Gov. Kotek signs bills to address housing, homelessness crises; C.O. lawmakers tout funds coming to region

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek hosted a signing ceremony Monday for a package of bills the Oregon Legislature passed during the 2024 session that are aimed at addressing the housing and homelessness crises.

“Across the state — from big and mid-size cities to small, rural towns — Oregonians are straining under the pressure of an increasingly unaffordable housing market,” Governor Kotek said. “But the actions we’re taking today – and will continue to take in the coming years – will be key to creating healthier and safer communities and supporting economic growth.”

Governor Kotek ceremonially signed Senate Bill 1537, Senate Bill 1530, Senate Bill 1564 and House Bill 4134. Speakers at the ceremony included Rep. Tawna Sanchez (D-N/NE Portland), Senators Kayse Jama (D-East Portland, Damascus, Boring) and Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City), Rep. David Gomberg (D-Lincoln and Western Benton & Lane Counties), Portland Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency executive director Jimmy Jones, and NAYA interim CEO Oscar Arana.

"Cities across Oregon are excited to implement the historic investment in housing infrastructure made possible by the legislature in Senate Bill 1530, helping to deliver on Governor Kotek’s annual housing production goal,” Mayor Vinis said. “In Eugene alone, the funding from SB 1530 will support the development of 1,200 new housing units, across all income levels.”

“Services alone are not enough. We must also have supply side answers,” Jimmy Jones said. “Our best path forward to a tomorrow where no child, no family, no person sleeps outside, is the construction of thousands of safe and affordable units in the coming decade. Senate Bill 1537 is the beginning of our efforts to rebalance the housing supply in Oregon.”

The ceremony took place in North Portland at the construction site for Tistilal Village, a 57-unit affordable housing development owned by NAYA Family Center that is currently being redeveloped to serve Native American families, including those experiencing homelessness.

“NAYA was a strong supporter and advocate of the housing bills being signed here today,” NAYA interim CEO Oscar Arana said. “We know these programs and funding sources are desperately needed to create more housing opportunities, like Tistilal Village, for our community.”

The following is a description of the bills Governor Kotek ceremonially signed Monday:

Senate Bill 1530: Provides $278 million total, including funding for infrastructure projects that support housing development ($100 million), emergency shelters ($65 million), homelessness prevention ($40 million), recovery housing projects ($18 million), land acquisition for affordable housing ($10 million), the Healthy Homes Repair Fund ($7.5 million), and more.

Senate Bill 1537: Provides a menu of tools to encourage more housing production across Oregon, including the creation of the Housing Accountability and Production Office, the allocation of $75 million to establish the Housing Project Revolving Loan Fund, the allocation of $3 million to establish the Housing Infrastructure Support Fund (HISF), and a provision allowing cities that meet specific criteria the ability to make a one-time expansion of their urban growth boundary with a requirement that at least 30% of new housing is affordable, and more.

Senate Bill 1564: Directs the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) to adopt model ordinances that cities may use in order to implement housing-related statewide land use planning goals.

House Bill 4134: Provides $21.3 million for grants to specified cities for infrastructure projects that support housing developments in which at least 30 percent of the units are affordable to households earning 130 percent or less of the county median income.

Some Central Oregon lawmakers of both parties also issued statement on the bill signings.

Rep, Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, said, “Rural Oregon faces unique challenges such as limited job opportunities, outmigration of young residents, and insufficient housing options. We have to get serious about expanding housing production so these communities can attract and retain a workforce, stimulate economic growth by supporting local businesses and services, and ensure families and individuals have safe and inexpensive housing options close to their workplaces. From this housing package, I will be glad to see dollars flow to rural Oregon so communities with aging and at-capacity infrastructure can allow for growth.”

Reps. Levy and Kropf Secure Major Investments for Deschutes County to Increase Housing Production and Behavioral Health Treatment

Lawmakers deliver over $4.5 million in new funding to address urgent local needs in Central Oregon

Deschutes County, OR - Today, the Governor signed the Emergency Housing Stability and Production Package (Senate Bill 1530, Senate Bill 1537) into law. Between this package and other legislation signed recently, including the Oregon Drug Intervention Plan (House Bill 4002, House Bill 5204), over $4.5 million in new funding expands crisis stabilization and drug treatment services, develops more affordable housing, and improves water and sewer infrastructure that will pave the way for more housing development.

“Central Oregon’s population is growing and the actions we took this legislative session go a long way to ensure housing here remains affordable, and that drugs stay out of our communities and people struggling with addiction can get the help they need,” said Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Deschutes). “Our growing community needs to remain a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. That’s what these investments do.”

Major projects secured by lawmakers include:

• $2,500,000 to the City of Redmond for water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure for Northpoint Vista development, meaning an increase in housing supply.
•  $1,500,000 to Deschutes County Community Mental Health Program to support the Deschutes County Stabilization Center
• $525,000 to BestCare Treatment Services, Inc. to expand detox capacity in Central Oregon

"This funding builds on what we have done to make our communities safer and create more affordable housing," said Rep. Jason Kropf (D-Bend). "Investments in treatment and housing are investments in the health and wellbeing of our community."

Deschutes County will also benefit from statewide investments aimed at improving connections between substance use disorder services and the criminal justice system so more Oregonians get the help they deserve.

• Grants to assist counties with setting up deflection programs that will connect Oregonians dealing with addiction to treatment services and prevent them from becoming involved in the criminal justice system ($30 million) – HB 5204
• More staff and coordination for drug courts to divert those already involved in the justice system to treatment ($9.7 million) – HB 5204

These new investments are part of the legislature’s statewide commitment to taking immediate action on the drug crisis, building more affordable housing, and sheltering the Oregonians living on our streets. The House Democratic caucus prioritized these issues in their 2024 session agendas.

Both Reps. Levy and Kropf represent Deschutes County in the Oregon Legislature and worked to secure this funding for the community.