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With the state in a housing and homelessness crisis, Gov. Kate Brown’s proposed budget for the 2021-23 biennium aims to help Oregonians with more affordable housing options.

鈥�2020 has challenged Oregon in unimaginable ways. We have been tested to the core, and the most vital needs of Oregon families 鈥� health, safety, education, housing and the ability to learn a living 鈥� have all been challenged in new ways,鈥� Brown said.

The proposed budget includes an investment in housing and homelessness that’s nearly $66 million more than the historic 2019-21 investment levels. The increase in funds provides capital construction investments to create new affordable housing for low income and chronically homeless.

Funds have been allocated to finance the construction of 500 units of permanent supportive housing. These units will be for chronically homeless individuals, who include formally incarcerated people reentering the community, people with severe and persistent mental illness or substance use disorder, and chronically homeless veterans.

An additional $350 million has been proposed for rent assistance and $250 million for affordable housing development funds.

The budget includes plans to construct an estimated 2,168 rental units for low-income Oregonians. Funding for housing development continues to advance the state’s goal of developing 25,000 units of new housing.

The governor’s recommended biennium budget spending plan is $100.2 billion in total spending, including $25.6 billion in General Fund and Lottery Funds. It will be considered by lawmakers when they convene in Salem in January. The Legislature is controlled by Brown’s fellow Democrats.

Brown’s proposed budget also attempts to mitigate the effects of the global pandemic, forest fires and protests on the state.

While COVID-19 has put economic stress on Oregonians, Portland has also been rocked by ongoing protests over police issues. The governor is calling for reforms in the justice system, from expanding police accountability measures, reforming courts and stabilizing the Department of Corrections budget going forward.

In addition, the pandemic has exacerbated disparities in education. One of the largest challenges for rural and impoverished students is access to the Internet. Brown is proposing an investment of $118 million in broadband expansion statewide to connect an additional 50 urban and rural communities that currently lack access.

The governor’s budget also provides for capital construction, seismic and facility upgrades to schools and classrooms, including $3.5 million for a statewide assessment of the highest-risk facilities.

Lastly, the governor is working to tackle the issues of wildfires, which burned a million acres, destroyed hundreds of homes and killed at least nine Oregonians this year.

Brown’s budget dedicates $189.5 million to rebuild communities impacted by the fires. In addition, the governor’s Wildfire Economic Recovery Council will also have access to an additional $170 million of community development resources. Funds will support debris cleanup, tree removal, sheltering and housing, food assistance and community infrastructure.

The proposed budget invests $30 million in the Oregon Department of Forestry and sets aside $40 million to address recommendations from the Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response. The budget also invests $73.7 million in fire preparedness, response and prevention resources.

Sara Cline from The Associated Press also contributed to this report.