As affordable units sit empty, new Portland project breaks ground

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — An affordable housing groundbreaking drew an unexpected guest recently — a longtime resident who says subsidized housing changed her life after she was priced out of her home of three decades.

Julia Stone, who now lives in the nearby Watershed affordable housing complex, attended the ceremony for Jamii Court, a 96-unit development planned for the West Portland Park neighborhood. Stone said moving into affordable housing restored a sense of community she had been missing.

“It just fills my heart with joy,” Stone said.

Looking back, she described her time at Watershed as transformative.

“Being at the Watershed gave me a sense of community again, that I didn’t really ever have before,” Stone said. She later added, “I found it to be the most beautiful chapter of my life.”

Now, nearly two decades later, Stone said she returned to celebrate what she hopes will be a new option for others facing similar struggles.

The project comes as affordable housing across the region faces ongoing concerns about vacancies. A December 2025 report from real estate firm CoStar found more than 1,900 affordable housing units sitting empty citywide, about 7.4% of the city’s 25,400 affordable units. The report did not specify why units were vacant, though city leaders have suggested some may be tied to tenant choice in where they live.

At Jamii Court, officials say they are taking steps to avoid similar outcomes.

“One of the ways that you make sure that people move in and actually use the units is through having community connected property management and also through keeping the rents affordable,” said Christine Lewis, a Metro councilor.

Lewis said applicants will undergo income eligibility checks to ensure they qualify for subsidized housing and do not pay more than 30% of their income toward rent.

Still, questions remain about affordability in a rapidly rising rental market. Nearby two-bedroom apartments list for roughly $1,500 on Apartment.com.

Lewis said the goal is to ensure long-term affordability while maintaining access for low-income residents.