By Jenni Denekas and Anna Kemper | 4.5-minute read
Shared solutions are the key to a sustainable, prosperous Oregon
Published in Portland Business Journal on April 6, 2026.
Advocates, policy leaders, and developers need clear, practical tools to enact real housing solutions. That’s why 1000 Friends of Oregon launched the Housing Solutions Center, a public, online resource that translates housing data, policy, and land use laws into an advocacy toolkit that communities can actually use.
The Housing Solutions Center provides concise information on Oregon’s housing needs, what is legally allowed today, effective infill and redevelopment strategies, and tools for engaging communities in real conversations about growth. It highlights six key strategies for approaching housing policy at the local level, including streamlining construction permits, building workforce capacity, and expanding housing options for all family sizes and income levels.
And we always tie it back to the big picture: Finding win-win solutions to meet the housing needs of all Oregonians in every community—so people, places, and our economy can thrive.
As we know from over 50 years of work on land use, creating livable cities and towns are a crucial component of successful land conservation efforts. By focusing development within our urban growth boundaries (UGBs), we can protect the productive farmland and ecologically significant natural areas that make Oregon, Oregon. Compact, accessible cities and towns also help to reduce the types of pollution that impact everything from public health to climate change, while also supporting livability, character, and shared prosperity.
Yes, prosperity. It’s an old, tired narrative that says that environmental stewardship and economic development are fundamentally at odds. Whereas, in our work, we are asking and answering big questions like: What does a diversified economy of the future look like? How are we creating an economy that takes care of all Oregonians and leaves our state better than we found it?
Oregon has long been a center of innovation, and our land stewards and housing advocates continue to lead the charge.
On the agricultural side: In the mid-Willamette Valley, Zena Forest Products were able to scale up their innovative timber production to create an iconic element of our airport that welcomes over 18 million people annually. In Baker City, Libby Wilson and Dallas Defrees are not only raising local, delicious, and nutritious Oregon beef; they are experimenting with different grasses to turn hardened land into pasture, restoring the land from mining. In Monmouth, a community-led co-op is working to bring food—grown in large part by Black and Indigenous farmers—directly to Oregonians at affordable prices.
On the housing side: In Astoria, local community leaders are launching a bold new initiative to fund critically necessary housing for local workers by taxing vacation homes. In Talent, which saw a devastating wildfire that disproportionately impacted Latino community members and seniors, policymakers have used planning tools to allow for more affordable and accessible homes to be rebuilt.
If we are to build an economy of the future, we cannot overlook our people’s talent, hard work, and commitment to our state.
The key to success—in housing, in agriculture, in sustainability, and in building shared prosperity—is a broad effort that leverages the unique perspectives, skills, and tools that our community members bring to the table. In other words, we would love your voice and your expertise in this work.
There are many ways to co-lead on meaningful change in our communities, including:
- Collaborating with our Great Communities team on local housing advocacy efforts (click to email them!),
- Applying to our Board of Directors,
- Sponsoring an event, and
- Collaborating in other ways; we welcome your ideas.
Together, we can build a better future for all Oregonians. Click here to learn how to get involved.