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Gov. Brown launches 'ambitious and historic' housing plan

Brown said the plan provides a road map for agencies across the state that are tasked with helping people find stable housing.

SALEM, Ore — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and other housing officials on Monday announced the beginning of a new statewide housing plan designed to help tens of thousands of Oregonians find stable housing.

Brown called it an "ambitious and historic" plan.

Brown said the plan provides a road map for agencies across the state that are tasked with helping people find stable housing.

Teams traveled across the state to talk to people about housing issues. With that information, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) developed a 5-year plan named "Breaking New Ground."

The plan encompasses six priority areas: equity and racial justice, homelessness, permanent supportive housing, affordable rental housing, homeownership and rural communities. Each area has its own goals.

State officials are already getting a jump on some of these priority areas. For instance, the goal for affordable rental housing is to triple the amount of affordable housing up to 25,000. As of January 2019, there are already 8,400 homes in the pipeline.

Both the director of OHCS and Gov. Brown acknowledge that for the plan to be successful, it’s going to take a lot of resources and work.

“You will see us be proactive, innovative, flexible, and intentional, and we will step up to provide the leadership Oregon needs to deliver on this work,” said Margaret Salazar, Director of OHCS.

“The state has not to my knowledge invested at this level in affordable housing and workforce housing, ever,” Brown said.

Her budget calls for $400 million in state investments over two years.

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