Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Homelessness Emergency Executive Orders

Background on the Governor's Executive Orders

Governor Kotek has signed three executive orders to address the state's housing and homelessness crisis. The executive orders are in alignment with Oregon Housing and Community Services' (OHCS) vision and goals. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) is working closely with OHCS to begin planning for the course of action ahead. We know the key to achieving positive outcomes for the people we serve requires strengthening coordination and collaboration with our local partners through the lens of humanity.

We look forward to sharing updates as the work progresses. You can sign up for news updates from OHCS on their website. You can also visit the Governor's website for important announcements.


Frequently Asked Questions

Updated April 10, 2023

Why was only $79.2 million made available?
The funding appropriated in House Bill 5019 is $85.2 million for Shelter and Rehousing efforts. HB 5019 requires that OHCS set aside $3 million for the Housing Choice Landlord Guarantee Program to ensure participants of the Rehousing goals can benefit from the Landlord Guarantee Program. OHCS also set aside an additional $3 million for a flexible funding pool to ensure that the overall goals of the emergency order are met. These two set-asides bring the total amount available to EO regions to $79.2 million.

How were funding decisions made?
The final funding recommendations for each community were made by a team of subject matter experts, many of whom have experience implementing and leading homeless services projects in Oregon and throughout the country. The review panel provided recommendations to leaders at OHCS and the Governor’s office for final review and endorsement. The final funding amounts are based on many factors, including the appropriation available for EO 23-02, funding requests, details laid out in the Community Plans, an assessment of readiness to achieve the goals, and a detailed funding formula that took unsheltered homelessness, poverty, and severe rent burden of low-income households into account. 

Who is receiving these funds?   
This program will fund either the county or continuum of care lead in the regions identified in EO 23-02. 

When will the funding be delivered to local communities?
The funding is expected to be available to agencies on April 28. Ho​wever, communities must sign the final agreements and return to OHCS for final execution by April 14 to receive funding. If communities do not sign and return these agreements on or before that date, the delivery of funding will be delayed.

How much funding will each region receive?
The final allocation amounts, along with the final requested amounts from each EO Region are shown in Table 1:
​EO Region​​
​Final Amounts
​OR-500 - Eugene/Springfield/Lane County CoC
​$15,514,697​
​OR-501 - Portland/Gresham/Multnomah County CoC​
​$18,168,728​
​OR-502 - Medford, Ashland/Jackson County CoC​
​$8,802,686​
​OR-503 - Central Oregon CoC
​$13,874,565​
OR-504 - Salem/Marion, Polk Counties CoC​​
​$10,410,019
​OR-506 - Hillsboro/Beaverton/Washington County CoC
​$7,994,011​
​OR-507 - Clackamas County CoC
​$4,435,294

What goals must each region accomplish with these funds?
The final goals are shown in Table 2:
​EO Region​​
​​Final Rehousing Goal
​Final Shelter Bed Goal
OR-500 - Eugene/Springfield/Lane County CoC
​247
​230​​
​OR-501 - Portland/Gresham/Multnomah County CoC
275
​​​138
​OR-502 - Medford, Ashland/Jackson County CoC
​​133
​​67
​OR-503 - Central Oregon CoC
​161
​111
​OR-504 - Salem/Marion, Polk Counties CoC
​​158
​​79
​​OR-506 - Hillsboro/Beaverton/Washington County CoC
​121
​61
​​OR-507 - Clackamas County CoC
​​130
​​0

How will this work be monitored?
OHCS has a variety of monitoring and reporting tools available to ensure the communities are on track and getting the support they need to meet the outcomes of the EO. The grant agreements with local communities require data collection and reporting. Data on outcomes and accomplishments will be delivered to OHCS and reported on a frequent basis through a public-facing dashboard to ensure OHCS can provide additional support if needed in a timely manner. Monitoring the implementation of the projects closely will ensure that the state is collectively accomplishing our goals.

How confident are you that each area/county will be able to reach their outcomes/goals?
MAC groups have worked hard with local and national experts over the last few months to develop well-thought-out plans. We are confident that with the right support, each community will be able to accomplish its objectives and serve those experiencing homelessness with dignity and care. We are also committed to providing Technical Assistance wherever needed, ensuring that support is provided to local communities as soon as possible, and building a working partnership to solve problems together. 

