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Correction notice: We are resending January's newsletter to update an article with its official quote. The accurate version appears below. We apologize for any confusion.

As we step into 2026, let us carry forward the truth of what 2025 proved: progress in housing is fought for, built by hand, and sustained through partnership. 

I want to start by thanking and honoring the contributions of our Housing Stability Council Chair, Claire Hall. Claire passed away unexpectedly this month, and much of the progress and successes we have experienced together over the past several years can be traced back to initial conversations with Claire and the Housing Stability Council. We send our condolences to Claire’s family, friends, and all who were fortunate to know her. You can read more about Claire’s life and legacy below. 

This past year, OHCS funded the creation and preservation of more than 4,800 affordable homes across rural, tribal, and urban Oregon. This significant effort means more families paying rent they can actually afford, more older adults aging peacefully in the communities they helped shape, and more neighbors rebuilding after disaster. The mandate from everyday Oregonians is clear—we must continue to build more housing that people can afford.  

We helped bring wildfire survivors home, supported permanent rehousing for wildfire-impacted communities. This happened because partners across Oregon chose collaboration, courage, and community. Thank you for the courage to build, the persistence to solve, and the belief that Oregon can do better.  

In 2025, Oregon continued making strides through the Executive Order on Homelessness, and Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) was proud to help turn that mandate into measurable momentum. We worked with partners to expand shelters, strengthen regional coordination, and deliver stable housing with urgency and intention to those who needed it. On Jan. 9, 2026, Gov. Kotek issued an executive order to extend the homelessness emergency. This order comes with a focus on mental health and addiction. You can find more details about the latest executive order below. 

Significant work lies ahead to make life better and more affordable for each and every single Oregonian.  

I encourage you to watch our 2025 year-in-review video. You’ll hear directly from some of the people doing this work on the ground, the voices that remind us why housing systems exist in the first place. Together, we are building a more just and meaningfully housed Oregon.

In partnership,

Executive Director Andrea Bell

Oregon Housing Stability Council Chair Claire Hall passed away late Sunday evening, Jan. 4, 2026, at Providence Hospital in Portland after a brief illness. 

Hall was born in 1959 in Portland and graduated from John Adams High School in 1977. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications at Pacific University in 1981 and a Master of Science from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 1986. 

Hall lived a life defined by service to her community and the causes she was passionate about. She served as a Lincoln County commissioner for more than 20 years. During her tenure, she expanded healthcare services with the creation of federally qualified health centers, increased access and services for veterans, and was a tireless advocate for affordable housing. 

Hall was a longtime Newport resident. She was first elected as a Lincoln County commissioner in 2004 and was re-elected five times, most recently in November 2024. She served as commission chair and was recently appointed as acting county administrator. 

Hall was appointed to the Oregon Housing Stability Council in 2018 and became its chair in 2020. She helped OHCS navigate some of the most challenging times in its history. From wildfire recovery efforts to pandemic responses, we always admired her for her wisdom, guidance, and humanity.

OHCS is updating its website to improve accessibility for all users and ensure compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Over the next few months, OHCS will continue to review and update its website so that all content meets accessibility requirements. The site will mostly look and feel the same, though some content may be in a different format or move location.

If you need help finding resources or information, please contact HCS_Housing.Info@hcs.oregon.gov and our team will be happy to assist.

To address the rise in unsheltered homelessness, Gov. Tina Kotek declared homelessness a state of emergency in January 2023. Since then:

To continue reducing homelessness and its impacts, Kotek issued Executive Order 26-01, which extends the emergency declaration through January 2027 to:

Learn more about the governor’s executive order.

OHCS invested $23.2 million to stabilize affordable housing properties facing urgent financial challenges, helping preserve 1,362 homes at rents people can afford.

“This investment allows us to help hundreds of Oregonians have a place to call home that they can afford,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Partners will be able to protect and preserve access to well-maintained housing at an important time when our commitments need to be shown through delivering results."

The projects all met the requirements to receive the stabilization funding, with the maximum loan at $2 million. Learn more about these affordable housing investments.

After the Holiday Farm Fire destroyed their home in 2020, Dan Brenner and his wife Mary Lipp struggled to rebuild. Through the ReOregon HARP program, they were able to finish their house and be reimbursed for the work already completed. 

During the Holiday Farm Fire, Dan Brenner and Mary Lipp escaped to a concrete outhouse before being rescued by the driver of a passing truck. In the aftermath of the fire, very little of their home was left. 

Over the next three years, they lived in a mobile home on the property while they rebuilt. In the end, all they had left to build were two entryways, which they were able to complete thanks to funding they redceived through the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP) in 2024. They also received reimbursement funds for other construction expenses they paid for out of pocket. Dan and Mary are one of 37 households who have received reimbursement checks since May 2025 when the reimbursement recovery pathway opened. 

