alabama and four-star Josiah Molden from the state of Oregon.
Some of their other commits at this moment include four-star EDGE Rashad Streets, four-star defensive linemen Zane Rowe, and four-star EDGE Cameron Pritchett. This class is shaping up to be another top-five class if the pieces continue to fall into place for Oregon coach Dan Lanning and his staff.
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Oregon tight end Jamari Johnson, after an impressive 2025 season with the Ducks, now becomes the leader at his position following the departure of star Kenyon Sadiq to the NFL.
With an Oregon offense set to return several top stars and bring in two talents at the tight end position, Johnson looks to not only improve as a leader but build off his impressive 2025 season, in which he recorded 32 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns.
Here’s everything Johnson had to say during his media appearance following Oregon’s scrimmage on Saturday, with the spring game on the horizon.
Everything Tight End Jamari Johnson Said After Spring Scrimmage
What He Learned From Playing With Tight End Kenyon Sadiq:
“So many, but one is training. Everybody in this facility harps on it, and it’s just a standard here. It’s like him from last year, that man strained his guts out almost every play. I just feel like I got to do the exact same thing or even more to uphold the standard.”
Stepping Up At Tight End:
“It just changed because obviously Kenyon leaving somebody has to step up and be a leader in the room, and me being one of the older guys, it just happens to be me. I just accepted that role, and I actually kind of like it, getting these young guys going, getting them in the playbook and getting them used to college football.”
Participating Again In Spring Practice:
“It feels good coming back. Feels like I have something to prove for me personally, I feel like I haven’t really done anything in college football. I feel like this year is that year for me to show everybody what I’m about.”
On Tight Ends Kendre Harrison and Andrew Olesh:
“Both good dudes, they both got that dog in them. Andrew, he came from Penn State. He’s been coming along well, getting in the playbook. Kendre, he’s a big, tall guy, getting in the playbook too. They’ve been getting after it, man. It’s been good taking them under my wing. Hopefully, we just get going this year.”
Goals and Expectations Ahead of Spring Game:
“I’ll say one expectation that we really try to harp on in the room is just going 100 percent. That’s with your effort, that’s with knowing the plays and just giving it your all. A goal is just to get in that endzone. That’s one of the goals for the tight end room right there.”
Why He Returned to Oregon:
“Like I said earlier, to me, I felt like I haven’t really done anything in college football. That was one of the reasons, and another is I wouldn’t say I’m not ready for the NFL, but like that’s pretty much what I’m getting at, is just like I have a lot of stuff to work on that’s within footwork and hand placement, block in the run game, and route details. Getting to the right depth and just touching up everything I can so when I get to the NFL, there’s none of those problems, it’s just the big problems I have to fix.”
How Reps Helped Him Improve:
“It really helped me. Last year, we ran a lot of twelve personnel at the end of the season because we had a couple of injuries, but that really helped me. This year, I feel like I’m coming in rolling off the ground. It’s just so much more fluent, and those reps really helped me with the playbook. Playbook is way easier now, and I’m getting a good feel for it.”
His Leadership Traits:
“I like to get the guys going. I have a real voice on the field, and if y’all hear me on the field, I get the guys going. I wouldn’t say I’m a vocal leader, but I lead by example. Vocal leader, probably something I need to work on.”
On New Offensive Coordinator Drew Mehringer:
“It’s been different. They’re two different people, coach (Will) Stein and coach Drew. My guy’s getting us going. I’m excited for this season.”
Supporting Dakorien Moore At Track Meet:
“Yesterday, that touched my heart, man. Just all of us going out there, and it wasn’t even just for Dakorien. It was really for Oregon. It was just more for Dakorien because we see him every day. That really touched my heart, and the connection is just unbelievable. I don’t think many people are doing that for their teammates.”
Quarterback Dante Moore’s Growth:
“That guy has his head on his shoulders at all times. He’s been growing consistently, but it’s a couple of different things. I probably can’t name them right now, but he’s been having his head on his shoulders. He’s just been on the climb.”
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Oregon
Oregon man mounted a jet engine on a 60-year-old fishing boat to blast around a lake and thinks he may have set a world record
A man from Oregon has unveiled something truly crazy after he added a jet engine to the back of a 60-year-old fishing boat – and he suspects he might have broken a world record.
YouTuber Robert Maddox from CrazyRocketman mounted a pulsejet engine and its 230lbs of thrust to the back of a 1965 12-foot Sears fishing boat.
A wild juxtaposition by any standard, and the video he posted on YouTube confirms that as the diminutive boat roars away.
But did the YouTuber actually actually get the record?
How does this 1965 Sears fishing boat get its power?
The video shows the Oregon man hurling the boat around a lake, with the engine glowing behind him.
Strapped to the back of the boat is a pulsejet engine that produces 230lbs of thrust.
Pulsejet engines are smaller, lighter jet engines with combustion occurring in pulses.
Such is their simplicity that they can be made with few or even no moving parts at all.
Engines like these were used on the German V-1 Flying Bomb from World War II.
These were the Argus As 014 engines, the very first pulsejet ever to be mass-produced.
It is a smaller and even simpler version of these that Maddox has put on the back of his boat.
The funny noise they make comes from the way in which the jet makes its power.
This old boat could be a record holder
In his video, Maddox had clearly enjoyed his outing on the boat.
“Man, this boat really is super controllable,” he said, highlighting the ease with which it handles.
The video suggested there are a few niggles still to sort out on the boat.
“It was making all kinds of fuel noises, I’ve probably got a fuel pump out or something,” he added.
Yet this isn’t the end of the road for this particular project.
“I’m going to do a lot with this boat, and put a twin engine on it,” Maddox said in the video.
Given the speed of the vessel, with two pulsejet engines, this should rocket through the water.
That means another world record could be up for grabs for the Oregon YouTuber.
If there was any doubt over a world record with one engine, two engines should end the debate in an instant.
Jet engine timeline
150 AD – Hero of Alexandria invents the aeolipile, a steam-powered device demonstrating the basic jet principle
1930 – Frank Whittle successfully patents the first design for a working gas turbine jet engine
1937 – Hans von Ohain tests his first centrifugal turbojet engine prototype in Germany
1939 – The Heinkel He 178 makes the first successful flight powered entirely by a jet engine
1941 – The Gloster E.28/39 completes the first British jet flight using Whittle’s engine design
1944 – The Messerschmitt Me 262 enters combat service as the world’s first operational jet fighter
1949 – The de Havilland Comet makes its maiden flight to become the first commercial jet airliner
1958 – The Boeing 707 enters commercial service and officially kicks off the global Jet Age
1969 – Concorde takes off for the first time to pioneer supersonic passenger jet travel
The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
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