Neighborhood-Based Housing Program

Ending homelessness starts with housing.

We’re creating opportunities throughout Central Oregon for individuals to move into stable, affordable housing with the supportive services that they need to thrive.

Our program design is trauma-informed and uses emerging best practices from the field of Permanent Supportive Housing. Participants are supported in accessing resources like behavioral healthcare, primary care, social security disability, supportive employment, and transportation. Importantly, the case management process helps individuals identify and work towards their unique goals so that they can start to move past the trauma and isolation of homelessness.

Ten people have exited homelessness for permanent housing since the Neighborhood Based Housing Program started in 2021.

100% of our participants have remained successful in housing.

At a cost of just $57 per day, this program is meeting an urgent community need with sustainable, long-term solutions.

Who We Serve

The Neighborhood Based Housing Program serves adult households in Central Oregon who are “chronically homeless” and who don’t qualify for either Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), or for Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) housing programs.

“Chronically homeless” is a technical term defined by HUD, which basically refers to the segment of the unhoused community that has the most complex barriers to housing stability. This segment accounts for approximately one-third of the total homeless population, yet requires a much larger portion of crisis response and emergency health care resources. Chronically homeless individuals are more likely to be visibly homeless, and to have a severe and persistent mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or complex health care needs.

In Central Oregon, there are at least 286 chronically homeless individuals*. The vast majority will likely require Permanent Supportive Housing in order to exit homelessness.

Due to funding constraints, this program is currently full, and unable to accept new referrals at this time.

For additional housing resources or to register for future opening consideration, please visit the Coordinated Entry System, operated by the Homeless Leadership Coalition.

Kris and Deb were the very first participants housed through our Neighborhood Based, Permanent Supportive Housing program.

We're making sure that their housing stays affordable, and coordinating with our partner agencies to offer flexible, individualized supportive services.

“From here, our goal is to be able to spend at least a few more Christmases together.”

In Their Own Words

"After eight years of living out in the dirt, having this place feels like heaven to us. Life was hard out there. Hard on our bodies and hard on our relationship with each other. Both of us were suffering from some health issues: diabetes, heart issues, difficulty walking around, you name it. I felt like I’d worked too hard m whole life to end up out there.

I’d been a millworker for 25 years until the mills shut down and we started to lose everything. First the paycheck and the health insurance, then unemployment, and finally our house We didn’t really know how to get out of that situation- being stuck out in the dirt and cold. Meeting all of you [Mosaic Medical, Deschutes County Behavioral Health, REACH, and FUSE] has been a real godsend.

We still can’t believe how incredible this apartment is and how blessed we are. We got to have our grandkids visit for Thanksgiving, and we put up our first Christmas tree in eight years! Our relationship with each other is getting better and better without all of that stress, and we’re actually making it to our doctors’ appointments now! From here, our biggest goal is to be able to spend at least a few more Christmases together."

Grandparents, dog-lovers, and lifelong Oregonians

FUSE is required by HUD to verify that our clients meet the following conditions:

  1. Currently homeless (living outside or in an emergency shelter)

  2. An extended history of homeless (at least 1 year, or repeated)

  3. Living with a disabling condition

  4. Prioritized through the Coordinated Entry System (identified as being highly vulnerable)

*This data is from the January 2020 Point in Time Count. Data from the following year’s count conducted in January 2021 was inaccurate due to COVID limitations and service provider capacity.