Oregon

Oregon’s new Medicaid rental assistance aims to prevent homelessness

Published

2 months ago

October 30, 2024

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.

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Oregon

North Central Oregon and Central Oregon under a wind advisory until Thursday morning

Published

8 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

North Central Oregon and Central Oregon under a wind advisory until Thursday morning

On Wednesday at 2:18 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory valid from 10 p.m. until Thursday 10 a.m. for North Central Oregon and Central Oregon.

The weather service states, “South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.”

“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” adds the weather service. “Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.”

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Oregon

Oregon lawmakers to introduce bill barring utility rate increases amid unresolved wildfire lawsuits

Published

16 hours ago

December 24, 2024

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Oregon lawmakers to introduce bill barring utility rate increases amid unresolved wildfire lawsuits

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Oregon

Are Safeway, Fred Meyer, Walmart open on Christmas Eve or Christmas in Oregon? See hours

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Are Safeway, Fred Meyer, Walmart open on Christmas Eve or Christmas in Oregon? See hours

Most grocery stores in Oregon close early on Christmas Eve and are closed on Christmas Day.

Here are the hours, though individual stores’ operating hours may differ.

Is Safeway open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Safeway will close at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Is Fred Meyer open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Fred Meyer will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Is Roth’s Fresh Markets open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Roth’s Fresh Markets will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Is WinCo open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

WinCo Foods will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Is Costco open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Costco will close at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Is Trader Joe’s open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Trader Joe’s will close at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Is Grocery Outlet open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Most Grocery Outlets will close at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and be closed on Christmas Day. Some Grocery Outlets will be open from 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Christmas Day, depending on the location. Check with your nearest store for hours.

Is Walmart open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Walmart will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Is Target open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Target will close at 8 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Are convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Circle K and AM/PM open in Oregon on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

Most 24-hour convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Circle K and AM/PM will be open on Christmas Day.

Is Starbucks open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Starbucks will close at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and will be open from 7 a.m.-11 a.m. on Christmas Day.

Is Dutch Bros open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Dutch Bros will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Is Human Bean open in Oregon on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Human Bean will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas.

Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.

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