← Back to Housing, Homelessness & Affordability

Emergency Shelters vs. Permanent Housing

Factual background and legislative updates on this specific area of concern.

With limited state funding available (such as Project Turnkey, which funded motel-to-shelter conversions in Medford and Ashland), local communities constantly debate the most effective way to help the unhoused. Some funding goes toward immediately acquiring hotels or building managed emergency shelter communities. Other funding is dedicated to long-term affordable housing construction, which takes years to complete but offers permanent stability.

Live Legislation

These are real bills currently moving through the Oregon Senate related to this issue. Read the details and cast your vote below.

HB 4036

Chapter 107, (2026 Laws): Effective date April 7, 2026.

This Act sets up a bond fund to preserve low-cost housing and requires OHCS to report on low-cost housing barriers. (Flesch Readability Scor...

HB 4037

Chapter 108, (2026 Laws): Effective date June 5, 2026.

This Act changes some housing programs, agencies and laws and rules about home building. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.7). Adjusts certain t...

SB 1510

Effective date, June 5, 2026.

The Act makes technical fixes and slight policy updates to some tax statutes. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.4). Updates the terminology used...

SB 1521

Effective date, January 1, 2027.

This Act makes Portland-area cities and counties make up the usual costs to a builder when making the builder add low-cost homes. (Flesch Re...