Housing Voices

Edward Fulford
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Weekly

Housing Voices is a regional civic platform dedicated to advancing thoughtful, solutions-driven housing leadership across Oregon. We focus on the full spectrum of broad housing needs — workforce, seniors, attainable, disabled and affordable housing — and the broader systems that shape them, including land use, infrastructure, development economics, and public policy. Housing is not a single issue. It intersects with economic vitality, community stability, healthcare access, environmental resilience, and long-term regional growth. Housing Voices brings together builders, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, business owners, and engaged citizens to examine these intersections with clarity and purpose. Through structured conversations and systems-level thinking, we highlight the policies, partnerships, and practical actions that can move communities from challenge to progress. Our mission is simple but ambitious: To accelerate informed dialogue and coordinated action that expands housing opportunity, strengthens families, supports local employers, and enhances long-term community livability.

  1. 15h ago

    70% of Oregon’s Housing Land Allows Only One Kind of Home | HV21 P1

    In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Marty Fulford and Bre Irish sit down with Mary Kyle McCurdy and Jacky Lee of 1000 Friends of Oregon to explore how land use planning, zoning reform, and community organizing are shaping the future of housing across the state. From rural infill to wildfire resilience, the conversation connects environmental priorities with the urgent need for more affordable, diverse housing options. - How Oregon's land use planning program balances housing growth with protecting farm, forest, and coastal land - How redlining and exclusionary zoning shaped the neighborhoods we have today, and what is being done to fix it - What the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) requires cities to do, and how 1000 Friends is supporting implementation at the local level - How urban growth boundaries have helped Oregon avoid the scale of wildfire losses seen in neighboring states - The eight legal pathways that allow additional housing on farmland, and why streamlining them matters - Why permitting delays drive up housing costs, and how cities can remove those barriers - The case for community land trusts, social housing models, and public investment in infrastructure - How the Land Use Leadership Initiative is training a new generation of community leaders in Oregon land use policy Resources and People Mentioned: - Mary Kyle McCurdy, Associate Director, 1000 Friends of Oregon - Jacky Lee, Oregon for Everyone Manager, 1000 Friends of Oregon - 1000 Friends of Oregon: 1000friendsoforegon.org - Housing Solutions Center (developed by 1000 Friends of Oregon) - Land Use Leadership Initiative (LULI), a 1000 Friends of Oregon program - Michael Andersen, Sightline Institute (previous Housing Voices guest) - RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) studies on land use and climate - American Leadership Forum - AARP - Soil and Water Conservation District - Rogue Advocates and Rogue Climate - City of Talent, Oregon: wildfire recovery and rebuilding, as described by its mayor Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome Back and Introduction to Guests(00:01:49) - Meet Mary Kyle MacLeod and Jackie Lee from 1000 Friends(00:06:48) - Land Use Leadership Initiative Program(00:11:24) - Mary Kyle's Journey to Oregon and 1000 Friends(00:13:19) - Evolution of Land Use Policy in Oregon(00:16:04) - Zoning, Exclusionary Housing, and Buildable Land Disconnect(00:21:18) - Oregon Housing Needs Analysis and Rural Implementation(00:27:38) - Climate Change, Transportation, and Walkable Communities(00:30:13) - Wildfire Risk, Urban Growth Boundaries, and Recovery(00:34:53) - Rural ADUs and Farmland Housing Pathways(00:39:11) - Streamlining Permits and the Housing Solutions Center(00:42:33) - Magic Wand Wishes: Housing Solutions and Closing

