A decision about how to fund the city of Portland's approach to a worsening affordable housing problem has taken longer than expected.
[Updated 09/08/2016] "High-stakes negotiations dragged on this week inside Portland City Hall, yet again delaying a proposal to increase public funding for affordable housing by as much as $91.3 million over the next 10 years," according to an article by Brad Schmidt.
Affordable housing has quickly become a top political issue in the city of Portland, with " with the City Council declaring a "housing emergency" and Mayor Charlie Hales pledging $30 million in the next fiscal year to fight homelessness."
The question of how to allocate spending for the issues, especially in the city's urban renewal districts, has created problems for the council in recent weeks. "Portland's current policy calls for an aggregate minimum of 30 percent within all districts. But a housing advisory group in August recommended increasing that share -- called the affordable housing set-aside -- to 50 percent," reports Schmidt.
The article includes more details about the political situation and previews the possible actions of the weeks to come.
[The article was updated to reflect the correct dollar amount of Mayor Hale's proposal.]
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