SALEM, OR – Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), in partnership with the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA), supported ten participating communities in their initiative to end veterans’ homelessness through Operation Welcome Home. An Operation Welcome Home Celebration took place Wednesday, July 31st at Ash Creek Terrace Apartments, Independence. “It’s unacceptable that any veteran would experience homelessness,” said OHCS Director Margaret Salazar, “that’s why we have partnered with local communities through Operation Welcome Home to make tangible, life-changing impacts on the lives of hundreds of veterans throughout Oregon.” Operation Welcome Home is a campaign to address veterans experiencing homelessness that ran from November 2018 to July 2019. This initiative was supported through Measure 96 lottery funds authorized by the 2018 Legislature, and represents the first stage in supporting local communities as they work to end veteran homelessness. Throughout the course of the campaign, OHCS and ODVA provided communities the support needed to create a lasting infrastructure to house veterans and prevent homelessness. In November, we collectively announced the goal of housing 500 veterans across Oregon. Participating communities went above and beyond to house 529 veterans, with more home placements in progress. “There are many important and life-changing benefits available to veterans and their families, but stable, permanent housing is often the first step,” said ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick. “Operation Welcome Home has directly impacted hundreds of veterans including a single mother and domestic abuse survivor, who was helped by this program in central Oregon. Having a stable living situation has transformed her life, enabling her to receive mental health counseling, obtain other benefits, and return to work.” The Operation Welcome Home celebration took place in conjunction with the Grand Opening of Ash Creek Terrace Apartments, a veterans’ affordable housing community. Ash Creek Terrace was developed by Polk Community Development Corporation with Measure 96 resources. It will provide four homes to veterans living with mental health or addiction. Operation Welcome Home participating communities are listed below with the lead organization. Additional details about Operation Welcome Home are available online. NeighborImpact and Central Oregon Veterans Outreach: Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties; Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agencies: Marion and Polk ounties; ACCESS: Jackson County; Yamhill Community Action Partnership; Yamhill County; Oregon Coast Community Action: Coos and Curry Counties; United Community Action Network: Douglas and Josephine Counties; Community Action Partnership of Oregon: Klamath and Lake Counties; Community Services; Consortium: Benton, Lincoln and Linn Counties; Clackamas County Social Services: Clackamas County; Lane County Human Services Commission: Lane County.
