PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — In a three-peat move, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has prolonged the state’s emergency homelessness order.
On Friday, Gov. Kotek’s office unveiled Executive Order No. 26-01 — an extension of the declaration that originally took effect on the first day of her term in 2023. But whereas the original order focused on addressing homelessness overall, after Oregon’s unhoused population increased by 63% over six years, the new iteration centers on its connection to mental health.
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“We have helped thousands of people move from the streets into shelter, from shelter into homes, and prevented thousands more from experiencing homelessness in the first place,” Kotek said in a statement. “But we must maintain the momentum and strengthen our focus on the intersection of homelessness, mental health, and addiction. This effort will be supported by my administration’s work to expand treatment beds and strengthen the behavioral health workforce. Working together, we can continue to reduce rates of unsheltered homelessness.”
The governor’s office reported the emergency order helped the state add 6,286 shelter beds, rehouse more than 5,000 residents and provide homelessness prevention assistance to 25,924 households from January 2023 to September 2025.
The state also noted more than 4,500 of the people who were identified as homeless during the 2024 Point-In-Time Count were experiencing severe mental illness, while more than 4,000 people were facing chronic substance use disorders. These “co-occurring challenges” point to the need for more long-term solutions, according to officials.
Under the new executive order, the state is aiming to find shelter for another 1,400 households, prevent homelessness for more than 8,000 households and invest about $20 million into intensive Permanent Supportive Housing, behavioral health programs and coordination between housing and health care entities.
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The declaration has additionally allocated $19 million toward “expanding community capacity to serve individuals connected with the justice system who are unable to aid and assist in their own defense.”
Kotek’s order is slated to expire on Jan. 10, 2027. Her office said she will reassess it every other month.
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