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News Release

Deadline For Temporary Rent And Utility Assistance Through ReOregon Is June 30 - 06/01/26

SALEM, Ore. — The deadline for Intermediate Housing Assistance (IHA) for survivors of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds is coming soon. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) administers IHA, which provides temporary rent and utility assistance for renters who lived in the disaster-affected counties of Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, or Marion at the time of the wildfires and have a verified loss.

 

Survivors have until June 30 to apply for the program, which has expanded eligibility, including higher incomes, so more households can get help. Assistance may last for up to 24 months or until the program’s funding is fully spent.

 

OHCS encourages any interested folks to reach out to a local community action agency to find out more and get started on an application.

 

“IHA provides a vital need for renters who are also wildfire survivors to help keep them stably housed as they figure out their permanent housing solution,” said Shannon Marheine, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at OHCS. “We encourage anyone who is eligible and hasn’t yet applied to do so as soon as possible. If you know someone might benefit from this program, please spread the word.”

 

IHA is part of a suite of wildfire recovery programs called ReOregon intended for survivors of the 2020 Labor Day Disasters and is funded by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to support long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.

 

So far, OHCS and its partners have successfully served 401 households with the IHA program.

 

To learn more about IHA and other ReOregon programs, visit OHCS’ website.

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

Deadline For Temporary Rent And Utility Assistance Through ReOregon Is June 30 - 06/01/26

SALEM, Ore. — The deadline for Intermediate Housing Assistance (IHA) for survivors of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds is coming soon. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) administers IHA, which provides temporary rent and utility assistance for renters who lived in the disaster-affected counties of Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, or Marion at the time of the wildfires and have a verified loss.

 

Survivors have until June 30 to apply for the program, which has expanded eligibility, including higher incomes, so more households can get help. Assistance may last for up to 24 months or until the program’s funding is fully spent.

 

OHCS encourages any interested folks to reach out to a local community action agency to find out more and get started on an application.

 

“IHA provides a vital need for renters who are also wildfire survivors to help keep them stably housed as they figure out their permanent housing solution,” said Shannon Marheine, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at OHCS. “We encourage anyone who is eligible and hasn’t yet applied to do so as soon as possible. If you know someone might benefit from this program, please spread the word.”

 

IHA is part of a suite of wildfire recovery programs called ReOregon intended for survivors of the 2020 Labor Day Disasters and is funded by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to support long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.

 

So far, OHCS and its partners have successfully served 401 households with the IHA program.

 

To learn more about IHA and other ReOregon programs, visit OHCS’ website.

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

2020 Labor Day Disaster Recovery Reaches Major Milestone (Photo) - 05/28/26

State-funded wildfire housing developments completed

 

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced that all state-funded housing recovery developments serving communities affected by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds are now complete, marking a major milestone for hundreds of Oregon families during National Wildfire Awareness Month.

 

“The 2020 Labor Day fires were a devastating time for many Oregonians, and I was proud to champion state-funded housing support in 2021 when I was Speaker to make sure we could start on recovery while we waited for federal assistance,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “This is an important milestone, achieved because of the hard work of so many to help people who lost their homes because of the wildfires. Thank you.”

 

In August 2021, the Oregon State Legislature passed $150 million in funding for OHCS to provide critical housing recovery needs in the disasters’ eight most-impacted counties: Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion. The funding was split into two different pots to address housing needs post-disaster:

 

  • $114 million to build or rebuild housing lost in the disasters totaling 324 homes and eight developments across the state, fulfill survivors’ unmet needs, as well as other miscellaneous costs.

 

Joshua Henley is a wildfire survivor who now has a home in one of those developments, at Lazy Days Mobile Home and RV Park in Blue River. He lost everything in the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire and never thought he’d be able to return home. Now, he is stably housed and is grateful for the opportunity for a second chance.

 

“There have been a lot of tears of gratitude. I’m so thankful,” Henley said. “There’s a certain comfort that comes when you get a level of permanence in your living situation. When you know your physical needs are taken care of, things start getting better.”

 

To accomplish this important work, OHCS partnered with many local organizations such as Homes for Good on Lazy Days. In Jackson County, CASA of Oregon and Coalición Fortaleza helped survivors find and apply for disaster recovery housing for places like Talent Mobile Estates (now named Talent Community Cooperative), which was destroyed in the 2020 Almeda Fire. It now has 87 homes that are fully occupied and has been transformed into a cooperatively owned manufactured home park.

