Oregon's long-simmering rent crisis is back on Congress' agenda, with Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Val Hoyle yesterday reintroducing the Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All Act, better known as the DASH Act. The sweeping federal package is pitched as a way to produce more affordable homes while delivering faster down-payment help to would-be buyers.
The bill leans on a mix of construction subsidies, new tax incentives for developers and landlords, and an advanceable first-time homebuyer credit that is intended to pay out at closing instead of forcing buyers to wait for a tax refund.
Oregon Capital Chronicle reported that Wyden and Hoyle brought the DASH Act back as Oregon grapples with rising homelessness. The outlet notes that HUD has tied Oregon with California for the second-highest per-capita homelessness rate and that the state saw roughly a 19% increase in homelessness between 2024 and 2025. Nationally, the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates a shortage of about 7.1 million rental homes that are affordable to extremely low-income renters, underscoring the scale of the gap lawmakers say the DASH Act is meant to close.
What's in the DASH Act
According to a Senate Finance Committee summary, the DASH Act would strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, create a Middle-Income Housing Tax Credit and a renter's tax credit, and authorize subsidies to spur construction of deeply affordable units. The proposal also includes an advanceable, refundable down-payment credit for first-time buyers, tax incentives for landlords, and a provision allowing some sellers to deduct losses on sales of up to $100,000.
Local officials and advocates react
Portland officials welcomed the bill's return. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson called the legislation "a gamechanger" for the city's efforts to reduce homelessness and expand homeownership opportunities, KTVZ reported. Rep. Val Hoyle, who led a House companion bill in 2024, joined Wyden in urging colleagues to move quickly so families can get what they describe as immediate relief.
What's next in Congress
The DASH Act, which has appeared in earlier Congresses as S.680, must still be considered by the Senate Finance Committee and then pass both chambers before it can become law. Its text and earlier iterations are available on Congress.gov.
Even if the bill advances, lawmakers are expected to haggle over its overall cost, what role federal policy should play in nudging local zoning reforms, and whether tax credits should primarily target the lowest-income renters or focus more on boosting the middle-income housing supply.
