Summary
In this short 35-day session, the Legislature made significant investments in homelessness prevention ($41 million), emergency shelters ($65 million), and housing production (over $300 million, across a variety of programs and infrastructure projects). Additional Housing Alliance priorities that were funded include $5 million for individual development accounts (IDAs) and $1 million to establish a grant fund for tenant outreach.
Two Housing Alliance priorities were not funded: preservation of existing affordable housing and the development of new homes for affordable homeownership. While we did not secure funding in these areas in 2024, we did secure commitments from legislative allies to work with us on these issues in order to craft 2025 bills and funding requests.
Housing Alliance Priorities
- $10 million to fund individual development accounts (IDAs) [SB 1530]
- The Housing Alliance worked closely with Representative Ruiz to introduce legislation to increase funding to the IDA program. This is a critical program operated by Neighborhood Partnership and numerous community partners across the state. Federal tax changes have lowered the amount of revenue we are able to generate from tax credits, so the Housing Alliance was seeking additional funding to maintain existing levels of service. In order to accomplish that, we needed a legislative investment of $10 million.
- The Housing Alliance was told at the beginning of session this bill wouldn’t advance because of budget concerns around repeated “one-time” asks. HB 4131 didn’t advance, but we were able to secure $5 million in SB 1530, largely because of the advocacy around HB 4131.
- Representative Ruiz and Senator Weber have committed to working between now and the next legislative session to come up with a long-term solution to restore the funding for the IDA program to historic levels.
- The Housing Alliance worked closely with Representative Ruiz to introduce legislation to increase funding to the IDA program. This is a critical program operated by Neighborhood Partnership and numerous community partners across the state. Federal tax changes have lowered the amount of revenue we are able to generate from tax credits, so the Housing Alliance was seeking additional funding to maintain existing levels of service. In order to accomplish that, we needed a legislative investment of $10 million.
- $30 million to preserve existing affordable housing
- Unfortunately, no funding was secured during the short session for the preservation of existing affordable housing set to lose its affordable status in the near future.
- The Housing Alliance will be working in-between now and the 2025 legislative session to build awareness and support for funding preservation.
- You can find out more about the need for preservation via this dashboard created by Oregon Housing and Community Services.
- Unfortunately, no funding was secured during the short session for the preservation of existing affordable housing set to lose its affordable status in the near future.
- $15 million to build affordable homes for first-time buyers
- Funding for homeownership projects was included at $15 million in the initial draft but was amended out in the Senate Committee.
- Funding for homeownership projects was included at $15 million in the initial draft but was amended out in the Senate Committee.
- $40 million for emergency rent assistance & homelessness prevention services [SB 1530]
- Overall, $41 million was put into emergency rent assistance, a vital resource for continuing to prevent Oregonians from falling into housing instability and homelessness.
- $34 million of these funds were for statewide services, with 30% set aside specifically for culturally responsive organizations. The remaining $7 million was specifically earmarked for the Urban League of Portland.
- Overall, $41 million was put into emergency rent assistance, a vital resource for continuing to prevent Oregonians from falling into housing instability and homelessness.
- $65 million for homeless shelter operations [SB 1530]
- The legislature appropriated the $65 million that the Housing Alliance was requesting. These funds will prevent the impending closure of 86+ shelters statewide.
- The legislature appropriated the $65 million that the Housing Alliance was requesting. These funds will prevent the impending closure of 86+ shelters statewide.
- $2 million for tenant outreach, education and resource navigation
- This request ended up receiving $1 million in funding. The program will be administered by Seeding Justice.
Housing Alliance Endorsed Bills
- Addressing Oregon’s housing supply crisis [SB 1530 & SB 1537]
- This was the Governor’s top priority during the 2024 session. SB 1537 creates the Housing Accountability and Production Office and a new fund to assist local governments with housing production by providing grants; investigating and responding to complaints of housing law violations; providing optional mediation of land use disputes between local governments and developers; and establishing policy and funding priorities to address barriers to housing production.