 

“Joshua’s story and the journey of Talent Mobile Estates are grounded in the strength of community. Local organizations, local leaders and neighbors have been — and remain — beacons of hope, coming together in extraordinary ways,” said Shannon Marheine, director of the Disaster Recovery and Resilience Division at OHCS. “Each step of the way, locally driven and state-supported programs serve as a cornerstone, proving that the richest approach to recovery is based in local community.”

 

To learn more about the state-funded housing developments, visit OHCS’ 2020 Labor Day Disaster rehousing and recovery progress webpage. To learn more about Henley’s story, visit the Wildfire Recovery Spotlights webpage.

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

Attached Media Files: Joshua Henley was burned out of his old home due to the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire, but now he has a new permanent place to live at Lazy Days RV and Mobile Home Park that was built using state wildfire recovery funds.,

2020 Labor Day Disaster Recovery Reaches Major Milestone (Photo) - 05/28/26

State-funded wildfire housing developments completed

 

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced that all state-funded housing recovery developments serving communities affected by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds are now complete, marking a major milestone for hundreds of Oregon families during National Wildfire Awareness Month.

 

“The 2020 Labor Day fires were a devastating time for many Oregonians, and I was proud to champion state-funded housing support in 2021 when I was Speaker to make sure we could start on recovery while we waited for federal assistance,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “This is an important milestone, achieved because of the hard work of so many to help people who lost their homes because of the wildfires. Thank you.”

 

In August 2021, the Oregon State Legislature passed $150 million in funding for OHCS to provide critical housing recovery needs in the disasters’ eight most-impacted counties: Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion. The funding was split into two different pots to address housing needs post-disaster:

 

  • $114 million to build or rebuild housing lost in the disasters totaling 324 homes and eight developments across the state, fulfill survivors’ unmet needs, as well as other miscellaneous costs.

 

Joshua Henley is a wildfire survivor who now has a home in one of those developments, at Lazy Days Mobile Home and RV Park in Blue River. He lost everything in the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire and never thought he’d be able to return home. Now, he is stably housed and is grateful for the opportunity for a second chance.

 

“There have been a lot of tears of gratitude. I’m so thankful,” Henley said. “There’s a certain comfort that comes when you get a level of permanence in your living situation. When you know your physical needs are taken care of, things start getting better.”

 

To accomplish this important work, OHCS partnered with many local organizations such as Homes for Good on Lazy Days. In Jackson County, CASA of Oregon and Coalición Fortaleza helped survivors find and apply for disaster recovery housing for places like Talent Mobile Estates (now named Talent Community Cooperative), which was destroyed in the 2020 Almeda Fire. It now has 87 homes that are fully occupied and has been transformed into a cooperatively owned manufactured home park.

 

“Joshua’s story and the journey of Talent Mobile Estates are grounded in the strength of community. Local organizations, local leaders and neighbors have been — and remain — beacons of hope, coming together in extraordinary ways,” said Shannon Marheine, director of the Disaster Recovery and Resilience Division at OHCS. “Each step of the way, locally driven and state-supported programs serve as a cornerstone, proving that the richest approach to recovery is based in local community.”

 

To learn more about the state-funded housing developments, visit OHCS’ 2020 Labor Day Disaster rehousing and recovery progress webpage. To learn more about Henley’s story, visit the Wildfire Recovery Spotlights webpage.

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

Attached Media Files: Joshua Henley was burned out of his old home due to the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire, but now he has a new permanent place to live at Lazy Days RV and Mobile Home Park that was built using state wildfire recovery funds.,

For Veterans At Valor Place, Housing Provides A Fresh Start (Photo) - 05/21/26

SALEM, Ore. — Ahead of Memorial Day, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is recognizing the veterans who call the recently opened Valor Place home and highlighting the impact that stable, affordable housing can have for those who have served their country. 

 

“Investing in housing developments like Valor Place is about creating environments where veterans can feel safe, regain stability, and build community,” said OHCS Director of Affordable Rental Housing Natasha Detweiler-Daby.

 

Located in Albany, Valor Place provides 30 affordable homes, mostly to veterans who have experienced housing instability or barriers related to disability, aging, or fixed incomes. The development was created through a partnership between OHCS and several other organizations including Linn Benton Housing Authority, Housing Development Center, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

 

For resident Gene Manley, an Air Force veteran who served from 1962 to 1970 in electronic security operations during the Vietnam era, Valor Place provided stability after several years living in a travel trailer on a family member’s property. 
 
