Open this email in your browser. https://t.e2ma.net/message/y4zva3e/qq3uqgmd 

Spring is here, and with the new season comes preparations for Oregon Housing and Community Services' (OHCS) 2027-29 Agency Request Budget (ARB). Here is a brief overview: 

The agency is working with the Governor's Office to refine the LCs and POPs and will share more details later this year.

The ARB process is in its early stages, and OHCS will have opportunities for engagement in the coming months. More information about those opportunities will be shared soon, including in future newsletters. Questions? Contact the agency's Government Relations team.

OHCS is updating its website to improve accessibility for all users and ensure compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. During this review, the site will mostly look and feel the same, though some content may appear in a new format or be found in a different location.

If you need help finding resources or information, contact HCS_Housing.Info@hcs.oregon.gov, and our team can assist.

Over the last several months, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has introduced several proposed rule changes. These include updates to equal access regulations, potential removal of the federal "disparate impact" enforcement framework under the Fair Housing Act, new proposals affecting mixed-status families, and work requirements and time limits for certain housing assistance programs.

At this time, these proposals are not expected to result in immediate policy changes to OHCS programs. Oregon's state-level fair housing law would remain in place regardless of federal changes. OHCS has submitted formal public comments on several of these proposals and will continue to monitor developments closely.

Visit the OHCS website for more details.

OHCS and the state’s Department of Land Conservation & Development (DLCD) invite you to a webinar to review the updated Housing Production Dashboard and Housing Equity Indicators Dashboard. 

Date: Monday, May 11, 3:30 to 5 p.m. PST

Register in advance.

The Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) dashboards have entered their second year and undergone their first round of updates. The presentation and discussion will focus on what is in the dashboards and on the basics of how to use them. We will also touch on updates to the timing and questions in the annual ‘permitted and produced housing survey’ and how that data supports these dashboards. Find more information about the OHNA on our website. 

With the approval of funding for the Yards at Union Station C in Portland at Friday's Housing Stability Council meeting, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) fully allocated its Property Stabilization Investments (PSI) program, delivering more than $38 million to stabilize 30 affordable rental housing properties across the state—in Gresham, Eugene, Hillsboro, Brookings, Springfield, Milton-Freewater, and Portland.

In the 2025 legislative session, the Oregon legislature allocated over $50 million in lottery bonds for affordable housing preservation, including the growing and urgent need for stabilization. The need is not unique to Oregon as states across the county are seeing affordable properties struggle with rising costs, aging buildings, and operating challenges that threaten long-term affordability. OHCS structured PSI to move quickly, ensuring funding reached properties most at risk, and holding recipients accountable for measurable progress. $35 million of the allocation was coupled with other funding to devote $39 million to meet the immediate demand for stabilization, with the balance of the new funding made available for preservation projects to rehabilitate affordable rental housing.

When the application opened in early October, interest surged. The agency received a total of 43 completed PSI applications, requesting more than $55 million – significantly exceeding the available $39 million and demonstrating the scale of the statewide stabilization need. OHCS prioritized properties at greatest risk of affordability loss and made funding decisions within 60 days of each completed application.

The full $39 million allocated has now been awarded to 30 projects. As loans begin to close, OHCS is implementing strong accountability measures. Award recipients must commit to strategies that address key issues such as high vacancies and security concerns, and they are required to submit quarterly reports showing progress on occupancy, financial performance, and other indicators of improved property stability and tenant experience.

Preserving affordable homes ensures housing affordability and stability for current and new affordable housing residents. It’s also more cost effective to preserve existing affordable housing than to construct new housing. OHCS has updated its preservation dashboard which provides transparency on the affordable housing preservation work and need throughout Oregon.

OHCS’ PSI program was also highlighted in the National Housing Trust’s report, “Affordable Housing Stabilization Funds,” recognizing Oregon as a national leader in developing tools to preserve at risk affordable housing. 

The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) now reviews new housing and housing-related infrastructure within 15 calendar days to speed development while complying with cultural resource laws. This expedited process supports Governor Tina Kotek’s directive to increase housing production by 30,000 units annually over the next decade.

New housing includes: 

Housing-related infrastructure includes roads, utilities, and stormwater projects required for new housing that is permitted or under construction.

Projects that improve existing housing or infrastructure, not directly tied to permitted or under-construction new housing, will be reviewed within 30 calendar days. Review processes and timelines administered by Tribal governments and federal, state, and local agencies remain unchanged.

To ensure expedited review, agencies submitting new housing or housing infrastructure projects must enter “SHIP” as the first word in the “Your Project Name” field on the OR SHPO Submittal Form and Email Subject Line. SHPO will review submissions without “SHIP” in the title within 30 calendar days. More information about the submission process and SHPO contact information is on the SHPO's website.

For wildfire survivors, recovery comes in different ways. Lisa Denison’s recovery started after learning about the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction program through her job at ACCESS in Jackson County.  

