It’s Not Just a Housing Shortage. It’s a Community Emergency.
Over the past year, my concern for Oregon’s housing crisis has grown deeper and more personal. I’ve attended meetings with neighbors who feel helpless, listened to nonprofit leaders doing everything they can with limited resources, and sat in on developer conversations where skyrocketing costs threaten even well-intended projects. The April 9th Corvallis Affordable Housing meeting was a wake-up call—and a rallying cry.
This month, I want to share what I’ve learned, what the data tells us, and why it matters more than ever that we act.
Oregon Needs Over 140,000 Homes—Now
Let’s start with the numbers.
In January 2024, Oregon released a sobering report: the state is currently short over 140,000 homes just to meet today’s needs—not accounting for future population growth. Over the next 20 years, that number balloons to 500,000 homes needed to keep up with demand.
From Brigetta Olson, Community Development Manager in Corvallis:
“We’ve underbuilt housing for decades. To catch up, Oregon needs to build 36,000 homes annually over the next 10 years.”
That’s more than double our typical output. In Corvallis alone, 39% of renters are severely rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than 50% of their income on housing. For many families, that leaves too little for food, child care, or even transportation.
The result? Increased houselessness, overcrowding, intergenerational inequality, and families being pushed out of the communities they love.
What’s Standing in the Way?
At the April 9 meeting, we heard directly from housing experts and developers about the very real barriers to building more—and building affordably:
- High land costs and limited availability
- Development fees (SDCs) that can add up to $1 million to a 60-unit project
- Complex zoning and permitting delays
- Material and labor inflation post-pandemic
- Limited financing options, especially for innovative housing types like SROs or cottage clusters
One of the most impactful moments came from developer Tim Lawler, who explained:
“Just in annual expenses alone, developers face around $100,000 in insurance and property taxes before even operating a property. That’s not sustainable without support or incentives.”
The City Is Taking Action—But It’s Not Enough Alone
Corvallis leaders are making progress. From revising outdated zoning codes to funding permanent supportive housing, there’s a clear effort to move forward. In the past year alone, developers—with help from the city—have opened 350 new units of affordable housing.
Projects like:
- Green Light’s Rivergreen Landing (84 units)
- DevNW’s Southtown Community Land Trust (11 homes under construction, with 22 more planned)
- Permanent Supportive Housing at the former Budget Inn (47 units)
Still, Brigetta Olson was clear:
“This isn’t just about units. It’s about homes, communities, and giving people the stability to thrive.”
What We Can Do — As Neighbors, Advocates, and Builders
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But this is where I believe we all have a role to play—whether you’re an investor, a homeowner, or just someone who wants to preserve the fabric of our towns.
1. Support Infill and Missing Middle Housing
We need duplexes, triplexes, ADUs, cottage clusters. They fit into existing neighborhoods, offer lower price points, and fill critical gaps in the housing continuum. Show up for projects like these. Speak up when NIMBY resistance arises.
2. Push for Smarter SDC Policies
System Development Charges are important—but they shouldn’t stall projects that meet urgent community needs. I personally believe cities should explore SDC reductions or deferrals for:
- Infill housing on underused lots
- Affordable and middle-income developments
- Projects that expand the long-term tax base
This could be a game-changer in places like South Corvallis or North Albany.
3. Join the Conversation
Attend planning meetings. Read up on your city’s housing pipeline. Encourage your city councilors to prioritize diverse housing. If you’re a property owner, consider participating in the Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool, which has already rehoused 94 individuals (including 44 children) in the past 8 months.
What’s Next: Hope, Mixed-Income Models, and New Tools
The good news? We’re seeing innovation.
- Mixed-income housing (like DevNW’s planned expansion into 80–120% AMI homes) is bridging the gap between subsidized housing and market-rate.
- Community Land Trusts are making first-time homeownership possible while preserving long-term affordability.
- The MERL program (Middle Income Revolving Loan) is a creative new state-backed funding mechanism that could spark more middle-income development—if cities like Corvallis partner in the process.
Final Thoughts: This Is Personal
My passion for this topic has grown from more than market analysis. It comes from hearing neighbors’ stories, listening to data that demands action, and realizing that housing is the foundation for everything else—education, health, family, and community.
I believe investors, homeowners, and concerned citizens can all be part of the solution.
We can build smarter. We can support the right projects. And together, we can help more people in Corvallis, Albany, and beyond find a place to truly call home.
Thanks for reading—and if this resonates with you, let’s talk more.
— Ryan