Completed a public poll on housing and density demonstrating the need and support for building more housing, including more densely developed areas and more rental properties. The report was provided to the Bend City Council, Deschutes County Commission and the community.

• Conducted August 9–12, 2021
• Professionally administered by GS Strategy Group on behalf of Bend Chamber
• Statistically valid poll of 250 likely voters in Bend

Conducted an employer-focused survey to measure the impact of housing challenges on their ability to hire or retain talent.

• Focused on Bend area businesses
• Gained directional feedback from 50 respondents

Implemented a series of ongoing, robust social media campaigns designed to share the progress of the initiative, explain the challenges and barriers to solving the problem, showcase the innovative solutions that are available now, and solicit supporters to lend their voices to the initiative.

• 28 — Average number of posts across our social channels each month
• 1,800 — Average of engagements per month (reactions, likes, shares, comments, etc.)
• 100 — Collected more than 100 names and contact information to date from interested supporters

Began connecting employers, investors, developers, property managers and the city housing department to generate interest in new mid-market housing and support for pilot projects.

Created the Bend Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Guide, a web-based “how to” manual for potential ADU development.

• 4,000 — Individuals have visited the Bend ADU guide since its inception
• 3,425 — Unique pageviews to date including introduction, financing, permitting, construction and property management pages

Hired a workforce housing expert from Cascadia Partners, who has:

• Lead a cross-industry workshop with more than 40 attendees, including developers, bankers, local and state government officials, and housing advocates to identify an actionable list of policy ideas to impact workforce housing for rental or ownership
• Presented at June’s What’s Brewing: Bridging the Gap in Mid-Market Housing
• Conducted research on local and state housing policies to help inform and support policy for the 2023 legislative session
• Produced a list of local and state workforce housing policy recommendations now being vetted with the forming coalition

Engaged with community partners to develop a strategic approach to tiered SDCs based on best practices in other communities.

Letter to Bend City Council on July 18, 2022

Developed a collaborative state legislative platform for the upcoming 2023 session that is focused on creating and enabling more mid-market housing.

Local and statewide policy concepts

• Increase access and funding for first time homeownership (i.e. down payment assistance via HOPE program) including adjusting eligibility to 150 percent average median income (AMI)
• Increase eligibility and funding for workforce housing funding streams, including raising the cap on state funding mechanisms to 150 percent AMI
• Redefine and streamline substantial completion definitions, by way of OHBA 2022 legislation
• Assess ways to increase vertical home ownership via condo development
• Modify middle income tax exemption standards for flexibility around scale, tenure, and length of exemption
• SDC modernization, including alignment with policy goals; timing of assessment and ensuring predictability

Collaborating and aligning policy platforms

• Working with developers, small-scale builders, the City of Bend, Deschutes County, non profits, builders and realtors associations, and more to align local and state policy platforms and increase our voice