Home Forward's Hollywood East building where one resident has made monthly payments on a $250 portable air conditioning unit because she didn't know she qualified for a subsidized AC.

As the Portland area’s chilly spring dragged on, Richelle Valeno made monthly payments on a $250 portable air conditioning unit she couldn’t afford to purchase outright. After June 2021′s grueling heat wave, she wanted to be prepared if temperatures again became life-threatening.

The 61-year-old lives in the Hollywood neighborhood in one of the more than 6,000 apartment units overseen by Home Forward, the largest affordable housing provider in Oregon. Valeno could have applied for a free, easy-to-install portable air conditioning unit from the public agency, which prioritizes giving them to residents with income restrictions who have a medical condition that could increase the risk of heat-related illness. But she didn’t know she qualified.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).

© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.