Date: June 24, 2025
Summary
The Portland City Council Homelessness & Housing Committee met on June 24, 2025, to discuss the ongoing efforts and future strategies related to homelessness and housing, particularly focusing on the North Northeast Housing Strategy. Leslie Goodloe, the project manager, detailed the significant investments made since 2015, amounting to over $130 million, which have been directed towards preventing displacement, restoring homeownership, and expanding affordable housing. The committee reviewed the accomplishments and the impact of these investments, highlighting the success in assisting nearly 1300 families with home repairs and supporting new homeownership for historically displaced Black families. The meeting also included a robust discussion on the need for continued and expanded efforts to address housing affordability, particularly for Black families, and several recommendations were proposed to enhance the effectiveness of housing policies. These include adjusting affordable housing targets, increasing participation of Black individuals in trades, leveraging housing vouchers, and expanding the North Northeast Housing Strategy to other communities at risk. The committee emphasized the importance of ongoing commitment and leadership to ensure that the promises made to improve housing conditions and accessibility are kept.
Key Points
- Discussion on the North Northeast Housing Strategy
- Review of investments and outcomes in displacement prevention and homeownership
- Recommendations for future actions and policies to improve housing accessibility and affordability
Watch Full Meeting
No votes were recorded in this meeting.
Action Items
- Adjust affordable targets to reflect economic realities
- Increase Black trades and construction participation
- Leverage housing choice vouchers with Home Forward
- Maintain long-term support for the Preference Policy
- Strengthen home retention tools
- Expand homeownership resources amid market challenges
- Respond to the PSU report findings with accountability and action
- Explore expansion of the strategy for other risk communities