ODVA Turns 75 A look back at the history of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, founded in the wake of victory in world war ii in 1945
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s early as 1865, it was President Abraham Lincoln who first began to lay the groundwork for how a deeply wounded and divided nation might heal in the aftermath of a devastating civil war, by caring for the wounded veterans and their families left behind — from both sides of the conflict. And, though he may not have known it at the time, he was also laying the foundation for the establishment of a new role of federal and state government, one which would ensure that all who served their country with honor would be taken care of, and would have access to the benefits they earned. The bill authorizing the creation of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA)was signed into law by then-Gov. Earl Snell on March 12, 1945. Snell, who had supported the bill from its initial proposal as a way to honor World War II service members, called the formation of this department “an important step in Oregon’s determination to provide every possible service and assistance to our returning veterans. “Followed by other enactments, including education assistance and real estate loan measures, Oregon will occupy a foremost position among all states of the union in discharging its obligation to the brave men and women who have served our country so gloriously during this terrible conflict,” Snell said. Also established was a loan fund for the purchase of homes and farms by those who served in World War II. A nine-member Veterans’ Advisory Committee was also created to provide advice and guidance to the director and remains a vital part of ODVA’s operations to this day. Since those days, the size and scope of the loan program have grown tremendously. Constitutional and statutory changes broadened loan eligibility to veterans of more recent wars and conflicts, provided loans for other purposes, and allowed individuals to obtain multiple home or farm purchase loans. ODVA was also given greater flexibility in the methods of funding and loan repayment. Originally intended only for the purchase of a home or farm, expansions to the programs over the decades allowed funds to be issued for mobile homes, RVs, and even houseboats, alternative energy upgrades, and general home improvement projects. As the eligibility grew and expanded so did the number of veterans using their earned benefits. In the 1960s a home loan to Gene Dowler for $16,500 pushed the Oregon veterans’ loan program over the half-billion-dollar mark. The 55,680 loans granted in the program’s first 20 years 22
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would have provided homes for what was then the population of Salem, Eugene, Medford, Klamath Falls, and Pendleton combined. In the 1970s, the program continued to grow and even ranked among the largest mortgage-originating institutions for single-family homes in the nation. In 1976, ODVA ranked 12th among institutions that make direct loans to buyers but was tops in the nation for single-family home mortgages (the only kind of loan the agency makes). The state agency had more than 83,000 outstanding loans at that time, with a portfolio valued at over $1.55 billion. ODVA’s offerings of programs and services has grown over the years, with an increasing focus on caring for veterans who have unique needs as a result of their service. In 1949, the state authorized ODVA to provide social services and rehabilitative support to veterans, their families, and survivors. Known as veteran service officers, or VSOs, the statewide network helped veterans in applying for their state and federal earned benefits. In 1964, the Legislative Assembly authorized the Conservatorship program to manage the financial affairs of veterans who were unable to oversee their own affairs and had no other recourse. One of the most significant expansions of services in ODVA’s history was the inception of the Oregon Veterans’ Homes, which provide compassionate skilled nursing and other long-term care services to honored veteran residents and their spouses. In the 1980s steps had been taken to study the feasibility and determine the state’s needs for a veteran’s home. Funding was secured through the Oregon Housing Fund, and a suitable site was located in The Dalles, nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, on the banks of the mighty Columbia. The first Oregon Veterans’ Home opened in the fall of 1997 and quickly became a leader in the field of skilled nursing care. The facility has received every industry award, and in 2014, was the first and only state veterans’ home nationally to ever earn the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award for superior performance in the long-term and post-acute care profession. The 1995 Legislative Assembly laid the groundwork for establishing a second Veteran’s Home, though it would be almost 20 years before the seeds of these labors would come to fruition with the opening of the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon in 2014. At the start of the new millennium, ODVA was an agency in transition. For the first time in its history, it would be asked to