What happens to the funding that is not used? Will the counties/areas keep it or will it be recaptured?
OHCS expects all funding requested to be used to achieve the outcomes outlined in each agreement with local communities. However, OHCS may recapture funding that is not used or from communities that are unable to accomplish their goals to ensure we are collectively achieving the executive order’s objectives. If a community accomplishes its objectives before Jan. 10, 2024, they may request an extension through the end of the biennium to use any additional funding already allocated to them to go above and beyond the goals stated in their agreements with OHCS. However, any use of EO funding after Jan. 10, 2024, must be consistent with HB 5019 allowable costs and result in outcomes above the community’s final goals.

Are the plans that the EO regions submitted final?
The primary goal of this effort is to achieve statewide outcomes on an unprecedented timeline, which requires us to do things differently. Communities worked with an ambitious timeline to create Multi Agency Coordination (MAC) groups and develop Community Plans. The plans may need to be adjusted as this work progresses to ensure the MAC group and state can meet its goals.

What happens after Jan. 10, 2024?
The Governor’s emergency declaration took effect on Jan. 10, 2023, and will remain in effect until Jan. 10, 2024, unless rescinded or renewed by the Governor. The Governor will evaluate the order every two months.
Updated 4/10/2023
​What is a state of emergency?​
The Governor of Oregon can declare a state of emergency by proclamation at the request of a county governing body or after determining that an emergency has occurred or is imminent, as laid out in ORS 401.165​.

On Jan. 10, 2023, Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency (EO 23-02) and signed two additional executive orders focused on state agencies (EO 23-03) and housing production (EO 23-04).​​

Where can I read the executive orders?
Updated 1/26/2023

​What is a state of emergency as it relates to homelessness?
​The emergency declaration states, "There is a state of emergency in the emergency areas due to unsheltered homelessness. I declare this emergency for these areas because they have experienced an increase in unsheltered homelessness of 50% or greater since 2017."

What prompted the state of emergency?
According to the most recent Point-in-Time Count data, the impacte​d areas experienced an increase in unsheltered homelessness of 50% or greater since 2017.

When will it start, and how long will it last?
​​The declaration took effect on Jan. 10, 2023, and will remain in effect until Jan. 10, 2024, unless rescinded or renewed by the Governor. The Governor will evaluate the order every two months.​

How will the state of emergency help reduce homelessness?
The Governor has requested that the legislature approve an early investment funding package as soon as possible to achieve the stated goals:

  • Prevent 8,750 households from becoming homeless statewide;
  • Add 600 low-barrier shelter beds in emergency areas;
  • Rehouse at least 1,200 unsheltered households in emergency areas.​

What areas of the state are included in the emergency order?
The geographic areas included in the emergency correspond with federally designated continuums of care. A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Please find a map of the continuums of care here. 
  • ​​​Metro region Continuums of Care​1 
  • Central Oregon
  • Eugene, Springfiel​d/Lane County 
  • Medford, Ashland/Jackson County 
  • ​Salem/Marion, Polk Counties
  • ​Clatsop, Linn, and Malheur Counties have been added
1​Portland, Gresham/Multnomah, Hillsboro, Beaverton/Washington County, and Clackamas County continuums of care.

My community wasn't included in the state of emergency, but we have a local homelessness crisis, too – can we be added to the designation?
County governing bodies may submit a request to be included in the emergency declaration by emailing a request to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. The Governor has reviewed and considered requests from Wasco, Clatsop, Linn, Lincoln, and Malheur Counties to determine whether they met the following requirements for inclusion:
  1. ​​​​​​The unsheltered population in 2022 must be greater than 30 households, and
  2. The community has declared a local state of emergency related to homelessness, and
  3. At least one of the following is true:
    • ​​​​​​​​​Unsheltered homelessness increased by 50% or more between 2017-2022;
    • The rate of unsheltered homelessness in 2022 was 80% or greater.​
Each jurisdiction that submits a complete application will be notified of the Governor’s determination. So far, Clatsop, Linn, and Malheur Counties received approval to be included in the state of emergency. 
 
The Governor and Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) are committed to partnering with local communities that want to be a part of the solution. Additional information regarding the state's homelessness services is available here:
​How are Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) working together?
OHCS and ODEM believe that with collaboration between local communities and the state, we can collectively respond to this emergency. This work demands a whole-community approach. Coordination and support of multiple state agencies are necessary to ensure a successful response to a crisis of this scale. Local governments, community-based organizations, culturally specific organizations, business communities, landlords, people with lived experience, and others are critical partners in ensuring cohesive and swift action.

