SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) — Gov. Tina Kotek detailed her budget priorities for Oregon for the next 2 years during a media briefing Tuesday morning, where she proposed directing a significant portion of funds toward housing, mental health and addiction services, and education.
Kotek released the details for 2023-25 of her already-announced plans at 11 a.m.
The budget recommends $770 million for new affordable housing, $118 million for preserving current affordable housing, $4 million for manufactured housing and $2.2 million for the Housing Production and Accountability Office.
“Every Oregonian — no matter their race or zip code — deserves to have the same opportunities,” said Kotek. “My mission as Oregon’s governor will always be to deliver results and move the state forward to build the Oregon we all want to live. This vision for Oregon’s future cannot be realized in one budget cycle, but this plan today provides a roadmap for how we’re going to reach this state’s long-term goals.”
Kotek previously said she would commit $130 million for an emergency homelessness package. Her budget recommendations for that will allocate $23.8 million for new shelter beds and navigation workers; $54.4 million to rehouse 1200 households; $33.6 million to prevent 8750 households from becoming homeless; $5 million each to help organizations support equitable outcomes and support Oregon tribes; $2 million for sanitation services and $1.8 millon for coordinated emergency response.
In her first full day as Oregon’s chief executive, Gov. Kotek held a press conference and signed three executive orders to address the state’s housing and homelessness crises.
The first executive order establishes a statewide goal of building 36,000 housing units per year and creates the Housing Production Advisory Council. Kotek said the council will be tasked with creating a budget and policy recommendations to reach that goal.
The second executive order declared a state of emergency due to homelessness. The third executive order, Kotek said, will work in tandem with the others to direct state agencies to prioritize reducing unsheltered and sheltered homelessness in the state, not only in areas under the state of emergency.
The full press conference can be viewed in the video player above.