Oregon bill, headed to governor, sets homeownership goals by 2030
Saying homeownership is crucial to building wealth and stability, Oregon lawmakers want more than 30,000 more Oregonians to own homes by 2025.
The Oregon Senate on Tuesday in a 23-6 vote passed House Bill 2698, which would create a state goal to increase homeownership rates to 65% by 2030 – followed by an additional 1.65% for the next five, 10 and 15 years. It also mandates the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department create a dashboard tracking progress on homeownership rates across the state that include race and ethnicity data.
That's to ensure Oregon is working toward closing homeownership gaps between different racial and ethnicity groups, bill sponsor Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, said on the Senate floor. Census data analyzed by the Oregon Employment Department shows that while 67% of white Oregonians and 62% of Asian Oregonians own their homes, only 30% of Black Oregonians, 47% of Hispanic Oregonians and 51% of Native American Oregonians are homeowners.
Latest available data shows 63.4% of Oregonians own their homes, and the state ranks 39th in the nation for homeownership, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Neighboring Washington, California and Nevada have lower rates, while Idaho is higher.
Decades of declining housing construction, a rising population and stagnant wages — particularly in the mid-2000s — contributed to Oregon's current housing crisis. Oregon has 242,000 low-income households, yet only 113,000 housing units are affordable and available to them, according to data from the housing and community services department.
'Home ownership is a priority for the majority of Oregonians,' Patterson said. 'It's a time-tested means of building generational wealth and promoting long term economic stability for Oregonians and the communities we share.'
While the bill doesn't address all issues related to housing, she said setting goals is an important step to guide policy.
The bill already passed the House in a 42-8 vote. Now that it's passed both chambers, it is headed to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk where she can sign it into law, let it become law without her signature or veto it. It would take effect immediately.
While most senators supported the bill, some legislators raised concerns that the state of Oregon needs to prioritize policies to increase the state's housing supply.
A report in January showed Oregon needs to build about 29,500 more homes each year, mostly in the Portland and Willamette Valley region, to meet the state's housing demand.
'We can set goals, we can have dashboards… but until this state makes policy decisions to allow more supply, which means compromise with folks that don't want to increase supply, then we are going to see this systemic problem continue,' said Sen. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte.
Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, said he supports homeownership and wants to make progress toward increasing it. However, he said he doubts dashboard and setting goals are the right way to do so.
'I think we're just going to spend a bunch of money publishing a tracker of where we're hoping to go, and what we really need to do is change state laws and make it easy,' he said.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Yahoo
Kotek signs ‘middle housing' bills in Hillsboro ceremony
HILLSBORO, Ore. (KOIN) — In her bid to get more affordable built in Oregon, Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday signed several bills into law to do just that. At a ceremony in Hillsboro, the governor signed those bills that make it easier for developers and non-profit organizations to build this type of housing, expanding state laws to build more , often in existing neighborhoods. 'We know that too many Oregon families are struggling with the cost of living and are being forced to make really impossible choices: staying in the communities they love or where they work or their kids go to school,' Kotek said, 'or trying to find a place they can afford. We want them to not have to make those choices.' Portland extends paid parking hours in Central Eastside, but more changes on the way The governor has a goal of building 36,000 new homes a year. 'When Oregonians can not afford to live where they work or can not find housing options that align with their needs, our economy suffers and employers lose potential hires,'Kotek said. 'Basic services face chronic workforce shortages, and new industries in our state struggle to get off the ground. As you all know, the state has not produced enough housing at the right price points to match Oregon's needs.' is building more of those affordable-type homes. Concrete was poured on Monday at a site in the . In Hillsboro, other projects are taking shape. There are 18 family homes, each with 3 or 4 bedrooms, that are expected to be ready by fall for low- to moderate-income families to move in — but those are already taken. They're aimed at households making $40,000 to $50,000 a year But some communities are not onboard with building multi-plexes, especially in longtime single-family home neighborhoods. The governor heard the concerns but doesn't think property values would be affected. 'If you look around today, Habitat for Humanity has built homes that are for all kinds of different households that fit into the neighborhood,' the governor said. 'I don't think it's going to affect the property value. In fact, more people are going to live in this community. And when this is a vibrant community that increases, that increases everyone's property values. And I think that's what we're going to see.' A new homeowner in Bend shared his family's neighborhood experience as a first-time homebuyer getting help from a non-profit called Rooted Homes. 'I often hear fears that affordable housing automatically means the neighborhood will change in dramatic and unpredictable ways. But my experience has been the complete opposite. The families that have been living near a vacant lot for over a decade were curious and kind people who are supportive of our affordable development,' he said. 'And after my experience at Rooted Homes, I was rejuvenated, enjoying their board for four years and after all those years, talking with family after family, that is served by funding and legislation, like Gov. Kotek saying today, I only met people who are excited to fully join those communities.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Oregon leaders decry, challenge new Head Start immigration restrictions
Kindergarteners at Durham Elementary School in Tigard eat a free lunch on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. Oregon leaders decried a new rule from the federal government barring youth without permanent legal status about to enter Kindergarten from enrolling in the federal Head Start program. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Oregon's Head Start programs are in flux after the federal government reversed a decades-long rule that allowed children 5 and younger, regardless of immigration status, to participate in the national early childhood care program that enrolls more than 12,000 Oregon children. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced changes to the Head Start program earlier this month as part of a broader shift in eligibility for benefits that he said had 'diverted hardworking Americans' tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration.' The rule undoes historical exemptions that allow immigrant families without permanent legal status access to some community-based benefits such as substance abuse programs, certain health care clinics and Title X family planning programs. The human services department estimates these changes will affect 115,000 children and families nationwide, according to a recent analysis. Oregon-specific numbers aren't available because the state's Head Start program doesn't collect information on immigration status. Nancy Perin, executive director of the Wilsonville-based Oregon Head Start Association, said the group is waiting to hear how the regulations will affect different Head Start programs, such as those tied to nonprofits, universities or public schools. Perin's understanding of the National Head Start Act is that it guarantees children enrolled in the program can remain in it until they start kindergarten. One Oregon facility estimated about a third of the children who attend would be kicked out of the program should immigration status restrictions be implemented, Perin said. 'What does that mean now? What do we do about those kiddos?' she said. 'We're just kind of in a flux.' The new federal rules also spurred a multi-state coalition of Head Start providers that includes Oregon to update an April lawsuit it filed against the Health and Human Services Department over the closure of offices and restrictions against using funds for diversity, equity and inclusion. The group argues the most recent directive lacks clarity and guidance around implementation, with their amended complaint calling the new regulation 'yet another step in defendants' attempt to hobble the Head Start program in defiance of Congress.' 'It's going to affect generations to come, not just today's kids, not just tomorrow's 5-year-olds, but there are people right now who are considering having them who are not going to have access to these supports,' said Candice Williams, executive director of the statewide Head Start nonprofit Family Forward Oregon, which is among the lawsuit's plaintiffs. 'That's going to limit their ability to even engage in becoming parents.' The department is challenging an interpretation of exemptions on immigration restrictions for certain benefits provided by the federal government, such as child care, some health care clinics, and preschool that dates to the 1990s. In a July 10 statement, the National Head Start Association said families haven't been required to document their immigration status to enroll in the program in its six-decade history. Oregon's child care shortage has been an issue lawmakers have tried to address for years. A 2023 report for Oregon's Early Learning Division found that most Oregon counties are child care deserts. Of the more than 260,000 Oregon children aged 5 and younger, 63% had all their available parents out working jobs, according to the D.C-based nonprofit First Five Years Fund. A lack of care can lead to parents losing their jobs to take care of their kids, ultimately rippling into the economy by lowering the amount of time they have to work. In the federal lawsuit, Family Forward Oregon says that a child care provider it employs has been forced to take unpaid days off of work and was instructed they would receive reduced wages 'due to funding concerns.' Another of the group's staff members informed them she would not attend a lobbying day in Washington, D.C., because of her family's mixed immigration status, Williams said. 