Government benefits in Lane County Oregon from HHS
Lane County Oregon residents have a couple dozen primary government assistance programs available to them. Some are paid for using a combination of state and federal funds and others are run in partnership with non-profit community service centers. Health and Human Services provides cash assistance from SNAP, cash assistance, daycare benefits and other benefits. Find details on public assistance programs in Lane County Oregon below.
Government assistance from Lane County Health and Human Services to pay bills
The
Lane County Coordinated Entry System
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 in Eugene or the county, they can receive applications to 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 programs and information to low income families. Some of these are run in partnership with HHS as well as charities, like
Catholic Community Services in Eugene Oregon
. The local centers give out food, money for rent relief, shelter, referral to non-profits government benefits aid as needed. Locations of the community centers are in Eugene, Springfield, and also West Lane Oregon. Free government and charitable food is offered in Lane County Oregon. HHS of course has applications to SNAP benefits for people living in or near poverty and the government also partners with local charities. Resources include a
Food Bank
, which will allocate 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. Read more about Meals on Wheels . Soup kitchens can offer hot meals to low income families in Eugene and across the county. They also help feed homeless people. Free government cash from HHS in Lane County is offered. There is a limited public assistance program that was solely intended to provide temporary cash payments to families with minor children. The beneficiary needs to be struggling, and have little or no income available to them in an effort to pay for their bills. The resource is known as TANF - Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. This particular benefit is state of Oregon supervised, but administered through the local social service office. Eligibility for any of the cash aid is contingent upon having minor children in the home. So it can help families as well as single moms or dads. Of course two parent families may be eligible for a grant as well. TANF will also focus on places in which the youngest child must be under 18 years of age or over 18 if a full time high school student expected to graduate before the 19th birthday. To apply for TANF benefits , applicants need to be U.S. Citizens who are residents of Lane County and certain other legal aliens who have resided in the U.S. for five years are eligible. Persons from the county who are not citizens will have to provide proof of their status and date of entry through the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The two main Health and Human Services programs for energy and utility bill assistance include
Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP)
(part of federal 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. OEAP, which is paid by the federal government, can provide government grant money to low-income households, with a focus on families with children and seniors. 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 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. 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. Government supported legal aid in Lane County helps cases around credit, evictions, child issues, and more. Volunteers attorneys and other legal professionals donate their time and energy to this program. Click here for more information on Oregon free legal aid .
Government housing relief in Lane Country OR
Day & Night Center is for families . It is run in partnership with St. Vincent and Health and Human Services. 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 in Lane County. Services include including health and safety education, family reconciliation, placement into a shelter, case management, and substance abuse support services. Resources are distributed to youth to promote empowerment and self-sufficiency. Government funded
Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing
is coordinated by HHS and non-profits. This includes financial assistance from the government to help individuals and families from becoming homeless. Funds can pay rent or other expenses such as utility bills. Money from the government, such as ESG grants in Lane County, is also offered for those who are experiencing homelessness. Assistance is offered to help people to become quickly rehoused and stabilized. In addition to housing assistance, clients of homeless prevention services can access free Budget Counseling, Debt Reduction and Financial Education seminars and workshops. This public program was created to prevent homelessness and evictions by helping with immediate needs and long term stability. Shankle Safe Haven Eugene/Springfield Metro (CoC) is offered for those with mental illnesses. The government assistance 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.
Public health care in Lane County
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 or vouchers to help pay for meds. Additional free public health care is offered for the homeless. For qualified individuals, they can get free, yet fully comprehensive health and medical care. There is also mental health support 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. 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.
Applications
Call the Lane County Health and Human Services at 541-682-3798. They have a list of other departments as well as noted here. https://www.lanecountyor.gov/government/county_departments/health_and_human_services/human_services_division/contact_us . As noted, each program from HHS has different application criteria. The main address is 125 E 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401.