A patchwork rollout of Oregon’s new Medicaid-funded rent assistance program has led to inconsistent delivery and long delays.

A new Medicaid housing assistance program in Oregon is struggling with delays, leaving some recipients at risk of eviction.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, Oregon just became the first state in the nation to roll out rental assistance as a statewide Medicaid benefit for eligible Oregon Health Plan members.

The rental assistance is just one piece of Oregon’s current 1115 waiver, which lets states ask the federal government for permission to try new things with Medicaid.

The program allows some eligible people who are on the Oregon Health Plan, which is Oregon’s Medicaid program, to qualify for up to six months of rental assistance.

However, advocates say maintaining shelter beds is not going to put a dent in the homeless crisis if the state does not continue to support homeless prevention measures like rent assistance.

Demand for rent assistance ballooned in the COVID pandemic, as one out of seven Oregon workers lost their jobs in spring 2020.

Oregon Worker Relief has launched the Home Fund, to provide short-term rental assistance to households facing eviction or housing instability.

A Portland man is charged with fraud after he allegedly faked a dozen rent assistance applications and collected $260,000 from Multnomah County.

Oregon lawmakers requested an audit after the state faced criticism for problems delivering Covid rent assistance.

The program allows some eligible people who are on the Oregon Health Plan, which is Oregon’s Medicaid program, to qualify for up to six months of rental assistance.