WashCo to sell affordable housing, forcing up to 60 families out of homes
Washington County is selling its affordable housing to raise money for community needs, forcing nearly 60 families out of their homes and offering rent assistance vouchers, relocation assistance, and discounts on the homes.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Nearly 60 families will be forced out of their homes when Washington County sells the affordable housing it owns in the area.
According to county officials like Policy and Planning Manager Melissa Sonsalla, the cost of ownership and maintenance for the single-family houses is too expensive, and selling them would be best for the community.
“We receive federal funding for the upkeep of these homes, but nationally, this particular portion of funding has fallen behind for decades,” Sonsalla said.
However, it could be two to three years before they choose to sell.
Fifty-eight families are currently in these homes – some of whom have lived in them for years. When the county sells the properties, family ties to schools, communities and jobs could be interrupted.
The Department of Housing Services plans to offer rent assistance vouchers could help these families stay in their neighborhood.
"Rent assistance works. The family pays a portion of their rent based on their income, and then the housing authority pays the remainder of that,” Policy and Planning manager Melissa Sonsalla said.
To lessen the blow, the county is also providing a relocation company and moving cost assistance.
"That can cover moving expenses, security, deposit first and last month's rent utility hookup application fee. All of that,” Sonsalla said.
In fact, the county encourages the families to buy the homes for themselves.
"Because we're responsible for federal taxpayer money, we do have to sell these homes at some comparable fair market value, but we're trying to figure out if we can offer the homes at a discount,” Sonsalla said.
According to an estimate from 2021, the county could receive roughly $21 million by selling these homes, but that number could be much higher in 2024.
"This income will go directly back into the community, either to continue to improve the properties that we own or to build new affordable housing in the future,” Sonsalla said.