February 28, 2023 11:00 a.m.

On Tuesday, in her first testimony since her inauguration, Governor Tina Kotek urged the Oregon State Legislature to pass $155 million to reduce homelessness in all regions of Oregon.

House Bill 5019 was heard in the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness. A release from the Governor’s Office said it would provide urgent, statewide assistance to support an emergency response and prevent and reduce homelessness.

The legislation includes these investments to achieve specific outcomes in communities across the state;

*$85.2 million to rehouse people experiencing homelessness and expand shelter capacity

*$33.6 million to prevent homelessness

*$27.4 million to rehouse people experiencing homelessness and expand shelter capacity in the 26 rural counties within the Balance of State Continuum of Care

*$3.9 million for emergency management response

*$5 million in a direct allocation to federally recognized Tribes

Governor Kotek urged lawmakers to make this investment now and build upon it in the 2023-25 biennium.