OHCS and ODEM are establishing an integrated structure and will work with local communities to develop plans that combine emergency management with best practices for housing our neighbors in need.​​

What is Oregon Housing and Community Services role?
  • ​​Establish and implement policies, and objectives, with input and endorsement from local communities.
  • Administer funding via pass-through agreements but not provide direct services.
  • ​Organizationally structured to:
    • ​Create a team focused solely on this work, which will report to Housing Stabilization Director 
    • Provide hands-on oversight of geographic regions to ensure state expectations, as outlined in agreements with local communities, are being met and local needs are known 
    • ​Create accountability to outcomes, including data and program evaluation,​ to ensure progress toward goals
  • ​Elevate when local municipalities are not meeting policy and/or implementation expectations.​
What is Oregon Department of Emergency Management's role?
  • ​​​Establish Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) groups, locating local physical space in all identified communities, if necessary, to respond/scale up when required.
    • Meet in person within each community to set up an emergency operations center with each local community
    • Set daily and weekly objectives, in coordination with OHCS, to collaborate, support, and implement local plans to achieve the emergency order's outcomes using regional-driven strategies 
    • Make necessary pivots in response/recovery to ensure outcome objectives are met 
    • ​Augment local capacity by marshaling other resources as needed 
  • In coordination with OHCS, participate in collaborative discussions with MAC groups to assess capacity deficits and collaborate to resolve unmet needs to the greatest extent possible.​
Does the emergency order give OHCS new tools to help address unsheltered homelessness? 
​A state of emergency is one important tool available to facilitate an urgent and strategic approach to responding to unsheltered homelessness. The emergency order also allows OHCS staff, at the direction of the Governor, to take the following actions:
  • Exercise all authority and discretion vested in the state agency by law to expand low-barrier shelter, rehouse people experiencing homelessness, and prevent homelessness. 
  • Expedite agency processes. Prioritize and expedite any processes and procedures, including but not limited to rule-making processes, that may be used, consistent with each state agency's authority and other pertinent laws to reduce or prevent homelessness. 
  • As consistent with each agency's authorities, prioritize the reduction and prevention of homelessness in their planning, budgets, investments, and policy-making decisions. 
  • ​Procurement and legal sufficiency exemptions. For purposes of an emergency exemption from competitive procurement requirements, an emergency exists as that term is defined in ORS 279A.0I0(l)(f). For the purposes of an emergency exemption from legal sufficiency review requirements under ORS 291.047(5)(b) and OAR 137-045-0070, an emergency exists. Reliance on such exemptions to address the emergency shall be at the direction of the Governor or her delegee.​​
What is Oregon Health Authority’s role in this work? 
​​Executive Order 23-03 directs all state agencies, including OHA, to prioritize ending homelessness and take all available action to prevent or end homelessness within their existing authority. Agencies must also report on their plans and progress by March 31, 2023. OHCS and OHA are hard at work planning to implement the 1115 waiver, which is a significant opportunity to provide additional federal funding for ending homelessness in Oregon.  

In addition to ODEM and OHCS, other agencies will support the implementation of EO 23-02 if needed. ODEM will ensure coordination with all necessary state agencies to respond to the needs identified in the community plans to the greatest extent possible.​
Updated 3/27/2023
What is a Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group?​
A Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group is a group for interagency management planning, coordination, and operational leadership to provide strategic coordination, identify resources, and manage goals.

The MAC group will lead in the development, completion, and deployment of the community plan. Local communities will work to identify interventions based on the needs of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness within the service region. The MAC groups will work continuously with OHCS and ODEM throughout the year to review data and amend plans as needed to ensure goals are met.

The local MAC group will include:
  • ​​Local jurisdictions (homelessness and emergency management staff)
  • Public housing authority 
  • Local homelessness agencies 
  • Rapid rehousing service providers 
  • Shelter developer/operator 
  • Landlord associations 
  • ​Behavioral Health providers​
​Will there be one MAC group for the entire state or one for each local area?​
Each Continuum of Care region identified in EO 23-02 will establish its own MAC group, including the individual counties in tri-county metro region.

Will the Portland metro region have one MAC group, or will each Continuum of Care (CoC)/emergency area within the metro area have its own?​
​​There will be one MAC group for each county, which will report to the larger tri-county MAC group. The larger tri-county MAC group will include the leader(s) of each tri-county MAC group, the Metro regional governments housing director, and the Governor or her designee.

