Governor John Kitzhaber’s newly proposed budget includes an
unprecedented investment of $100 million to increase housing for homeless
families with children – a hefty investment when compared with a similarly
funded investment of only $7.5 million during the last budget cycle.
“Oregon cannot meet any of its long-term health or education
goals when children are homeless, and Oregon should find the very idea of
homeless families to be unacceptable,” Kitzhaber’s budget states.
Last month Street Roots reported that 20,000 Oregon children
experienced homelessness during the 2013-14 school year.
“I’m thrilled that the
governor recognizes the role housing plays in achieving state goals,” said
Janet Byrd, executive director for Neighborhood Partnerships, a member of the
Oregon Housing Alliance. “We are excited to be a part of this historic
investment.”
She also said that because
this would be paid for with bonds, the rent can be very low and house those who
are at the greatest risk of being homeless.
According to Alison McIntosh with the state, the
investment would help Oregon Housing and Community Services double its
affordable housing production for five years, building an additional 5,000
homes in Oregon. Funding would come from a combination of lottery and general
obligation-backed bonds. It would be the first time that general obligation
bonds are used to fund affording housing development.
This is positive news considering Oregon’s affordable
housing shortage. In Multnomah County alone, authorities calculate that there
are 23,000 fewer affordable homes than there are households that qualify for
them. This creates a scenario where many Oregon families must choose between
paying rent and buying medicine or groceries.
“While
I am still digesting Gov. Kitzhaber’s budget, I can tell you I am
cheering the $100 million in bond funding he has marked to build
affordable housing for families,” says Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury. “As we know at Multnomah County, a
stable home is necessary for success, whether it’s tackling a drug
addiction, seeking treatment for mental health issues or graduating from
high school. Every family in our community deserves access to safe,
stable housing. Unfortunately,
too many families in our community are struggling. People are doubling
up, they’re in shelters, they’re on the street. It’s a crisis. This investment will not only create jobs, it will save lives.”
The governor’s budget also includes a $53.2 million increase
in the states investment in community mental health and addiction services and
a $1 million investment to expand 211, the toll-free phone line that connects
Oregonians in need with support programs.
The 2015-17 budget proposal was released today will be up
for approval in July 2015.
This article appears in 2014-11-21.