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In Sept. 2023, OHA announced that 1115 waiver housing benefits are expected to begin in November 2024, pending approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). OHA will introduce the housing benefit in phases and is currently planning to first focus on assisting OHP members who are at-risk of homelessness to maintain their current or already identified housing.
According to state housing experts, the rate of Oregonians losing housing is increasing faster than state and local programs can rehouse people, due to a critical statewide shortage in affordable housing. Health officials determined that the most immediate and effective way to implement Oregon’s new short-term Medicaid housing benefit is to first focus on helping people who are medically and economically vulnerable to avoid becoming homeless in the first place.
In the first phase of eligibility for Oregon’s benefit, CMS indicated that applicants should meet HUD’s definition of At-Risk of Homelessness. This means that an individual or family has an annual income below 30% of the median family income for the area, as determined by HUD, but does not have sufficient resources or support networks immediately available to prevent them from moving to an emergency shelter. Additionally, the individual or family needs to meet other criteria, such as spending 50% or more of their income on rent, or is in an unstable living environment.
Community-based organizations (CBOs), community partners, medical and social service providers, local governments, and organizations or professionals who are interested in directly providing or referring people to these health-related social needs (HRSN) services can sign-up for a partner work session on Tuesday, January 23rd from 1 – 3pm via Zoom.
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