September 21, 2021

Wyden, Merkley: More than $1.6 Million in Housing Vouchers will go to the Metro Area for Families and Youth Aging out of Foster Care

Families and children in City of Portland and Clackamas County to benefit

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the housing authorities for Clackamas County and the city of Portland have earned a combined $1.6 million in housing vouchers to support families and youth aging out of foster care.

“Foster kids making the transition to adulthood in Oregon and nationwide often need support to help them face all of life’s challenges,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified these federal resources will assist Clackamas County and the City of Portland to work with young adults in their communities to find stable housing, and I’ll keep battling for similar resources throughout the state.”

“Oregon’s foster kids deserve a stable home environment as they transition from childhood to adulthood,” said Merkley. “I am pleased that the city of Portland and Clackamas County will get the resources needed to help our foster youth find a place to call home. Housing is a human right, and I will continue to fight for the resources we need to make safe, affordable housing a reality for every Oregonian.”

Through the Foster Youth to Independence and Family Unification Program initiatives, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is investing in a community response to homelessness faced by child welfare involved youth. These vouchers will go to families for whom the lack of adequate housing is causing children to enter or remain in foster care; the vouchers can also be used to secure housing for youth aging out of foster care. The funds will distributed as follows:

  • Housing Authority of Clackamas County: $709,206
  • Housing Authority of Portland: $951,678

“Youth homelessness is tragic.  It takes all of us collectively to meet these critical needs,” said Clackamas County Commissioner Sonya Fischer. “Our federal partners joining our efforts with this new award of $709,206 is greatly appreciated.”