Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is doubling down on the state's housing crisis, and she's enlisted Joel Madsen and Tony Rocco to help lead the charge. Together, they've been appointed as the inaugural managers of the newly formed Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO), an entity born out of Senate Bill 1537—Kotek's top legislative priority for 2024. This information comes directly from an announcement made by the Governor's Office.
HAPO's creation is a strategic move to aggressively tackle barriers in housing production and increase collaboration with local communities. "We need every possible tool to cut the red tape and boost housing production in Oregon in collaboration with our local communities," Kotek stated through the Governor's Office. She has full confidence that Madsen and Rocco, who have stepped up "to take these roles will hit the ground running and break down barriers at every stage of housing production – and ultimately, get more people into homes they can afford.”
Madsen arrives at HAPO with a sturdy resume. He steered the ship at a regional housing authority and contributed to various boards and task forces, including Governor Kotek's 2023 Housing Production Advisory Council. “Creating safe and affordable places for people to call home has been my passion and motivation throughout my 20 year career,” Madsen stated, as per the Governor's Office. He is set on forging partnerships to propel housing production statewide, aiming for increased housing opportunities and government accountability.
Rocco brings over two decades of experience in the local construction industry to HAPO, having worn multiple hats—from laborer to licensed contractor to Oregon-certified home inspector. “With our partners at DLCD, the Housing Accountability and Production Office will deliver creative, collaborative, and practical resources and solutions that directly support builders and local government with the urgency this initiative demands.” as he reveals in an interview with the Governor's Office. His background equips him uniquely to understand the nuances of housing construction regulations and consumer safety.
