January 11, 2023 4:15 a.m.

On her first full day in office on Tuesday, Governor Tina Kotek signed three executive orders related to tackling the state’s housing and homelessness crisis.

A release said Kotek wants to set an ambitious state target to increase home construction, declared a homelessness state of emergency and directed state agencies to prioritize reducing homelessness in all areas of the state.

Executive Order No. 23-04 establishes a statewide housing production goal of 36,000 per year and creates the Housing Production Advisory Council to develop comprehensive budget and policy recommendations to meet that goal.

Executive Order No. 23-02 declares a state of emergency due to homelessness in regions in the state that have experienced an increase in unsheltered homelessness of 50 percent or more from 2017 to 2022.

Executive Order No. 23-03 directs state agencies to prioritize reducing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in all areas of the state – not solely those in which a state of emergency has been declared – using their existing statutory authorities.

In her inaugural address, Kotek also proposed a $130 million investment that she believes will help at least another 1,200 Oregonians who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness move off the streets within a year, expand shelter capacity by 600 beds and prevent homelessness for more than 8,000 households.

Kotek urged the legislature to start the 2023 legislative session by taking up this investment package as quickly as possible.