The Housing Innovation Partnership (HIP)

Driving Systems-Level Solutions to Accelerate Housing Production Across Oregon.

THE GOAL: Address Oregon’s Housing Needs

As a state, Oregon needs to produce 360,000 units of housing in the next decade. Current methods for producing housing are inadequate to meet that benchmark. Adequate housing stock is a necessary, crucial component of a vibrant economy, and Oregon’s gap is hindering the state’s economic, social, and livability measures.

Especially notable is the vast gap of housing production at the workforce income level, 60-120% area median income. Housing for teachers, hospitality workers, mill workers, bus drivers—folks that are part of the fabric of every vibrant community. In current market conditions, it is not financially feasible for developers to build workforce housing. As a result, it is vastly underproduced, creating strain on the continuum of housing in Oregon.

Through research & discussion, the Partnership has found top barriers to housing production in Oregon include:

  • Lack of local capacity to navigate the complex permitting and financial hurdles.
  • Low capacity for off-site built construction such as modular housing or panels.
  • Lack of financial capital and tools to build housing.

A collaborative of over 35 public, private, civic sector organizations formed in early 2022.

HIP Legislative Wins & Impacts

2

Project Turnkey – $125M

Converted hotels and other buildings into emergency shelters across Oregon.

    • Increased the state’s year-round shelter capacity by 30%
    • 32 shelter properties created in 27 cities
    • Provided rapid-response shelter solutions

Learn more about Project Turnkey, here.

 

2

Statewide Moderate-Income Revolving Loan Fund – $75M: A flexible, low-cost financing tool for workforce housing projects. (Apply for funding on the MIRL webpage)

Modular Factory Funding – $20M: Capital for expanding four Oregon modular producers. (See who was awarded here)

Affordable Housing Construction Loan Guarantee Fund – $20M: Credit enhancement for affordable housing construction loans. (Apply for funding on the CLG webpage)

Local Government Capacity – $5M: Grants to Economic Development Districts for planning, technical assistance, and development readiness.

 

 

 

 

2

Modular Housing Pilot Program – $25M

A follow up on the 2023 Modular Incentive Funding. Supports innovative, affordable housing pilot projects through Oregon’s LIFT program. Prioritizes:

  • Use of Oregon-produced materials
  • Development in rural regions
  • A range of housing types
  • Oregon-based manufacturers and developers

 

2

Project Turnkey - $125M

Converted hotels and other buildings into emergency shelters across Oregon. (Learn more here)

2

Statewide Moderate-Income Revolving Loan Fund – $75M

(Apply for the MIRL here)

Modular Factory Funding – $20M

(See factories awarded here) 

Affordable Housing Construction Loan Guarantee Fund – $20M

(Apply for the CLG program here) 

Local Government Capacity – $5M

(Distributed to Oregon’s Economic Development Districts) 

2

Modular Housing Pilot Program - $25M

A follow up on the 2023 Modular Incentive Funding. Supports innovative, affordable housing pilot projects through Oregon’s LIFT program.

FINDING SOLUTIONS

Through multi-sector convening and collaboration, the Partnership creates a suite of tools to overcome barriers to housing production. These include grant and loan programs for land acquisition and predevelopment work, as well as funds to increase local capacity at the city and county level to navigate the complex system of development. One innovative solution is a tax-increment financing tool that will be capitalized across the state, creating a durable fund with lasting impact in housing production.

TAKING ACTION

The Partnership’s work offers a sets of tools that offer rapid solutions to increasing housing production to help meet our state’s goals. These tools will enable Oregon communities—urban and rural alike—to build ample housing and support the Governor’s ambitious goal of creating 36,000 units of housing annually. 

“Our systems for housing production are not always designed to accommodate innovation; in fact, they were designed for a very different time and set of circumstances. This is where our collective job comes in. We need to do things differently than we have in the past to succeed.”

Representative Pam Marsh

Co-Convener, HIP

Join us in this effort to ensure adequate housing – and an abundant economic future – for Oregon.

Resources for

HOUSING PRODUCTION

The Economic Impacts of Housing Production

A 2023 ECONorthwest white paper produced with support of the Housing Innovation Partnership describing ways in which housing production can be a catalyst for economic benefit.

Oregon’s Housing Deficit

Barriers to Housing Production in Oregon

This technical report summarizes research conducted by the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research & Engagement (IPRE). Its intent was to develop a comprehensive understanding of factors that are hampering housing production in Oregon.

Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA)

The OHNA offers recommendations on how the state of Oregon, and its communities, can work together to make real progress in addressing our housing crisis by balancing regulatory authority and shared accountability with incentives and public resources to create housing solutions.

Offsite Construction

Offsite Construction for Housing: Research Roadmap

HUD report presenting key knowledge gaps and research needs to overcome barriers and challenges to offsite construction in the U.S. It covers the following six areas in need of coordinated research efforts: Regulatory and Policy Framework; Standards and System Performance; Capital, Finance, and Insurance; Project Delivery and Contracts; Labor and Workforce Training and Management; and Business Models and Economic Performance.

Defining Key Housing Construction Terms

This article outlines terminology used for innovations in building materials and the home construction process. It provides basic definitions and highlights some benefits and drawbacks of: on-site construction, stick-built construction, 3D-printed homes, modular housing, manufactured homes, and CrossMod homes.

Mass Timber

Assessment of the Mass Timber Housing Ecosystem in Oregon

Prepared by EcoNorthwest, Trillium Advisors, the Oregon iSector, Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, and Port of Portland. The report dives into the modular construction industry, the mass timber industry, workforce and entrepreneurship opportunities in this space, and the potential for mass timber modular housing factories.

 

Oregon Mass Timber Coalition (OMTC)

View the OMTC’s website to find information on the potential for and industry growth of mass timber, sustainability, and the opportunities for mass timber housing solutions.

Workforce Housing

Unlocking the Potential of Missing Middle Housing

UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation has published this brief examining barriers that developers of missing middle housing are facing, the history of missing middle housing, and why facilitating this type of development can be beneficial.