    70% of Oregon’s Housing Land Allows Only One Kind of Home | HV21 P1

  2. Oct 13

    Fewer Kids, Closed Schools: What Housing Costs Are Doing to Corvallis | HV20

    In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Bre Irish and Marty Fulford sit down with Dr. Ryan Noss, Superintendent of the Corvallis School District and a former Superintendent of the Year, to explore the direct and often overlooked connection between housing affordability and the health of public schools. Dr. Noss shares what school consolidation, declining enrollment, and workforce housing pressures look like from the inside, and what it will take to reverse course. - Why Corvallis schools have been forced to consolidate, and what that process cost the community emotionally and financially - How the housing crisis is driving teacher and classified staff shortages across the district - The two primary factors behind declining student enrollment: housing costs and falling birth rates - What 200 to 300 housing-insecure students in a single school year looks like, and how the district responds - How funding tied to enrollment creates a compounding cycle of cuts, reduced programming, and further decline - Why 30,000 people commute into Corvallis daily, and what that means for the local economy and environment - The role of community resistance to growth in deepening the housing shortage - What the district wishes more residents understood about the ripple effects of housing instability on schools, kids, and the entire community Resources and People Mentioned: - Dr. Ryan Noss, Superintendent, Corvallis School District - Eric McGuire, previous Housing Voices guest (HV10) - Corvallis Public Schools Foundation - Oregon State University - Boys & Girls Club - HP (Hewlett-Packard), referenced in the context of Corvallis's growth history - McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act - 1000 Friends of Oregon - Oregon Student Success Act (Measure 98) - Measures 5 and 50 (Oregon property tax limitations) - Letitia Carson Early Childhood Center - Osborn Aquatic Center - Travel Oregon grant - MartyFulford.com and Cynit.net (episode partners) - Music by Karen DeWolfe and Adrian Kriz Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Episode Preview(00:02:23) - Welcome Dr. Ryan Noss, Superintendent Background(00:03:45) - What a Superintendent Does Day to Day(00:06:26) - When Housing Became a Personal and Professional Issue(00:09:50) - Declining Enrollment and Causes(00:11:12) - School Consolidation Trends Across Oregon(00:12:56) - Funding Cuts and Impact of Property Tax Measures(00:15:51) - Housing, Birth Rates, and the Doom Spiral for Schools(00:18:01) - Cost of Living, Childcare, and Education Costs(00:19:36) - Workforce Housing for School Staff(00:22:51) - Student Housing Insecurity and Support Programs(00:25:36) - Free Meals and Student Wellbeing(00:26:34) - Community Housing Conversations and Commuting Impact(00:28:57) - Repurposing Closed Schools and Early Childhood Center(00:31:21) - Reflecting on the Consolidation Process(00:33:25) - School Board Challenges and Community Reaction(00:35:11) - Levy Renewal and Funding Trade-offs(00:37:14) - Impact of Consolidation on Staffing and Families(00:39:30) - Advocacy for Housing Growth in Corvallis(00:43:07) - Magic Wand: Vision for Housing and Schools(00:46:35) - Closing Thoughts and Thanks

    Fewer Kids, Closed Schools: What Housing Costs Are Doing to Corvallis | HV20

  3. Oct 6

    Building Oregon for Our Older Selves: Elevators, Plumbing and Age-Friendly Housing | HV19

    In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Bri and Marty sit down with Michael Anderson, Director of Cities and Towns at In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Bre and Marty sit down with Michael Andersen, Director, Cities + Towns at Sightline Institute, a nonprofit "think-and-do tank" focused on sustainable policy across the Pacific Northwest. Together they explore the structural, regulatory and economic barriers standing between Oregon and the housing it desperately needs. Why zoning reforms take years to show results, and what cities should focus on in the meantime How sliding-scale SDC fees and deferred collection are helping cities like Albany unlock more housing production The hidden inefficiencies in building codes, and how small changes like plumbing reforms could cut construction costs Why the United States has only four elevator companies, and how that concentration is pricing accessible housing out of reach The growing need for age-friendly and disability-accessible housing as Oregon's population over 75 continues to rise How cottage clusters and middle housing reforms are evolving at the state level, and what to watch in upcoming rulemaking Why allowing homes on wheels on residential lots could be one of the fastest, most affordable tools to prevent homelessness The case for staying engaged with local and state government as the most effective place for citizens to create real change Resources and People Mentioned: Sightline Institute (sightline.org) Mayor Alex Johnson II of Albany, Oregon Cassie Wilson, 1000 Friends of Oregon Jamie McLeod-Skinner MartyFulford.com and Cynit.net (show partners) Karen DeWolfe and Adrian Kriz (music) Chapters (00:00:00) - Housing Voices: Sightline Institute Guest(00:01:47) - In the Elevator With Michael Segal(00:04:16) - In the Elevator With Sightline: On the Need to Reduce(00:09:49) - What's the biggest hindrance to building sustainable as well as compact(00:14:48) - Do we need more zoning in Oregon?(00:21:44) - Building Codes(00:25:00) - Oregon housing for seniors and disabled people(00:31:11) - Oregon Needs More Accessible Housing for Disabled People(00:35:55) - Middle Housing and Disabled Housing(00:38:48) - Housing and climate change(00:42:54) - Portland Planning Group on Urban Growth Boundary(00:48:41) - One thing to fix Oregon's housing woes(00:50:51) - Michael Knows Best: Get More Involved in Oregon Issues(00:53:05) - Housing Voices: A Community Conversation

    Building Oregon for Our Older Selves: Elevators, Plumbing and Age-Friendly Housing | HV19

