(1) The Housing and Community Services Department shall administer the Emergency Housing Account to assist homeless individuals and individuals who are at risk of becoming homeless, through means including the emergency housing assistance program and the state homeless assistance program. Notwithstanding subsection (3)(a) of this section, the state homeless assistance program shall serve individuals experiencing homelessness, especially unsheltered homelessness, without respect to income.

(2) The Oregon Housing Stability Council shall develop a policy for the use of program funds with the advice of:

(a) Persons who have experienced housing instability;

(b) Tribes;

(c) The Community Action Partnership of Oregon;

(d) Continuums of care, as defined in 24 C.F.R. part 578;

(e) Local governments;

(f) Nonprofit organizations;

(g) Homeless services providers;

(h) Culturally specific organizations;

(i) Housing providers;

(j) Veterans’ services organizations; and

(k) Other entities identified by the department by rule.

(3) The policy under subsection (2) of this section shall direct that program funds shall be used:

(a) To provide to low and very low income individuals, including but not limited to individuals more than 65 years of age, persons with disabilities, agricultural workers and Native Americans:

(A) Emergency shelters and attendant services;

(B) Transitional housing services designed to assist individuals to make the transition from homelessness to permanent housing and economic independence;

(C) Supportive housing services to enable individuals to continue living in their own homes or to provide in-home services for such individuals for whom suitable programs do not exist in their geographic area;

(D) Programs that provide emergency payment of home payments, rents or utilities;

(E) Support for individuals with companion animals, as defined in ORS § 401.977, that includes:

(i) Food for both companion animals and their owners;

(ii) Crates or kennels on-site or off-site that are easily accessible to the companion animal owners;

(iii) Basic veterinary services, including behavioral services; and

(iv) Rules of conduct and responsibility regarding companion animals and their owners; or

(F) Some or all of the services or assistance described in subparagraphs (A) to (E) of this paragraph.

(b) To provide the services and assistance described in paragraph (a) of this subsection to school-aged children enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12, or to their families, who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

(c) To align with federal strategies and resources that are available to prevent and end homelessness, including the requirement of providing culturally responsive services and using evidence-based and emerging practices effective in ending homelessness, including practices unique to rural communities.

(4)(a) The council shall require as a condition of awarding a grant that the organization demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that the organization:

(A) Has the capacity to deliver any service proposed by the organization;

(B) Is a culturally responsive organization or is engaged in a process to become a culturally responsive organization;

(C) Engages with culturally specific organizations; and

(D) Supports local homelessness system planning efforts.

(b) Any funds granted under this section may not be used to replace existing funds. Funds granted under this section may be used to supplement existing funds. An organization may use funds to support existing programs or to establish new programs.

(5) The department may expend funds from the account for:

(a) The administration of the account as provided for in the legislatively approved budget, as that term is defined in ORS § 291.002, for the department in support of directing a statewide policy on homelessness that ensures use of evidence-based and emerging practices, service equity in funding and local planning processes.

(b) The development of technical assistance and training resources for organizations developing and operating emergency shelters as defined in ORS § 197.782 and transitional housing accommodations as described in ORS § 197.746.

(6) The department shall utilize outcome-oriented contracting processes and evidence-based and emerging practices for account program funds, including evidence-based and emerging practices for serving rural communities.

(7) Twenty-five percent of moneys deposited in the account pursuant to ORS § 294.187 are dedicated to the emergency housing assistance program for assistance to veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. [1991 c.740 § 7; 2007 c.70 § 268; 2011 c.605 § 2; 2013 c.646 § 3; 2015 c.180 § 27; 2017 c.350 § 1; 2019 c.576 § 5; 2021 c.18 § 7; 2021 c.448 § 5a; 2023 c.13 § 42; 2023 c.116 § 4; 2023 c.223 § 48]