“When you come out of a temporary housing situation, this gives you a feeling of home,” said Manley. “It’s personal, comfortable, and permanent. It lets you make decisions about your future again.” 
 
Manley described the development as a flexible and supportive environment that respects the wide range of experiences veterans carry with them. 

 

“Some veterans want to be social and make connections, and others need privacy and quiet,” he said. “This place allows for both. It’s welcoming, comfortable, and non-threatening.” 

 

Now settled into his new home, Manley hopes to volunteer with youth basketball programs in the Albany area to reconnect with a lifelong passion for coaching and mentoring young people. 

 

OHCS continues to support housing initiatives across the state that expand affordable housing opportunities for veterans, families, older adults, and other Oregonians facing housing challenges. Learn more about housing resources for veterans at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/housing-assistance/Pages/housing-for-veterans.aspx. 

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

Attached Media Files: Valor Place opened last month in Albany and is home to more than 20 veterans., Gene Manley is a resident at Valor Place.,

For Veterans At Valor Place, Housing Provides A Fresh Start (Photo) - 05/21/26

SALEM, Ore. — Ahead of Memorial Day, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is recognizing the veterans who call the recently opened Valor Place home and highlighting the impact that stable, affordable housing can have for those who have served their country. 

 

“Investing in housing developments like Valor Place is about creating environments where veterans can feel safe, regain stability, and build community,” said OHCS Director of Affordable Rental Housing Natasha Detweiler-Daby.

 

Located in Albany, Valor Place provides 30 affordable homes, mostly to veterans who have experienced housing instability or barriers related to disability, aging, or fixed incomes. The development was created through a partnership between OHCS and several other organizations including Linn Benton Housing Authority, Housing Development Center, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

 

For resident Gene Manley, an Air Force veteran who served from 1962 to 1970 in electronic security operations during the Vietnam era, Valor Place provided stability after several years living in a travel trailer on a family member’s property. 
 
“When you come out of a temporary housing situation, this gives you a feeling of home,” said Manley. “It’s personal, comfortable, and permanent. It lets you make decisions about your future again.” 
 
Manley described the development as a flexible and supportive environment that respects the wide range of experiences veterans carry with them. 

 

“Some veterans want to be social and make connections, and others need privacy and quiet,” he said. “This place allows for both. It’s welcoming, comfortable, and non-threatening.” 

 

Now settled into his new home, Manley hopes to volunteer with youth basketball programs in the Albany area to reconnect with a lifelong passion for coaching and mentoring young people. 

 

OHCS continues to support housing initiatives across the state that expand affordable housing opportunities for veterans, families, older adults, and other Oregonians facing housing challenges. Learn more about housing resources for veterans at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/housing-assistance/Pages/housing-for-veterans.aspx. 

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

Attached Media Files: Valor Place opened last month in Albany and is home to more than 20 veterans., Gene Manley is a resident at Valor Place.,

Oregon Housing And Community Services Program Helps Jackson County Businesses Overcome Almeda Fire’s Impacts (Photo) - 05/14/26

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announces its ReOregon Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Revitalization (PIER) program has committed nearly $1 million in microgrants and loans to help dozens of small businesses in Jackson County rebuild and grow since the 2020 Almeda Fire impacted the region.

 

When the Almeda Fire hit the area, Arturo Carrillo had been investing in equipment and planning for the future. Not only did the fire destroy his home, but it also crushed his dream of starting his own business. Now, years later, that dream is alive and well, thanks in part to the PIER funds.

 

“We are truly grateful for programs like the PIER grant that support small businesses impacted by wildfires,” said Fabiola Carrillo, who works at her father’s forestry and lawn care company called Carrillo Woods LLC in Medford, which received one of the microgrants. “Carrillo Woods LLC is more than just a business for us. It’s something very personal that came out of loss, resilience, and a desire to give back to our community.”

 

The PIER program provides Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help Oregon communities recover from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds, which included the Almeda Fire. It awards funds to nonprofits, schools, local governments, and other qualified entities in the disasters’ eight most-affected counties to support projects that address unmet planning, economic revitalization, and critical infrastructure needs, ensuring communities can rebuild and be better prepared for future challenges.