For Lisa Denison of Jackson County, there are moments in her life that feel frozen in time when everything changed forever. One was the day she received the keys to her new house, something she never thought possible after losing everything in the 2020 Almeda Fire. 

Another moment was five years earlier, the day the fire hit. “It just happened so quickly,” Denison said. “One moment you think it’s an average day, and the next, everything you have in the world is gone. I’ll never forget it.” 

During that time, she started a new job with ACCESS, a ReOregon partner, working in their veterans’ assistance division. It was there she learned about the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP), which helps people impacted by the 2020 Labor Day Disasters repair, rebuild, or replace their homes. 

Through the HARP Home Purchase pathway, which helps survivors buy move-in-ready homes, she was able to buy a three-bedroom stick-built home with a patio and a yard big enough for her three cats. 

Learn more about Denison’s story and others who have received help from OHCS.

In August 2021, the Oregon State Legislature passed funding totaling $150 million for OHCS to provide critical housing recovery needs for communities affected by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds. The funding was split into two different programs to address the housing needs post disaster: $36 million went to the Wildfire Recovery and Resilience Account (WRRA) and the other $114 million was provided to build housing developments for survivors of low and moderate incomes, which included the funding of seven housing developments across the state. As of February 2026, they are all now complete and include both the redevelopment of housing lost in the wildfires and the development of new housing in the disaster-affected counties.

To accomplish this important work, OHCS worked with many local partners, such as Talent Mobile Estates (now named Talent Community Cooperative), for which OHCS partnered with CASA of Oregon and Coalición Fortaleza to rebuild a manufactured home park that was destroyed in the 2020 Almeda Fire in Jackson County. It now has 87 homes and has been transformed into a cooperatively owned manufactured home park.

From the state funding, OHCS was able to fund the development of 261 homes, rebuilding important, affordable housing that was lost while also adding more homes to the existing housing stock.

Learn more about the state-funded housing developments on the DRR Progress Recovery webpage.

Disaster Recovery and Resilience (DRR) External Affairs Officer Neil Barrett presents at the Oregon Prepared Conference

DRR staff attended the three-day Oregon Prepared Conference in Sunriver in April. The annual conference, hosted by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), provides participants with training and information on programs, current issues, lessons learned, and best practices related to all phases of emergency management.

This year, OHCS staff presented on what it learned about the work surrounding recovery from the 2020 Labor Day Disasters, including how OHCS is working to be better prepared for housing recovery after the next major disaster.

OHCS Flex Lending congratulates our top lenders. Quarter after quarter and at year’s end, these expert Flex Lender partners, also known as “Flexperts,” helped the highest number of homebuyers and drove real results across Oregon. Their leadership fuels sustainable, affordable homeownership and opens doors for families statewide. Thank you for bringing unmatched commitment, impact, and momentum to the Flex Lending program. They're helping Oregon build stronger communities, one homeowner at a time.

This quarter's top loan originators are: 

Visit the OHCS website to see a list of featured lenders. To learn more about becoming a Flex lender, email HCS_HomeownershipLending@hcs.oregon.gov.   

The Homeownership Development Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) has been amended to expand eligibility for predevelopment loans, allowing any Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) applicant selected to complete Due Diligence to qualify for a predevelopment loan if funds are available. This change broadens access to early-stage financing and is intended to assist organizations as they advance toward a reservation of funding. OHCS will continue to uphold program equity goals by prioritizing small, emerging, rural, and culturally specific organizations in the allocation of predevelopment loans. 

An updated version of the NOFA has been posted on the OHCS website. 

If you have any questions about these changes, please email HO.Development@hcs.oregon.gov. 

The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is still accepting applications for mortgage relief as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To be eligible for assistance, homeowners must have a primary mortgage with a participating mortgage servicing company that is 90 days or more past due.  

Eligible homeowners can qualify for up to $50,000 in grant funds, regardless of whether they’ve previously received HAF payments. Payments will be made directly to their servicer to reinstate their mortgage. Funds will be available until they are fully allocated, but no later than Sept. 30, 2026. 

OHCS reviews and funds applications once all required information is received from both the homeowner and their mortgage servicer. Funds are distributed on a first-completed, first-served basis, so applicants are encouraged to submit any outstanding documents as soon as possible. 

To learn more, visit oregonhomeownerassistance.org.

OHCS is investing in Oregon's energy efficiency work through hands-on training at the Oregon Training Institute (OTI) in Salem. OTI's weatherization training program equips participants with the technical skills needed to upgrade homes, reduce energy use, and address health and safety concerns, helping households with low incomes lower utility costs and live in safer, more comfortable environments. The program also helps close a critical workforce gap by preparing job-ready candidates for roles with community action agencies across the state. Learn more about the Oregon Training Institute online.

