The Latest

Oregon’s 2024 legislative short session began on February 5, lasting five weeks. Top on our agenda is housing, specifically ensuring that a housing bill passes that focuses on what matters: using an effective and efficient approach to building housing within existing UGBs, where people have access to the best quality of life possible.

Testifying on the 2024 housing bill? Join us in asking politicians to prioritize affordable housing in livable neighborhoods, so that Oregonians who need housing don’t get pushed away from their communities (again).

Ahead of the legislative session, we’re advocating for a housing bill that prioritizes our communities, not profit. That means investing in the missing piece within our UGBs: infrastructure. It’s not flashy, but it’s smart.

Help us protect Oregon’s unique land use planning program – and even more importantly, protect Oregon and Oregonians – for generations to come. Donate before the end of the year and you could win a picnic with alpacas in Bend.

We can meet the housing needs of Oregonians – if we work smart within the land use system. Oregon is short approximately 140,000 homes for people who are living here today, but anyone who has ever struggled to find or afford a stable living space knows our housing crisis isn’t only about sheer numbers: What we build and where we build it is just as important.

From newspapers to the halls of the Oregon capitol, our statewide land use system became part of headline issues this year. Our 2023 Annual Report includes major highlights – all made possible thanks to Oregonians working together to make a better today and tomorrow possible.

1000 Friends of Oregon, Neighbors for Clean Air, and Northwest Environmental Defense Center filed a legal challenge today to the building permits for the controversial Prologis freight warehouse slated for construction on the former Kmart site at NE 122nd and Sandy in Portland, taking the appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals. The petitioners are represented by Crag Law Center.

As we prepare for the 2024 short session, we know that legislators who voted to protect Oregon’s land use system need to hear that protecting our urban growth boundaries matters. Join us in debunking the false promise that more soil is the missing factor in solving our housing crisis.

Following passage of the landmark semiconductor expansion bill, SB 4, Oregon has proven we found a win-win approach. We've seen zero executive orders and compromised zero working acres, plus Oregon has had at least 15 competitive semiconductor applications and we've identified 10,000 suitable acres inside our UGBs.

Wendy and Kate worked at 1000 Friends of Oregon as part of our development team from 2017 through 2021. In their new roles, Wendy and Kate will work with our staff, board, donors, and program participants to expand membership and deepen philanthropic engagement with Oregon’s unique land use planning system.