 

One of those nonprofits is the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCanDo), which awarded one of the microgrants to Carrillo Woods. To date, it has distributed 28 microgrants up to $15,000 each and two small business loans up to $50,000 each. Eligible businesses must be in Jackson County, have unmet financial needs related to the Almeda Fire, and either meet economic eligibility criteria or serve an urgent community need.

 

“IVCanDo is deeply grateful for the opportunity to help steward this important initiative in partnership with OHCS and community stakeholders,” said Autumn DeLorenzo, business and economic development manager and PIER program administrator at IVCanDo. “It has been both humbling and inspiring to witness the perseverance, creativity, and heart of the business owners who applied. Their commitment to rebuilding stronger businesses and stronger communities serves as a reminder that recovery is not only about restoring what was lost, but about creating a more connected, inclusive, and resilient future for Southern Oregon."

 

To allow more local control over the administration of funds, PIER empowered regional selection committees to recommend projects to OHCS. This ensured that the specific needs and priorities of each county and community are met and helps foster community engagement and tailored solutions for recovery and development.

 

With this funding, Carrillo Woods is planning to become more involved in the forestry industry, especially in reforestation. Their goal is not only to reduce wildfire risk through mitigation work, but also to help restore the land by supporting healthy forest regrowth after fires. Their services include wildfire mitigation, defensible space, brush clearing, and land management—work that is especially important after what their community experienced in 2020.

 

“This opportunity has helped us rebuild not just a business, but a future. We are committed to continuing to grow, serve our community, and make a lasting impact in Southern Oregon,” Fabiola Carillo said.

 

To learn more about PIER and how it helped other small businesses, visit re.oregon.gov.

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

Attached Media Files: Fabiola Carrillo in front of her company’s truck., Arturo Carrillo, owner of Carrillo Woods LLC, prunes a bush in Medford.,

Oregon Housing And Community Services Program Helps Jackson County Businesses Overcome Almeda Fire’s Impacts (Photo) - 05/14/26

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announces its ReOregon Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Revitalization (PIER) program has committed nearly $1 million in microgrants and loans to help dozens of small businesses in Jackson County rebuild and grow since the 2020 Almeda Fire impacted the region.

 

When the Almeda Fire hit the area, Arturo Carrillo had been investing in equipment and planning for the future. Not only did the fire destroy his home, but it also crushed his dream of starting his own business. Now, years later, that dream is alive and well, thanks in part to the PIER funds.

 

“We are truly grateful for programs like the PIER grant that support small businesses impacted by wildfires,” said Fabiola Carrillo, who works at her father’s forestry and lawn care company called Carrillo Woods LLC in Medford, which received one of the microgrants. “Carrillo Woods LLC is more than just a business for us. It’s something very personal that came out of loss, resilience, and a desire to give back to our community.”

 

The PIER program provides Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help Oregon communities recover from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds, which included the Almeda Fire. It awards funds to nonprofits, schools, local governments, and other qualified entities in the disasters’ eight most-affected counties to support projects that address unmet planning, economic revitalization, and critical infrastructure needs, ensuring communities can rebuild and be better prepared for future challenges.

 

One of those nonprofits is the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCanDo), which awarded one of the microgrants to Carrillo Woods. To date, it has distributed 28 microgrants up to $15,000 each and two small business loans up to $50,000 each. Eligible businesses must be in Jackson County, have unmet financial needs related to the Almeda Fire, and either meet economic eligibility criteria or serve an urgent community need.

 

“IVCanDo is deeply grateful for the opportunity to help steward this important initiative in partnership with OHCS and community stakeholders,” said Autumn DeLorenzo, business and economic development manager and PIER program administrator at IVCanDo. “It has been both humbling and inspiring to witness the perseverance, creativity, and heart of the business owners who applied. Their commitment to rebuilding stronger businesses and stronger communities serves as a reminder that recovery is not only about restoring what was lost, but about creating a more connected, inclusive, and resilient future for Southern Oregon."

 

To allow more local control over the administration of funds, PIER empowered regional selection committees to recommend projects to OHCS. This ensured that the specific needs and priorities of each county and community are met and helps foster community engagement and tailored solutions for recovery and development.

 

With this funding, Carrillo Woods is planning to become more involved in the forestry industry, especially in reforestation. Their goal is not only to reduce wildfire risk through mitigation work, but also to help restore the land by supporting healthy forest regrowth after fires. Their services include wildfire mitigation, defensible space, brush clearing, and land management—work that is especially important after what their community experienced in 2020.

