March 23, 2023 11:05 a.m. 

Oregon Senate Republicans say the recently passed homelessness package is only the first step in addressing the housing backlog.

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp said, “Investments made in this package are important but temporary. We need a bold and robust housing package to follow the homelessness package”.

Senator Dick Anderson, Vice-Chair of the Senate Housing and Development Committee said, “The state needs more housing of all types and we need it now. While HB 2001 is a step in the right direction, it is only a first step in addressing our immense backlog”.

Knopp said, “If we’re going to have a permanent solution, we’re going to need to do something extraordinary. To do something extraordinary, you can’t keep doing the same thing you’ve been doing for the past decade or two or five. We have some time left in the session and it’s going to be critical that we come up with solutions that actually make a difference”.