Oregon committee hears bill to fund senior-focused affordable housing and home modifications

SALEM, Ore. — Lawmakers and housing providers on March 5 heard testimony on House Bill 3,589, a proposal to create a senior housing development initiative at Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and to fund home accessibility modifications through the state’s Healthy Homes program.

The bill, summarized to the committee by staffer Eva, “establishes a senior housing development initiative and directs the housing and community services department to administer it,” and includes a dash-1 amendment that alters how funds would be diverted from the property tax deferral revolving account, eliminates a dedicated line for disability modifications in this bill, and redirects housing development dollars to OHCS.

Supporters told the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness they face growing demand for one-bedroom and studio units and for housing that meets accessibility needs. DJ Vincent, pastor and director of Church at the Park, told the committee his shelter work is seeing a surge of people 55 and older and said, “50% of the folks we served at that adult shelter are over 55 years of age.” He said his organization sheltered 502 people in 2023 and 761 in 2024 and that 370 people over 55 remain on the local wait list in Marion County.

Yoni Khan, advocacy director for Northwest Pilot Project, said the senior population being served is becoming older and more medically and socially acute. Khan described the client profile his group serves: “72 percent of our clients have a chronic physical disability upon entry to…