Frequently Asked Questions

1. What makes CSO Oregon different?

CSO Oregon is a supported living agency licensed by the State of Oregon. What makes us unique?

  • We have over 26 years of expertise.

  • Person-Centered Approach – We believe individuals with disabilities and their families know what’s best. We listen and design supports around their goals.

  • Supports in Your Home – We don’t own or manage housing. Instead, we support people in homes they choose—whether it’s their own or their families.

  • Personal Support Agents – Every person we serve works with a dedicated support agent who coordinates services and advocates for their needs.

  • Skilled in Complex Support – We specialize in supporting individuals with significant or multiple disabilities.

  • Small and Responsive – We stay intentionally small to ensure flexible, personalized care for every individual and family.

2. What does “CSO” mean?

CSO, formerly known as CSB originally stood for Community Support Brokerage. While the word “brokerage” isn’t used as much now, the idea remains: we match people with the services and supports they need—always focused on independence and inclusion.
CSO stands for Community Support Options.

3. How do people start receiving support?

Individuals are typically referred to us by a Lane County case manager. From there, we meet with the individual and their family to explore a good fit. We limit our caseload to provide high-quality, person-centered support—so space may be limited even for eligible individuals.

4. Where does your funding come from?

Most funding comes from state and federal programs for people with developmental disabilities. Each person we serve has an individualized budget. We also receive donations to help us go beyond basic care.

5. How is the funding used?

Over 85% of our budget goes directly to:

  • Support staff wages and benefits

  • Transportation and daily living expenses

The rest covers essential administrative costs. We rely heavily on volunteers to help us run efficiently.

6. Why do you ask for donations?

Government funding covers core services, but donations help us do more:

  • Offer specialized training and workshops

  • Fund enriching experiences like community events, vacations, or family gatherings

  • Support families in times of emergency

  • Provide updated tools and equipment

Your support helps us go the extra mile.