[Music] NBC 5 News at 5 Starts Now Senator Ron weiden stopping in Josephine County today to discuss the housing and homelessness crises impacting oregonians thanks for choosing NBC 5 News at 5 I'm Craig smullen Senator weiden was in Grants Pass this morning holding a press conference about affordable housing Solutions he discussed legislation he's been working on that he says appeals to both sides of the political aisle nbc5's Maximus osbor was there he has our top story tonight at 5 that's right I'm here at the allcare community health center here in Grant Pass where us Senator Ron wiid just spoke a little bit about the strategies he wants to see implemented when it comes to addressing the homelessness crisis this obviously coming in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Grant's Pass homelessness case I'm going to talk about how we go forward I saw the court decision I want to say let's have a blueprint you know for the future and bring people together and I think that's what we've been talking about last month the Supreme Court ruled in Grants passes favor regarding the controversial homeless laws that criminalizes sleeping in public spaces Senator widen says he's not trying to fight old battles with the Supreme Court having made their decision widen and local housing Partners spoke about ways to increase affordable housing transferring used Federal buildings to local nonprofits and governments to turn it into housing it's a smart way to make better use of empty buildings and help people Senator widen commended Grants Pass housing leaders and volunteers who echoed similar strategies on increasing housing that is one of the benefits of our community is we do have some infrastructure in town we have a lot of paralized underdeveloped land so there's quite a bit of opportunity for the small developer out there Senator weiden talked about his decent affordable safe housing for all or Dash act he is also pushing to have a vote in the US Senate next week on his bipartisan bill that looks to expand on the low income housing tax credit program with my legislation Oregon could build 200,000 units and do it in a hurry it's got help for kids expansion of child tax credit it's got a reinstitution of the uh small business research and development credit it passed the House of Representatives with 357 voting in favor Senator widen firmly stated while there are a lot of moving Parts with homelessness he believes it starts with more affordable housing in Grant's Pass Maximus osbor NBC 5 News the city of Grant's Pass is now deciding how it wants to structure the new regulations regarding time place and manner in which people can rest in public spaces mayor Sarah Bristol says regardless of what the city decides it will be operating under the current injunction that allows camping in all parks for the next 30 to 90 days