State of Oregon Archives: on Welfare & Poverty

Christine Drazan: Work with non-profits, faith community on homelessness

The problem of Oregonians living on our streets has exploded. I will address the root causes of homelessness--addiction, mental health, and affordability--and work with our nonprofits, the faith community, and local governments to get people off the streets. We must help those looking for assistance. And when people commit criminal behavior, I will ensure they are prosecuted instead of given a pass. Source: 2022 Oregon Governor campaign website ChristineForOregon.com Mar 3, 2022

Gordon Harold Smith: Block grants for state and local flexibility in welfare

Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.

Source: Oregon Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test Jun 18, 2008

Jeff Merkley: Supports workfare and 2-year welfare limits

Maintain the 2-year limit on welfare benefits.
Maintain the requirement that able-bodied recipients work in order to receive benefits.
Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.

Source: Oregon State 1998 National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 1998

Kate Brown: Invest $400M in affordable, accessible housing

Every Oregonian should have a warm, safe, dry place to call home. And it should be affordable and accessible. We have to act quickly to help the chronically homeless and our children and families and our veterans. My budget makes a historic $400 million investment in housing. If you approve a $20 million bonding package early this session, we can speed up construction of 200 units of permanent housing for the chronically homeless. Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Oregon legislature Jan 14, 2019

Kate Brown: An additional $400 million investment in affordable housing

There's an old saying in politics: Don't tell me what your values are. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what your values are. This session, I am asking the Legislature to join me in supporting an additional $400 million investment in affordable housing. Addressing this crisis is not just about investing resources. It's about fixing a system that has been rigged against working families, particularly families of color. Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Oregon legislature Feb 3, 2022

Nicholas Kristof: More than a quarter of childhood friends are dead

Kristof reminisced about how possibilities seemed endless when he and his childhood friends were growing up, "but today more than a quarter of those kids are dead and it's time to talk about why." He cited problems including unaffordable housing, weak mental health support and inadequate education. Kristof said, "And it broke my heart when I returned from crises abroad only to find crises here at home and that's why I'm running for governor." Source: The Oregonian on 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial race Oct 27, 2021

Tate Reeves: $250 million investment in affordable housing

There is much more to do to ensure more Oregon families have a warm, safe, dry place to call home. My budget continues our $250 million investment in affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and rental assistance. We have also included more than $20 million to help provide a pathway to homeownership for Black, Indigenous, Latino, Latina, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, and Tribal communities, as well as adding co-op and land trust models to our system. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Oregon legislature Jan 21, 2021

Tina Kotek: We need both homeless shelters and long-term solutions

Q: Better to build temporary shelters or more affordable housing?

A: Here's one of the things that I think voters should know about me. I'm not an either/ or person. I'm a both/and person. We have an immediate urgent crisis. People are unsheltered in an unhealthy way and we have to serve them. We also need long-term solutions. I've done my part at the state with the largest investment ever for this two-year budget--$765 million statewide to build more housing. But you have to do both.

Source: Portland Monthly on 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial race Oct 15, 2021

Tina Kotek: We know housing supply is the long-term solution

We know housing supply is the long-term solution. I would bet that every person in this chamber knows where they will sleep tonight, safely and comfortably. I want that for every Oregonian. In the weeks ahead, you'll hear more about my priorities for the legislative session to serve our unsheltered neighbors statewide and make even more progress on housing production. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Oregon legislature Jan 13, 2025

The above quotations are from State of Oregon Politicians: Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Welfare & Poverty. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
*2024 Presidential contenders on Welfare & Poverty:*
	*Candidates for President & Vice-President:* V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA) Chase Oliver(L-GA) Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA) Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL) Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH) Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN) Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)	*2024 presidential primary contenders:* Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE) N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R) N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R) Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R) S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R) Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R) Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN) Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH) S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026