Title
Equitable (Affordable) Housing
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion):
Recommend a project for the Metro equitable housing grant application and prioritize other projects to promote equitable housing in Oregon City.
BACKGROUND:
Equitable or affordable housing has been an issue of concern within Oregon City and throughout Clackamas County. Since the recession of the last decade, real estate housing prices and rents have increased at a higher rate than wage increases which has required individuals and families to spend a greater amount of their household income on home mortgages and rents. Because of the continuing increase in housing costs, people are finding it more difficult to find suitable and safe housing options throughout the Portland Metropolitan area.
Significant research has been done to identify the housing problem throughout the region and now Metro is working closely with member counties and cities to identify and implement policy changes to encourage diverse, quality, affordable housing choices with access to opportunities and amenities. Metro is administering a grant program to assist jurisdictions with adopting regulatory and administrative reforms to reduce or eliminate barriers to the development of equitable housing. Staff has met with Metro, Clackamas County and Clackamas County Housing Authority representatives over the last month to discuss the potential of the County and Oregon City submitting a joint grant application or supporting individual County and City applications.
At this work session, the Commissions will be provided with background information about equitable housing. Emily Lieb, Program Manager for the Metro grant will attend this work session to provide the Commissions with a regional equitable housing overview and to discuss the Metro grant program. Richard Swift, Clackamas County Health, Housing & Human Services Director, will provide an overview of affordable housing needs in Clackamas County. City staff will...
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