Oregon Takes Action to Tackle Its Housing Shortage

Since the Great Recession, in Oregon, as in many other U.S. states, supply has not kept up with demand for new homes. For example, Oregon needs more than 500,000 new housing units to meet demand over the next two decades, Fast Company reports, according to a state needs analysis released in December 2022.

In Oregon, the legislature is poised to pass a $200 million emergency package to help shelter people experiencing homelessness and those at greatest threat of losing their homes.

“This is not sustainable. We must build more housing,” said Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat who took office in January with the goal of building 36,000 new homes each year, and who this month announced a Housing Production Advisory Council that’s tasked with endorsing an action plan by April 1.

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