Housing Diagnosis: A Prescription for Oregon’s Future

Here’s the obvious truth: we’re not building enough homes. And, the homes we are building are far too expensive and taking far too long to complete.

The 2025 legislative session has kicked off, bringing with it an opportunity to address Oregon’s housing crisis in real and lasting ways. Serving on the House Housing and Homelessness Committee, I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and tackle the hard questions: How did we get here? What’s broken? And most importantly, what can we fix?

So, let’s talk about housing. It’s one of those issues that inspires big, bold rhetoric but often collapses under the weight of inaction. “Affordable housing for all,” “inclusive communities,” “build back better”—the slogans are nice, but the reality is less so. Think about this: Oregon is staring at a housing deficit of over 550,000 units. And, for small communities along the coast like those in Tillamook and Clatsop counties, that deficit isn’t just a statistic; it’s a daily reminder of a seemingly impossible challenge. Fixing it will take a lot more than big promises—it’ll take practical, conservative solutions that chop through bureaucracy, empower communities, and deliver real, tangible results.

---

Diagnosing the Housing Shortfall

Diagnosing Oregon’s housing crisis is a lot like finding the source of a toothache. At first glance, the pain seems straightforward, but dig a little deeper, and you will uncover a tangle of causes: decay here, pressure there, and sometimes an infection that’s been brewing unnoticed.

A strong housing strategy needs a variety of home types to serve people at all stages of life and circumstances. Starter homes, family-sized units, senior-friendly housing, and affordable apartments all have a place. And they need to be sprinkled across the state, near resources like schools, public transportation, and jobs. When communities offer a mix of housing options enmeshed with essential services, they create opportunities for residents to thrive and for neighborhoods to flourish. It’s not just about building houses; it’s about creating communities.

Across Oregon, housing construction is lagging way behind what’s needed to keep up with demand. Communities in Tillamook and Clatsop counties are no exception. Thousands of new housing units are needed over the next two decades, yet construction rates are almost non-existent.

The reasons are obvious: outdated zoning laws, regulatory red tape, and a system that stifles development instead of encouraging it. Builders face a daunting maze of obstacles, from permitting delays to land use restrictions. Each layer of the bureaucracy slows progress and discourages investment, leaving communities stuck in a cycle of unmet needs. The solution? Cut the red tape and let builders build. It turns out, the free market actually works when it’s given the space to do so. Is it perfect? No. But, with fewer barriers, developers can move faster and bring housing to market where it’s desperately needed.

---

The Governor’s $200 Million Band-Aid

So, what is Oregon doing about it? Well, in 2023, the Governor rolled out her plan to tackle Oregon’s housing crisis with a landmark $200 million proposal. She called it ambitious—but was it enough? On the surface, that sounds like a big step forward, but when you dig deeper, it becomes clear that money alone won’t solve the problem. Oregon, like David, is staring at a Goliath. A system so massive and complicated it’s obstructing our progress to build the 550,000 new homes Oregon needs over the next twenty years. And, divide that $200 million by the number of units we need to build, and it barely registers as a fraction of what’s necessary. So, it’s easy to wonder if we have put the right ammunition in our sling to fell this giant.

And, here’s the twist: that $200 million isn’t even earmarked to build homes directly. Instead, it’s meant to help cities and counties navigate the regulatory maze and address critical infrastructure needs. On paper, that might sound reasonable—after all, small towns often rely on a single overburdened planner, and many have aging water and sewer systems that can’t support new housing. But think about what this really means: the state’s regulatory morass has become so tangled that we now have to spend money just to work within the system. And $200 million spread across the entire state? That’s not a solution; it’s a gesture. Expecting such a small pot of money to solve such a big problem is like handing someone a single LEGO brick and asking them to build a mansion. What we need isn’t more Band-Aids; it’s bold, systemic reform to cut through the red tape and empower local governments to lead the way.

The real issue is that this plan treats the symptoms, not the disease. Without meaningful reform to the way we plan, permit, and build housing, no amount of funding will be enough to move the needle. Instead of relying on Band-Aids, we need a bold strategy that cuts through the red tape and empowers local governments to get the job done.

