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On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, we bring you a panel discussion about the Regional Long-Term Rent Assistance program, known by its acronym RLRA. The program is funded entirely by the Supportive Housing Services measure, which was passed by Portland Metro voters in 2020 and implemented beginning in 2021. RLRA has been a key factor in helping people maintain stable housing, providing rent assistance to the most vulnerable households.

In 2024, the number of households using RLRA vouchers increased by 53%, showing the program’s success in facilitating new placements, and helping more households secure long-term housing.

Since the inception of RLRA on July 1, 2021, the program has helped nearly 1,000 households and over 1,400 individuals secure stable housing in Multnomah County alone. Over the past three years, the program has steadily increased, providing support for more households to move out of homelessness and into stable, supportive housing.

We bring you an excerpt from a session about RLRA held at the Spectrum Conference organized by Multifamily Northwest in September 2024, featuring Chelsea Blair from Washington County, Erin Goldwater from Multnomah County, and Jake Kirsch from the Housing Development Center, among others.

This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide, street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community.

Episode Page | Direct link to Audio File | Listen on Spotify