Ashland, Oregon (December 26, 2023) – The Ashland branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Jackson County Library Services are hosting a free “Tackling the Affordable Housing Shortage Head-On” discussion for the public on Tuesday, January 2nd from 4:00-5:00 pm in the Gresham Room at the Ashland Library, 410 Siskiyou Boulevard.
Oregon is in the throes of a full-blown housing crisis facing a current deficit of 140,000 units. The lack of housing is driving homelessness, increasing prices, and eroding the state’s livability. The speakers will be Representative Pam Marsh (District 5) and Brandon Goldman, the Community Development Director at the City of Ashland. Together they will discuss strategies needed to address the crisis, the shared responsibilities of local and state government, and preview policies as well as funding to be advanced in the 2024 Legislative Session.
Rep. Marsh was first elected in November 2016 and currently serves as Chair of the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment. She is also a member of these House Committees: Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water; Revenue; and the Joint Committees on Tax Expenditures, Legislative Policy and Research. District 5 reaches from Applegate to the Greensprings and includes Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, a southern portion of Medford, Jacksonville and Ruch.
Brandon Goldman is an experienced urban planner and community development professional. He has more than 24 years of experience in planning and housing development. He has long worked to promote Ashland as a livable community that prioritizes the needs of all citizens. In addition to his professional work, Goldman has also been actively involved in the community, serving on the boards of the Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center, Ashland Community Land Trust (ACLT), and the Ashland Art Center. He graduated from Southern Oregon University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
The monthly “Big Ideas” discussion series features prominent local experts speaking on relevant and timely issues affecting our community. Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Ashland Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Jackson County Library Services. For more information, please contact Jackson County Library Services at 541-774-6996.