Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has extended the state of emergency on unsheltered homelessness for a third year, this time with an increased focus on mental health and addiction. The emergency order, which Kotek first declared upon taking office in January 2023, now emphasizes the intersection of homelessness, mental health, and addiction.
Documented Progress and Ongoing Challenges
From January 2023 to September 2025, Kotek’s office reported providing nearly 6,300 new and maintained shelter beds, rehousing 5,500 Oregonians, and providing eviction prevention assistance for almost 26,000 households. However, significant challenges remain. According to a 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Oregon had the third-most unsheltered unaccompanied youth on a single night in January, behind only Arkansas and California. Oregon is also one of five states where more than half of all veterans experiencing homelessness were sleeping in places not meant for human habitation.
Scope and New Initiatives
The emergency declaration applies to regions that experienced an increase in homelessness of 50% or more between 2017 and 2022, including the Portland area, central Oregon, and Clatsop, Jackson, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion and Polk counties. The extended order specifically addresses the reality that a larger share of people experiencing chronic homelessness have serious mental illness, substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries, or other behavioral health conditions.
The new executive order directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Oregon Housing and Community Services, Oregon Health Authority, and executive state agencies to rehouse 1,400 more people using legislature-adopted funds for 2025-27, prevent homelessness for more than 8,000 households, and invest $20 million to support permanent supportive housing while expanding behavioral health capacity and improving coordination between housing and health care systems. The order also releases $19 million to help people experiencing homelessness in their defense in the justice system.
The extended emergency order takes effect immediately and remains in place until Jan. 10, 2027, unless modified or terminated.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.heraldandnews.com/oregon-gov-kotek-extends-homelessness-emergency-order-this-time-with-a-mental-health-focus/article_7b94eb53-e608-43b7-af5d-ea64ef380125.html