Salem, Oregon – Oregon is preparing a new housing push aimed at helping older residents stay safe, stable and close to the communities they know, as Governor Tina Kotek announced four major actions focused on older Oregonians last week.
The effort brings together new affordable housing construction, home repair support and targeted rehousing assistance for older adults experiencing homelessness. The programs are scheduled to begin in June 2026 and are designed to address several needs at once: keeping people in their homes, creating more places to live and helping vulnerable older residents move out of unsheltered homelessness.
“Every Oregonian, regardless of age, should have a safe place to call home,” Governor Kotek said.
“Oregon is doubling down on programs that can deliver real impact for older adults who deserve to age in the communities they’ve called home for decades, near the friends and families they love.”
The actions follow polling from AARP showing that aging in place, transportation options and affordable housing are among the top priorities for older Oregonians. Kotek’s office said the broader mission is tied to housing, health care access and economic prosperity for residents at every stage of life.
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The largest piece of the package is a $50 million investment through the Elderly and Disabled Bond Program, which is expected to increase new housing developments for older Oregonians by 14%. The state will also launch the Older Adult Housing Program with $24 million to build new affordable rental homes for older residents.
Another $5 million will create the Healthy Homes for Older Oregonians program, focused on repairs and renovations that help people remain safely housed where they already live. A separate $15 million investment will support rehousing for unsheltered older Oregonians.
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Together, the state expects these efforts to rehouse more than 420 older adults experiencing homelessness, repair 1,000 homes, build more than 100 new homes and increase housing construction yield by up to 14%.
“For older adults, homelessness is especially dangerous,” said Laura Golino de Lovato, executive director of Northwest Pilot Project. “Even a short period of time without housing can seriously impact someone’s health and safety, and life.”
Stephanie Hooper, CEO of AGE+, said the work reaches beyond housing totals. “It is about creating the conditions for people to age with dignity, stability, connection, and opportunity,” she said.
Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, also pointed to the urgency, saying older adults are disproportionately represented in point-in-time statistics and often fall into homelessness after sudden illness, the loss of a spouse or an inability to pay rent.
The announcement comes after Kotek proclaimed May as Older Americans Month. Since she took office, Oregon has added more than 50,000 future housing units to the production pipeline, while new permitted housing units in the state rose 5% year over year in 2025, compared with a 3% national decline.
