The housing crisis has created the largest gap in affordable housing our city has ever seen. We know firsthand that increased housing costs are a poverty driver, with “households in poverty at high risk of living in unstable or substandard housing” (Poverty in Multnomah County Report). The 2016 Federal Poverty Level for a family of four is $24,300. According to the County, 1 in 3 residents are in poverty and cannot meet basic needs and 23% of children in the County live in poverty. While the population has increased by 26% over the past 10 years, the poverty rate has grown by double that amount (65%), with the increase highest among people of color. With more low-income families being displaced due to a lack of adequate and affordable housing options, and with even less homeownership opportunities available, the varied services that Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East provides is needed now more than ever.