Members of the Housing Alliance believe that hard-working people should be able to afford housing and still have money left for food and basic necessities.

This isn't the case today.

We know that one in five people in Oregon can't afford the cost of their housing. People are going hungry and doing without medicine for themselves and their kids in order to keep a roof over their heads.

Let's give all Oregonians the opportunity to build better lives. To succeed, we all need a place to call home.

Our Goal:

We must take significant steps towards meeting housing needs in the State of Oregon. To begin addressing these needs, the Legislature can act in two ways

1. Substantially Increase Funding for Housing Development and Support Programs, with a long-term goal of increasing to $100 million per biennium. Current expenditures are approximately $20 million per biennium.

2. Use Policy Tools to increase housing availability or stability.

Join with us in 2009 as we work to advance our 2009 Housing Oportunity Agenda!

There is more work to be done in 2009. Homelessness in Oregon has increased significantly during the last year. Read the Housing Alliance press release for more information.

HOUSING OPPORTUNITY BILL PASSES SENATE with 20 votes and is signed into law by Governor Kulongoski.

On February 26, the Oregon Senate voted to pass the Housing Opportunity Bill, creating a dedicated revenue source for affordable housing. We are thrilled to see this early, passionate, and bi-partisan support of affordable housing. When the Housing Alliance was formed in 2004, a primary goal was the development of relationships with legislators from both parties who understood the housing needs in our communities. The support by legislative leaders and members has been overwhelming, and we are extremely heartened by their dedication.

BUT, the celebration can't last too long -- there's more to do to insure that every Oregonian has a safe, decent place to call home. More remains on our agenda for 2009, and the Legislature faces hard budget choices in the months ahead.