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Portland’s housing affordability crisis is as bad as the media makes it out to be, the City Club of Portland says in a new report.

鈥淭he fact that this is a complex problem that resists an easy, comprehensive solution should not dissuade Portland and Oregon from acting,鈥� the report states.

The report sets forth a number of recommendations, including for the city of Portland to set aside money to buy distressed properties and then rent them out at affordable rates, according to an embargoed draft that was shared with media.

鈥淭here’s no one factor that got us into this mess that we’re in,鈥� said Nels Johnson, who served as chairman of the City Club committee, citing cash offers for housing and increased population.

鈥淭here’s no single solution that’s going to get out of this, either,鈥� he added.

The City Club formed the committee last summer to study affordable housing in Portland. The committee widened its mandate to consider the larger question of housing affordability, not just the narrow definition of affordable housing used by the city.

The committee’s findings will be presented at the City Club’s Friday Forum.

Local and state governments have become more involved because of a lack of federal housing dollars, creating a patchwork of regulations and incentives.

Overall, the report calls for a striking amount of intervention from local government.

鈥淥ur conclusion was the city should do more than it’s doing,鈥� said Johnson, a lobbyist for Thorn Run Partners.

Many of the committee’s conclusions are not likely to be embraced by multifamily developers. The city is already pursuing some, such as streamlining design review for some projects.

The recommendations include:

鈥� exploring rent control and rent stabilization on a 鈥渓imited, local basis;鈥�

鈥� the city of Portland banning no-cause evictions;

鈥� instituting measures to encourage voluntary inclusionary zoning;

鈥� the city implementing a rental registration system to aid data collection; and

鈥� the city, Portland Development Commission and Metro salting away money to purchase distressed properties during the next downturn.

Johnson acknowledged there was a 鈥渞obust back and forth鈥� during committee meetings. A minority report recommends changing Portland’s zoning to encourage greater housing diversity within neighborhoods.

Mike Westling, a communications consultant and committee member, will present the minority report on Friday.

鈥淭his isn’t the final word on housing in Portland,鈥� Johnson said of the committee’s work. 鈥淭his is an important step in the larger discussion.鈥