What does Oregon’s Housing Crisis look like?
Why is there a Housing Crisis in Oregon?
01
More people are moving to Oregon, but there’s not enough housing to accommodate everyone, pushing up prices even further.
02
Housing isn’t being built fast enough, resulting in a shortage of homes and apartments.
Too much of the new housing is “luxury” with rents or mortgages out of reach for most Oregonians, resulting in a shortage of affordable housing.
There are nearly 250,000 families in Oregon who make less than $33,000 and need affordable housing. Yet there are only 143,000 units available for them.
03
Housing costs are rising faster than wages.
This is making apartments and houses too expensive for most Oregonians.
Solving this crisis requires everyone to raise their voice and advocate to #HousethePeople!
A Few Solutions to the Housing Crisis
1. Change local rules and policies to make it easier for more housing to be built
2. Governments invest more money to build housing for our most vulnerable community members - seniors, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities
3. Encourage innovation to think outside the box for ways to house people in safe and healthy homes
A Few Solutions to the Housing Crisis
1. Change local rules and policies to make it easier for more housing to be built
2. Governments invest more money to build housing for our most vulnerable community members - seniors, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities
3. Encourage innovation to think outside the box for ways to house people in safe and healthy homes
A Few Solutions to the Housing Crisis
1. Change local rules and policies to make it easier for more housing to be built
2. Governments invest more money to build housing for our most vulnerable community members - seniors, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities
3. Encourage innovation to think outside the box for ways to house people in safe and healthy homes
Want to Get Involved? Contact Us for Details.
WHAT DOES OREGON’S HOUSING CRISIS LOOK LIKE?
Homelessness in 2023 is the worst Oregon has seen since the height of the Great Recession.
- Oregon ranks third in terms of homeless persons per capita.
- Oregon ranks worst in the country for unsheltered homelessness among children, according to 2023 PIT data.
- Chronic homelessness has almost doubled as a share of total homelessness over the last 15 years – 3 out of 10 Oregonians experiencing homelessness in 2023
Oregon needs an additional 14,353 permanent supportive housing units, over 4,000 of which are for people experiencing chronic homelessness.
Less than 50% of employed Oregonians can afford the average 1-br apartment in 2023
- Rent increased by 17% between 2020 and 2022 wiping out housing security for thousands of households.
- BIPOC communities are disproportionately impacted by rent burden.
- To avoid experiencing a rent burden, a renter should spend no more than 30% of their monthly income on housing costs. With the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment at $1,254 in 2023, a person would need to earn $50,166 to avoid experiencing a rent burden. Anyone earning less than this amount would be rent-burdened by the cost of a typical apartment.
A person needs to earn $50,166 to avoid experiencing a rent burden.
Income Has Failed to Keep Pace with Housing Prices – Eroding Affordability
- As of 2023, the typical home in Oregon costs around $528,000, 24% more than the U.S. average of $425,000.
- Housing is less affordable in Oregon than in the rest of the U.S.
- Regional Housing Markets Show Unique Barriers to Ownership. For instance, Hood River and Bend were the most expensive areas to buy a home in 2023.
BIPOC Communities Face the Greatest Hurdles.
Oregon needs 500,000 new homes in 20 years.
A Few Solutions to the Housing Crisis
- Change local rules and policies to make it easier for more housing to be built
- Governments invest more money to build housing for our most vulnerable community members – seniors, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities
- Encourage innovation to think outside the box for ways to house people in safe and healthy homes
Solving this crisis requires everyone to raise their voice and advocate.
Data | Learn More
View the following reports for more information.