Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s senior senator sees potential to help the state’s economy by spending federal stimulus money on public housing. Rob Manning reports.

Senator Ron Wyden wants to use at least $5 billion of the proposed $800 billion economic stimulus to fix the nation's failing, government-subsidized housing.

Wyden says Oregon's share would improve homes for the state’s poorest people, upgrade energy efficiency, and employ union workers.

Ron Wyden: “It’s helping people, it’s putting people to work, and it’s in line with Oregon’s interest in being the green energy capital of the world.”

Oregon's portion of a $5 billion housing fund would be about $50 million. The  Housing Authority of Portland alone has a maintenance backlog that size.

Wyden and Portland commissioner Nick Fish both spoke repeatedly about the need to move quickly.