Bienestar reports housing counseling gains and new Medicaid-funded housing supports

Representatives from Bienestar (community grantee) updated the Hillsboro City Council on progress under the city’s multi-year community impact grant, highlighting expanded services across the housing spectrum.

Nathan Teske and Courtney Trezise said the city-funded staffing position created last fall has allowed their housing counseling team to nearly double its caseload; staff reported 102 one-on-one homeownership counseling clients to date and seven families helped into homeownership since May. The organization also reported raising more than $400,000 for private rental assistance (the Esperanza Fund) and distributing close to $200,000 last year through that fund in partnership with community agencies.

The presenters said Bienestar secured a HealthShare-supported Medicaid 1115 waiver capacity-building grant that will pay for finance and case-management capacity needed to bill Medicaid for certain housing-stability interventions. "It can pay for rent assistance, nutrition supports, utility assistance and some climate-related items," staff said, adding the program will be paired with county-funded supportive housing case management.

Councilors asked about program eligibility, the duration of the Medicaid grant (initial 18 months with a possible second opportunity), and the price points needed for first-time homeowners. Bienestar said down-payment assistance and state funding sources are being used but that housing prices in the market remain a significant barrier for scale.

Council thanked the organization for its work and invited further updates as the Medicaid billing pilot and housing counseling pipeline develop.