Policies that Increase Access to Affordable Housing

One of the biggest barriers to building affordable housing is finding land that is suitable, available, and financially feasible for a nonprofit developer to use. The single most effective policy lever a County Commissioner can pull is to make county-owned land available for affordable housing through a community land trust model.

When the county has properties that are no longer in use or parcels that come into public ownership through tax foreclosure, dedicating those sites for affordable housing reduces the cost of development, keeps the land permanently in community hands, and ensures the homes built there remain affordable for future generations.

My Stance on Public Financing for New Residential Projects

We urgently need to expand housing options in Wasco County, and projects that add units, such as Basalt Commons, demonstrate the potential to ease pressure on the tight rental market.

My stance on public financing for any private residential development is clear: Any public financing needs to match the public benefit.

• For a project to deliver a true community benefit, the rents must align with local wages to be within reach of the people who actually live and work here.

• The use of General Fund dollars for projects that do not deliver affordability or meet a clear community need is not appropriate.

• County residents shouldn’t have to worry that their property taxes are being handed to a private developer, and taxpayer-supported funds shouldn't be on the table if a project isn't delivering a meaningful public service.