Safer, healthier homes for rural families
For families in Eastern Oregon, a safe and healthy home can mean lower utility bills, fewer safety hazards and greater peace of mind. Through Oregon Health Authority (OHA)’s Healthy Homes Grant Program, groups like Community in Action are helping make this happen for people in Harney and Malheur counties.
Community in Action helps low and moderate-income people and families, providing education and counseling, skills development, and access to resources that help people become more self-sufficient. They received $211,191 from OHA’s Healthy Homes Grant Program to support home repair projects for clients in rural Malheur and Harney Counties. They work directly with eligible homeowners and families to find needed repairs and coordinate improvements funded through the grant program.
The Healthy Homes Grant program funds important home repairs and improvements that help keep people in Oregon safe, comfortable, and healthy in their homes.
Comfort, safety and stability
For Angelica Manriquez and her multi-generational family in Ontario, Healthy Homes Grant funding made it possible to replace windows and doors in their home. The improvements have already made a noticeable difference.
“Before the repairs, it could get really cold in the winter and hot in the summer,” said Manriquez. “The new windows and doors have made our home feel much more comfortable for everyone living here.”
She added that the simple upgrades also brought a new sense of stability and pride for her family, which she and her family are very grateful for.
Check out a video featuring Angelica’s story in both English and Spanish highlighting the importance of safe housing in rural Oregon communities.
In Burns, Paula Vaughan and Jeff Rohwer also benefited from Healthy Homes Grant funding through Community in Action. Their home received important electrical upgrades that improved both safety and functionality. Prior to the upgrades, Vaughan and Rohwer said they could not get their home insured, due to its poor wiring and age.
“The house was built in 1924. I couldn’t get insurance on the home; they wouldn’t touch it,” said Rohwer. “I couldn’t have insulation done until the wiring was fixed. We got used to only using one utility out of each plug instead of two. Now that the rewiring’s been done, I don’t have to worry about burning my house down.”
View a video highlighting Paula and Jeff’s story.
Supporting OHA’s strategic vision
The Healthy Homes Grant Program helps organizations make home improvements that lower health and safety risks, improve indoor conditions, and create healthier homes for people in Oregon. This support is especially important for low-income or historically underserved families and communities.
Making sure people have safe and accessible homes is one of the goals of OHA’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan. A key strategy in the plan is to put in place policies and procedures “that facilitate equitable access to quality housing.” The Healthy Homes Grant Program is one way OHA is working toward this goal.
“Healthy homes are foundational to healthy communities,” said Brett Sherry, Healthy Homes Grant Program manager at OHA’s Public Health Division. “Through the Healthy Homes Grant Program, OHA can partner with organizations like Community in Action that are creating healthier spaces for people — especially in rural and frontier communities — and remain safely housed in homes that support their health and well-being.”
The Healthy Homes Grant Program supports projects that address housing-related health and safety concerns, including weatherization, ventilation, mold remediation, accessibility improvements, and electrical or structural repairs.
OHA’s Healthy Homes Grant Program’s Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) are open and will remain open until Sept. 29. Total funding for this RFGA is $4.7 million. The funds are used to make home improvements for low-income people, specifically those with disabilities and older adults (55 years of age and older). The maximum grant awards will be $500,000 and selected grantees will have three years to spend the funds they receive.
Learn more about how to apply for the Healthy Homes Grant on the RFGA webpage and learn more about the program on the Healthy Homes Grant Program webpage.
