The Oregon Legislature adjourned the 2024 short session on March 7 after pushing through several high-profile bills in a little more than one month.
There is much to celebrate in the legislative investments in affordable housing this session. The Habitat for Humanity network appreciates and commends every State of Oregon investment in affordable housing, across the continuum. While we have work to do to advance affordable homeownership development in particular, our hearts are full of enthusiasm for the Albina Vision Trust investment, a project designed to help repair past harms to Portland’s Black community and rebuild the Lower Albina neighborhood.
We are tremendously grateful for the legislature’s bipartisan, groundbreaking, and important work of advancing Gov. Tina Kotek’s statewide housing production package. The entire package, made up of Senate Bills 1537 and 1530, and House Bill 4134, will send a total of $376 million funneled toward boosting housing production, streamlining development, and supporting renters. Special thanks to the governor’s office for their tireless stakeholder coordination and advocacy work.
SB 1530 includes $5 million for the Oregon IDA Initiative, one of Habitat’s priorities this session. This critical investment will support IDA providers, including Habitat for Humanity of Oregon, statewide to enroll more savers this year. This bill also includes $15 million for the Healthy Homes Repair Fund. Administered by the Oregon Health Authority, the Healthy Homes program supports home improvements across the state and will help the Habitat network expand much-needed home repairs even further. Other funded priorities include emergency housing assistance, addiction recovery housing support, and renters protections. These — and many other affordable housing investments — will help to stabilize Oregonians in need of housing assistance and benefit the communities we all share.
We also applaud the Habitat for Humanity network and our partners for their support during the 2024 session — from attending Habitat at the Capitol in early February to its continued advocacy before, during, and after the legislature convened.