Newsletter: Renter Feedback Forum, Next Steps for Housing, and Coffee in the Pearl

Published

September 15, 2026 2:19 pm

In this article

First Renter's Feedback Forum at Housing and Permitting Committee

Today, the Housing and Permitting Committee is dedicating time to hear from renters for our very first renters forum. Renters can share their thoughts, concerns, and experiences with elected officials in this committee. Don't worry if you can't make it to the meeting: this is just the first of many conversations with Portland renters that will inform our City's housing policies and priorities.

Renters regularly contact my office about their struggles getting responses and repairs from property managers of their buildings. Code violations and safety issues are rampant and the City is not fully equipped to meet renters' needs. While some tenants are trying to organize with neighbors to escalate these issues, they're also experiencing harassment and evictions. The City has a role to increase tenant protections, enforce building codes and to address rental affordability.

Sign up to testify in person or virtually on the Housing and Permitting Committee webpage.

Join Me for Coffee on Friday

Let's chat about what's happening in District 4. We'll be meeting at Matta Café, a vibrant and lush Colombian owned cafe in the Pearl District. This will be a chance for a casual conversation, the chance to connect with neighbors, and ask your questions. Order your coffee and take a seat.

Please RSVP if you are attending.

RSVP Here

Councilor Green at Matta Café

Keep Portland Housed Update: Portfolio Stabilization Request for Proposals is Live

In the Spring, I was a co-sponsor of the historic Keep Portland Housed Initiative spending package, a sweeping investment that both prevents immediate displacement and lays the foundation for a permanent public alternative to the City's housing crisis.

Part of this package was $8.8 million allocated towards Affordable Housing Portfolio Stabilization, enabling targeted debt buy-downs for rent reductions, preservation of deeply affordable units, and security enhancements.

I'm incredibly excited to see this urgent work coming to fruition. By making units safe and habitable, reducing rents and stabilizing affordable housing operations, and improving unit turnover so that more units are available, the funds will benefit and improve the conditions of tenants living in affordable housing.

Rent buy-downs for affordable housing properties represent the most cost-effective investment we can make. For about $60,000 per unit-a fraction of the $600,000+ it costs to build new housing-we can permanently reduce rents in existing affordable housing by around 18%, keeping hundreds of families stable for years to come. You can think of rent buy-downs as a down payment on Social Housing. It's a step that models key principles of social housing-permanent affordability and decommodification-right now, investing in the housing we already have.

Now, the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) has announced the Portfolio Stabilization Request for Proposals, with up to $10.6 million in available funding. This Portfolio Stabilization Request for Proposals is targeted to provide affordable housing providers within PHB's existing portfolio urgent, one-time funding to support financially distressed properties.

For this Portfolio Stabilization RFP, PHB has allocated resources among the following three categories targeting Portfolio Stabilization efforts:

1. Mortgage and Rent Buydown to reduce overall operating expenses and rents
2. Funding for unit turnover improvements to expedite filling vacancies by end of the year
3. Support for Safety and Security upgrades to improve resident experience and occupancy

Fall 2026 PHB Portfolio Stabilization RFP

Social housing image from Bora Architecture

Social Housing Panel: A model for healthy, resilient and thriving communities on October 8

Interested in social housing? On October 8^th from 5 -7 pm, I'll be participating in a panel discussion with experts in real estate, social housing design, and finance.

Register for social housing panel

Welcome Week

We invite all community members, partners, organizations, and City employees to join us for Welcoming Week 2026, a citywide celebration recognizing the contributions, cultures, and leadership of immigrants and refugees who help make Portland a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work, and thrive. Throughout the week, residents will have opportunities to engage with local leaders, connect with community organizations, learn about available resources, participate in educational workshops, and celebrate the diverse cultures that strengthen Portland.

Welcoming Week 2026

Councilor Green, his Chief of Staff Maria Sipin, and Immigrant and Refugee Coordinator Wafa Almaktari

Zenith Accountability Amendment Voted Down

On Wednesday, Council returned to the proposed transfer of Zenith Energy's City franchise to ISQ Springer Holdings.

Councilor Angelita Morillo and I introduced Green-Morillo 1, an amendment adding a third-party citizen-suit enforcement mechanism to the franchise. Portland residents could bring legal action to enforce the franchise after 60 days' written notice. The waiting period is waived if a violation poses an imminent threat to public health or essential municipal infrastructure.

The amendment did not add duties or change the franchise's compensation, scope, or term. Its goal was to help enforce the franchise's existing rules. The main franchise-transfer ordinance moved to a second reading and will return on Wednesday, September 16.

Learn more about Green-Morillo Zenith Amendment

Data Center Transparency Vote on Wednesday

Our resolution urges Portland's City Administrator and City leadership to approach decisions related to data centers without using or signing NDAs for siting, evaluating permits, assessing fees, and setting utility rates, and to keep every decision about data centers in the open where Portlanders can see it. We deserve to know what's being decided regarding our power grid, water, and neighborhoods.

I-5 Southbound Closure and BIKETOWN Discount

Beginning September 11, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is closing all lanes of I-5 southbound through the Rose Quarter by the Moda Center. All lanes of I-5 southbound between I-84 and I-405 will be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for up to five weeks.

All Portlanders are advised to Shift Your Trip: if possible, drive less or drive only during non-peak times, it also means less congestion for people without that flexibility. Please share the travel advice and information on the Shift Your Trip website with your networks.

There's also a new discount for BIKETOWN, Portland's bikeshare and scooter program. For a limited time, annual memberships are $25 off. Use code "bikei52026". Redeem in the BIKETOWN app or website when purchasing a membership.

If you need additional resources to help you get around during major closures or to communicate information with your network, visit our Closure Travel Resources or I-5 Closures Toolkit pages.

To stay informed about upcoming construction and travel impacts, sign up for travel alerts or visit TripCheck to get real-time travel information in the project area. For information on traffic impacts associated with other ODOT construction projects visit TripCheck.