Panelists at a Washington County Department of Housing Services forum said an ongoing federal government shutdown and changes to federal rules are creating immediate risks for rental assistance, emergency vouchers and shelter funding that thousands of county residents rely on.

"We are likely to see the longest government shutdown in our country's history," Molly Rogers, director of the Washington County Department of Housing Services, told the forum, adding that "more than 3,700 households in Washington County depend on federal assistance for housing and shelter." Rogers and others warned that continued federal disruption would affect both households and landlords who participate in voucher programs.

Ivory Matthews, chief executive officer of Home Forward, described specific local liabilities. "We have 400 families on our [emergency housing voucher] program that the federal government will no longer fund" after the funds sunset, she said, adding an approximate program exposure of "$8,000,000." Matthews also said about "300 mixed status families" are at risk because of uncertainty about rule interpretation and federal guidance.

Matthews said Home Forward is examining legal options and has joined litigation to challenge federal rule changes she described as procedurally flawed: "a lot of what we're receiving now is in violation of constitutional rights" and the usual rulemaking process. She stressed the tradeoffs of action versus inaction and noted that housing authorities are already reexamining their relationship to risk.

Andrea Bell, executive director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, urged local governments and providers to separate symbolism from operational requirements and to "name what you need and be specific" when communicating with state and federal partners. She added agencies are focusing on maintaining continuity of services and building shared factual information so local partners can act.

Panelists and county leaders pressed elected officials and community partners to stay engaged: collect and share disaggregated local data, align regional investments for collective impact, and continue public participation in meetings and planning. Rogers also asked the public to spread word of imminent local actions, including a county housing wait list opening on November 4 and an upcoming public hearing on the county’s supportive housing services local implementation plan.

The forum included a question-and-answer period in which city and county leaders emphasized both urgency and the need for long-term supply-side solutions (zoning, production incentives) to reduce rents and extend the reach of vouchers.

Ending: Panelists urged local officials and community providers to keep communicating specific needs to state and federal partners, maintain service continuity where possible, and prepare for multiple contingencies while defending housing access for vulnerable households.