---

Making Affordable Housing a Reality

Even with the market running at full tilt, there’s no escaping the fact that some people will struggle to afford housing without help. The cost to build affordable housing in Oregon currently averages a staggering $475,000 per unit, according to a recent op-ed in The Oregonian. At that price, we’re not just talking about inefficiency—we’re talking about a system that is fundamentally unsustainable. When housing costs soar to nearly half a million dollars per unit, it’s no wonder developers steer clear of affordable projects. The math simply doesn’t add up.

This is why targeted incentives, streamlined permitting, and infrastructure grants are more important than ever. We need smarter, market-aligned solutions. The reality is that private developers won’t build homes when the math doesn’t pencil out. However, with policies that encourage affordability—like reduced fees for affordable projects, expedited approval timelines, and strategic public-private partnerships—we can create pathways for developers to tackle this critical need.

---

No More NIMBY (not in my backyard)

Now, dear reader, here’s a hard truth: restrictive zoning laws due are a major reason housing development is stuck in neutral. Wealthy neighborhoods often block new housing projects, forcing all the growth into lower-income areas. This isn’t a failure of the free market—it’s a result of government overreach.

Let’s not sugarcoat it (and as a politician who is still practicing dentistry, you can guess how I feel about sugar): If we believe in equality of opportunity—and conservatives do—we need to reform these outdated zoning rules. By opening up more areas for housing development, especially in neighborhoods with access to good schools and infrastructure, we create the kind of equity that strengthens communities and broadens opportunities for everyone.

Zoning reform isn’t just a bureaucratic necessity; it’s a moral imperative that speaks to the heart of fairness and opportunity. It’s about ensuring that every Oregonian has a fair shot at safe, affordable housing—no matter where they live. Yes, it will ruffle the feathers of the NIMBY crowd, but fairness has never been about making everyone comfortable. It’s about doing what’s right, even when it’s inconvenient.

---

Empowering Local Communities

Small communities like those in Tillamook and Clatsop counties face unique challenges that demand custom solutions. These communities often operate with limited resources due to their smaller tax bases. Walk into any of our local city and county planning offices and you will likely find one person wearing all of the hats, making it nearly impossible to tackle complex, large-scale problems like housing development. Why does that matter? Because the government has made the process to apply for housing funds require a legion of experienced personnel. And, when local governments lack the capacity to apply for state or federal grants or navigate a sea of bureaucratic red tape, well, opportunities to address housing shortages slip through their fingers.

So, how do we fix it? Empowering the communities. That means providing more than just token assistance. They need flexible grants and simplified application processes that make resources accessible without requiring an army of consultants to decipher eligibility requirements. Streamlined support systems can help them create and execute housing strategies tailored to their unique needs.

But, more than that. No one knows their needs better than the people who live in their community. These smaller jurisdictions need autonomy to make decisions based on the realities they face on the ground. It's not about dictating solutions from Salem or Washington, but about respecting the local expertise and insight that these communities bring to the table. By cutting unnecessary bureaucracy and putting decision-making back into the hands of local leaders, we’re not just enabling solutions—we’re fostering the self-reliance and initiative that define the spirit of rural Oregon.

---

A Conservative Vision

The housing crisis isn’t just a liberal talking point; it’s a real problem that demands conservative solutions. We can’t solve it by expanding government or throwing money at the problem without addressing the underlying issues. Here’s the path forward:

• Cut the red tape that’s holding back development.

• Reform zoning laws to allow more housing in all communities.

• Support local governments with the resources and flexibility they need to lead.

At the same time, we can acknowledge where the market falls short and make targeted investments that complement private-sector efforts.

Housing is the foundation of the American Dream. For communities on Oregon’s North Coast and beyond, it’s time to clear the obstacles and let that dream thrive. Much like addressing a dental issue, fixing our housing crisis requires not just a surface-level solution but a deep, thorough approach that gets to the root of the problem. It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing better. That’s not just good governance—it’s the right thing to do.