Every Oregonian deserves abundant and affordable housing options.
Like many parts of the nation, Oregon is currently experiencing a housing crisis, with a statewide shortage of nearly 96,000 units for our population. Our Goal 10 | Housing work means we work hand-in-hand with community members, planners, decision-makers, and partner organizations in cities and towns statewide to pursue policies that will allow us to close this gap without creating sprawl development.
We assist communities in dealing with unaffordable housing, housing instability, and housing challenges by advocating for greater abundance and diversity of housing options. We work to create better policy, and to see that policy equitably implemented across Oregon. We also help communities understand the impact of state and local policies on their bottom line and work to ensure growth in sustainable development patterns.
Our work ensures that cities conserve Oregon’s natural resources and create inclusive communities through:
- Conserving resource land through involvement in the urban growth boundary process
- Enhancing community livability through input to city comprehensive plan and zoning policies
- Implementing SB 1051 to allow accessory dwelling units in all Oregon cities with populations over 2,500
- Implementing HB 2001 and HB 2003 to restore "missing middle" housing options to the fabric of our towns and cities
- Advocating for stronger missing middle housing policy nationwide
- Urban reserves planning and growth monitoring
- Reversing decades of discriminatory zoning practices
More resources for our housing-related work:
- February 27, 2025 – Oregon for Everyone: A new program to build a more inclusive Oregon
- March 21, 2023 – HB 2001 passes, establishing Oregon Housing Needs Analysis
- August 24, 2022 – Legal win sets precedent on housing affordability in rural areas and small communities
- October 21, 2020 – The Color of Law with Richard Rothstein and 1000 Friends of Oregon
- August 12, 2020 – Portland’s Residential Infill Project Passes
- July 30, 2020 – Making Progress on Middle Housing Choices for Oregonians
- April 16, 2020 – We Won the 2020 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability
- December 16, 2019 – The State of Oregon’s Housing
Oregon for Everyone: A new program to build a more inclusive Oregon
Oregon for Everyone will build a coalition to promote inclusive zoning, affordable homes, and thriving communities – led by the new Oregon for Everyone Manager.
Our housing work is vital for Oregon as it touches on our collective responsibility to decide how we live together, protect natural resources, welcome our neighbors, and address historical inequities.
By working with Oregonians to create more livable communities, we can reduce our ecological footprint, live active lives in healthy and walkable neighborhoods, support a strong agricultural economy, and build local food systems.
For more information, contact Mary Kyle McCurdy.
DLCD adopted the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis in December 2024. We supported its rulemaking along the way, putting our heads together with other advocacy groups to create a set of guiding principles on effective housing production.
The Oregon legislature took a momentous step toward making sure that every Oregonian has the opportunity for accessible, affordable housing choices in every community. We will need you to share your support for HB 2001 as it continues to move through the legislature.
By 2035, city planners estimate that Portland’s population will add more than 100,000 new households. Without strong housing policies in place, that growth will lead to an even larger homelessness crisis and threaten our farmland and natural areas through subdivision expansions. Here’s what we’re doing about it.