Oregon and the city of Portland are facing an unprecedented housing crisis. Rising costs, stagnant wages, and a housing shortage have created a devastating combination that in Portland alone has created a 33,000 unit deficit. However unique Oregon’s housing needs are, elected officials, developers, and housing stakeholders can be better equipped to address them by adhering to a set of proven green affordable housing principles prioritizing accountability, education, public participation, affordability, and total value and building standards and rewards. Green buildings consider their environment, resources and energy consumed, and quality of life and health effects on building occupants, all while sensibly considering cost-effectiveness from a full financial cost-return perspective. Above all, green building tenets propagate energy-efficient, cost-effective environments, challenging perpetual barriers to affordability, and must be prioritized in future low-income housing developments. Transparent third-party verification systems provide assurances to taxpayers that their money is being well spent on buildings that save energy, water, and money. A synchronized process integrating designers, contractors, and building managers affirms the integrity of green building commitments, assuring accountability and protecting public investments.