December 19, 2023 2:50 a.m.

The Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program will be the first assistance available directly to 2020 Labor Day disaster survivors, including residents in Douglas County, administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services

An OHCS release said the program is part of ReOregon, which is funded by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant -Disaster Recovery from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HARP assistance will help low- and moderate-income homeowners who still need to repair, rebuild, or replace their homes. Those who have already completed repairs or rebuilding may be reimbursed in a future phase of HARP, if funds are still available.

OHCS Director Andrea Bell said, “OHCS remains committed to action towards recovering, rebuilding, and revitalizing our communities”, Bell said, “As trusted voices in their communities, our partners have a pulse on the need of our many neighbors and friends who are still working to recover”.

The release said OHCS will begin accepting applications for HARP by the end of March 2024. The agency has partnered with community-based organizations to support the launch of HARP.

Locally, Glide Revitalization will be conducting outreach and providing in-person support to help survivors work through the application process.  Other organizations are working in Jackson, Lane, Lincoln, Linn and Marion counties.

Survivors can stay up to date on ReOregon programs in various stages of development by signing up for email updates and visiting: re.oregon.gov.