Changes coming to Almeda Fire recovery: Meetings this week to discuss them | Top Stories [Video]

PHOENIX, Ore.– A draft Substantial Action Plan Amendment (SAPA) can bring large changes to recovery from 2020 Labor Day fires including the Almeda Fire, Oregon Housing and Community Services(OHCS) will be holding public meetings in Phoenix this week to inform the community and ask public opinion.

OHCS said the SAPA will bring multiple changes to the $422-million disaster recovery funding, including:

Restructuring Homeownership Opportunities Program (HOP) to a new program called Affordable Housing Development (AHD), allowing opportunities for both new homeownership and rental housing development in wildfire- affected communities.

Reallocating some funding from Homeowner Assistance and Recovery Program (HARP) to AHD.

Increasing the maximum potential awards for HARP applicants.

Adding reimbursement as a recovery pathway in HARP.

Firebrand Resiliency Collective formed as a nonprofit in the wake of the Almeda Fire, highlighting recovery in the community.

They are largely supportive of the amendments and hopeful for what they can bring, most notably the reimbursement pathway of …