Affordable homes for greater Portland

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In 2018, voters approved a $652.8 million affordable housing bond measure to create permanently affordable homes across greater Portland for seniors, working families, veterans and others who need them.

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We want your thoughts about affordable housing needs. Feedback will help Metro search the region for locations for new affordable housing and learn how housing can be accessible and supportive of people.

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Creekside Woods Apartments in Wilsonville, Oregon

Creekside Woods houses a vibrant senior citizen community. Many there live on fixed incomes and would not be able to afford market-rate rent.

Sunset View Apartments houses a diverse population of low-income residents. Metro News spoke with two single moms in college training for living-wage medical careers.

Greater Portland is short an entire city's worth of affordable homes for renters: about 48,000 homes. Rents in greater Portland have risen swiftly in recent years – far faster than renters’ incomes, widening the gap between the number of affordable homes and the number of people who need them.

Decision-makers in greater Portland recognized that a housing affordability crisis of this magnitude needs a regional response. With input from partners and community groups, the Metro Council referred an affordable housing bond measure to voters for consideration in the November 2018 ballot. On Nov. 6, 2018, voters approved a $652.8 million general obligation bond to create affordable housing for approximately 12,000 people in the greater Portland region.

Metro worked with partners and community members to set goals for the bond.

Create 3,900 permanently affordable homes.
Reserve 1,600 homes for people who earn very low incomes ($26,000 per year for a family of four).
Build half of the homes with two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments – big enough to accommodate families.

Watch this page for updates and opportunities to help shape how the housing bond will serve your community.

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Housing news

Metro Council okays plans for more than 300 new affordable homes

July 16, 2019 5:30 p.m.

Four projects across greater Portland will account for almost 10% of the goal in greater Portland's affordable housing program, approved by the region's voters in November 2018.
Survey open: Help shape the future of affordable housing in greater Portland

May 1, 2019 1:23 p.m.

Your feedback will be used to help Metro search the Portland region for the best locations for new affordable housing and will provide information to those building and managing affordable housing about how to be accessible and supportive of all people.
The Portland region’s rapid growth is affecting all of us

By Metro Councilor Bob Stacey
April 2, 2019 10:22 a.m.

Councilor Stacey shares his thoughts on the impacts of growth in our region and updates on the work Metro and partners are doing to address it.
Housing bond oversight committee appointed by Metro Council

Jan. 31, 2019 3:32 p.m.

The committee of 13 community members will focus on accountability and transparency in delivering housing for 12,000 people in the greater Portland area.
Voters approve Metro's plan for creating affordable housing across greater Portland

By Nick Christensen
Nov. 6, 2018 8:08 p.m.

Metro-area voters on Tuesday approved a $652.8 million bond measure to allow Metro and its partners to build affordable housing for about 12,000 people across greater Portland.
Metro Council refers housing measure to November ballot

By Nick Christensen
June 7, 2018 6:03 p.m.

The Metro Council voted unanimously Thursday to send an affordable housing funding measure to the November ballot, asking voters whether the average homeowner should pay $60 per year to help provide housing for 12,000 people.