PORTLAND, Ore. (May. 17, 2026) — Gov. Tina Kotek announced more than $102 million in shelter funding awards Friday to 22 regional coordinators across Oregon as part of the state’s ongoing effort to expand homelessness services and stabilize housing for vulnerable residents.
The $102,459,326 in funding will support emergency shelter operations, outreach, rehousing services, navigation assistance and local stabilization programs through Oregon’s Statewide Shelter Program. The initiative is designed to give communities flexibility to address local homelessness challenges while strengthening the state’s broader response system.
“This program gives communities flexibility to successfully address their unique local needs,” Kotek said in a statement. “The scale and complexity of the problem can feel insurmountable, but we are making progress. We won’t let up until every Oregonian has a safe place to call home.”
According to the governor’s office, Oregon’s shelter program now supports more than 5,000 shelter beds statewide. State officials said the effort has helped rehouse 5,539 people experiencing homelessness since Kotek took office and is projected to rehouse another 1,500 households before the end of her first term.
The program was shaped in part by recommendations from the Sustainable Shelter Work Group, convened in July 2024 by Kotek and state Rep. Pam Marsh, a Democrat from Ashland. The work group included lawmakers, local governments, nonprofits, service providers and shelter operators from across the state.
“Our statewide shelter system serves the population identified by each community, whether that is families, the chronically homeless, veterans, domestic violence survivors, youth, or others,” Marsh said. “I am enormously grateful to the local organizations, cities and counties, nonprofits, churches, and community volunteers who sustain these services and take care of our neighbors.”
Oregon Housing and Community Services oversees the program and distributed award letters to the selected regional coordinators, which represent urban, suburban, rural and coastal communities throughout the state.
Southern Oregon organizations received several of the larger awards announced Friday. Medford-based ACCESS received $13,111,124 in funding, while United Community Action Network received $2,129,063 to support services in Douglas and Josephine counties.
Local leaders said the funding will help communities continue developing regional solutions to homelessness.
“This vital funding responds to the unique needs of rural communities like Tillamook County to lead locally driven shelter solutions by strengthening regional coordination, building capacity, and expanding equitable access on the path to housing stability,” said Elizabeth Asahi Sato, executive director of Tillamook County Community Action Resource Enterprises, Inc.
Coos Bay Mayor Joe Benetti said sustained investments and regional partnerships are critical to helping people transition from homelessness into stable housing.
“The City of Coos Bay supports Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Housing and Community Services in advancing locally driven homelessness solutions,” Benetti said. “Sustained regional partnerships and shelter investments are critical to helping Oregonians move from homelessness into stable housing.”
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