OHCS is hosting a series of listening sessions to gather feedback on the Oregon Energy Assistance Program. The listening sessions will cover the following topics on the dates listed below:

Visit the OHCS website for the full list of engagement opportunities and to register.

If you have questions about the Oregon Energy Assistance Program or would like to submit questions and comments before the engagement sessions, email hsd.energyservices@hcs.oregon.gov.

Classroom at Ollie Court

OHCS staff attended the grand opening of Ollie Court, an 81-unit affordable housing development that features an early childhood center on-site.

Classrooms at the early childhood center have already been in use since March, and an elementary school is right next door. Units at the development are available for families earning at or below 30%-50% of the area median income, and the local housing authority is available to provide rent assistance.

This development brings together two essential needs for Oregonians: affordable housing and childcare. OHCS is proud to be a partner on this groundbreaking co-located project.

Great work to the partners involved, including Homes for Good, Head Start of Lane County, Early Childhood CARES, City of Eugene, Lane County, PIVOT Architecture, Centro Latino Americano, and many others.

OHCS staff and Executive Director Andrea Bell attended a regional housing tour in Sisters, hearing directly from partners about affordable housing work in their community.

During the tour, staff saw an affordable development in the works in Prineville. This community land trust will bring 20 homes to the community for homeownership opportunities.

Staff also joined a Land Trust Practicum Conference in Sisters where they talked with local housing leaders about regional challenges, effective solutions, preservation and new construction, and much more.

OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell joined the City of Albany NAACP Linn-Benton branch for a town hall, a valuable opportunity to speak directly with residents about affordable housing and federal changes affecting our work.

Thank you to the Linn-Benton NAACP Branch for the invitation and for hosting this important conversation.

OHCS Public Affairs Director Amy Nehl speaks at the grand opening ceremony for Valor Place.

Valor Place in Albany celebrated a grand opening, with 27 out of its 30 homes already occupied by the time of the celebration. All homes are for veterans who experienced chronic homelessness.

"This makes me so proud to be an American, that people love and care to make us feel at home," said Tino, a new resident.

Linn-Benton Housing Authority is partnering with Community Services Consortium and workers from Linn County to ensure residents have on-site wraparound supportive services.

Every element of the development is intentionally designed for residents to feel at home, from the unique sitting areas on each floor to the community garden out back. The site is pet-friendly and has a nearby area for residents to take dogs on a walk.

Great work to all of the partners who made this development a reality and a place to call home for many. 

May 7 – Oregon Centralized Application Listening Session 
Please share your experience applying for rental housing resources through the Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) during an upcoming listening session with Executive Director Andrea Bell and Director of the Affordable Rental Housing Division Natasha Detweiler-Daby. Building affordable housing is challenging, even in good times. We do this critical work in partnership with you to strengthen our communities and improve the lives of our neighbors. Register for the ORCA Listening Session to be held on Thursday, May 7, at 10-11 a.m.

May 11 – Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) Listening Session: Access & Outreach 
This session will not be recorded. Find more information and register in advance.  

May 13 – Ask the Expert: Direct Lending Program and Older Adult Housing Program 
You’re invited to the next “Ask the Experts” training featuring the OHCS Direct Lending Program and Older Adult Housing Program (OHAP). With these set to launch this summer, this training will give partners timely, practical guidance on how to navigate the application process. Our panel of experts will break down eligibility requirements, walk through how to apply, and highlight how these financing tools can strengthen affordable housing. Register for the Ask the Expert training on May 13 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

May 14 – Qualified Allocation Plan Survey closes 
OHCS is beginning work to inform biennial updates needed for the state’s Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) for the 2027 and 2028 award cycles. The QAP describes priorities for how federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) will be allocated to address housing needs throughout the state. Please consider completing this QAP survey to share your insights.

May 14 – Manufactured Housing Advisory Committee Meeting 
The Homeownership Division Manufactured Housing Program will host the bimonthly meeting of the Manufactured Housing Advisory Committee from 9 to 10 a.m. PDT Thursday, May 14. The Manufactured Housing Advisory Committee advises the Manufactured Housing Program on manufactured housing, manufactured homes, and manufactured home parks, as well as provides an annual report of the committee’s evaluations to the Housing Stability Council. You can join via Teams.

May 26 – Oregon Energy Assistance Program Listening Session: Equity & Energy Burden 
This session will not be recorded. Find more information and register in advance. 

May 27 – Oregon Energy Assistance Program Listening Session: Program Design & Delivery 
This session will not be recorded. Find more information and register in advance. 

May 28 – Oregon Energy Assistance Program Listening Session: Accountability & Communication 
This session will not be recorded. Find more information and register in advance. 

June 1 – Affordable Rental Housing Partner Call 
The Affordable Rental Housing division hosts a monthly Zoom call for partners in affordable housing development to give updates and answer questions. Learn more about ARH partner calls.

June 5 – 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@oregon.gov

Connect with us