Regional Interests

'OPB Politics Now:' Oregon’s Housing Crisis

Oregon Public Broadcasting

Published February 8, 2019 at 7:46 AM PST

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<p>A new triplex is pictured on the corner of Northeast Sixth Avenue and Northeast Ainsworth Street Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, in Portland, Ore. A bill in the state Legislature would change single-family zoning rules to allow more buildings like this in cities looking to grow more dense.</p> — A new triplex is pictured on the corner of Northeast Sixth Avenue and Northeast Ainsworth Street Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, in Portland, Ore. A bill in the state Legislature would change single-family zoning rules to allow more buildings like this in cities looking to grow more dense.

For years, it’s been up to cities to solve their own housing problems.

But Oregon’s housing crisis is now a statewide issue, and legislative leaders are rushing to respond.

In this week's "OPB Politics Now," OPB political reporters Lauren Dake, Dirk VanderHart and Jeff Mapes discuss two bills being considered in this year’s Legislative session that would mean huge changes in how cities and towns handle the lack of affordable housing and rising rents.