The program funds the purchase of hotels for housing people experiencing homelessness as housing costs in the state continue to rise.

Modeled on California's project of the same name, Oregon's Project Roomkey uses state funds to purchase hotels which are then administered–and funded–by local organizations as housing for people experiencing homelessness. The $65 million initiative, writes Hannah Merzbah in High Country News, is also providing housing for people left unhoused by the fires that ravaged Oregon in September 2020.
Medford's Redwood Inn is one such hotel. "Rogue Retreat, a nonprofit, and the city of Medford received $2.55 million to buy the 47-unit Redwood Inn, which is prioritizing wildfire survivors. Later, the motel will house members of the general homeless population, who will pay a small rent. But for now, local and state grants, along with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements, are paying the Redwood Inn’s estimated $91,000 monthly operational cost."
Even before the pandemic, close to a third of Jackson County residents spent more than half their income on housing. "And that was before the September 2020 wildfires exacerbated the county’s already acute affordable housing shortage. Of the nearly 2,500 homes destroyed in Jackson County, 60% were mobile homes." During the pandemic, "rents and home values skyrocketed amid high demand driven by the fires and an influx of out-of-state arrivals during the pandemic." Now, more residents than ever face eviction and homelessness, and those who lost homes in the fires struggle to find affordable housing. For families like the Martins, who lost their home in the fires, Project Roomkey offers a lifeline. "Living in the Redwood Inn rent-free means they can save up for a down payment on a house."
FULL STORY: Hotels for those left unhoused by wildfires

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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