  4. Sep 29

    What 40 Mayors Came to Albany to Learn About Housing | HV18 P2

    In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Bre and Marty continue their conversation with Albany, Oregon Mayor Alex Johnson, exploring the real challenges and bold strategies behind one of Oregon's most proactive approaches to city growth and housing development. - Anti-growth resistance on city council and how Mayor Johnson navigates it to pass housing legislation - Transportation bottlenecks in Albany and grassroots solutions from boots-on-the-ground expertise - Infrastructure challenges including aging water systems and the need for a south Albany grocery store - Innovative housing ideas including congregate housing for widowed seniors and container villages for young renters - How Albany structures System Development Charges (SDCs) to make building more affordable and accessible - The impact of constantly shifting state housing rules on city staff and developers - Mayor Johnson's 15-point strategic vision for Albany, including a regional hospital, convention center, and regional airport - How mayors across Oregon are collaborating, sharing tours, and collectively courting businesses to solve shared city problems Resources and People Mentioned: - Alexandra Ring, who facilitated Mayor Johnson's legislative testimony on housing rulemaking - Dave Montagna, Albany housing developer - Kayla Barber, Albany Deputy City Manager - Scott Kaiser, mayor recognized for leadership in medium-sized city housing - Will Warman, mayor of Selco recognized for small city leadership - Denise McGriff and Travis Stovall, recent Mayor's Leadership Award recipients - Liz Iris, who raised awareness around Oregon's power infrastructure - MultiCare and Samaritan Health System, whose merger brings a $700 million investment pledge - Ball and Timberland, employers in Millersburg whose workforce lives in Albany - Hilton Hotels and Obie Properties, companies in conversation about building in Albany - martyfulford.com and cynit.net, episode sponsors - Music by Karen DeWolf and Adrian Kriz Chapters (00:00:00) - Mayor Alex Johnson speaks about housing on Albany's(00:00:21) - Mayor of Albany on Albany's Growth(00:02:34) - What other challenges have the city faced?(00:06:24) - Loss of housing in central Oregon(00:10:23) - Local housing advocates speak out(00:14:07) - What has been the best thing about the SDC in Albany?(00:15:53) - What aren't you building?(00:17:04) - Mayor of Albany on Albany's Growth(00:21:56) - Would a Grocery Chain Partner in Corvallis?(00:23:41) - What would you do for Albany if you were mayor?(00:29:19) - Man Found Help for Stray Cats(00:32:56) - A veteran in the tent(00:36:05) - Housing Voices: Practical Solutions Meet

    What 40 Mayors Came to Albany to Learn About Housing | HV18 P2

  5. Sep 22

    How Albany Cut Permit Times From 18 Weeks to Two and Started Building | HV18 P1

    In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Bre and Marty sit down with Albany, Oregon Mayor Alex Johnson II to explore how one mid-sized city is quietly becoming a model for housing development done right. From cutting permit times from 18 weeks to two, to building homes across every income level, Mayor Johnson shares the hands-on leadership and community-driven strategies that are transforming Albany. - How Albany overhauled its System Development Charges to incentivize middle-income and small-home construction - The Housing Affordability Task Force that brought 47 community voices together to drive real policy change - How permit timelines were cut from 18 weeks to two weeks and what that means for builders - The full housing continuum Albany is building, from tiny home villages and veteran housing to starter homes and high-end apartments - The personal story behind why housing became Mayor Johnson's driving mission - How Albany is composting biosolids to generate city revenue and reduce costs - The "If I Were Mayor" youth contest and how student input is shaping city planning - How deferred SDC payments at occupancy are unlocking more development capital for builders Resources and People Mentioned: - Alexandra Ring, League of Oregon Cities - Liz Irish, mortgage and residential housing professional - Matthew Rutgers, Albany Community Development Director - Sophie Adams, Albany Economic Development Manager - Farm Workers Housing Development Corporation, Maria Aguera - Hub City Village tiny home community - Hayden Homes, Meadowlark development - Valor Place, Linn Benton Housing Authority, Donna Holt - First Story homeownership program - Governor Kotek - Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley - Representative Gomberg - Mayor Kyle Palmer, Silverton - martyfulford.com and cynit.net, episode sponsors - Music by Karen DeWolfe and Adrien Kriz Chapters (00:00:00) - Housing Voices: Mayor Alex Johnson(00:01:41) - Housing Voices: Albany Mayor Alex Johnson(00:03:17) - Alex Smith on His Run for Mayor(00:06:18) - Albany Mayor's Housing Affordability Task Force(00:10:50) - If I Were Mayor(00:15:10) - Mayor Pro-Tem on the Waterfront(00:18:46) - Tiny Home Villages in Albany(00:21:34) - Planning Commission and the online peer support(00:27:45) - Gov. Cuomo on the Housing Affordability Task Force(00:29:49) - Portland Mayor on Infrastructure Issues(00:35:37) - What kind of housing have you been working on for our vets?(00:41:07) - Housing Voices: A conversation about housing

    How Albany Cut Permit Times From 18 Weeks to Two and Started Building | HV18 P1

  6. Sep 15

    What Nobody Tells You About How a Housing Project Actually Gets Built | HV17

    In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Bre and Marty sit down with Ryan McAlister, president of Gerding Builders and the first non-family member to lead the employee-owned construction firm, for a candid conversation about what it actually takes to build housing in Oregon. Ryan breaks down the development process from raw land to ribbon cutting, the real barriers slowing projects down, and why the housing crisis runs deeper than most people realize. - The difference between market rate, affordable, and middle income housing, and how each is funded - Why the condo liability problem is killing a key pathway to homeownership and what Oregon is doing about it - What cottage cluster housing is, how it works, and why the first local example being rental-only is a missed opportunity - The full development timeline for a large apartment project, from concept to construction - Why Oregon affordable housing funding has been pre-allocated through 2027, creating a coming gap in new projects - How power grid capacity has become one of the newest and most urgent constraints on housing development - How local jurisdictions, permitting processes, and zoning requirements shape where and how fast projects get built - Why the starter home market has collapsed and what that means for a generation trying to build wealth Resources and people mentioned: - Girding Builders - Oregon House Bill 2001 - Representative Gomberg, Ways and Means Committee, Oregon State Legislature - MUPTE (Municipal Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption) - Oregon cottage cluster housing legislation (passed 2023) - Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) - Opportunity Zones and census tract designations - Marty Fulford at martyfulford.com and fulhouserealty.com - Cynit.net, Cyber, IT and Auditing Chapters (00:00:00) - Housing Voices(00:02:13) - Housing Voices(00:04:10) - Employee-Owned Businesses at Gerding Builders(00:05:53) - Projects at Gerding Real Estate(00:07:40) - What's The Difference Between Market Rate and Affordable Housing?(00:14:09) - Affordable Housing and Middle-income Housing(00:15:38) - Cottage Homes and Condominiums(00:18:45) - What's a Cottage Cluster?(00:24:00) - How Does a Cottage Cluster Get Developed?(00:28:51) - Private Utility Companies Limiting Housing Development(00:36:44) - What's The Choke Point for Affordable Housing?(00:38:35) - Sen. Rob Portman on Affordable Housing Funding(00:40:56) - Does Affordable Housing Build Longer Than Market Rate Housing?(00:42:27) - Affordable Housing Funding lapses(00:43:59) - How Do Local Authorities Play Into Your Decision to Develop?

    What Nobody Tells You About How a Housing Project Actually Gets Built | HV17

  7. Sep 8

    Oregon Is Spending Lottery Money to Solve a Housing Crisis. Here Is Why That Should Worry You | HV16

    In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Bre and her co-host sit down with Oregon State Representative David Gomberg, who represents House District 10 along the Oregon coast, to discuss the tangled relationship between housing, infrastructure funding, and state policy. Representative Gomberg brings his perspective from the powerful Ways and Means Committee to break down how Oregon is attempting to address a housing and infrastructure crisis with shrinking resources and growing demand. - Why small coastal towns face disproportionate infrastructure burdens, including a $150 million dam replacement and a $12 million sewer crisis in a town of just 1,100 people - How Oregon uses lottery bond funding to finance critical water and sewer projects and why that system has both strengths and serious limitations - The state budget shortfall triggered by federal tax changes and reduced federal spending, and how it is forcing painful cuts to housing programs - The impossible trade-offs lawmakers face when choosing between shelter funding, eviction prevention, and affordable housing development - How one third of coastal housing stock sits vacant as second homes or short-term rentals, removing it entirely from the affordable housing market - The tension between expanding urban growth boundaries, protecting farmland and forest, and creating enough buildable land for affordable housing - Oregon's senior property tax deferral program as a tool to keep older residents in their homes without gutting local tax revenue - What Representative Gomberg would prioritize with a magic wand, starting with getting people off the streets and into stable, community-integrated housing Resources and People Mentioned: - Oregon Ways and Means Committee - Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office - League of Oregon Cities - Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services - SB 1599 - Oregon tax disconnect legislation from the 2025 short session - SB 1537 - Governor's housing production bill, which created the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPA) - Oregon Senior Property Tax Deferral Program - Senator Ron Wyden (mentioned in reference to federal-local infrastructure coordination) - martyfulford.com, fulhouserealty.com and cynit.net, partners of Housing Voices - Music provided by Karen DeWolfe and Adrian Kriz - HousingVoices.com Chapters (00:00:00) - Housing Voices: On Break(00:00:35) - Oregon State Representative Chris Gomberg on Housing and Infrastructure(00:02:16) - Representative Bob Gomberg on Housing Voices(00:08:04) - Oregon Senate Question: Infrastructure Funding(00:13:11) - Oregon Lottery Funding, and SB 1599(00:20:27) - Local perspectives on the housing crisis(00:30:18) - Oregon legislator on taxes and increasing revenue(00:39:10) - Affordable Housing: A Difficult Challenge(00:39:57) - Top Oregon Issues of 2017(00:42:04) - How to reach out to your legislator in the upcoming year(00:47:39) - Thank You for Your Work on Oregon Issues(00:49:07) - Housing Voices: A Community Conversation

