SALEM, Ore. – Several bills aimed at addressing housing and homelessness have passed into law following a ceremonial signing by Governor Tina Kotek on Monday.
On May 6, Governor Kotek signed four bills that had passed in the most recent legislative session that take aim at Oregon’s housing shortage. Kotek signed the bills in a ceremony at an affordable housing development in Portland alongside several Oregon lawmakers from both parties, city officials from Portland and Eugene, and officials from Oregon non-profits which focus on homelessness and housing issues. The bills put millions of dollars and offer several directives designed to encourage the rapid construction of more homes, more homeless shelters, and more addiction recovery centers.
“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.”
Senate Bill 1530 provides a total of $278 million in funding for housing development, emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, land acquisition for affordable housing, and more. Senate Bill 1537 is designed to encourage more housing production across Oregon with the creation of the Housing Accountability and Production Office, Housing Project Revolving Loan Fund, and Housing Infrastructure Support Fund. It also has a provision allowing certain cities to make a one-time expansion of their urban growth boundary for the purposes of building affordable housing.
Senate Bill 1564 orders the land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt ordinances that cities can use to implement housing-related land planning goals. Finally, House Bill 4134 will provide $21.3 million in grants for certain cities to use for infrastructure projects that support new housing developments where at least 30 percent of the units are affordable to households earning 130% or less than the county median income.
