BEND, OR -- The Bend Chamber of Commerce and Deschutes County Commissioners will work together to find solutions for the region’s workforce housing shortage. A recent survey of businesses shows urgent housing needs are hurting employers and hindering the local economy. Results were presented to Commissioners this week.

“How can we collaboratively put together a policy platform that all organizations; public, private, non-profit, developers, environmental groups, kind of the whole gamut of diverse interests can come together and say these are things that are good for our region,” said Sara Odendahl, the Chamber’s Government Affairs Consultant.

Commissioner Tony Debone says one issue is finding places to build homes within State Land Use guidelines, “The motivation of having a parcel with a little bit of elbow room; that’s something we can add to this equation, too. And I’m not talking urban sprawl from everywhere in Central Oregon, but just some opportunities for a little bit of land.”

After presenting the survey’s results and conclusions, Chamber CEO Katy Brooks asked the Commissioners for their cooperation. “This is a bigger problem than individual employers are able to handle. And this is where we all get together from the private, public standpoint of trying to figure out some solutions, policy-wise and strategy.”

Commissioners unanimously agreed to work with the Chamber and its partners. The next steps are to advocate with local government to take plans to the state legislature.