After embarking on a tour across the state to check on the status of the housing sector, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley said Oregon is experiencing a housing affordability crisis. Demand is outpacing supply, house prices are skyrocketing and vacancy rate is falling.
As reported by Mail Tribune, Merkley said that many people are moving to Oregon because of the quality of life and the beauty of the place and so supply has been depleting. "Families are just being absolutely squeezed as a result," he said.
Merkley also spoke with local housing experts at the Jackson County Housing Authority's Cherry Creek Apartments, per Mail Tribune.
Oregon Housing and Community Services Director Margaret Van Vliet said there are only 20,000 available affordable housing units against the 130,000 households with low income. About 25,000 new housing units per year are needed to catch up with the population growth, but according to the Oregon Home Builders Association, only 15,000 are being built.
People are having a hard time saving up for a security deposit and when they eventually find a place to rent, it is difficult to keep up with the rental rates.
To address the dire situation in the state, local housing experts cited some possible solutions such as proving social housing assistance, helping renters pay for the security deposits, having more flexibility in local communities' spending of federal dollars, easing housing regulations for building tiny houses, and using affordable housing fund to refurbish existing homes.
Merkley is said to be working on increasing the fund for affordable housing for states in dire need of housing crisis solutions.
Meanwhile, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed bills into law last Friday that will address the housing affordability and homelessness issues in the state, KOIN reported. The bills prohibit the landlords to raise rents during the first year of a month-on-month lease and after the first year, they should give tenants 90 days' notice if the rent will be increased. The new laws also require developers to include rental units and homes for low-income households in new projects.