On August 1, 2017, Shannon Callahan, longtime Policy Director for Commissioner Saltzman, will join the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) as the Assistant Director for Policy and Strategy. With the support of Mayor Wheeler, PHB will for the first time operate with two Assistant Directors.

“I am pleased to see Shannon Callahan join the Portland Housing Bureau as the Assistant Director for Policy and Strategy,” said Mayor Ted Wheeler. “Shannon will provide the additional support and capacity necessary for the bureau to address the Housing Emergency and the implementation of the Affordable Housing Bond. As Housing Commissioner, I am committed to ensuring quality, affordable housing is accessible to all Portlanders, and look forward to this additional support to make this a reality.”

Callahan has worked closely with the Portland Housing Bureau since 2013 in her role as Policy Director for Commissioner Dan Saltzman. During her 10+ years with Commissioner Saltzman’s office, she has worked on a variety of programs and policies – enacting local payday loan regulation, creating the City’s first one-stop service center for domestic violence victims (now known as the Gateway Center), redesigning the Fire and Police Disability and Pension System and Board, and assisting with a wide range of housing policy initiatives including the affordable housing bond, inclusionary zoning, and first-step tenant protections.

Prior to joining the City, Callahan worked as a staff attorney on consumer protection legislation and provided advice to tenants on landlord/tenant law. She is a community college graduate, earned a BA at Evergreen State College, and a JD from Lewis & Clark College of Law. 

“The Portland Housing Bureau has grown substantially in the last two years with a trebling of financial resources,” said PHB Director Kurt Creager. “This new position will be especially crucial in the administration and implementation of the Affordable Housing Bond. I can’t think of a better person than Shannon to fill that role.”

Callahan will join Javier Mena, Assistant Director for Development and Asset Management, and Leslie Goodlow, Business Operations Manager, as the Senior Staff in the office of the Director.