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A housing package passed in Salem aims to create more housing in Oregon cities of all sizes. (RG/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Next steps after OR legislators make 'groundbreaking' housing investments

Oregon lawmakers passed a major housing package in this year's session, but said easing the state's housing crisis will take more work. Bills passed …

M�s de 650,000 estadounidenses se quedaron sin hogar en una sola noche de 2023. (Victoria/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS escuchará caso de Oregon sobre criminalización a personas sin hogar

Un caso de Oregón que pronto será visto por la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos podría tener una gran repercusión en la forma en qu…

More than 650,000 Americans experienced homelessness on a single night in 2023. (Victoria/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS to hear Oregon case on criminalizing homelessness

A case out of Oregon soon to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could have a major impact on how cities treat homelessness. Oral arguments for …

Oregon's legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on March 10. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Coalition proposes 'People's Budget' for OR's short session

A coalition of groups has laid out its budget priorities for the Oregon legislative session in an effort to advance racial, gender and economic …

Parking mandates - the requirement that developers include certain amounts of parking for their structures - came under scrutiny during the pandemic, when office spaces started shutting down. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Following OR, More States Consider Ending Parking Mandates

Parking lots dominate the landscapes in many cities, but state lawmakers across the country are looking to reduce the number of unused parking spaces…

A new survey found 92% of respondents age 45 and older say staying physically healthy is important. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Financial Strains Top of Mind for Older Oregonians

A new survey found older Oregonians are concerned about the cost of living in many aspects of their lives. The Vital Voices research program from …

Much of the town of Phoenix, Oregon. was destroyed in the 2020 wildfire season. (Oregon Department of Transportation/Wikimedia Commons)

Grants Support 2020 Fire Recovery for Southern Oregonians

Southern Oregon continues to recover from the fires of 2020 and grants are helping residents in the region. The Almeda Fire in Jackson County …

On a typical night, about 580,000 Americans are considered homeless. (Victoria/Adobe Stock)

Oregonians Recognize Hunger, Homelessness Awareness Week

As the cold weather settles in and some families make plans for the holidays, others are recognizing Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week this week…

Oregonians decided to conduct their elections entirely by mail through an initiative passed in 1998. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Election's Near, Registration Deadline Here

The deadline to register to vote in Oregon is Tomorrow. Oregonians can register either in person, online before midnight or via the mail, which …

Oregon is one of eight states that conduct their elections completely by mail. (Scott Van Blarcom/Adobe Stock)

OR Called an Easy State to Vote In, But Could Do More

Oregonians have the easiest time casting their votes in the nation, according to studies and can vote in almost any situation. Open access to the …

Data from Oregon State University suggests food insecurity spiked to 1 million people in the state in May 2020. (Mediaphotos/Adobe Stock)

Hunger on Ballot as Oregonians Vote in Primary Election

Ballots will start to be mailed out today for Oregon's primary election, and one issue sure to be on voters' minds is hunger. Food insecurity had …

Under a bill in the Oregon Legislature, law enforcement could not pull someone over only for a broken light on their car. (lowphoto/Adobe Stock)

Backers: OR Criminal-Justice Bill Would Create Job, Housing Stability

Advocates for criminal-justice reform are continuing their effort to change the system during Oregon's upcoming legislative session. Senate Bill 151…

HUD's Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program will support a wide range of efforts to house young people. (Roman Bodnarchuk/Adobe Stock)

HUD Grant to Help OR Fight Youth Homelessness

SALEM, Ore. - Funds from the federal government are helping communities, including two in Oregon, tackle youth homelessness. The U.S. Department of …

Oregon's eviction moratorium ends June 30 and the state could see a torrent of evictions if renters have to pay missed rents. (Mr Doomits/Adobe Stock)

OR Bill Could Stave Off Wave of Evictions

SALEM, Ore. -- Facing a housing crisis from the pandemic, Oregon lawmakers are considering a measure to better protect renters. Senate Bill 282…

Portland and Multnomah County have transitioned about 300 people from congregate care to motels during the pandemic. (ftfoxfoto/Adobe Stock)

Empty During Pandemic, Hotels Offer Housing Access in OR

By Isobel Whitcomb for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Oregon has free resources available for people who have been affected by this year's wildfires. (Dzmitry/Adobe Stock)

Webinar Offers 'Lifetime' of Financial Tips, Pre- and Post-Disaster

PORTLAND, Ore. -- An online conference on Friday is designed to prepare Oregonians for financial resilience in the face of disasters. AARP and the …

Thousands of homes in southern Oregon were lost during September wildfires. (Bumble Dee/Adobe Stock)

Credit Union Leads Efforts on Southern OR Wildfire Relief

MEDFORD, Ore. -- A credit union is leading relief efforts after wildfires devastated Oregon in September. Rogue Credit Union has raised more than $1 …

