New Latino Housing Program will provide additional services to Lane County neighbors in their efforts toward self-sufficiency.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Catholic Community Services to expand our services to the growing Latino community.” says Stephanie Talbott, Program Coordinator for the Eugene Community Service Center.

The opportunity is the result of a recently signed service contract to help homeless Latinos obtain permanent housing. The coorperative venture with the Lane County Human Services Commission allows CCS to provide a more comprehensive housing and support program for Lane County families.

The Latino population in Lane County is growing, is underserved and needs community support. A significant percentage of Latinos in the Eugene Springfield community are low income individuals and families who are non-English speakers with limited education. The new service will help to provide assistance to help the program participants in the effort to increase their income, to overcome barriers to housing, and to find and maintain permanent housing.

The participants will personally enter into an agreement with the landlord and the program will subsidize their rent.

“It’s great that these people will create a rental history and landlord tenant relationship because that will be helpful to them throughout their lives. This will cultivate personal responsibility and give people more ownership in their residences.

But, the best part to me, is that they will be in permanent housing and not have to leave when the program is over, as in a shelter,” Stephanie continued.

The program is based upon a “permanent housing model” and is supported by federal Housing and Urban Development funding. In the Latino Housing Program, a family support worker will help participants identify affordable housing in a neighborhood that works for the family. The ideal housing for participants should be near places of employment, schools, churches and child care facilities. The ultimate goal of the program is to help the household move towards self-sufficiency.

Stephanie concludes, “If a household can move from homelessness to paying their own rent and bills, that is a success for the family and our community.”