Housing Needs Analysis
In 2023, the City of The Dalles with assistance from MIG and Johnson Economics, conducted a series of discussions on a regional Housing Needs Analysis (HNA) update that will serve as a critical tool for making informed decisions and developing strategies to address citywide housing issues more effectively. With the help of City Council, Planning Commission, and a project Advisory Committee, this work will help provide an understanding of housing needs, identify gaps and disparities, support data-driven decision-making, plan for future growth, promote housing equity, and foster collaboration among stakeholders. The HNA plays a crucial role in shaping effective housing policies and strategies that enhance the well-being and quality of life for residents within the City. The HNA was formally adopted by City Council in December 2023.
Prior to the 2023 HNA update, the City last completed an HNA in 2016 with assistance from Angelo Planning Group and Johnson Economics through a Technical Assistance Grant from the Department of Land Conservation and Development. This work resulted in amendments to The Dalles Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Development Ordinance, as well as outlined recommendations to increase housing supply. Some of these recommendations were later included in subsequent housing code amendments in 2019 and 2021.
In the years since the 2016 HNA, the state of Oregon has continued to grapple with a growing housing crisis and rising number of residents experiencing houselessness. To better address this crisis and meet the diverse housing needs of all Oregonians, the Oregon Legislature adopted House Bill 2003 in 2019, which requires cities with a population over 10,000 to conduct a regional HNA every six to eight years to analyze current and future housing needs. This analysis will identify the types of housing needed for current and future residents, and ensure the city has enough residential land available to meet housing needs for the next 20 years.
Following the adoption of an HNA, each city must then adopt a Housing Production Strategy (HPS) with tools, actions, and policies to address housing needs and affordability identified in the HNA. The HPS seeks to increase housing production and meet present and future housing demands in The Dalles. The project involves input from diverse stakeholders through an Advisory Committee, comprising representatives from various sectors such as housing developers, real estate professionals, school districts, employers, and community members, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing housing challenges. In addition to the Advisory Committee, the HPS process will include multiple work sessions with the Planning Commission and City Council throughout 2024.
2023 Housing Needs Analysis Adoption Schedule
Related Documents
A complete list of documents and discussion material related to the HNA adoption can be found below.
- The Dalles Housing and Residential Land Needs Assessment, 2023
- The Dalles Buildable Lands Inventory: Methodology and Results, 2023
- General Ordinance No. 23-1404
- City Council Agenda Staff Report: General Ordinance No. 23-1404
- Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 621-23
- Planning Commission Staff Report: CPA 55-23
- Comment Received: Fair Housing Council of Oregon, November 15, 2023