In 2016, a report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revealed that the U.S. state of Oregon had an estimated homeless population of 13,238 with about 60.5% of these people still unsheltered.[2] In 2017, these numbers were even higher. As of January 2017, Oregon has an estimated 13,953 individuals experiencing homelessness. Of this homeless population, 1,083 are family households, 1,251 are veterans, 1,462 are unaccompanied young adults (aged 18–24), and 3,387 are individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.[3] As of 2022, 17,959 people total experienced homelessness in Oregon, with 2,157 individuals being youth under 18, 6,671 being female, 10,931 being male, and 131 being transgender. Also among the 17,959 total homeless in 2022, 15,876 were Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino, 2,083 were Hispanic/Latino, 13,960 were white, 1,172 were Black, African American, or African, 101 were Asian or Asian American, 880 were Native American, and those of multiple race were 1,619. Oregon has seen an increase in its total homeless population consistently every year since 2010. In last three years specifically Oregon has seen a 98.5% increase 2021-2022, 22.5% increase 2020-2021, and a 13.1% increase 2019-2020.[4]
Homeless people have found themselves unwelcome near businesses in Portland.[5] Some of the complaints given are that homeless people 'scare customers away'; 'are too noisy'; and that 'they block the way'.[6][7] A city ordinance called 'sidewalk obstruction ordinance' was an ordinance which homeless advocates complained "criminalizes homelessness".[5] This was however, quashed by a judge's decision in 2009.[5] This decision left the police and business owners with disorderly conduct which the police chief said comes with the difficulty of proving intent and finding witnesses.[5]
HB 2001, signed into law by Governor Kate Brown on August 14, 2019, provides an alternative to single-family zoning.[8][9][10] The law allows duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and cottage clusters (which are several smaller homes built around a community backyard or other green space) to be built on land zoned for single family homes in cities with over 25,000 residents.[11] In cities with over 10,000 residents duplexes will be allowed on land zoned for single family homes.[12]
SB 458, signed into law by Brown, amended HB 2001 to require all applicable local governments to allow lot divisions.[13]
2022 session
The LCDC passed a rule change prohibiting certain cities from enforcing parking requirements near high-frequency transit service.[14][15]
2024 session
SB 1537
SB 1537, signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek on April 17, 2024, was drafted in order to provide more affordable housing options for local governments. Among its provisions:
providing qualifying local governments a one-time option to add up to 100 net acres of residential land to their Urban Growth Boundary. Additional acreage may be included to support the future residents, such as for parks, schools, commercial spaces, and roads.[16]
Other 2024 bills
Other bills were passed in 2024:
SB 1530: a $75 million revolving loan fund to help local governments issue loans for affordable low-income housing.[17]
HB 4134: Requiring the Oregon Business Development Department to provide grants to cities for specified infrastructure projects that will benefit housing developments that will make at least 30 percent of the dwelling units affordable to workforce income households[18]
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