Barrier Busting Fund
In January 2023, FUSE launched this pilot interagency program to support Central Oregonians building bridges to stable housing. FUSE mobilizes funding and stewards this regional resource with a commitment to equity, efficiency, and transparency.
The Barrier Busting Fund exists to pay for expenses that bar access to housing. Whether that means a security deposit, tenant application fees, replacement ID, ADA accessibility modifications, criminal record expungement, transportation assistance, & more.
We know that far too often, it’s these relatively small, one-time expenses that keep our neighbors trapped in homelessness when they otherwise could move into stable housing. This fund enables recipients to leverage their own resources as well as support from partner agencies to bust through barriers.
Read: Advocate’s Guide to the BBF (pdf)
The BBF has supported over 230 local households (450+ individuals) move into stable housing.
We’re addressing homelessness by targeting flexible financial assistance directly to where it has the biggest impact: busting barriers to housing.
Our established Partner Agencies can access the Barrier Busting Fund to support their clients.
Not on this list yet? If you represent a nonprofit or healthcare agency that provides services to households experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon, please email bbf@centraloregonfuse.org and read our Advocates Guide to the BBF. We’ll ask you to complete a brief Partner Agency Agreement to ensure that your services are accessible, well-documented, and collaborative, then do a training with your staff. While no financial match is required of our partner agencies, we encourage partners to consider how they can help support the sustainability of the Barrier Busting Fund.
Do you need housing assistance? At this time, FUSE does not provide direct support. Instead, we work with partner agencies to verify client eligibility for the Barrier Busting Funds. If you are facing barriers to housing, please ask your advocate at the agency you are connected with, to determine if you qualify for the Barrier Busting Program. We’re happy to connect with your advocate to share information - have them reach out to us at bbf@centraloregonfuse.org.
If you are not yet connected with an advocate, visit HLC Website for immediate assistance and information on available resources, such advocacy, shelter, food, housing navigation, emergency services, and more.
FUSE gets to work closely with the amazing front-line advocates on staff at these partner agencies to bust barriers with their clients. In order to be eligible, folks must meet this basic criteria:
Active client of an established partner agency,
Experiencing homelessness* in Central Oregon, whether in a shelter, couch-surfing, in a vehicle, or other places not meant for habitation,
Have a documented opportunity for safe and stable housing- even if that’s outside of our region.
This program has exceeded our goals and expectations! We’re working hard to secure additional funding. Please consider supporting FUSE with a tax-deductible donation.
EMAIL: bbf@centraloregonfuse.org
Thanks to our Partner Agencies, funders, and resilient clients themselves, the Barrier Busting Fund is making a real dent in homelessness in Central Oregon.