Oregon Hosts Housing Conference to Address Crisis

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek hosted a workshop in Bend focused on addressing the housing crisis in the West, emphasizing the urgent need for affordable homes for various income levels. This event was part of the Building Resilient and Affordable New Developments in the West (BRAND West) initiative, which aims to improve housing access through regulatory reforms and better federal program implementation. Kotek has declared an ongoing state of emergency regarding homelessness and is advocating for the development of 36,000 new housing units annually, a target that remains unmet. As Kotek enters her third year in office, she continues to prioritize housing, homelessness, and education, urging bipartisanship among lawmakers. With nearly 23,000 people unhoused in Oregon, the stakes are high as Kotek prepares for the legislative session and pushes for significant funding to tackle these issues. Legislative leaders are also focusing on transportation and the state budget as they welcome new members and gear up for the upcoming session.