Kotek’s homeless claims don’t add up

By Oregon Senate Republican Caucus
March 19, 2025

Despite Governor Tina Kotek’s claims of progress, Oregon’s homelessness crisis is getting worse. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 report, Oregon had a 22% increase in chronic homelessness between 2023 and 2024—the second largest in the nation.

“Oregonians don’t need manipulated talking points. They need real solutions,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “The numbers show that Governor Kotek’s approach isn’t working. She is the status quo, and the status quo is failing Oregonians.”

Despite billions in taxpayer spending, homelessness continues to rise. Where is all this money going, and why isn’t it making a difference? Oregonians deserve to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent and why the crisis continues to worsen. Senate Republicans have introduced a package of bills aimed at addressing the root causes of homelessness. These bills focus on accountability, mental health, addiction treatment, and tougher policies on crime:

• SB 645: Restores local control over public property use policies.
• SB 670: Toughens penalties for drug possession to help curb drug addiction.
• SB 920: Promotes better mental health and addiction services in Oregon.
• SB 1040: Limits pretrial release for people charged with serious drug crimes.
• SB 1041: Requires police to notify immigration authorities for fentanyl-related arrests and limits pretrial release until notification occurs.
• SB 359: Allows anyone to report homeless camps that are polluting state waters
so the Department of Environmental Quality can clean them up.