The Portland Housing Advisory Commission (PHAC) is a volunteer public advisory body that advises the Director of the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB), the Housing Commissioner and the Portland City Council on a range of housing policy and program issues.

The PHAC functions as the PHB Budget Advisory Committee, satisfying local requirements for citizen participation in the City’s annual budget process. In this role, the PHAC assists in aligning PHB’s resources—including federal funds, local general fund, and the “Affordable Housing Set-aside” of tax increment funds generated through urban renewal—to PHB's mission. The PHAC also plays a role in federal regulatory compliance. Learn more about PHB's budget process. 

As an advisory group, the PHAC does not have explicit decision-making authority or primary oversight responsibility. PHB looks to the PHAC to bring ideas, analysis and perspectives to the table; to highlight opportunities for influence between the City’s housing system and other systems; and to provide a forum for public input on housing issues. The PHAC promotes improvements within PHB and the larger housing system and increases the profile of PHB in the community. PHB asks the PHAC to:

• Provide a sounding board on significant housing policy issues.
• Advise on strategies for investment of public resources in service of PHB’s mission.
• Press PHB to implement its commitment to equity in all facets of its work.
• Assist PHB to extend and deepen its community partnerships.
• Help make the case for new resources.
• Review PHB’s broader public involvement strategy and implementation to make sure that community members and stakeholders have many opportunities to participate in PHB’s work.

If you are interested in applying to be a member of the PHAC, please fill out the application (links at left and below; available in Microsoft Word and PDF formats) and return to the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI); ONI will forward your application to the PHB. We are always accepting applications for future openings, as well as for people interested in serving on sub-committees. We encourage you to fill out and submit an application. Complete instructions are available on the form.

The revision of Portland City Code Chapter 3.38 was approved by City Council on December 15, 2010 establishing the PHAC as the housing advisory commission for the city. View Ordinance 184329. View the new City Code Chapter 3.38 language.