Having a yard again feels like a dream come true for Sills, who lost everything when the 2020 Almeda Fire destroyed her home.
“It was like something out of a movie,” Sills recalled. “Something you wouldn’t think would ever happen.”
Sills was at work when she got the call that the fire was moving toward her neighborhood. She rushed home and managed to save her dog and a few photos before the sheriff came to evacuate everyone.
“We got out just in time,” Sills said. “I could see trees exploding in the rearview mirror as I pulled out of the mobile home park.”
When she was finally allowed to return, nothing was left standing.
“It was like a bomb went off,” Sills described. “My first reaction was, ‘Oh dear God!’ The washer and dryer set was literally just hanging; the refrigerator was melted. Everything had literally disintegrated. It was surreal.”
Sills was able to find a temporary place to live, but rising rent prices quickly made her feel like she was barely getting by.
Everything changed when she learned about the ReOregon Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP), which offers survivors different pathways to repair, rebuild, or replace their homes based on their needs.
She applied with the help of ACCESS, a ReOregon partner, and received enough financial assistance to get a new home.
“When I got the call telling me I was approved, I started crying,” Sills said. “I couldn’t believe it. For the first time, I felt like things were going to be okay. It’s a miracle.”
Through the HARP Home Purchase pathway, which helps survivors buy move-in-ready homes, Sills worked with a realtor to find a three-bedroom, two-bath mobile home. She officially moved in April 2025.
“When I got the keys, I felt overwhelmed,” Sills said. “I thought, ‘Somebody pinch me. Did this really just happen? This is mine—all mine.’”
Now, she’s settling in and making the place her own. She’s planted a garden and already harvested her first vegetables.
“I cannot express my thanks enough,” Sills said. “I’m actually content and happy and at peace with everything. It’s a beautiful end to a tragic beginning.”
She encourages anyone still recovering from the 2020 Labor Day Disasters to reach out for help.
“It is such a blessing,” Sills said. “I thank God for the HARP program.”
To learn more about HARP and other ReOregon programs, visit re.oregon.gov or call the ReOregon Call Center at 877-510-6800 or 541-250-0938.
OHCS wants to ensure that everyone has access to its information and programs. If you would like this information in a different language, please email Language.Access@hcs.oregon.gov.