In a pivotal move that reshapes Oregon’s approach to homelessness, Governor Tina Kotek on Wednesday signed House Bill 3644 into law, officially establishing the state’s first permanent, statewide shelter program. The legislation transitions Oregon away from temporary, emergency funding models and toward a long-term infrastructure designed to provide shelter access across all regions—including rural and underserved areas like Southern Oregon.
House Bill 3644 authorizes nearly $205 million in funding over the next two years to support the maintenance and expansion of emergency shelters. The plan sets measurable goals: maintaining more than 4,800 shelter beds, rehousing 3,300 households, and preventing homelessness for nearly 24,000 others. The program will be administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), which will divide the state into service regions overseen by competitively selected regional coordinators. These coordinators will be responsible for distributing funds, maintaining shelter performance standards, and ensuring equitable access to services.
For Southern Oregon—where the availability of shelter beds has historically been inconsistent—the law represents a significant opportunity to improve and stabilize local homelessness services. Counties such as Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath have all struggled with the limitations of temporary grant programs and a lack of permanent infrastructure. With the enactment of HB 3644, those counties can now plan with more certainty, knowing that shelter funding will no longer be subject to yearly political battles or emergency declarations.
The bill also requires that at least 70 percent of all state shelter funds support low-barrier shelter models—facilities designed to be accessible to individuals regardless of sobriety, employment status, or other restrictive conditions. This provision is particularly relevant to Southern Oregon, where many unsheltered individuals have been unable to meet the strict criteria of traditional shelters and have instead lived in vehicles, tents, or makeshift encampments. By prioritizing flexible, harm-reduction-based shelter models, the law aims to bring more people indoors and into the continuum of care.
Implementation of the law begins in earnest by January 1, 2026, when OHCS must finalize funding formulas, service standards, and regional boundaries. Regional coordinators will be selected by May 2026, launching the full rollout of the program. In the interim, local service providers in Southern Oregon will need to begin preparing proposals, building partnerships, and aligning services with the state’s new performance requirements.
Southern Oregon communities are expected to see both immediate and long-term impacts. In the short term, current shelters will gain a more reliable funding stream, helping prevent closures or service reductions. Over time, the region could see expanded shelter capacity, more outreach services, and better coordination between counties. Smaller communities that previously lacked formal shelter options may also benefit from innovative models such as safe-parking programs, micro-shelters, and the repurposing of underutilized facilities.
House Bill 3644 marks a shift not just in funding, but in philosophy. Rather than treating homelessness as a temporary emergency, Oregon is now embedding shelter access into its statewide infrastructure. For Southern Oregon residents—both those experiencing homelessness and those working to address it—this law brings long-needed stability, consistency, and the possibility of measurable progress in one of the state’s most pressing crises.