91ÊÓƵ

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s mission is to get more people into homeownership and affordable housing. Tomorrow, the department will roll out a shack.

Actually, a SHAC. Shaun Donovan, the HUD secretary, will be in Portland tomorrow to announce the creation of the department’s new office of Sustainable Housing and Communities.

The office’s name might not have been HUD’s doing. The language comes from legislation, introduced last year, that spelled out the creation of the office.

That act elevated the SHAC to office status. Previously, HUD had a senior adviser for SHAC.

To be fair, HUD hasn’t used the SHAC acronym. The new agency will probably end up going by SHC or OSHC.

In congressional testimony, Donovan said the office will bring together urban housing, transportation and environmental policy together under one roof. Presumably a solid, well-built roof.

Donovan and Gov. Ted Kulongoski will provide details at 10 a.m. Thursday at Portland State University’s Academic and Student Recreation Center, 1800 S.W. Sixth, Room 515.