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

In the coming months, OHCS will continue to review and update its website content to meet 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, contact HCS_Housing.Info@hcs.oregon.gov and our team will be happy to assist.

On Jan. 30, 2026, Gov. Tina Kotek signed an executive order establishing a new Interagency Council for Immigrant and Refugee Coordination to ensure state agencies are aligned, responsive, and consistent in supporting immigrant and refugee communities amid escalating and abusive federal immigration enforcement tactics that are destabilizing Oregon communities and spreading fear among families across the state.

The council is led by the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (OIRA), housed within the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), and composed of several key state agencies, including Oregon Housing and Community Services. The council will inventory current agency protocols and practices related to reports of immigration enforcement activities and identify opportunities to improve the state response and support for communities impacted.

The OHCS website will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Recent grant agreements from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) programs include several new conditions. These conditions make it much harder for long-standing programs to operate, and some may even conflict with Oregon state law (e.g., the condition purporting to implement Executive Order (EO) 14168 may conflict with ORS 659A.400-659A.403). 

These conditions have been challenged in court. In 2025, a federal court preliminarily enjoined HUD from enforcing several conditions, including the condition related to EO 14168, while the case is pending. This allows OHCS to accept the grants and continue operating these programs while the litigation proceeds. A decision in this case is expected later in 2026. 

Several other new conditions relate to HUD’s new interpretation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In another lawsuit, in which the State of Oregon is a plaintiff, HUD has agreed not to implement its new interpretation of that law until a final judgment in that case. A final decision in that case is also not anticipated until later this year.

As of Jan. 23, 2026, Congress has agreed on a budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of Energy (DOE). 

You can view the updated budget numbers on the OHCS website.

In every even numbered year, the Oregon Legislature convenes a short session for 35 days. This year's short session takes place from Feb. 2 to March 8. OHCS is presenting to the Ways and Means Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee (please check the Subcommittee’s webpage for specific dates) on the following items:

So far, 264 bills have been filed during this session. OHCS is tracking 65 that may have impacts to the agency. Highlights include:

There are two Capital Construction funding requests made by legislators this session that would impact OHCS. Each request is for $100 million: One request is for LIFT Homeownership and the other is for Preservation. OHCS will be tracking their progress in the Ways and Means Capital Construction Subcommittee.

Another important aspect of this session is the question of how the state will grapple with its current budget deficit and how it will navigate budget impacts from federal actions. Oregon’s most recent economic revenue forecast was released on Feb. 4, and it showed an improved revenue picture as compared to the previous revenue forecast. However, budget challenges remain and a lot can happen between now and the end of session. Look for a more in-depth overview in our post-session newsletter in March.

For questions, please contact OHCS' Government Relations team at HCS_GovernmentRelationsTeam@hcs.oregon.gov.

Pictured above: Fernhill Crossing, FHX62, Portland, OR 

OHCS continues steady progress to address the state’s housing supply by funding the creation and preservation of 208 affordable homes. The Oregon Housing Stability Council approved funding for five properties located in Portland, Hillsboro, and Phoenix.

These developments will serve a diverse range of people, including wildfire survivors, communities of color, and older adults. One of these is FHX62, a project consisting of two existing market rate properties that will be converted to 100% permanent supportive housing to serve veterans and people experiencing chronic homelessness. 

Learn more here.

OHCS and the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH) are excited to announce the launch of the Construction Loan Guarantee (CLG) Program. The CLG Program decreases risk to lenders, making it easier for developers to access construction loans to build affordable homes for people with low to moderate incomes, serving households up to 120% of the area median income. Eligible projects may include:  

Visit the NOAH CLG webpage for more program details and how to apply. 

OHCS and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) are excited to release the Request for Applications (RFA) for Oregon’s seventh Supportive Housing Institute (Institute). The Institute provides targeted training, technical assistance, and project planning support to teams seeking to develop Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) in their communities.

Information about the Institute and application process is available in the RFA. To apply, teams must complete the Application Form. Apply for the 2026 Oregon Supportive Housing Institute - Corporation for Supportive Housing.

Affordable rental housing projects seeking to request 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) resources to develop or preserve housing will have the opportunity to submit their projects for consideration. 

As outlined in the State of Oregon 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), projects seeking 9% LIHTC resources must complete a 9% LIHTC Request Form and an Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) Project Intake indicating their interest and including key details about their projects that will be used in a competitive selection process. Learn more about this round of 9% LIHTC fund offering.

After the Holiday Farm Fire destroyed their home in 2020, David Simpson and his family spent money out of pocket to buy a new manufactured home. Through HARP, they were able to be reimbursed for some of the costs to buy and place their new home on their property. 

Prior to Labor Day 2020, David Simpson of Leaburg had heard it before. Living in the McKenzie Valley, this wasn't his first time receiving a Level 1 Be Ready notification that there was a wildfire nearby. So, when he got a new one, he kind of dismissed it.

Soon came the Level 3 Go Now notification. That's when he and his wife knew they had to wake up their two sons and daughter and get to safety.

For the next year and half, the family stayed in a travel trailer until they were able to use some insurance money to buy a new manufactured home to replace the one they lost in the fire.

