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Ruth is giving a tour of her home, gardens, trees and irrigation system as she shares her story. “Having this house means that my kids have a future,” she says. “My kids won’t be homeless ever. We have security, we have equity, we have somewhere safe.”
“Supporting our residents to meet their goals for self-sufficiency and a stable and thriving life is the ultimate objective,” says the Housing Authority Director of Housing Development, Devin Ellin. “When a household moves out of subsidized housing into a market-rate rental home or a home that they purchase, it’s a major achievement for them, and it frees up the subsidized apartment for the next household in need. This way we’re able to serve more people. I’m glad that Clackamas County is providing a complete continuum of housing services to move people forward on their path, whether that is from homelessness to, transitional shelter, affordable housing or rent assistance, there are opportunities available all the way to homeownership.”
Ruth’s story is an example of how this path can work. Raised in foster care in Clackamas County, Ruth aged out into homelessness at 18. She says that Clackamas County staff and programs were of tremendous help to her and her children, from an affordable apartment, to a community of support, to the health centers that met her family’s medical needs. After stabilizing in affordable housing, Ruth increased her income and began to save for a home with a matched savings account through the Housing Authority. Watch her full story here: