Committee backs Housing and Community Services budget with larger shelter spending, critics press for more production

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means on June 17 recommended House Bill 5011, the budget bill for the Housing and Community Services Department (HCSD), as amended, approving a total-funds biennial budget of $2.7 billion and 478 positions. The Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee reported the bill out with the dash-2 amendment "due pass as amended."

The budget includes major general-fund investments the subcommittee flagged in its report: $204.9 million to support a statewide shelter system (about $102.5 million of which is assumed ongoing), $50.3 million for rehousing (about $25.2 million ongoing), $33.6 million for eviction prevention ongoing, $87.4 million one-time for up to 24 months of long-term rental assistance, $10 million for housing initiatives for Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes (with $5 million ongoing), and a range of one-time funds for down-payment assistance, housing counseling and manufactured-home repair and replacement. The subcommittee also…