City Council to consider strategies to stimulate new housing production

News Article

Community members invited to testify on the draft Housing Production Strategy in person at a public hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. or in writing via the Map App.

Everyone deserves to live in a secure and healthy home, but not all Portlanders can access safe and affordable housing. Economic, social, and physical barriers often limit residents from finding homes that meet their needs. And the rising cost of living has made it even harder for people, straining the budgets of many Portlanders.

Over the next 20 years, Portland will need up to 120,000 new housing units, including a variety of housing types (family-sized, affordable, accessible/visitable) for current and future households.

A Housing Production Strategy to meet the need

To help meet that need, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) staff have conducted in-depth analyses and continued engagement to determine more exact housing needs in Portland. The result is the City's inaugural draft Housing Production Strategy (HPS).

The HPS is a five-year action plan, including strategies and actions the City can take to promote new housing development. These will help meet the community's current and future housing needs, especially for more equitable and affordable options for a wider range of household incomes, needs, and preferences.

Review the proposed strategies

Read the draft HPS documents

If you are unable to access these documents or have questions, please contact Ariel Kane at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability at [email protected].

Tell the Planning Commission what you think

Community members are invited to review the HPS drafts and comment in writing or in person to City Council, which will consider public testimony. The public hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. will be a hybrid format, with options to participate in person or virtually using a computer, mobile device, or telephone. You must sign up in advance to testify.

Please note that City Council hearings have temporarily moved while City Hall is under renovation. This public hearing will be at 1900 SW 4th Ave, Suite 2500.

The Council Clerk will post the agenda with the public testimony registration links on Friday, Aug. 23 at 9 a.m. To testify before City Council in person or virtually, visit the Council Agenda to find instructions on how to register to testify. You can register online, in person at the Council Clerk's office, or over the phone by calling 311.

Registration for virtual testimony closes one hour before the Council meeting. After registering for virtual testimony, a meeting invitation will be sent by email at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting with information about providing virtual testimony. In-person testifiers must sign up before the agenda item is called. After registering for in-person testimony, the Clerk will call your name and you will present your testimony to Council. Individuals have three minutes to testify unless stated otherwise at the hearing.

Visit Engage with City Council for information on what to expect when attending a Council meeting. Or email the Council Clerk with questions or text CLERK to 855-625-2050 with questions during the meeting.

Submit written comment

We strongly encourage electronic written comment. All written comments must be received by the hearing on Aug. 28 and include your name and address.

Use the Map App

Testify in writing via the Map App

Testifying in the Map App is as easy as sending an email. Use the link above, then click the "Testify" button.

U.S. Mail

Portland City Council
Housing Production Strategy Testimony
1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 130
Portland, OR 97204

What happens next?

After the public hearing, City Council will consider all written and oral testimony on the proposal and hold a second meeting to vote on Wednesday, Sept. 11. If adopted, staff will then submit the adopted HPS to the State. The State will hold a public comment period and issue its determination and conditions.

Why is this important?

Everyone deserves to live in a secure and healthy home, but not all Portlanders can access safe and affordable housing. Economic, social, and physical barriers often limit residents from finding homes that meet their life needs. In recent years, the rising cost of living has made it even harder for people, straining the budgets of all but the most well-off.

Over the next 20 years, Portland will need up to 120,000 new housing units, including a variety of housing types (family-sized, affordable, accessible/visitable) for current and future households.

The draft housing production strategies are the first step toward meeting that need.