Public assistance in Lane County Oregon.
Lane County Oregon residents have a couple dozen primary government assistance programs available to them. Some are paid for by public funds, and others are run in partnership with non-profit community service centers. If you are struggling, or think you may fall behind in the future, then do not hesitate to explore one or more of the Lane County services below.
The Lane County Oregon Access Center can help those who are on the verge of eviction. Programs can also aid the currently homeless. Those struggling with paying their rent, as well as those who are now homeless, can receive advice, public assistance, support, and help in gaining employment skills. Resources can also provide free food and shelter.
The various Lane County Community Service Centers provide a number of services and information to low income families. Services and resources offered include public assistance, case management, food, rent, shelter, information and referral to non-profits and government aid as needed. Locations of the community centers are in Eugene, South Lane County, Springfield, and also West Lane Oregon.
Day & Night Center is for families. There is also a location in Eugene Oregon. The centers can help and support families with children. The programs provide those faced with eviction and the current homeless with clothing, transportation, laundry services, shelter, and other social services.
Homeless Youth Shelter and Intervention is for runaways, homeless, and at risk youth and teenagers. Services include including crisis interventions, health and safety education, family reconciliation, shelter, case management, and substance abuse support services. Resources, skills, and information is distributed to youth to promote empowerment and self-sufficiency.
Food is offered in Lane County Oregon. Resources include a Food Bank, which will allocate food, free groceries and meals to support the needs of local residents. Another option is the Meals on Wheels program, which can provide meals to home-bound senior citizens and the disabled who are living in the metro and rural areas of Lane County. A focus is on elderly citizens who are experiencing malnutrition. Soup kitchens can offer hot meals to low income families in Eugene and across the county. A Community Service Center in Oakridge will provide food boxes, groceries and meals for low-income households living in the greater Oakridge Oregon area. Read more about Meals on Wheels.
Dental and Medical Clinics can provide free or reduced cost urgent care to low-income and/or uninsured households in Lane County. Many services are offered using a sliding fee scale, and assistance includes dental exams, basic lab work, primary health care, and prescription medications.
Additional free public health care is offered for the homeless. For qualified individuals, they can get free, yet fully comprehensive health and medical care, and all assistance is made available for the homeless population in the Eugene/Springfield Oregon region. The homeless medical care programs can help people meet their basic health needs, and also remove barriers to their attainment of stable living conditions.
Rent and eviction prevention may be offered from the Homeless Prevention Project - City of Eugene. This public program was created to prevent homelessness and evictions by providing direct client and rent assistance through a consortium of providers. At risk households are the focus, such as families with children and seniors.
Free Legal Assistance & Mediation (+HPRP) is offered for non criminal legal issues. Also provided are mediation services to assist low-income Lane County residents deal with legal issues, such as credit, evictions, child issues, and more. Volunteers attorneys and other legal professionals donate their time and energy to this program. Click here fore more information on free legal aid.
Shankle Safe Haven Eugene/Springfield Metro (CoC) is offered for those with mental illnesses. The program will try to reduce chronic homelessness for adults and others in the community with severe persistent mental illness. The CoC can provide housing, rent help, public cash assistance, support services and day shelter services.
Case Management and Transitional Housing can provide housing assistance and social services for the currently homeless or at risk homelessness households in the region. Social workers from the Human Services Division will work with clients to develop the skills that are necessary skills to become self-sufficient over the long term, help people maintain affordable housing, and assist people with pursuing a better life for themselves and their children.
Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing – This includes financial assistance and cash grants to help individuals and families from becoming homeless. Funds can pay rent or other expenses such as utility bills. Aid is also offered for those who are experiencing homelessness, and assistance is offered to help people to become quickly rehoused and stabilized. The program was created from federal government stimulus funds.
In addition to housing assistance, clients of homeless prevention services can access free Budget Counseling, Debt Reduction and Financial Education seminars and workshops.
HIV and AIDs patients can receive rent and housing assistance from the Housing Opportunities with Hope. This public program may be able to help chronically homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Lane County. Resources can help them achieve housing stability, obtain mainstream benefits, including health care, and help them access various social services and public aid.
Housing Scholarships, run by community centers, provide homeless households with access to self-development programs, and it gives them the opportunity to receive rental assistance. People can get the skills they need to become self sufficient and obtain permanent affordable housing in the area.
Mentally impaired individuals can access a number of social services, grant, and public assistance. Most of the Lane County Oregon programs revolve around ensuring mentally challenged have a place to live, so programs are offered for housing.
Latinos - The county may be able to provide housing assistance, rental programs and case management for homeless Latino Households as well as those who are behind on their rent and at risk of homelessness. Case managers can also help people become self-sufficient, find jobs, and provide for their families.
The two main programs for energy and utility bill assistance include Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as well as weatherization. A summary of both government assistance programs are below. However, Lane County Human Services Commission has information on a few other public aid energy programs.
- LIHEAP, which is paid by the federal government, can provide grants and financial assistance to low-income households, with a focus on families with children and seniors. Services are currently available in Oakridge, Cottage Grove and Florence, Eugene and Springfield Oregon. All money is paid directly to utility companies, and will go towards paying a clients utility bill. The program is seasonal in nature, and grants are offered in the winter as well as summer for cooling and heating bills. All of the cash is paid out on a first-come, first-serve basis, as funds are limited.
- The Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County (HACSA) works with the Human Services Commission to run the energy conservation weatherization program. It is free to income and qualified people, and the Weatherization program assesses homes for weatherization needs and installs free windows, insulation and other conservation updates, such as sealing heating ducts.
Call the Lane County Oregon Human Services Division at 541-682-3798.
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