ReOregon Homeowner Assistance And Reconstruction Program Closing To New Applications By Year’s End (Photo) - 12/03/25
New webpage spotlights 2020 Labor Day Disaster survivors that OHCS has helped
SALEM, Ore. – December is the last month for survivors of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds to submit new applications for the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP).
HARP is part of a suite of wildfire recovery programs called ReOregon, which is funded by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HARP, which opened in March 2024, helps survivor homeowners of the 2020 disasters rebuild, repair, replace, or buy a new home, as well as be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred during their recovery. OHCS has expanded eligibility criteria for these recovery pathways to help more survivors apply before the deadline.
“We really want to encourage survivors of the 2020 wildfires to apply for HARP as soon as possible before the Eligibility Questionnaire closes on Dec. 31,” said Shannon Marheine, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at OHCS. “The last thing we want is for a survivor not to get the help they need because they didn’t know about the program. We know some applicants heard about HARP from others, so if you know someone who is a survivor and has not yet applied, please let them know about this program.”
If there are people hesitant about applying, OHCS urges them to visit a new webpage highlighting survivors who have been through the process and received a HARP award for a new home.
Dierdri Muñoz is a survivor from Jackson County who heard about HARP through word of mouth while out at a restaurant.
“I had just gotten my order of alfredo when I overheard a waitress talking about how her mother-in-law got help to rebuild her home,” Muñoz recalled. “I asked her about it, and she told me about ReOregon. It sounded too good to be true, but I went for it. I can only imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t gone to dinner that night.”
With help from ACCESS, a ReOregon partner, Muñoz applied for HARP and was approved for a new home to replace the one she had lost to the Almeda Fire just two months after getting it. She moved into her home in June 2025 and is already looking forward to celebrating her first Christmas there with her granddaughter.
“It’s such a blessing to have her through all of this,” Muñoz said. “She’s a miracle. This new house is a miracle.”
Applying for HARP is a two-part process. First, the survivor fills out an Eligibility Questionnaire, which will help ReOregon determine whether a homeowner is qualified to apply. If found to be eligible, they will receive an email invitation to begin the full application process. OHCS encourages survivors to start the HARP application process as soon as possible, as it may take some time to gather their documentation for the application. Regional HARP Intake Centers are available to assist survivors.
During the past several months, HARP has helped 70 survivors buy a new home, and 31 other homeowners have received reimbursement funds. Some survivors have started or are close to completing reconstruction, while many more are making their way through the application process. To learn more about the application process and expanded eligibility, visit the HARP website.
To learn more about all of ReOregon’s programs, 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.
