More than 4,000 homes were destroyed in the 2020 wildfires that engulfed Oregon and much of the Pacific Northwest in smoke and ash. According to Jefferson Public Radio, at least 1,500 of those homes were manufactured homes.
Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, held a forum on Wednesday night explaining the resources that are available to wildfire survivors who lost manufactured homes.
The Oregon Legislature funded the Wildfire Recovery and Resilience Account grant to help repair or replace destroyed or damaged manufactured homes and recreational vehicles. To qualify, the person must have owned the home, and it must have been the primary, permanent residence. Eligibility will depend on income level and the amount of funds that have been received from other sources.
Energy Trust of Oregon is also providing, through an incentive program, up to $16,000 to replace with an energy-efficient home, as well as to install a qualifying heat pump.
Other available resources include the ACCESS Center for Community Resilience in Jackson County, and Community Services Consortium in Lincoln and Linn Counties.
By Peggy Perdue
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