Housing

We have a housing supply problem. Different people favor different types of approaches to the housing crisis - but I am in an “all of the above” mindset. Yes, we need affordable housing. Yes, we need financially viable projects. Yes, we can look at public housing. Yes, we can absorb more high end housing. Yes, we need more housing-first projects. And we need a robust local economy that provides good paying jobs so Portlanders can move up the economic ladder from renting to homeownership. The bottom line is that there is no “correct” way to surgically start enough housing to meet the City’s needs - the needs are too great. We need thousands of more housing starts, and it will take a mix of projects and approaches. 

What we can’t cheap out on is the will to make this happen. Portland needs to grow - and it can grow. It can grow smartly, in ways that respect our values and our community. Portland can say “yes” more often if we have the right kind of leadership…which I hope to help provide.