Oregon Housing Opportunities in Partnership (OHOP) Program
The Oregon Housing Opportunities in Partnership (OHOP) program is funded under grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) and is designed to assist people living with HIV/AIDS in creating a continuum of stable, sustainable housing. The Oregon Department of Human Services, HIV Client Services Program, directly administers OHOP in addition to the Ryan White Title II program. Because OHOP is funded through federal grants, ongoing OHOP assistance is subject to the continued availability of HOPWA funds.
The goal of OHOP is to assist clients in achieving and maintaining housing stability so as to avoid homelessness and improve their access to, and engagement in, HIV care and treatment. OHOP is designed to act as a bridge to long-term assistance programs, such as Section 8. Participation in OHOP is voluntary and conditional and is not an entitlement program. OHOP provides tenant based rental assistance to low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS through rental subsidy payments. Additionally, the OHOP program assists clients in locating and/or securing suitable rental housing, identifying other related housing and community based resources that may be available to clients, and providing housing information and referral to those housing resources. The OHOP program serves 31 counties outside of the 5 county Portland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA- Multnomah, Clackamas, Yamhill, Washington and Columbia). OHOP Housing Coordinators are assigned to each region and administer the OHOP program in the following counties:
Region 1- Northwest: Serves Clatsop, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Tillamook Counties
Region 2- Central: Serves Benton, Coos, Lane Counties
Region 3- Southern: Serves Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake Counties
Region 4- Eastern: Serves Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler counties.
To find out more about the OHOP program please contact your local case manager.
OHOP Policies and Procedures
OHOP Client Referral Packet - Clients referrals must be submitted by a Ryan White Title II Case Manager.
Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
The Oregon Housing Opportunities in Partnership (OHOP) program may be able to help Ryan White Title II clients pay their heating bills. OHOP housing coordinators have direct access to the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), and they may be able to help clients get a LIEAP payment. Most OHOP clients will qualify for between $125 and $650 in assistance that can be deposited directly to their heating utility account. The assistance can be used to pay current bills, back-due amounts, and shut-off notices. It can also be used to put a credit on their utility account, so that they can pay future bills with the credit instead of out of their pocket.
Housing Resources/Information
- Oregon Balance of State HIV/AIDS Housing & Services Systems Integration Plan
An extensive summary of the housing needs of and resources available to Oregonians living with HIV. The plan focuses on strategies for integration with "mainstream" housing and supportive services, and includes regional affordable housing resource guide.
- Oregon Balance of the State Housing Plan
Focuses on the areas of Oregon outside of the 6 counties of the Portland metropolitan area.
- Improving Access to Housing: A Guide for HIV Service Providers and Advocates. (pdf)
This manual is intended to provide you with a guide to increase collaborative planning between service providers and housing providers at the local level and to improve access to housing opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS.
- OHOP Evaluation
Summary of OHOP program evaluation design and findings.
Oregon HIV Housing Task Force
The Oregon HIV Housing Task Force seeks to assure that Oregonians living with HIV/AIDS have access to safe, affordable and stable housing which will improve their quality of life and health outcomes without judgment, by providing education, advice and guidance about housing and HIV issues to local, state and federal agencies.
The HIV Housing Task Force meets twice per year and is a sub-committee of the Oregon HIV Care Coalition. To obtain further information regarding the task force, please call the HIV Client Services Program at (971) 673-0144.
2006 Task Force Meeting Minutes
January
March
2005 Task Force Meeting Minutes
June
April
February
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