ORS Chapter 458 — Housing and Community

ORS 458.485. Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program; rules. (1) The Housing and Community Services Department shall, after consultation with the Oregon Housing Stability Council, develop and implement the Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program for the purpose of expanding the states supply of affordable housing for low income households. (2) The department may use funds available pursuant to Article XI-Q of the Oregon Constitution and deposited in the Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program Fund established under ORS 458.490 to: (a) Acquire, construct, remodel, repair, equip or furnish qualified property that is or will be owned or operated by the State of Oregon for the purpose of providing affordable housing in this state for low income households; and (b) Pay development costs to develop qualified property that may be considered part of the cost of a capital asset under generally accepted accounting principles. (3) Interests in real property acquired by the State of Oregon or the department under this section are limited to the following: (a) A fee simple interest in land or improvements; (b) A leased fee interest, meaning an ownership interest with the rights of use and occupancy conveyed by lease to others; (c) A tenancy in common for which the states or departments interest in the property is proportionate to the contribution of the state or department to the propertys purchase price; (d) A fee simple interest in a condominium; or (e) An easement, right of way, license or similar interest functionally related to and necessary for the use of qualified property acquired by the state or department. (4) In funding the acquisition, construction, remodeling, repairing, equipping or furnishing of qualified property under the program, the department may: (a) Adopt criteria that: (A) Provide the greatest number of affordable housing units for the amount of funding provided; (B) Ensure the longest possible use of the qualified property as affordable housing units; (C) Optimize the function and duration of the affordable housing project; and (D) Take into account the means to reduce the cost of the affordable housing project while considering factors such as the quality of construction, durability, location and local design requirements; (b) Create restrictive covenants and other encumbrances or lien interests, create entities, cooperate or participate with persons or entities and contract with persons and entities; and (c) Operate qualified property. (5) Moneys made available through the program must be distributed or used statewide and concentrated in areas of this state with the greatest need for affordable housing, as determined by the department with the advice and consent of the council. (6) For purposes of implementing the program, the council shall develop strategies to: (a) Reach historically underserved communities, including communities of color and rural communities; (b) Reduce the cost of acquiring, constructing, remodeling, repairing, equipping or furnishing qualified property that is owned or operated by the state for the purpose of providing affordable housing; and (c) Involve Department of Human Services child welfare and self-sufficiency programs. (7) The Director of the Housing and Community Services Department shall report regularly to the council regarding the status and progress of the program and of the Housing and Community Services Departments responsibilities for implementing and administering the program. (8) The department shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section, including but not limited to prescribing requirements for acquiring, constructing, remodeling, repairing, equipping or furnishing qualified property that is owned or operated by the state for the purpose of providing affordable housing under the program.