With residents feeling especially isolated, AARP is calling on long-term care facilities to make sure they stay connected with family members. (Daniel/Adobe Stock)

AARP Urges Families to Ask Nursing Homes COVID-19 Questions

PORTLAND, Ore. -- AARP Oregon wants families with loved ones in nursing homes to consider asking more questions when working with facilities…

The Oregon Legislature passed a bill that requires cities to allow mixed housing types, such as tiny homes. (Mark McClure/Sightline Institute)

Build Small, Live Large - Summit Encourages Oregonians

PORTLAND, Ore. — A conference next month will explore how tiny homes can be a big part of life in Oregon. The Build Small Live Large 2019 …

Oregon lawmakers passed the first bill in the nation that will allow cities to ban single-family zoning. (Sightline Institute/Flickr)

OR Lawmakers Pass Nation's First Bill Curtailing Single-Family Zoning

SALEM, Ore. — A historic bill that could strike at Oregon's housing affordability crisis is on its way to the governor's desk. After Senate …

Las organizaciones asistenciales de Oregon lanzaron la iniciativa �La Vivienda es Salud� para combatir la falta de vivienda.

Organizaciones de OR trabajan en Nexos de Salud y Vivienda

PORTLAND, Ore. – La atención de la salud no termina cuando una persona sale del consultorio médico. Varios factores externos del …

Oregon's care organizations have launched the

OR Organizations Work at Nexus of Health and Housing

PORTLAND, Ore. – Health care doesn't stop after a person leaves the doctor's office. Factors outside of the traditional care setting such as …

Oregon could become the first state to stabilize housing prices through an annual cap on rent increases. (axel.bueckert/Twenty20)

Rent Stabilization Measure Moves Quickly through Ore. Legislature

SALEM, Ore. - A statewide measure to address the housing crisis is soaring through the Oregon Legislature. The first-of-its-kind proposal would cap …

A proposal to end single-family zoning could allow for denser housing in Oregon cities. (jonryanjohnson/Twenty20)

Could Oregon Become First State to End Single-Family Zoning?

PORTLAND, Ore. — In an effort to tackle the affordable housing crisis, Oregon could end single-family zoning this legislative session. Oregon …

The struggle to find affordable housing is a big reason why more Oregonians are coming to food banks. (Compassion Connect)

Anti-Hunger Advocates Support Affordable Housing Measures

PORTLAND, Ore. – Advocates fighting hunger are joining supporters of affordable housing measures on this year's ballot, saying food security …

Older Oregonians on fixed incomes are hurting in the state's current affordable housing crisis. (Anne Worner/Flickr)

Could Ore. Ballot Measure Loosen Housing Affordability Squeeze?

PORTLAND, Ore. – A measure on Oregon's ballot this year aims to remove restrictions in the state's constitution and open up more affordable …

Portlanders have easy walking access to the amenities they need, ranking the city high on AARP's Livability Index. (AARP Oregon)

Communities' Livability Scored on New AARP Map

PORTLAND, Ore. – The AARP Public Policy Institute has launched a map that scores the livability of communities across the country. Folks can …

Factors such as access to healthy foods play a critical role in our health. (Wendell/Flickr)

Forum Explores How Society and Health are Interwoven

PORTLAND, Ore. — How do the structures and conditions of our society affect our health? That's a question panelists will be exploring at an …

Factores como el acceso a una alimentaci�n sana, juegan un papel importante en nuestra salud. (Wendell/Flickr)

Celebran Foro para estudiar interrelación entre Salud y Sociedad

Portland, OR – ¿Qué impacto tienen en nuestra salud las estructuras y condiciones de nuestra sociedad? Esa es una pregunta que …

Advocates for social housing point to the success of the

Time for a New Approach to Oregon's Affordable Housing Crisis?

PORTLAND, Ore. – What would it look like if the United States took a few tips from European countries to tackle the affordable housing problem? …

More students have mental-health needs and face issues such as homelessness than in the past, the Oregon Education Association says. (laterjay/Pixabay)

Teachers Look for Solutions to Classroom Disruptions

PORTLAND, Ore. – It might start with pencil tapping and end with an outburst that forces teachers to clear the classroom. Educators say …

AARP is making 12 stops across Oregon to hear from people on how to make communities more age-friendly. (kaboompics/Flickr)

Listening Tour Explores How to Make Ore. Communities Age-Friendly

ASTORIA, Ore. – AARP is kicking off a listening tour across Oregon to hear what people love about their communities and would make them more …

Between 2015 and 2017, homelessness increased six percent in Oregon. (Oregon Food Bank)

Bill Would Increase Funding to Fight OR's Affordable-Housing Crisis

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon legislators are considering a way to increase funds for affordable housing efforts around the state. House Bill 4007 …

