Councilor Mitch Green, Colleagues Pass Historic “Keep Portland Housed” Package, Launching Social Housing and Major Eviction Prevention Investments

April 16, 2026

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Media Contact: Maria Sipin, Chief of Staff

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Councilor Mitch Green, Colleagues Pass Historic "Keep Portland Housed" Package, Launching Social Housing and Major Eviction Prevention Investments

PORTLAND, OR - Portland City Councilor Mitch Green, alongside Councilors Angelita Morillo, Candace Avalos, and Jamie Dunphy, announced the passage of the Keep Portland Housed 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.

Passed as an amendment to the spring Technical Adjustment Ordinance (TAO), the package deploys millions in emergency rent assistance, debt buy-downs, and eviction protections to keep Portlanders in their homes today. Simultaneously, it makes an historic, first-time investment in social gousing, including the direct acquisition of existing commercial properties for conversion into permanently affordable, off-market housing and the capitalization of a revolving loan fund to finance future social housing development.

Councilor Green, who co-sponsored the package and was a leading voice for the inclusion of debt buy-downs and a robust social housing framework, called the vote the fulfillment of his long-time advocacy for social housing.

"The passage of the Keep Portland Housed package includes historic first-time investments in a social housing model that can directly address Portland's long term housing affordability crisis," said Councilor Mitch Green. "Starting today, the City of Portland will begin to acquire existing properties and convert them into permanently affordable, off-market housing. We also created a revolving loan fund that can support future social housing development. This is only the beginning. We have a lot more work ahead of us. But make no mistake, social housing in Portland has begun."

Green has long been a champion of social housing, advocating for public, non-market ownership as the most sustainable solution to the city's affordability crisis throughout his campaign for City Council. Today's vote represents the first concrete realization of that vision.

"This is what it looks like to align emergency action with long-term structural change," Green added. "We are slowing the flow into homelessness right now, and building public assets that will provide permanently affordable housing for all in the future."
The approved ordinance details a multi-pronged strategy funded through Rental Registration Fees, Transient Lodging Tax, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and other dedicated sources. Key investments include:

Immediate Stabilization and Eviction Defense

• $5 Million in flexible, short-term rent assistance for households at risk before eviction.
• $2 Million in expanded rent assistance and rapid rehousing for tenants actively facing eviction, including legal services and mediation.
• $2 Million in new rent assistance for individuals exiting homelessness into affordable vacancies, prioritizing shelter providers facing state funding cuts.
• $1.9 Million for eviction defense services, including full-scope legal representation and a Right to Counsel Pilot in a limited geography.
• $8.8 Million for Affordable Housing Portfolio Stabilization, enabling targeted debt buy-downs for rent reductions, preservation of deeply affordable units, and security enhancements.
• $200,000 for landlord/tenant education and tenant rights awareness campaigns.
• $800,000 for downpayment assistance for tenants ready to purchase a home.

Building Permanent Public Assets (Social Housing)

• $17.5 Million unallocated to create a new revolving loan fund dedicated to long-term housing construction, affordable preservation, and-critically-the direct acquisition of properties for social housing and permanent public ownership. The Portland Housing Bureau, in coordination with Prosper Portland, will return to Council within 120 days with a sustainability proposal including loan terms and acquisition metrics.

Additional Investments

• $8.6 Million from the Transient Lodging Tax to the General Fund.
• $5.6 Million for the Broadway Corridor (Parcel 6) in District 4 using TIF River District funds.
• $3.5 Million in gap financing for Hacienda Community Development Corporation's Monarcha project.

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Visit Councilor Mitch Green's Policy Action Area for a list of all in-progress and completed ordinances and resolutions.