Policy and Planning
Use the links in the menu below to take a closer look at the way Home Forward addresses policy work.
Stephens Creek Crossing
Home Forward is a government agency and is subject to local, state, and federal regulations. Our policies align with external regulatory requirements.
We strive to use any regulatory flexibility we have to advance our organizational values and mission. If a regulation undermines our mission, organizational values, or commitment to racial equity, we will pursue regulatory changes through a combination of our Moving to Work authority and advocacy. Home Forward departments may also adopt policies that impact the work that they do.
Major Policy Documents
Administrative Plan – Outlines Home Forward’s Rent Assistance Department policies that impact participants in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy – Outlines Home Forward’s Property Management Company policies that impact public housing residents.
Home Forward is committed to evaluating and changing policy to support our mission, values, and to advance racial equity. Since 2022, we have taken on major policy changes and strategic initiatives.
Screening Criteria – Reducing criminal background screening factors for people who apply to Home Forward-owned properties.
Rent Assistance Termination Policy – A workgroup centering resident and program participants developed the policy change recommendations we implemented to promote housing stability. This policy impacts when Home Forward terminates a household’s rent assistance.
Eviction Prevention – With the help of local and state partners, alleviated all rent debt that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since adopted a non-payment of rent policy to promote residents’ housing stability.
Advocacy
Highlights in Home Forward Advocacy Work
Home Forward’s Executive Director Ivory Mathews testifies in front of the Oregon Senate Committee on Housing and Development, advocating for more state funded long term rent assistance and permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. 1:03:38-1:16:26
Public Comment and Advocacy
“We do our work in support of systemic change for racial and social justice: we use our voice to being attention to these issues and their impact on our community, and we advocate for change at a broad scale.” — Home Forward Organizational Values
Letter of Support, SB 611: Rent Increase Limits, House Committee on Rules (June 21, 2023)
Letter of Support, HB 2001: Eviction Reform and Renter Stabilization, House Committee on Housing and Homelessness (February 22, 2023)
Letter of Support, Affordable Housing Stabilization Fund, Multnomah County Delegation of the Oregon State Legislature (May 10, 2022)
Letter of Support, SB1536: Right to Cooling Bill, Joint Committee on Ways and Means of the Oregon State Legislature (February 28, 2022)
Letter of Support, Affordable Housing Stabilization Fund, Oregon State Legislature (February 22, 2022)
