HereTogether

What would it look like if our community came together to tackle homelessness with empathy, urgency, and real solutions? 💬💛

We’re inviting neighbors to come share stories, ideas, and hopes for what’s possible when we face this crisis together.

RSVP LINK IN BIO 🔗

 

Join us at your local library for an open, honest series of community conversations about homelessness in our region. This is a space to listen, learn, and share!

✨ Real stories
📍 Local voices
🤝 Honest dialogue

Together, we can build a more compassionate, informed future. 💬

🔗 Learn more and RSVP: LINK IN BIO

Chris Daggett, a third-generation Bend resident, once owned a home and worked as a contractor. Life took unexpected turns, leading him to experience homelessness firsthand. His journey reshaped his perspective, highlighting the profound truth that those with the least often give the most.

As Bend faces a housing crisis, stories like Chris's remind us of the resilience within our community and the urgent need for compassionate solutions.
Many people struggling with housing instability have deep local roots. They went to school here. Worked here. Cared for family here.

The community hasn’t changed — the cost of living has. And it’s pushing long-time residents out of their homes and into survival.

📰 Source: Reporting by OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

As the Oregon legislature considers HB 2138, which would eliminate most single-family zoning requirements to make middle housing easier to build, looking to other places that have cut building restrictions to foster production could provide some insight.

A recent case study from Austin, TX suggests focusing on easing housing production restrictions could make a real difference on the cost of living. Since reaching a “cost of living emergency” in 2021, the city has slashed development restrictions. The result: a flurry of new builds and decreased rent and mortgage rates.

Could a similar strategy work in Oregon? We’re keeping an eye on how Governor Kotek’s housing strategy will impact the state’s goal of building 36,000 new housing units per year.

Learn more: https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2025/02/austin-texas-rents-drop-22-from-peak-after-massive-building-spree.html