As Other States Cut Housing Funds, Governor Kotek’s Record Investments Aim to Address Housing Shortages and Homelessness Prevention
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is doubling down on investments in homeless services and affordable housing at a time when rates of homelessness are soaring across the state.
Kotek released her $39.3 billion biennial budget on December 2, which includes roughly $2 billion in total for affordable housing and homeless services. $217.9 million was earmarked to support statewide shelter systems. $188.2 million will go toward services that help homeless people move into housing, and $173 million will be spent on homelessness prevention programs. These are some of the country’s most significant state investments in homeless services.
Kotek’s budget also includes $780 million to build more affordable housing and $100 million to improve infrastructure, such as roads and sewers, to support new housing development.
These investments are being made at a time when the latest Point in Time count revealed a 9% increase in homelessness across Oregon. Overall, more than 20,000 people are homeless across the state, and more than 13,000 of them live unsheltered, which is the second-highest rate in the country. Central Oregon, which includes cities like Bend and Redmond, saw an even steeper increase at 13% as housing affordability worsened, according to local data.