Kotek reports 6,286 shelter beds maintained through emergency state actions
Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- Gov. Tina Kotek and state housing leaders presented progress reports on Oregon's housing and homelessness strategies this week before the Legislature's House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness. State emergency actions between January 2023 and September 2025 created or maintained 6,286 shelter beds and rehoused 5,539 people from unsheltered homelessness.
According to the Governor's Office press release, the state's emergency response also provided short-term eviction prevention assistance to 25,942 households. The overall strategy focuses on four key areas: expanding shelter capacity, providing rehousing services, offering long-term rent assistance and delivering eviction prevention support.
Gov. Kotek highlighted the administration's focus on expanding housing options across the state. “Whether you're renting, buying a home for the first time, or needing temporary shelter to get back on your feet, we're fighting to create more options for you,” Kotek said. “Housing has been a priority since day one of my administration and we're seeing tangible progress.”
Liz Weber, director of housing stabilization at Oregon Housing and Community Services, emphasized the impact of ongoing state investments on local communities. “Every shelter bed maintained, every household that avoids homelessness and every person who moves into a stable home represents someone with a safer place to sleep and a stronger foundation for what comes next,” Weber said. “We've made meaningful progress and continued investment is critical to sustaining that progress and reaching more Oregonians.”
In Southern Oregon, local leaders in Jackson County reduced unsheltered homelessness by 24% and chronic homelessness by 58%. The county also decreased the average wait time to get into housing by nearly three months and moved more than 1,000 families and individuals into permanent housing. Melanie Doshier, chief program officer for ACCESS in Jackson County, attributed the results to ongoing funding. “Sustained investment and support from leaders like Gov. Kotek keeping housing front and center is what keeps these numbers moving in the right direction,” Doshier said.
In Central Oregon, homelessness across three counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs decreased by 19.1% following state investments in a regional care system. State Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Southern Jackson County, who serves as chair of the House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness, pointed to the collaborative effort behind the figures. “This is an all-hands-on-deck effort focusing on outcomes and investing in proven solutions,” Marsh said. “Housing is part of every family's monthly budget and remains a top priority across the state. I'm grateful for the Governor's partnership to sustain our shelter system and build more housing for more Oregonians.”
In Coos County, streamlined local processes combined with state support led to a 40.9% drop in unsheltered homelessness, an 85.5% reduction in unsheltered veterans and a 22.8% decrease in overall homelessness. Local service provider Alternative Youth Services doubled the number of individuals and households served. Nichole Rutherford, city manager of the City of Coos Bay, noted the effect of state resources on local outcomes. “For years, communities like ours were asked whether these approaches work. Our experience over this biennium gives us an answer: when resources reached the ground at sufficient scale, the outcomes changed,” Rutherford said. “We aren't finished, but we aren't starting over, either. The Governor's advocacy and leadership on this issue and the state's investment have given us something real to build from.”
Beyond shelter and rehousing initiatives, state data show Oregon housing starts increased 11.3% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, compared to a 1.3% decline nationally. State efforts have placed more than 50,000 future homes in the production pipeline. Maria Elena Guerra of the Farmworker Housing Development Corporation stressed the importance of early-stage funding for development. “Building affordable housing is critical to an Oregon where everyone has stable housing,” Guerra said. “Making sure that we invest on the front end in creative financing tools for developers—especially in land acquisition and predevelopment—will help us reach this shared goal faster. Thank you to Gov. Kotek for being a champion on this issue and doing the work of speaking to both public and private sector partners to move the needle.”