Thanks to an award from the ReOregon Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program's (HARP) Reimbursement pathway, Simpson received disaster recovery funds, which enabled him to recoup some of the expenses he incurred to get his new home and have it placed on his property. 

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

To learn more about HARP and other ReOregon programs, visit re.oregon.gov or call the ReOregon Call Center at 877-510-6800 or 541-250-0938. 

Read David’s full story. 

The Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCDO) was awarded $1.2 million by the OHCS Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development (PIER) program to provide grants and loans for small businesses in Jackson County that were affected by the 2020 Labor Day Disasters.

In late 2025, IVCDO awarded the first round of grants to microenterprise businesses in Jackson County. Grant funds are being used for working capital, job creation or retention, remodeling of essential buildings, activities to address specific unmet needs from the Almeda or South Obenchain fires, or supporting vulnerable or fire-affected populations. A second round of grants is open and accepting applications until March 31.

IVCDO’s PIER Loan Fund is also accepting applications for fixed, low-interest loans to increase working capital and support credit building for eligible, small businesses (100 employees or fewer) in fire-affected areas to help launch or expand their operations.   

For more information or to apply for grants or loans, please visit: PIER - Jackson County Small Business Loans and Grants - Illinois Valley Community Development Organization.

PIER also is funding the Community Sheltering Project in Lincoln County, providing a full-school generator and above-ground fuel tanks to two schools, Taft High School in Lincoln City and Newport Middle School in Newport. The project is expanding to provide a similar permanent backup power source and fuel tank for the Toledo Jr/Sr High School, which also serves as a Red Cross shelter that can house large numbers of people during a disaster.

The 2026-2027 Homeownership Development Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) has been posted and is now available on the OHCS website. This NOFA represents an important opportunity to advance affordable homeownership across Oregon, which creates stability for families, builds generational wealth, and strengthens communities across Oregon. Supporting these programs opens doors to safe, affordable homes and contributes to long-term economic resilience for the state.

The NOFA includes over $100 million to fund homeownership development and manufactured dwelling park preservation projects including the following programs: 

Intake is now open, which is the first step for all applicants. For LIFT applicants, OHCS will begin accepting concept proposals on Feb. 17. 

OHCS received $13.7 million in Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) grant funds from HUD to support manufactured housing residents and communities. OHCS is moving forward with planning for the use of the funds and held a public hearing about a proposed amendment on Feb. 4. If you missed it, you can view the presentation. Stakeholders have until Feb. 19 to submit feedback to HO.Development@hcs.oregon.gov. 

OHCS will be issuing a request for applications (RFA) to help address Oregon’s racial disparities in homeownership by increasing the visibility of and access to homeownership assistance programs by communities of color and other underserved populations, and by tailoring programs to deliver culturally and community-specific services.

Objectives of this RFA: 

OHCS will host a pre-application conference on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. PST to explain the application process and answer questions about the RFA. If interested, please register.

The Manufactured Housing section has begun 10 new manufactured home replacement projects funded with the OHCS Energy Grant, which is available to owners of manufactured homes with low incomes in Pacific Power and PGE electric utility service areas. The grant can provide up to $50,000 when used in conjunction with the Manufactured Home Replacement Loan and up to $125,000 when used as a standalone grant. All the projects are in preserved/nonprofit or cooperative-owned manufactured home parks.  

Below is a breakdown of where the projects are located: 

Staff and partners celebrate groundbreaking in Gresham

OHCS staff joined Advocates for Life Skills and Opportunities (ALSO) and Home First Development for the groundbreaking of The Montage, which will bring 39 units of housing to Gresham, 10 of which will be designated for folks living with disabilities.

Resident services will be provided by ALSO, which has long provided nonprofit disability support services for Oregon. The project will incorporate Universal Design Standards to accommodate a wide range of individual abilities.

The development is located in Gresham's Central City Neighborhood and is close to public transit, grocery stores, and more. Residents will enjoy access to amenities onsite such as an outdoor sports court, community garden, play area, and pet station.

Great work to the developers, City of Gresham, Multnomah County, Metro, Community Vision, and all the partners who have worked hard to bring this project to this stage.

Roberto Franco, Deputy Director of Development for OHCS, speaking at the Verde Pines groundbreaking ceremony

Early in January OHCS celebrated the groundbreaking of Verde Pines in Bend with United Housing Partners and Latino Community Association (LCA).

Verde Pines, once completed, will bring 128 units of housing to the Easton neighborhood of Bend. LCA will actively work to increase applications from Bend's Latino communities and non-English speaking populations. The development is located across the street from the new Caldera High School.

Units will range in sizes from one to three bedrooms and residents will enjoy access to a community room, exercise room, playground, and more.

This project was made possible by 2021 Senate Bill 8, and funds were quickly put to work with the project closing only seven months after receiving funding. Fantastic work to the developers and partners who prioritized affordable housing for their community and made this happen so quickly.

Photo courtesy of United Housing Partners.

Feb. 11 – Oregon Supportive Housing Institute RFA Webinar 
Learn more about how to apply for the 2026 Oregon Supportive Housing Institute. This is specifically for permanent supportive housing development teams. The webinar will be from 2-3 p.m. PT on Feb. 11. Register for the Institute webinar on Zoom. 

March 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.

March 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. 

March 12 – 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. PT, Thursday, March 12. 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.  

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

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