Oregon Governor Extends Homelessness Emergency for Third Year Amid Rising Crisis
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced Thursday that the state’s homelessness emergency declaration, first enacted on her inaugural day in office, will be extended for a third year as the crisis continues to grow. The decision comes in the wake of a federal report confirming that Oregon remains among the states with the highest rates of homelessness in the nation.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual point-in-time count conducted in January 2024, approximately 22,875 Oregonians experienced homelessness that year, representing 62% of the state’s unsheltered population. The state’s total population stands at roughly 4.2 million. Despite increased investments and efforts, Oregon, along with 42 other states, saw a rise in homelessness between 2023 and 2024.
Governor Kotek acknowledged the scale of the challenge but emphasized the progress made since the emergency declaration. Her administration estimates that by June 2025, the state will have:
- Funded 5,500 shelter beds.
- Rehoused 3,300 families experiencing homelessness.
- Prevented homelessness for 24,000 households.
“We must stay the course on what we see working,” Kotek said in a statement. “If we keep at this pace, one in every three people who were experiencing homelessness in 2023 will be rehoused. The urgency remains as homelessness continues to increase, and we need to see this strategy through.”
A Long Road Ahead
The extension grants Kotek’s office and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management the flexibility to continue coordinating resources and strategies across state agencies and local governments. The order also tasks Oregon Housing and Community Services with establishing a long-term statewide homelessness response system, designed to persist even after the emergency declaration is lifted.
Kotek’s 2025-27 budget proposal includes $700 million to shelter homeless Oregonians and prevent further displacement, as well as $1.4 billion in bonds and infrastructure funding to address the state’s decades-long housing shortage.
“This work is and has always been about people and making their life better,” said Andrea Bell, executive director of Oregon Housing and Community Services. “Building a future that includes and works for everyone is possible when we recognize the scale of our challenges and bring an even greater scale of ambition in confronting them.”
The Broader Context
Despite record state spending, the federal report highlights the systemic challenges facing Oregon. Escalating housing costs, an aging housing stock, and inadequate shelter capacity have compounded the issue, leaving thousands without stable homes.
Critics argue that more aggressive measures are needed to address the crisis. Some lawmakers have called for expanding affordable housing initiatives and fast-tracking the construction of new units to meet demand.
Governor Kotek remains optimistic, pointing to the progress made since the declaration and urging continued collaboration. “This is a fight for our future, and we must rise to meet it,” she said.
As Oregon enters its third year under a homelessness emergency, the state’s leadership faces mounting pressure to deliver tangible, lasting solutions for its most vulnerable residents.
Reference News:- With homelessness crisis continuing, Oregon governor extends