'We're seeing our employees not be able to do their jobs,' Williams said. 'We're seeing the Oregon families who participate in our leadership development not be able to show up for fear of retribution and retaliation.' In a Friday statement, the two chairs of Oregon's Legislative Child Care Caucus acknowledged fears those cuts and changes to Head Start eligibility have caused for families, child care providers and workers. The Oregon Legislature concluded this year's legislative session with a budget that slashed $45 million in early childhood learning programs, a factor that the lawmakers said was 'causing stress in communities across Oregon.' Reps. Hòa Nguyễn, D-Portland, and Jules Walters, D-West Linn, the caucus chairs, said they would continue working to protect access to child care and investing state money in the system. 'Oregon's future depends on the well-being of our youngest learners, and the people who nurture and teach them,' they said. 'We are dedicated to advancing policies that reflect those values.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Solve the daily Crossword
Buzz Feed
10-07-2025
- Buzz Feed
FEMA Officials Slam Noem's Texas Flood Response
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is in increasingly hot water as Democrats demand answers about her response to last week's deadly Texas floods and emergency officials sound the alarm on policies they say stopped them from quickly providing relief. Noem's DHS, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is defending its approach after four FEMA officials told CNN that a new cost-cutting measure requiring her personal sign-off on any contract or grant over $100,000 impeded on the agency's ability to swiftly respond in Central Texas, where around 120 people have died and more than 160 remain missing following flash floods. 'We were operating under a clear set of guidance: lean forward, be prepared, anticipate what the state needs, and be ready to deliver it,' a longtime FEMA employee told the network. 'That is not as clear of an intent for us at the moment.' The officials told CNN that Noem's new policy stopped them from quickly deploying Urban Search and Rescue teams, which Noem didn't authorize until Monday, more than 72 hours after the flooding began and when more than 100 people were confirmed dead. Documents reviewed by CNN also found that by Monday night, a mere 86 FEMA staffers had been deployed to Texas. The FEMA employees also said the new policy stopped them from quickly providing Texas officials with aerial imagery in the flood area and bringing in additional support staff at disaster call centers. When reached for comment on those officials' concerns, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the department has taken an 'all-hands-on-deck' approach to recovery efforts, saying the department has deployed 'extensive' staff and a liaison officer to Kerrville, Texas, though she did not provide any specific numbers when asked. Much of McLaughlin's response focused on the Trump administration's efforts to scale back FEMA, an agency Noem and Trump have said they want to shut down entirely while leaving disaster response to the states. 'FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades,' McLaughlin said. DHS did not immediately respond when asked to name specific failures. 'DHS is rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, and is reprioritizing appropriated dollars. Secretary Noem is delivering accountability to the US taxpayer, which Washington bureaucrats have ignored for decades at the expense of American citizens,' McLaughlin's statement continued. Democratic Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden's takeaway from the CNN report was blunt. 'Kids in Texas died as a direct result of Kristi Noem's negligence. She should be removed from office before her incompetence gets Oregonians killed in a wildfire,' he wrote on social media. Another major question mark in DHS's response is the whereabouts of FEMA Administrator David Richardson, who has not issued any public statements about the floods and does not appear to have visited Texas. When HuffPost asked FEMA on Tuesday where he was, the agency said any information about his travel would be 'released through official channels' and did not respond to any follow-up questions. When asked again on Thursday to comment on his plans to visit Texas, DHS again did not respond. His absence is not normal, former FEMA officials told Politico, and indicates to local leaders that they can't rely on him. On Wednesday, a group of Democratic lawmakers sent Richardson a letter questioning whether he was fulfilling his job duties, demanding more specific details on how many FEMA personnel have been deployed to Texas and asking about plans to fill vacancies at the National Weather Service. The Democrats ― which include Reps. Rick Larsen (Wash.), Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), Greg Stanton (Ariz.), and Gabe Amo (R.I.) ― noted that a key NWS position in San Antonio hadn't been filled. 'How was critical information communicated to Texas emergency management and public safety officials?' they asked in light of the vacancy. 'It would be unconscionable to face the next extreme weather event with a FEMA and NWS that are anything less than fully resourced to respond from the earliest forecast through the last delivery of relief,' they wrote.
