Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has launched the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) to address the state’s housing shortage.
HAPO was created last year through Senate Bill 1537 and will investigate complaints of non-compliance and work with local governments to address housing issues. It will also identify available state resources for developers and local governments by acting as a liaison between state agencies.
HAPO will operate as a joint office between the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Building Codes Division, a part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services.
“My North Star is for every Oregonian to be able to afford a home,” said Kotek in a statement. “Our economic prosperity depends on it. I believe that we can get this done. And, it is still a monumental task. Many counties, cities, and builders have leaned in to tackle this generational crisis, and the state should do everything possible to make it easier. I designed HAPO to be a missing catalyst in the equation, and I’m excited to see what we’ll get done.”