- SB 1537 directs the Housing and Community Services Department to develop a program to make loans to local jurisdictions, which will in turn award grants to developer’s eligible housing project property to cover eligible costs. This program is limited to development of new housing or commercial-to-residential conversions for households earning 120% or less of the median area income. Grant recipients will receive a property tax exemption for developing the property, and in exchange, will pay an annual fee for a presumptive period of ten years, with exceptions.
- The measure establishes the Housing Project Revolving Loan Fund. $75 million was appropriated to the fund for loans.
- In addition to funding the Housing Alliance priorities above, SB1510–the companion spending bill to SB1537–included:
- $89.4 million to the Oregon Business Development Department, to administer grants for water and waste-water projects that support housing production.
- $30.3 million to the Department of Administrative Services for distribution to entities that will acquire and redevelop property for affordable housing and support the distribution of donated household goods.
- $36.5 million to the Oregon Health authority, of which $15 million will be invested in the Healthy Homes fund; $18 million will support grants to housing providers serving people recovering from substance use disorders.
- $6.5 million to ODOT and the Water Resources Department for other housing related infrastructure grants.
- $89.4 million to the Oregon Business Development Department, to administer grants for water and waste-water projects that support housing production.
- This was the Governor’s top priority during the 2024 session. SB 1537 creates the Housing Accountability and Production Office and a new fund to assist local governments with housing production by providing grants; investigating and responding to complaints of housing law violations; providing optional mediation of land use disputes between local governments and developers; and establishing policy and funding priorities to address barriers to housing production.
- Family Financial Protection Act [SB 1537]
- The legislature passed this bill which would protect Oregonians’ ability to maintain their housing and financial stability while paying off debts in collection, enhancing consumer protections during debt collection lawsuits.
- The legislature passed this bill which would protect Oregonians’ ability to maintain their housing and financial stability while paying off debts in collection, enhancing consumer protections during debt collection lawsuits.
- Regulate predatory real estate practices [HB 4058]
- This Housing Alliance endorsed bill passed, establishing three new areas of real estate industry regulation to increase consumer transparency and protect homeowners and homebuyers from predatory practices.
- This Housing Alliance endorsed bill passed, establishing three new areas of real estate industry regulation to increase consumer transparency and protect homeowners and homebuyers from predatory practices.
- Defer developer fees to reduce the cost of housing production [HB 4058]
- This bill passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, but it failed to receive a hearing in the Ways & Means Committee.
- This bill passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, but it failed to receive a hearing in the Ways & Means Committee.
- Allow local rent regulation [HB 4126]
- Unfortunately, this proposal to remove the state ban on local rent regulation did not receive a hearing.
- Unfortunately, this proposal to remove the state ban on local rent regulation did not receive a hearing.
- Study options to reduce infrastructure development costs [HB 4155]
- This bill passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans, but it failed to receive a hearing in the Ways & Means Committee.
Next Steps
- Workgroups
- The Housing Alliance is organized through three issue-based workgroups, which meet monthly:
- Land Use, Development and Preservation of Affordable Housing
- Homelessness and Tenant Protections
- Homeownership and Asset-Building
- These workgroups will be the home base for developing our 2025 legislative agenda and our priorities for the 2025-2027 state budget. Fill out this form to get connected with one or more of our workgroups.
- The Housing Alliance is organized through three issue-based workgroups, which meet monthly:
- In-Person Gatherings
- We will host in-person gatherings for Housing Alliance members (and potential new members!) this spring. Watch your inbox for details, coming soon:
- Bend/Redmond April/May
- Portland Metro area April/May
- Lane County May/June
- Housing Alliance members will also meet as part of Neighborhood Partnerships’ RE:Conference in Salem, October 15-16. Save the dates!
- We will host in-person gatherings for Housing Alliance members (and potential new members!) this spring. Watch your inbox for details, coming soon:
