Senior Principal Trish Nixon and Senior Associate Mathew Dreska were recently published in DJC Oregon with their op-ed, “Affordable housing in 2026: resilience and innovation.” The article explores how Oregon’s affordable housing landscape is shifting due to changes in funding, policy, and growing demand.

Trish and Mathew highlight the move from metro bond funding to tools such as S&P-rated bonds and tax credits, as well as the opportunities created by legislation like Senate Bill 1537. They also note increasing demand for workforce housing serving households earning 90–110 percent of AMI, alongside the ongoing need for deeply affordable housing options.

Beyond financing and policy, they emphasize the growing importance of design excellence in affordable housing. “Good design involves carefully selecting materials, planning layouts to accommodate how people navigate in and around buildings, and connecting those spaces with the surrounding community. Our goal is to create quality housing where residents feel safe and that transcends the image and often misunderstood reputation of what affordable housing can be.”

Read the DJC op-ed in full, here. (subscription-based)