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7.1 Million Homes Short. Wyden's DASH Act Would Build More.

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Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR) introduced the Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All (DASH) Act on June 11, 2026. The bill would create a down payment tax credit for first-time homebuyers, a tax credit for landlords who rent to low-income tenants, and expanded subsidies for developers building housing for low- and middle-income people.

A 7.1 Million-Unit Shortage Is the Bill’s Target

The housing shortage this bill addresses is measurable and large. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates there are 7.1 million fewer affordable and available rental homes than extremely low-income families need nationwide.

7.1 million affordable rental homes are missing for extremely low-income families nationwide, per the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Oregon’s situation is acute even by national standards. A 2025 HUD annual report found Oregon tied with California for the second-highest individual homelessness rate in the country. Homelessness in Oregon rose 19% between 2024 and 2025, and state economists say Oregon must build roughly 30,000 housing units per year to close its longstanding deficit.

“The housing crisis deepens every year in Oregon and across the country, dimming people’s dreams of homeownership and pushing more working-class families onto the street because they can’t cover rent.”

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), statement on the DASH Act, June 11, 2026

What the DASH Act Would Change

The bill’s most significant structural change from Wyden’s earlier versions is the timing of homebuyer assistance. Prior Wyden housing bills required first-time buyers to wait until filing their federal taxes to receive down payment help. The DASH Act makes the credit available at closing, removing the cash-flow barrier for buyers who lack reserves to bridge that gap.

The bill also adds a tax deduction for sellers. Low- and middle-income homeowners who sell their homes for less than they originally paid can deduct the loss on their taxes for up to $100,000. This is aimed at people who bought at peak prices and now need to move despite a market decline.

Wyden has introduced similar legislation in previous congressional sessions. No prior version has passed into law. The DASH Act is currently pending, with no committee hearing scheduled as of June 12, 2026.

What You Can Do Now

  1. Call your senators at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to co-sponsor the DASH Act. Tell them the 7.1 million-unit shortage and Oregon’s 19% spike in homelessness make the bill’s tax credits and subsidies urgent. Senators on the Senate Finance Committee have direct jurisdiction over the tax credit provisions.

  2. Send a written message using senate.gov’s contact directory. Written constituent messages are tracked by volume and can influence whether a senator requests a committee hearing.

  3. Call Rep. Val Hoyle’s Washington office at (202) 225-6416 and ask her to push for a House committee hearing. A hearing is the next procedural step before any floor vote.

  4. Track the bill at Congress.gov by searching “DASH Act.” If a hearing is scheduled, contact your senator’s office immediately, as the comment window before a markup vote can be short.

Sources

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