A 2006 study found folks sometimes have a tendency to objectify people experiencing homelessness, dehumanizing the issue. (Sisters of the Road)

Making Homelessness a Human Issue

PORTLAND, Ore. – The winter will be long for the many Oregonians living without shelter. Cities such as Portland, Bend and Medford face a …

Health groups in Oregon connect affordable housing to adequate health care. (Luis Tamayo/Flickr)

Research Ties Housing Security to Health Issues

PORTLAND, Ore. – Researchers find that affordable housing is an integral part of keeping people healthy, and even compare it to a drug …

Organizaciones de Oregon en el campo de la salud est�n reconociendo que la vivienda asequible es un factor integral para brindar la adecuada atenci�n a la salud.

Estudio: La Vivienda, como “Receta Médica” para la salud

Portland, OR – Sigue adelante la investigación que defina si la vivienda es clave para conservar la salud. Se trata de la iniciativa …

Oregon's big budget shortfall could hinder efforts to fund homelessness service programs. (Oregon Food Bank)

With Budget Issues, Can Ore. Legislature Fix Housing Crisis?

SALEM, Ore. -- In the midst of a housing crisis, state lawmakers are looking for a way to provide relief to Oregonians. There is no shortage of …

Oregonians are gathering at the Capitol today to push legislators to help ease the state's housing crisis. (AARP)

Advocates Urge Oregon to Act to Ease Housing Crisis

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon's popularity as an attractive destination has had a side effect on housing markets across the state. Oregonians face …

Author Chuck Collins calls the recent election the inequality election. (Chelsea Green Publishing)

Author Promotes Rich-Poor Alliance to Fight Inequality

PORTLAND, Ore. – Chuck Collins used to be among the nation’s richest 1 percent, but more recently he has dedicated his life to fighting …

According to new data, the childhood poverty rate in Oregon has decreased since 2011. (Kelly Short/flickr)

Oregon Sees One of Biggest Drops in Childhood Poverty

PORTLAND, Ore. - Childhood poverty has decreased significantly in Oregon since its peak in 2011, according to new data released by the Annie E…

The rate of food insecurity was more than 16 percent between 2013 and 2015 in Oregon, according to a USDA report. (PublicDomanPictures/Pixabay)

USDA Report: Oregon Only State to See Rise in Hunger Rates

PORTLAND, Ore. – The only state to see a significant increase in food insecurity rates since the Great Recession is Oregon, according to a new …

A study of Portland's homeless population says individuals who found stable housing saw their need for emergency care drop 18 percent. (Mike Krzeszak/Flickr)

Housing: The New Frontier for Health-Care Plans

PORTLAND, Ore. - Health-care plans in Oregon are considering a new aspect of people's health and well-being: stable housing. Care providers are …

Un estudio de la poblaci�n sin techo de Portland refleja que los individuos que encontraron vivienda estable vieron bajar su necesidad de atenci�n de emergencia en un 18 por ciento. (Mike Krzeszak/Flickr)

La vivienda es la nueva frontera de los planes de salud

PORTLAND, Ore. - Los planes de salud comienzan a considerar la vivienda estable como parte fundamental de la salud y el bienestar de la gente…

Protesters plan to march from Philadelphia City Hall to the Wells Fargo Center, where the Democratic National Convention is being held. (Andrew Ciscel/flickr)

Marchers Protest Disparity Between Rich, Poor at DNC

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon's 74 delegates in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention could be met by hundreds of anti-poverty protesters on …

Farmworker Housing Development Corp. builds housing, such as the building above, for farmworkers and their families. (FHDC)

Farmworkers' Families Struggle to Find Safe Housing

PORTLAND, Ore. – As fresh cherries go on display in Oregon's grocery stores, one organization is thinking about the workers who pick the fruit &…

Mail carriers will collect nonperishable foods from mailboxes and doorsteps on Saturday for the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. (Oregon Food Bank)

Saturday's "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive Starts at Doorsteps

PORTLAND, Ore. - This week, helping feed people who are hungry in Oregon will be as easy as putting canned food by the mailbox. Saturday is the 24…

Eight percent of children in Oregon have had a parent in prison. (pixabay)

Children Severely Stressed by Incarcerated Parents

PORTLAND, Ore. – When parents are incarcerated, their children are suffer, too. More than 68,000 children in Oregon have had a parent in …

Bend is considering expansion of its urban growth boundary to accommodate the city's rapidly-growing population. (Another Believer/Wikimedia Commons)

Fast-Growing Bend Holds Meeting on Urban Growth Boundary

PORTLAND, Ore. - City managers in Bend held a meeting Thursday that will help shape the city's expanding borders after it is approved by a state …

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OR: Housing/Homelessness