Local elected leaders and homeless service providers participated in a roundtable on homelessness with U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, in Oregon City on Jan. 25, 2024. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
OREGON CITY – U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer left a discussion with local elected officials, law enforcement, service providers and a Realtor on Thursday with a pledge to “work her tail off” to find more federal funding for homelessness.
“My marching orders are to address the barriers, have more access, fix what can be fixed,” said Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon.
The group met in a tent in the parking lot of the Father’s Heart Street Ministry in Oregon City, a day center that provides meals, laundry and showers and helps connect homeless people to other services. Chavez-DeRemer toured the center after her conversation.
More than 20,000 Oregonians lacked housing during last year’s annual Point in Time Count, and Oregonians routinely rank homelessness as the top issue facing the state. It’s a top focus for the Legislature and Gov. Tina Kotek, who is urging at least $600 million in new spending to increase the supply of housing, maintain existing shelter resources and provide rent assistance to keep more Oregonians from falling into homelessness.