Oregon housing agency details $1.14 billion in recent investments, rapid rehousing and preservation work

Andrea Bell, executive director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, told the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness on Jan. 27 that the agency administers federal and state financing and a “full continuum of housing” programs aimed at preventing homelessness and expanding affordable options across Oregon.

Bell said OHCS’ work combines resources and policy, and emphasized community engagement and locally driven solutions. “We are the state's housing agency. We are federally designated by the federal government to administer bonds and tax credits and other critical community development programs,” Bell said.

The agency highlighted investments from the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions that staff said totaled about $1.14 billion in 2023 and roughly $212 million in 2024 for housing and homelessness work. Officials described major program areas funded by those appropriations: preservation and new affordable supply, permanent supportive housing, emergency homelessness response and shelter, manufactured home replacement and homeownership…