Housing Needs Analysis

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Background

Every region of Oregon is experiencing housing availability or affordability problems, or both. In some cases, the comprehensive plan for the urban area is out of date so housing needs have not been determined. In other cases, the need may be known but the zoning code presents barriers to the development of needed housing or does not allow a variety of housing types to meet the diverse needs of residents.

This is why the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) received a special appropriation of funds for 2018-2019 to assist cities in updating their comprehensive plans and land use regulations to promote housing availability and affordability. The Oregon Housing Planning Project is financed with State of Oregon General Funds. State funds are paid under this Agreement by DLCD to a consultant, who will assist the City with completing a Housing Needs Analysis.

St. Helens was selected for this first round of funding for a few reasons. DLCD prioritized the City of St. Helens for funding because the City has over 10,000 residents, has never completed a Housing Needs Analysis, and is classified as severely-rent burdened. Severely rent-burdened means that over 25 percent of renter households in St. Helens spend more than 50 percent of their income of the household on gross rent for housing.

The overall purpose of the Housing Needs Analysis is to increase the supply and affordability of housing within the boundaries of the City. The full Housing Needs Analysis (2019), as adopted by Ordinance No. 3244, is included below.