Those who have already complete repairs or rebuilding may be able to seek reimbursements
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
A new infusion of financial support for survivors of the 2020 Labor Day weekend fires will be available in the new year.
The Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program will focus on low to moderate income homeowners who still need to rebuild or repair from wildfire damages, according to a release from Oregon Housing and Community Services. Those who have already completed repairs or rebuilding may be able to seek reimbursements in a future phase, if funds are still available.
Organizations in Oregon counties heavily damaged by the Labor Day weekend fires in 2020 will be assisting the program with outreach and supporting individuals through the application process. In Jackson County, ACCESS, NOWIA Unete Center for Farmworker Advocacy, the Firebrand Resiliency Collective and Unite Oregon will all assist with the program, according to the release.
“ReOregon is probably the last, best chance that many survivors will have to receive significant assistance. Knowing how hard it has been for Oregonians to work with FEMA and other recovery programs, we appreciate that OHCS is taking the time (to) build a user-friendly system and fund local organizations like ours to help survivors with the application process,” said Joe Vollmar, chief operations and housing officer at ACCESS community action agency, in the release.
The program’s funds will be administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services as part of a program with ReOregon, itself funded by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Applications can be submitted starting March of 2024. Applicants should be prepared to provide documentation as part of their application process, such as proof of ownership of a damaged home, records of the damage, proof of income, records of any insurance funds received and identification of all household members over the age of 18.
For updates on the program and application process, visit ReOregon’s site to sign up for email updates.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news.