 

“This opportunity has helped us rebuild not just a business, but a future. We are committed to continuing to grow, serve our community, and make a lasting impact in Southern Oregon,” Fabiola Carillo said.

 

To learn more about PIER and how it helped other small businesses, visit re.oregon.gov.

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

Attached Media Files: Fabiola Carrillo in front of her company’s truck., Arturo Carrillo, owner of Carrillo Woods LLC, prunes a bush in Medford.,

Oregon Housing And Community Services Earns Higher Credit Rating – And That’s Good News For Housing Across Oregon - 05/12/26

Improved rating positions the state to lower borrowing costs and expand housing investments 

 

SALEM, Ore. — Moody's Ratings – one of the world’s leading independent credit rating agencies – upgraded Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS’) issuer rating from A2 to A1. This upgrade places the agency among a strong tier of investment-grade housing finance agencies in the country and positions it to borrow money at a lower cost. That savings can then be reinvested into affordable housing programs – meaning more Oregonians served without spending more public money. 

 

“Delivering housing solutions that make life better and more affordable requires delivering public excellence in agency operations,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Receiving Moody’s strong A1 issuer rating reflects commitment to OHCS’ mission and accountability to the people of Oregon and the Legislature.” 

 

The upgrade is a national recognition of OHCS’ strong financial management and reflects the agency’s ability to continue partnering with communities to finance affordable housing, support first-time homebuyers, and invest in housing stability efforts. 

 

“When you pair prudent financial management with thoughtful program design, we can make taxpayer dollars go further,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “This even stronger credit rating will help us build more housing in all parts of the state.” 

 

According to Moody’s, the improved rating is driven by the OHCS' solid balance sheet strength and financial performance, which is expected to continue, speaking to the agency’s capacity to serve Oregonians over the long term. 

 

“Oregon Housing and Community Services is to be commended for this vote of increased confidence based on the agency’s stellar management and strong results, which will bolster its ability to continue to serve the people of Oregon efficiently and effectively,” said Stockton Williams, executive director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies. 

 

Credit quality is supported by OHCS’ strong loan portfolio, which consists primarily of loans held in the agency’s Single-Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds Program. Creditworthiness is further supported by OHCS’ conservative risk position, good risk governance, and a proactive management team. 

 

The higher rating reflects outside confidence in OHCS’ ability to manage public resources responsibly and could also potentially reduce the agency’s cost of financing short-term bond obligations.  

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs. 

Oregon Housing And Community Services Earns Higher Credit Rating – And That’s Good News For Housing Across Oregon - 05/12/26

Improved rating positions the state to lower borrowing costs and expand housing investments 

 

SALEM, Ore. — Moody's Ratings – one of the world’s leading independent credit rating agencies – upgraded Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS’) issuer rating from A2 to A1. This upgrade places the agency among a strong tier of investment-grade housing finance agencies in the country and positions it to borrow money at a lower cost. That savings can then be reinvested into affordable housing programs – meaning more Oregonians served without spending more public money. 

 

“Delivering housing solutions that make life better and more affordable requires delivering public excellence in agency operations,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Receiving Moody’s strong A1 issuer rating reflects commitment to OHCS’ mission and accountability to the people of Oregon and the Legislature.” 

 

The upgrade is a national recognition of OHCS’ strong financial management and reflects the agency’s ability to continue partnering with communities to finance affordable housing, support first-time homebuyers, and invest in housing stability efforts. 

 

“When you pair prudent financial management with thoughtful program design, we can make taxpayer dollars go further,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “This even stronger credit rating will help us build more housing in all parts of the state.” 

 

According to Moody’s, the improved rating is driven by the OHCS' solid balance sheet strength and financial performance, which is expected to continue, speaking to the agency’s capacity to serve Oregonians over the long term. 

 

“Oregon Housing and Community Services is to be commended for this vote of increased confidence based on the agency’s stellar management and strong results, which will bolster its ability to continue to serve the people of Oregon efficiently and effectively,” said Stockton Williams, executive director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies. 

 

Credit quality is supported by OHCS’ strong loan portfolio, which consists primarily of loans held in the agency’s Single-Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds Program. Creditworthiness is further supported by OHCS’ conservative risk position, good risk governance, and a proactive management team. 

 

The higher rating reflects outside confidence in OHCS’ ability to manage public resources responsibly and could also potentially reduce the agency’s cost of financing short-term bond obligations.  

 

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.