The Housing and Community Services Department shall serve as the primary state agency for information about agriculture workforce housing as defined in ORS § 315.163. The department shall perform the following duties related to agriculture workforce housing information:

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(1) Develop an information center for agriculture workforce housing financing information. The department shall consult with private organizations and the Agriculture Workforce Housing Facilitation Team established pursuant to subsection (3) of this section in developing and operating the information center. The information center shall include provision for access by the Internet.

(2) To the extent practicable, simplify the application process for funding agriculture workforce housing projects as defined in ORS § 315.163.

(3) Establish an Agriculture Workforce Housing Facilitation Team to provide an ongoing discussion forum for state and local government agencies that are involved with agriculture workforce housing. Team members shall include the Housing and Community Services Department, the Occupational Safety and Health Division, the State Department of Agriculture, the Department of Land Conservation and Development, the Employment Department and the Oregon State University Extension Service. The Housing and Community Services Department shall also invite Rural Development and the Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Labor, local planning agencies and other interested persons to be members of the team.

(4) Ensure that homeowner assistance programs engage in outreach efforts to contact agricultural workers.

(5) Promote the establishment and use of individual development accounts by agricultural workers and others.

(6) Use a statewide map of crop diversity to determine housing needs, and facilitate the development of agriculture workforce housing in appropriate locations.

(7) Look at creative ways to provide agriculture workforce housing, including but not limited to time-share housing, cooperative housing, mobile and portable housing and modular housing.

(8) Work with private businesses, state agencies and nonprofit organizations to maximize the development of agriculture workforce housing.

(9) To the extent practicable, refer housing-based conflicts to dispute resolution processes. [2001 c.625 § 1; 2007 c.71 § 141; 2013 c.750 § 29]

456.585 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 456 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

Sections 33 to 35, chapter 223, Oregon Laws 2023, provide:

Section 34 of this 2023 Act is added to and made a part of ORS § 456.548 to 456.725. [2023 c.223 § 33]

(1) As used in this section, ‘community housing supporting agricultural employees’ means a housing development that:

(a) Is within an urban growth boundary;

(b) Is within 20 miles of significant agricultural employment as identified by the Housing and Community Services Department;

(c) Is promoted for residential use by agricultural employees and developed with amenities suitable for agricultural employees and their families;

(d) Consists of a multifamily dwelling or a cluster of buildings, including manufactured, prefabricated or modular housing, housing produced through a three-dimensional printing process or other housing developed using innovative construction types; and

(e)(A) Is subject to an affordable housing covenant requiring that the units are maintained for a period of no less than 60 years as affordable to rent for low income households, as described in ORS § 456.270 to 456.295;

(B) Is operated as a consumer housing cooperative; or

(C) Is operated under a model approved by the department designed to preserve affordability or control of the property by its residents.

(2) The Housing and Community Services Department shall provide one or more grants to qualified housing sponsors for the purposes of developing community housing supporting agricultural employees.

(3) In awarding grants under this section, the department shall prioritize applications:

(a) From a developer that is a nonprofit housing corporation that serves agricultural workers;

(b) From a developer that is a nonprofit that promotes housing for agricultural employees or other needs of agricultural employees, or from a developer that has entered into a partnership with a nonprofit housing corporation that serves agricultural workers for the purposes of developing the community housing;

(c) Where other funding for the housing development has been dedicated or can be leveraged by the grant;

(d) Where the housing development will be located close to significant agricultural employment; or

(e) Where the housing development will include or will be near specific characteristics or amenities designed to support or attract agricultural employees and their families.

(4) Grants awarded under this section may be used for any project costs for the development or predevelopment of the community housing supporting agricultural employees.

(5) A qualified housing sponsor receiving grants under this section shall agree to provide information to the department to report to an appropriate interim committee of the Legislative Assembly, in the manner provided in ORS § 192.245, on the use of the grant on or before September 15, 2027. [2023 c.223 § 34]

Section 34 of this 2023 Act is repealed on January 2, 2028. [2023 c.223 § 35]

[2018 c.47 § 1; 2019 c.639 § 8; 2019 c.640 § 13; 2023 c.13 § 35; renumbered 456.603 in 2023]