What We Learned at the Housing Oregon Central Oregon Housing Summit: 5 Key Takeaways

Pinnacle was proud to participate as both speakers and attendees at the 2026 Housing Oregon Central Oregon Housing Summit in Redmond. The event brought together housing providers, developers, local governments, nonprofit leaders, healthcare organizations, and community advocates from across the region to tackle one big question:

How do we create more housing opportunities while building stronger, healthier communities?

While the conversations covered everything from housing production and homelessness to wildfire resilience and land-use policy, one theme surfaced again and again: solving Oregon’s housing challenges will require far more than simply building more units. It will take collaboration, innovation, community engagement, and a shared commitment to long-term solutions

250 Attendees gathered from around Oregon and beyond.

Here are our top five takeaways from the summit.

1. Housing Is About Community, Not Just Buildings

As architects, it’s easy to spend our days focused on site plans, building layouts, and construction details. But one of the summit’s most important reminders was that housing is ultimately about people.

Several sessions emphasized that housing alone does not create stability. Affordable housing is most successful when it has community support and residents have access to healthcare, transportation, education, cultural connections, and supportive services.

One particularly impactful discussion focused on the importance of engaging communities early, listening to concerns, and building trust to foster broader support for equitable housing solutions.

For us, it reinforced a principle that has long guided our work: great housing isn’t just about where people live. It’s about enhancing lives and strengthening communities through places that create lasting value for generations to come.

2. Collaboration Is the Most Effective Housing Tool We Have

If there was a word that defined the summit, it was partnership.

Across nearly every session, speakers highlighted examples of local governments, housing providers, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and community groups working together to achieve results that would be difficult to accomplish alone.

Whether the topic was homelessness services, affordable housing production, navigating changing state regulations, or funding challenges successful projects consistently relied on creative solutions from all partners, including us architects.

Central Oregon has made meaningful progress because organizations have increasingly chosen collaboration over competition. The takeaway for all of us in the housing industry is simple: no single organization will solve the housing crisis on its own.

The best solutions happen when communities bring together different perspectives, expertise, and resources in pursuit of a common goal.

3. Affordable Housing Is an Economic Development Issue

Housing affordability is no longer viewed as solely a housing issue. It’s increasingly recognized as a workforce issue, a business issue, and an economic development issue.

Summit speakers shared how employers across Central Oregon continue to face challenges recruiting and retaining workers because many people simply cannot afford to live near where they work. When teachers, healthcare professionals, tradespeople, hospitality workers, and first responders are priced out of a community, everyone feels the impact.

Communities like Bend and Hood River are responding by exploring new funding tools, including construction excise taxes, housing bonds, public-private partnerships, and other local investment strategies. As architects, we’re continuing to collaborate on how to deliver more affordable housing.

One quote that resonated throughout the day was:

“Housing is a public utility.”

It’s a simple statement, but a powerful one. Just like roads, water systems, and other essential infrastructure, housing plays a fundamental role in supporting economic growth, workforce stability, and overall community well-being.

The conversation underscored that housing is not just about meeting today’s needs. It’s an investment in the long-term health of our communities.

At Pinnacle’s “Ask the Expert” table, many conversations centered on housing feasibility and the role of design, but the most common theme was helping developers successfully navigate city processes and community concerns by using informed data, fostering meaningful engagement, and understanding the reasons behind jurisdictional and NIMBY barriers so stakeholders can work together toward successful housing solutions.

4. New Housing Opportunities May Be Hiding in Plain Sight

One of the summit’s most interesting discussions focused on faith-based organizations and their growing role in housing development. Faith communities collectively represent one of the largest private landholding groups in Oregon.

Due to broader support and financial incentives, many congregations are taking a fresh look at underutilized land, parking lots, and excess property to explore how those spaces might help address local housing needs. Rather than viewing housing as separate from their mission, many faith communities are embracing it as an extension of their commitment to service, stewardship, and care for neighbors.

What made this conversation especially compelling was its focus on an opportunity many communities already have: land within existing neighborhoods that could help meet future housing needs. Unlocking that potential will require creative thinking, strong partnerships, and a willingness to approach development differently. It was also valuable to learn about the unique considerations of working with faith-based organizations, including navigating individual church decision-making processes and understanding how state and local jurisdictions are working to streamline paths for housing development.

The lesson extends well beyond faith-based properties. As housing professionals, we must continue looking for innovative ways to leverage existing community assets to create new housing opportunities.

5. Resilience, Policy, and Long-Term Thinking Matter More Than Ever

Creating housing is challenging enough. Ensuring it remains affordable, resilient, and sustainable for decades to come may be an even greater challenge.

Several sessions explored issues that will significantly shape the future of housing in Oregon, including wildfire resilience, insurance availability, land-use regulations, and housing preservation.

Discussion around wildfire preparedness was especially relevant for Central Oregon. Speakers highlighted practical strategies such as fire-resistant building materials, defensible space design, and emerging state-supported resilient housing plans. At the same time, housing planners emphasized the need for better public engagement and ongoing support for smaller communities navigating increasingly complex regulatory requirements.

The overall message was clear: long-term success requires thinking beyond project completion. Housing solutions must be designed to withstand environmental challenges, adapt to policy changes, and remain viable for generations to come.

Pinnacle staff: Jessica Biel, Victoria Tranca, Ryan Cain, and Briana Manfrass

Looking Ahead

The Housing Oregon Central Oregon Housing Summit reinforced something we see every day in our work at Pinnacle: while housing challenges are complex, meaningful solutions are possible when communities work together.

From innovative funding strategies and community-centered design to resilience planning and creative partnerships, the summit showcased the passion, expertise, and commitment of people across Oregon who are working to make a difference.

We left encouraged by the momentum, inspired by the conversations, and optimistic about what’s possible when housing is approached not just as a development challenge, but as a community-building opportunity.

Over the last year, we’ve seen our role as architects evolve in meaningful ways. While great design remains at the heart of what we do, our work increasingly extends beyond site plans and building layouts. Today, success is often less about answering the question, “How many units can we fit on this site?” and more about “Who can we connect you with to help make this project a reality?”

As designers, planners, connectors, and partners, we’re excited to help shape the next chapter.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If you’re exploring an affordable housing project, workforce housing development, faith-based housing opportunity, or simply trying to understand what’s possible, we’d love to connect. Sometimes the most important first step isn’t a building design, it’s bringing the right partners to the table.

Reach out to start the conversation and explore what’s possible.
Briana Manfrass, President, Briana@parch.biz, 541.388.9897×22
Ryan Cain, Principal, Ryan@parch.biz, 541.388.9897×17