Lane County Human Services outlines senior-housing pilot, Medicaid-funded housing supports and rent-assistance hub

Lane County Human Services Division managers updated the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 25 about a multi-part effort to reduce homelessness among seniors, expand housing-related services funded by Oregon’s Medicaid 1115 waiver (Health-Related Social Needs, HRSN), and streamline rent and eviction-prevention assistance through a centralized hub.

Kate Budd, Human Services Division manager, said the county and partners have developed a pilot that will add two Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) complex care managers to focus solely on seniors experiencing homelessness. Budd said the pilot will use a "senior by-name list" and regular care-conferencing meetings to coordinate housing, clinical care, benefits and flexible funds for seniors. "The overall outcome for this pilot is for Lane Council of Governments to permanently house a hundred seniors, within about a year and a half period," Budd said.

James Ewell, homelessness and community action manager, reported that Lane County’s data show the majority of people entering the homeless services system were living in-county when they lost housing. "Seventy-nine percent of individuals have answered that they were residing in Lane County when…