Affordable housing bond program

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Learn how Metro is making progress toward new affordable homes across the greater Portland region.

“Under construction: Metro’s affordable housing bond at work” is the program’s 2020 annual report. This interactive report uses photos, graphics, maps and quotes to tell the story of new affordable homes for over 5,000 people, coming to neighborhoods near you, within just a year and a half from the program’s beginning.

Read the annual report

A man stands in the playground and garden common areas of a housing complex

Learn more about supportive housing

In May 2020, voters in greater Portland approved a measure that will raise money for supportive housing services for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing houselessness. These services will end chronic homelessness in greater Portland.

Learn more about supportive housing

Orchards at Orenco I apartments in Hillsboro

Learn more about equitable housing

Metro’s Equitable Housing Initiative convened local and national experts to research and coordinate on funding and investment solutions to the affordable housing crisis.

Learn more about equitable housing

The number of new affordable homes needed in greater Portland could be the equivalent of an entire city: We are about 48,000 homes short. Rents in greater Portland have risen swiftly in recent years – much faster than incomes – pricing out especially Black, Indigenous and other people of color, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities and other low-income renters. More people need affordable housing, and there is not enough to meet the demand.

Decision-makers in greater Portland have recognized that a housing crisis of the magnitude we are facing needs a regional response. In 2018, Metro partnered with local cities and counties to engage the community and ask voters to support the creation of new affordable housing in the region. The resulting voter-approved bond generates $652.8 million and will create homes for approximately 12,000 people.

Now Metro collaborates with local cities and counties to fund and create new affordable housing and to provide supportive housing services. When people have ample, truly affordable housing options to choose from in each neighborhood across the region, everyone benefits.

Project map

Calendar

Housing news

Report: Housing bond halfway to goal using only one third of available funding

May 20, 2021 5:21 p.m.

With 19 projects in the pipeline as of December 2020, representing more than 2,000 new affordable homes, the Metro housing bond is exceeding expectations, says first annual report.
Under construction: Metro's affordable housing bond at work

May 13, 2021 2:19 p.m.

New homes are on the way for over five thousand people who need them. And that’s just in a little over one year of work.
Metro’s new housing director hits all the right notes to end housing instability

April 15, 2021 4:45 p.m.

A lifetime of advocacy work has prepared Patricia Rojas to lead Metro’s efforts to solve the housing crisis. A musician in her spare time, she thinks outside the box and envisions a regional approach to policy that is rooted in housing as a human right and connects housing with health and wellness.
Metro temporarily leases future affordable housing site to nonprofit

Feb. 8, 2021 10:01 a.m.

Part of a building in Northeast Portland that is slated for demolition and redevelopment in two years will be put to good use by a local nonprofit in the meantime
Metro releases Requests for Qualifications for development opportunities in Beaverton's Elmonica neighborhood

Nov. 2, 2020 8 a.m.

Metro and the City of Beaverton are excited to extend a request for qualifications and concepts for qualified teams to develop affordable housing on the Elmonica Station Opportunity Site.
Metro’s growing production of affordable homes

Oct. 21, 2020 2:15 p.m.

Metro funds have contributed to the creation of more than 1,200 affordable housing units across greater Portland in the last three years.