Homelessness, Affordable Housing at Top of City and State Legislative Agendas

The Portland City Council and Oregon State Legislature have adopted agendas for 2017, and both have made tackling homelessness and increasing housing affordability their top issues. The State Legislature cites the 13.8% increase in home prices and 6.8% increase in rents in Portland in 2016 as evidence of an ongoing affordability crisis. Meanwhile, the Oregon Ways and Means Committee released a budget that showed reduced funding for rent subsidies and affordable housing  projects. Coinciding with the state and city government announcements was a panel of leaders from six affordable housing agencies that met in downtown Portland. Read more.