Public meetings to learn more held this week in Eugene, Redmond, Forest Grove and Newport

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is accepting public comment through December 19 on their draft Breaking New Ground: Oregon’s Statewide Housing Plan. The Statewide ​Housing Plan is an important step forward to articulate the extent of Oregon’s housing problem and what can be done to address it. A copy of the Plan, appendices, a survey for your comments, and an interview with Director Margaret Salazar can all be found at this link.

Four remaining public meetings are being held this week to learn more and provide comments:

  • Eugene – December 10th 10 AM -12 PM at UO’s Knight Library
  • Redmond – December 11th 12 PM – 1 PM at Redmond City Hall – Part of the Housing For All meeting
  • Forest Grove – December 11th 1 PM – 3 PM at Forest Grove City Hall
  • Newport – December 13th 1 PM – 3 PM at Oregon Coast Community College

What’s in the plan?

Breaking New Ground: the OHCS Statewide Housing Plan, is a five-year look at the agency’s priorities, goals, and strategies in ensuring a stable and affordable housing landscape.

“There is no single solution that can solve the housing crisis in Oregon, but together, we are making progress,” said Governor Kate Brown. “The new Statewide Housing Plan, driven by Oregon Housing and Community Services, will serve as our roadmap to make sure more Oregonians have a safe, affordable place to call home.”

The Plan identifies six priorities with corresponding goals and strategies including:

  • Equity and Racial Justice: Advance equity and racial justice by identifying and addressing institutional and systemic barriers that have created and perpetuated patterns of disparity in housing and economic prosperity. 
  • Homelessness: Build a coordinated and concerted statewide effort to prevent and end homelessness, with a focus on ending unsheltered homelessness of Oregon’s children and veterans. 
  • Permanent Supportive Housing: Invest in permanent supportive housing, a proven strategy to reduce chronic homelessness and reduce barriers to housing stability. 
  • Affordable Rental Housing: Work to close the affordable rental housing gap and reduce housing cost burden for low-income Oregonians. 
  • Homeownership: Provide more low- and moderate-income Oregonians with the tools to successfully achieve and maintain homeownership, particularly in communities of color. 
  • Rural Communities: Change the way OHCS does business in small towns and rural communities to be responsive to the unique housing and service needs and unlock opportunities for housing development. 

For more information: Ariel Nelson, Government Relations and Communications Liaison, Oregon Housing and Community Services, 503-949-0201, Ariel.Nelson@oregon.gov