LOC News
Governor Takes Emergency Action on Homelessness, Affordable Housing
On Tuesday, January 10 – her first full day in office – Governor Tina Kotek issued three executive orders focused on homelessness and affordable housing. Executive Order 23-02 declares a state of emergency in seven of the eight Continuums of Care (CoCs) in Oregon, citing an increase in unsheltered homelessness of 50% or greater as reported in the point-in-time count since 2017. The order does not declare a state of emergency for the balance of state/Rural Oregon Continuum of Care due to a decrease in reported point-in-time count rates of unsheltered homelessness. Executive Order 23-02 also activates the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and the state’s Emergency Operations Plan in the emergency areas to coordinate with local jurisdictions to determine unmet needs, provide additional support and capacity to local jurisdictions, coordinate an inventory of vacant and surplus lands owned by state agencies for use in responding to the emergency, and provide technical assistance support to establish multiagency coordination (MAC) teams in the emergency areas. The order also establishes a MAC team in the tri-county Metro region, led by Governor Kotek or her designee, and repurposes up to $40 million of existing 2021-23 funds at Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) to respond to the emergency.
In addition, Executive Order 23-03 directs state agencies to prioritize reducing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in all areas of the state using their existing statutory authorities. Finally, Executive Order 23-04 establishes a statewide housing production goal of 36,000 additional homes each year and creates a Governor’s Housing Production Advisory Council to develop an action plan to meet that target.
At a news conference announcing her three executive orders, Governor Kotek was specifically asked how these orders relate to the recent proposal from the Oregon Mayors Association’s (OMA) Homeless Taskforce. She responded that her executive orders are complimentary to the OMA proposal, and she looks forward to meeting with the LOC and OMA to discuss the proposal and how she will partner with cities.
Previously, Governor Kotek had announced a $130 million budget proposal to: support at least another 1,200 Oregonians experiencing unsheltered homelessness to move off the streets within a year; expand shelter capacity by 600 beds; and prevent homelessness for more than 8,000 households. In her inaugural address this week, she urged the Legislature to start the 2023 legislative session by taking up this investment package as quickly as possible, and to build upon it with a comprehensive housing and homelessness package by the end of the session. The full Governor’s Recommended Budget is expected to be published on Feb. 1.
Contact: Ariel Nelson, Lobbyist – anelson@orcities.org
Last Updated 1/13/23