Dear Partners, Colleagues, and Neighbors,
Happy New Year! As we begin 2023, I want to take this moment to share some highlights from the extraordinary year that just ended and celebrate a few of the remarkable things we accomplished together.
I want to begin by thanking our development partners. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we saw an unprecedented affordable housing pipeline last year, with more than 4,200 units in development. Of those, 852 opened their doors in 2022, housing more than 1,800 Portlanders and making 2022 one of our strongest production years to date.
Driving this production was Portland’s Housing Bond, which we fully allocated last year. Thanks to smart and careful stewardship of these voter-approved resources, we were able to use the remaining funds to fund three additional projects focused on increasing Permanent Supportive Housing options for those experiencing chronic homelessness in our community. Today we have 15 Portland Bond projects representing 1,859 units open or in development—that's 143% of the original production goal for Portland’s Housing Bond.
The year ended with strong progress on many of our other housing goals as well: 89% of the units for Portland’s allocation of Metro’s Regional Affordable Housing Bond are already in progress with new projects to be announced this month; and 96% of the units from our goal to create 2,000 new Permanent Supportive Housing units by 2028 are already open or in progress, in partnership with Multnomah County and the Joint Office of Homeless Services.
I also want to recognize our exceptional network of community and agency partners, who have come together to deliver for Portland families facing housing instability and uncertain futures in the wake of COVID. Together with Multnomah County, Home Forward, and more than 40 community organizations, we were able to assist nearly 24,000 households throughout Multnomah County with critical rent assistance throughout the pandemic.
Finally, I want to express my profound gratitude to the incomparable staff at the Portland Housing Bureau. Your tireless commitment to this work for the people for Portland has been nothing short of inspiring. You’ve handled these challenges with grace, patience, and ingenuity. I couldn’t ask for a better team.
Wishing all of you a happy, healthy 2023.
Best Regards,
Molly C. Rogers
Interim Director, Portland Housing Bureau