The establishment of a MAC group in the tri-county Metro region will be led by the Governor or her designee (EO 23-02).​

What is the community planning template and what is its purpose?​
​​This template guides communities through a short planning process to surface barriers to housing more people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, identify gaps in your local service array and target the state's investment toward the strategies that align most closely with your preexisting priorities. The community planning template is to streamline the state's funding process for homeless services under EO 23-02, balancing the urgency of the crisis with intentionality and care.

How will MAC groups communicate with each other to share knowledge?​
​ODEM and OHCS will regularly convene all MAC groups to discuss outcomes and problem-solve together.

How can elected officials work with the MAC groups? ​
​It will take all levels of government working together to make the progress Oregonians are demanding. Local elected officials should receive regular updates from the staff in their jurisdiction who are participating in the MAC groups. It’s important to note that the technical experts participating in the MAC groups will be doing intense, detailed, on-the-ground work to connect individuals with specific services and housing opportunities during this emergency period. In the long term, communities across Oregon must establish ongoing structures and investments to maintain housing stability for Oregonians who were recently unsheltered, provide ongoing homelessness prevention support, maintain shelter operations, and create more permanent supportive housing. Elected leaders can be great partners in advocating for and advancing those long-term efforts.

How will MAC groups work with Tribal Nations? ​
Preventing and ending homelessness means we also prevent and end Native homelessness. MAC groups may use the funding to support tribal programs in their geographic county region, and in the current iteration of the Governor’s plan, Tribal Nations will also get a separate allocation from the s​tate.
Updated 3/8/2023
What is the breakdown of funds for this work? ​​

When will the funding become available to jurisdictions?
EO 23-02 Funding Timeline graphic
EO 23-02 Funding Timeline (updated 4-10-23):
  • ​April 14 – Grant Agreements sent to grantees for signature.
  • April 21 – Signed grant agreements and insurance and fiscal information (W9's etc.) returned to OHCS. *
  • April 28 – Funds will be available. *​​
* Funding availability based on when signed agreements are returned.

Does each county need to declare an emergency to access the funds and participate in the effort?​
​If your county was declared under the State of Emergency, you are not required to declare an emergency.​​

Is the Governor's early investment funding package one-time or ongoing?​
​​The Governor's early investment funding package is a one-time request for resources. However, the Governor's Recommended Budget expands on these initial investments to provide ongoing resources to address the homelessness crisis statewide.​

Is this additional funding or part of our already budgeted dollars?​
The Governor's proposed early investment funding package includes redirected and new resources. The expansion of those resources in her Governor's recommended budget is additional funding.
​
Will the Legislative funding be released before the end of the session?​
​​The Governor has asked the legislature to move her early investment funding package for this work forward as soon as possible.

How long can this money stretch into the future? Is the early investment funding package enough?​
The Governor's proposed early investment funding package will achieve the following goals by Jan. 10, 2024:
  • ​​Prevent 8,750 households from becoming homeless statewide; 
  • Add 600 low-barrier shelter beds in emergency areas; 
  • ​Rehouse at least 1,200 unsheltered households in emergency areas.
The Governor's recommended budget expands upon these resources to continue making progress toward reducing unsheltered homelessness statewide during the entirety of the 23/25 biennium.

​This collective effort will require ongoing, coordinated homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing investments, and the Governor reflects this need in her budget. Oregon needs short- and long-term solutions. The early investment funding package is a strong starting point and the Governor's recommended budget will sustain these efforts.​​

Has the funding allocation been determined, and what is the methodology?​
Funding will be determined through the community plans submitted by local MAC groups in each emergency area, which uses publicly available data to assess local needs and interventions. Community plans must be resubmitted to the state by March 31, 2023. Technical assistance by national experts is available to support local MAC groups in developing and submitting their plans. The state's goal is to be responsive to community plans, while ensuring the state meets the goals of the emergency order by Jan. 10, 2024.

Will funding be available for operational costs of facilities, programs, and services, in addition to the setup that gets us to the measurable target goals for 2024?​
​​Community funding needs and associated requests will be submitted through the Community Plan template.​
​​
Can the funding be used for support services? ​
​​​The funding for this 12-month surge effort includes homelessness prevention, shelter and navigation, rapid rehousing, capacity support, and sanitation services as eligible expenses to support interventions in meeting the overall goals.​

Will funding cover administrative costs? Is there flexible funding?​
​​Yes. Funding can cover reasonable administrative costs and flexible funding to support the capacity of culturally responsive organizations to support the delivery of interventions to meet the stated goals by the set date.