    Oregon Is Spending Lottery Money to Solve a Housing Crisis. Here Is Why That Should Worry You | HV16

  8. Sep 1

    The One Fix That Could Unlock Housing Across All 241 Oregon Cities | HV15

    In this episode of Housing Voices, hosts Bre and Marty sit down with Alexandra Ring, housing and land use lobbyist for the League of Oregon Cities, an organization representing all 241 cities across Oregon. Alexandra breaks down the complex realities of advocating for housing policy across vastly different communities, from large urban centers to small frontier towns, and explains why there is no single fix to Oregon's housing crisis. - How the League of Oregon Cities represents 241 cities and sets its legislative priorities through a member-driven voting process - Why infrastructure, particularly water and sewer systems, is the most common and urgent barrier to housing production across Oregon - The impact of Measures 5 and 50 on local government budgets and why cities are being asked to do more with significantly less funding - How small cities with limited planning capacity are disproportionately burdened by housing legislation designed for larger jurisdictions - The challenge of holding cities accountable for housing outcomes when so many barriers are systemic and interconnected - Why eminent domain is rarely a practical tool and what carrots and sticks actually look like in housing policy - How community members can take direct action by engaging with their local city councilors, mayors, and planning commissions - Why infrastructure funding remains the single most unifying priority for LOC member cities heading into the next legislative session Resources and People Mentioned: - League of Oregon Cities (loc.org) - Oregon Housing and Community Services - Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPPO) - Representative Gomberg, Housing Voices podcast guest - Jamie McLeod Skinner, Housing Voices podcast guest - Senators Wyden and Merkley, Representatives Bonamici and Benz - Measures 5 and 50 - System Development Charges (SDCs) - Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) - Clackamas County (referenced for extended public office hours) - martyfulford.com and cynit.net, episode partners - Music by Karen DeWolfe and Adrian Kriz Chapters (00:00:00) - Housing Voices: Alexandra Ring(00:01:38) - Alexandra Ring on Housing and Cities(00:05:32) - How Many Oregon Lobbyists Are Attorneys?(00:06:47) - Stateside: Housing issues across the state(00:08:43) - Oregon Legislative Committee on Housing and Infrastructure(00:14:23) - How the Local Elections Committee works(00:23:34) - Oregon Cities on the State Budget(00:25:57) - Oregon Local Issues: Measures 5 and 50(00:34:22) - What Would the Local League Consider a Win on Housing?(00:39:49) - Top 3 housing priorities for the state(00:42:24) - Local perspectives on housing(00:50:33) - Oh, Magic Wands!(00:51:49) - How to Get Involved in the Housing Debate(00:56:57) - Housing Voices: A conversation about housing

    The One Fix That Could Unlock Housing Across All 241 Oregon Cities | HV15
See All (27)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Housing Voices is a regional civic platform dedicated to advancing thoughtful, solutions-driven housing leadership across Oregon. We focus on the full spectrum of broad housing needs — workforce, seniors, attainable, disabled and affordable housing — and the broader systems that shape them, including land use, infrastructure, development economics, and public policy. Housing is not a single issue. It intersects with economic vitality, community stability, healthcare access, environmental resilience, and long-term regional growth. Housing Voices brings together builders, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, business owners, and engaged citizens to examine these intersections with clarity and purpose. Through structured conversations and systems-level thinking, we highlight the policies, partnerships, and practical actions that can move communities from challenge to progress. Our mission is simple but ambitious: To accelerate informed dialogue and coordinated action that expands housing opportunity, strengthens families, supports local employers, and enhances long-term community livability.

Information

  • Creator
    Edward Fulford
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Housing Voices

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