While new HARP applications are no longer being accepted, survivors of the 2020 Labor Day Disasters are encouraged to check other recovery pathways under ReOregon. Visit re.oregon.gov for more information. 

Read Dan's and Mary’s full story at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/disaster-recovery/reoregon/about-reoregon/Pages/wildfire-recovery-spotlights-brenner.aspx.

The Oregon Multifamily Energy Program (OR-MEP) Open Enrollment 2026 Round 1 (2026-R1) will begin on Thursday, Jan. 15. This round of Open Enrollment will have $4.5 million in funding available to qualified applicants.

Projects can apply for OR-MEP incentives during Open Enrollment phases once every six months. Find information about requirements and apply online.

The 2026-27 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for affordable homeownership projects is launching on Jan. 26 and will include development funding through Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT), predevelopment funding through the Homeownership Development Incubator Program (HDIP), permanent loan tax credits through the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit (OAHTC) program, and support to affordable manufactured home parks through the Preservation of Manufactured Dwelling Parks (PMDP) program.

To help developers prepare to apply, OHCS is holding two training sessions designed to guide them through the new NOFA process. These sessions will help them take advantage of the upcoming funding opportunities.

OHCS staff at an Oregon Food Bank warehouse in Portland

Staff volunteer to support local community

OHCS staff in Portland volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank to sort food for families in need. Oregon Food Bank is a great partner to affordable housing communities by donating to food pantries at several properties across the Portland metro area.

Read more about volunteering.

Ribbon cutting in front of home in Blue River

Blue River celebrates new homes for homeownership

Staff from OHCS joined Gov. Kotek and McKenzie Community Land Trust (CLT) for the exciting grand opening of Rose Street Cottages in Blue River. These six homes will be available for affordable homeownership opportunities and preference is given to survivors of the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire.

The homes are in the heart of Blue River and are part of a larger recovery project for the community. Homes are priced between $250K and $275K thanks to the community land trust model, which makes the homes more affordable. McKenzie CLT owns two other properties in the region and plans to build similar homeownership developments.

Homes are built with metal roofs, defensible perimeters, and green infrastructure to make them "firewise."

“Real recovery means partnerships. It means local leaders, community-driven solutions, and partnership—lots of it, especially when money is tight,” Kotek said. “No one does this alone.”

Read more about the development.

Jan. 16 – Housing Accountability and Production Office Survey opportunity 
On behalf of the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO), please consider completing a survey to identify state-level barriers to housing production. HAPO is particularly interested in collecting more input from builders, developers, and construction professionals. Survey deadline is Friday, Jan. 16.  Learn more and take the survey. 

Jan. 20 – Factory-Produced Housing Initiative advisory committee meeting
The Factory-Produced Housing Initiative, created by House Bill 3145 in 2025, seeks to spur awareness and adoption of factory-produced housing across the state. As part of that bill, the Network of Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH) will hold a meeting of the Factory-Produced Housing Advisory Committee (FPHAC) from 3 to 5 p.m. PT Jan. 20 to discuss project selection criteria and a technical assistance plan for the initiative. Register.

Jan. 21 – Ask the Experts: 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits 
You're invited to the next “Ask the Expert” training featuring the OHCS 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) team from 2-3:30 p.m. PST. This training will focus on the 2026 9% LIHTC request process, how this process aligns with the Oregon Centralized Application, and provide developers and other partners an opportunity to hear directly from LIHTC staff and ask questions in real time. Learn more about this Ask the Experts training.

Feb. 2 – Affordable Rental Housing Partner Call 
The Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) division hosts a monthly Zoom call for partners in affordable housing development to give updates and answer questions. Learn more about ARH partner calls.

Feb. 6 – Housing Stability Council meeting
The Housing Stability Council holds regularly scheduled monthly meetings, usually at 9 a.m. PT on the first Friday of each month. The council is charged with meeting the need for affordable housing for Oregonians living on lower incomes. Register to watch the meeting or provide public comments on the OHCS website. 

Rules engagement
OHCS seeks community members to join the rulemaking process in various engagements. Regardless of your experience level, OHCS wants you to bring your perspective to our discussions. Sign up for future opportunities. If you’re not part of an organization, you can put “self” in the form. The goal is to make this process accessible to everyone, regardless of their preferred language. Let OHCS know if you need an interpreter or materials translated into a non-English language to participate. Email the Language Access team. 

OHCS social media
Follow OHCS on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to share posts, watch videos, and stay engaged in the latest agency news.

Office: 725 Summer Street NE, Suite B, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 800-453-5511
Email: housinginfo@hcs.oregon.gov

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