Oregon plan aims to tackle homelessness, housing crisis

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon’s housing finance agency has an ambitious plan to attack homelessness but says it will need a lot of resources to pull off.

Gov. Kate Brown, whose proposed budget would make a historic $400 million investment in housing, said Monday the plan announced by Oregon Housing and Community Services requires support from the Legislature for funding, and from philanthropy, business leaders, developers and builders.

Margaret Salazar, director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, said one goal is to fund creation of 1,000 homes with support services for the poor.

In addition, the Legislature is weighing a bill that would require cities and counties to allow duplexes and some higher-density housing in lands zoned for single-family dwellings. A public hearing on the bill was being held Monday.

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Gov. Kate Brown news release:

Governor Kate Brown Kicks Off Five-Year Statewide Housing Plan Oregon Housing and Community Services will lead interagency efforts to tackle housing issues around Oregon

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced the launch of Oregon’s five-year statewide housing plan to tackle homelessness and housing instability issues statewide. The six-point plan was drafted by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) with substantive community and partner agency input.

“It will take all of us working together to prevent people from slipping into homelessness, to get people quickly off the street, and to help all Oregonians access stable homes,” said Governor Brown. “This is an ambitious and historic statewide housing plan that will guide our state’s housing investments for years to come, and will set a trajectory that will endure even longer. It will take an equally ambitious and historic investment from the Legislature to ensure that every Oregonian, in communities large and small, has access to housing choices that allow them and their families to thrive.”

“We are embarking on a new era for OHCS. An era in which we will be conducting business differently,” said Margaret Salazar, director of Oregon Housing and Community Services. “You will see us be proactive, flexible and intentional, and we will step up to provide the leadership Oregon needs to deliver this work. We will not be able to do it without strong partnerships and the support of Oregon communities.”

Read the full report, entitled Breaking New Ground, here.