Can we use these resources to bring in temporary staff?​
​​​Yes, as long as this intervention allows the region to meet its stated goals by January 2024.

Will funds be allowed to staff case management and resource navigation resources?​
Yes, as long as this intervention allows the region to meet their stated goals by January 2024.​​

Can the rapid rehousing funds be used to buy down rent in excess of housing vouchers issued by housing authorities? ​
Although rapid rehousing funds can be used to support voucher holders experiencing unsheltered homelessness, MACs should work with their local public housing authorities to ensure that pre-paid rent assistance, which is an eligible use of the rapid rehousing funding, does not constitute a duplication of benefits for voucher holders.​​

Will any of the early investment proposed funding package be available for housing construction?​

​The goals of the emergency order are to: 

  • Prevent 8,750 households from becoming homeless statewide;
  • Add 600 low-barrier shelter beds in emergency areas;
  • ​Rehouse at least 1,200 unsheltered households in emergency areas.
Given that the stated goals must be achieved by January 10, 2024, housing construction is not an allowable use of any funding associated with the emergency order.​

Can the state provide resources for training shelter staff (mental health first aid, trauma-informed care, etc.)?​
​Yes, please submit an OHCS Training and Technical Assistance request form.​

​Is the expectation that all money is spent by January 2024?​
​The Governor has set specific targets for reducing and preventing unsheltered homelessness by Jan. 10, 2024. Approved funding must be spent by that date to ensure the target number of households are served. If communities exceed their goals, there may be flexibility to spend the remaining funds beyond this date.

Who will receive the funding? Will each Continuum of Care (CoC) receive funds directly or is the recipient the MAC group lead? ​
​This will vary by region and will include county governments, CoCs, or non-profits depending on each community’s composition, capacity, and unique needs.
​​
Who makes the decision on spending money?​
OHCS and ODEM are working to establish clear lines of decision-making, shared accountability and ownership between the MAC groups being established in each region and the CoC or other entity that​ receives and operates the funding. We look forward to releasing additional clarity on this important question in the coming weeks.​
Updated 4/10/2023
What types of shelters can be funded using the emergency funds?​​
​Congregate or non-congregate shelters must meet habitability requirements that include minimum safety, sanitation, and privacy standards as outlined in 24 CFR § 576.403, regardless of whether 24 CFR § 576.403 independently applies to such shelters apart from this Agreement. Shelters must be structurally sound. Tents and other structures without hardened surfaces that do not meet these minimum standards are unallowable. ​​Shelter units may be in the form of Non-Congregate Free-Standing Units if they provide the following amenities:
  • Heat
  • Electricity 
  • The ability to close and lock a door
  • Showers and restrooms onsite
  • Hard-surface walls and roofing
  • Food preparation facilities available onsite or with an action plan to provide meals to shelter residents​
Are there sub-populations within the goal of 1,200 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness that we must focus on?​
​​Point-in-Time data, while imperfect, is a universal measuring tool that reveals trends in our data that must drive local interventions in order to effectively meet the needs of those we serve. Within this surge effort, it is incumbent on us all to remain in shared accountability to our commitment of centering racial justice. Faltering on this commitment means repeating mistakes of the past that we are seeking to rectify.

How will we measure success?​​
​As stated in the executive order, the success of this 12-month surge effort is defined by meeting the following goals:
  • Rapidly rehouse 1,200 households experiencing unsheltered homelessness in emergency areas;
  • Create 600 new shelter beds in emergency areas;
  • Prevent 8,750 households from becoming homeless statewide.
What’s the accountability, and how will the state be monitoring this work?​
The people of Oregon deserve an efficient, accountable, and equitable state government. OHCS, ODEM, and the Governor are committed to tracking the work outcomes and ensuring the funding explicitly supports the local interventions identified within the community plan. OHCS will require frequent reports on the number of people being re-housed, the number of beds being created, and the number of people served with prevention resources. OHCS will also set clear expectations for providers to ensure the emergency funding is going toward services that align with the best available practices for ending homelessness.

