Council directs city administrator to develop unified housing strategy; resolution adopted 11–1

Portland City Council adopted a resolution directing the city administrator to assess and align the city’s many housing and homelessness plans into a single unified housing strategy. The resolution passed 11–1.

Sponsors said the strategy is intended to pull together shelter policy, housing production, preservation, and workforce development into an implementation‑focused plan with measurable outcomes and clear funding needs. The council’s committee staff summary said the resolution requires the city administrator to provide periodic updates to the Homelessness and Housing Committee and to submit a draft of the unified housing strategy to that committee no later than Dec. 1, 2025.

Councilor Carmen Avalos, the resolution’s primary sponsor, told colleagues the goal is to end siloed planning and “align what we already have” so the city can move from crisis response to long‑term solutions. “Let’s stop working in silos,” Avalos said during the discussion, urging an approach that includes racial‑equity analysis and regional coordination with Multnomah County and Metro.

Committee staff reported that testimony in committee emphasized a regional approach, the need for accessible housing for older Portlanders, an inventory of existing accessible units, and workforce opportunities for veterans. Habitat for Humanity testified at today’s full‑council meeting to press for ensuring the unified strategy includes homeownership and community‑land‑trust strategies; Sarah Radcliffe of Habitat said the city’s plans have sometimes “left out homeownership” and urged the unified strategy to include the tools that help households build assets.

Councilors debated sequencing and how the strategy will incorporate related work already under way, such as the housing production strategy and a separate social‑housing study. The resolution requires alignment of existing adopted strategies, identification of gaps and funding needs, and periodic reporting; it does not itself appropriate funds.

Council adopted the resolution by roll call: 11 aye, 1 no. The resolution sets the expectation that the administrator will return a draft strategy to the Homelessness and Housing Committee by Dec. 1, 2025 for further council review.