How is “homelessness prevention” defined? How do we effectively measure prevention and determine if that prevention of homelessness is sustained?​
The homelessness prevention resources in the Governor’s early investment package (HB 5019[DO1] ) will be distributed through existing programs with program requirements related to the definition of prevention.​

How is successful "rapid rehousing" for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness defined?​
​A successful rapid rehousing project has low or no barriers to entry, length of participation is short to medium, housing placements are high, rates of return to the homeless system are low, and employment and income gains are modest. Rapid rehousing is a permanent housing intervention that means an individual or family has a lease or sublease agreement in their own name.​

Can the state work with HUD to get more vouchers? ​
​​An effective homeless response and prevention system requires coordination and partners across all levels of government. OHCS is actively working with HUD, among other key federal partners, to identify where Oregon needs resources to be layered.
​
Will shelter beds added after January 2022 be considered “new” since the funding allocation is based on the 2022 Point-In-Time count?​
No.

Do individuals already in shelter who are permanently housed during the emergency operation count toward housing goals?​
​No. As outlined in the early investment funding package attached to Executive Order 23-02, the stated goal for rehousing is to “rehouse at least 1,200 unsheltered households in emergency areas,” therefore, individuals already in shelter during the emergency operation do not count towards re-housing goals.​​

Will clients currently in shelter programs be eligible for the rapid rehousing strategies established by these funds? ​
​No. As outlined in the early investment funding package attached to Executive Order 23-02, the stated goal for rehousing is to “rehouse at least 1,200 unsheltered households in emergency areas,” therefore, individuals already in shelter during the emergency operation do not count towards housing goals. Communities can and should still continue to rehouse persons experiencing sheltered homelessness through existing funding sources.

Does extending programs initiated after the January 2022 Point-In-Time count and operated using one-time federal dollars (ARPA) set to expire in the next biennium violate the “supplant” clause?​
No, this does not violate “supplant” as long as the program would be ending “but for” these funds.​

How do we access available state lands to support this work? ​
​Oregon Department of Emergency Management is working with the Department of Administrative Services to identify suitable properties for potential investment under EO 23-02. Properties in natural hazard-prone areas will not be considered.​​​

How can we plan for helping people experiencing homelessness who refuse low-barrier services?​
​​​Technical assistance by national experts is available now and throughout this process to support local MAC groups in addressing challenges like this. One strategy is doing community development within encampments to find creative solutions to meet people where they are. Creating leadership from the encampments can bring about change. Other strategies include street outreach, adding capacity for encampment strategies, peer supports, and encampment decommissioning – the number of people that become family and want to cohabitate.​

Do Conestoga Huts meet the emergency shelter requirements?​​
​​​Conestoga Huts can be used as emergency shelters if they meet the habitability standards and other requirements for emergency shelter outlined in the OHCS agreement. The services that would be available in a traditional emergency shelter (housing navigation, supportive services, trash pickup, 24/7 security, etc.) must also be available to those staying in the Conestoga Huts. Use Conestoga Huts for emergency shelter must increase bed capacity for the local shelter system and be part of an overall housing-focused program.​​

Do RVs in good repair that meet the emergency shelter requirements qualify as emergency shelter?​
RVs can be used as emergency shelters if they meet the habitability standards and other requirements for emergency shelter outlined in the OHCS agreement. The services that would be available in a traditional emergency shelter (housing navigation, supportive services, trash pick up, 24/7 security, etc.) must also be available to those staying in the emergency shelter RVs. Use of RVs as emergency shelter must increase bed capacity for the local shelter system and be part of an overall housing-focused program.

To qualify under this funding, RVs must be owned by the local jurisdiction or partner agency delivering services to people experiencing homelessness. RVs owned by the clients do not qualify as emergency shelters. Safe parking for RVs owned by the clients also does not meet the criteria for emergency shelter.

Do RVs in good repair, hooked up to sewer and water and on at least month-to-month leased or owned land qualify as permanent housing?​
​If the household is not seeking traditional permanent housing, and their housing preference is an RV, it can be counted as permanent housing. Permanent housing for an RV should include being in livable good condition, hooked up to sewer, water and electricity, and on at least a month-to-month leased or owned land. Please be sure to check on any local habitable structure codes, and safety and sanitation codes for RVs. The RV would need to comply with any local codes as well.​​
Updated 4/10/2023
What is the Housing Production Advisory Council and how do I learn more?​
There are 25 members on the Housing Production Advisory Council (HPAC) that bring a broad set of disciplines and represent Oregon’s diverse demographics and geography. This includes OHCS Director, Andrea Bell, as an agency member of the council. This council will direct and guide the state to reach the annual housing production goal of 36,000 additional housing units at all levels of affordability. You can learn more about HPAC on Governor Kotek’s website​.
Updated 3/27/2023