Portland’s top housing official, Helmi Hisserich, has been placed on paid administrative leave, the city confirmed this week. The move comes less than two years after she was hired to lead the Portland Housing Bureau, leaving many in City Hall questioning the reasons behind her sudden departure.
A Sudden and Unclear Decision
In a letter to city councilors on Thursday, City Administrator Michael Jordan announced the decision but offered little explanation. He cited the “gravity of this moment” and referenced the city’s overlapping housing, homelessness, and budget crises.
Jordan wrote that city leaders wanted to “bring on knowledgeable leadership” to help navigate these challenges, though he did not specify why Hisserich was removed from her position.
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Hisserich, who earns $240,000 annually, declined to comment when contacted by OPB. It remains unclear how long she will remain on leave.
A Veteran of Housing Policy
Hisserich was appointed in early 2024 after more than two decades managing Los Angeles’ housing and homelessness programs. Her hiring was widely praised by then–City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, who described her as “a leader with deep expertise in housing policy” capable of driving ambitious solutions to Portland’s housing crisis.
However, multiple city staff members told OPB that Hisserich’s relationship with Mayor Keith Wilson had become strained in recent months. Sources said the two often clashed over her priorities and the pace at which she implemented projects.
Tensions Over Housing Strategy
Wilson took office promising to end unsheltered homelessness, focusing on quickly opening temporary overnight shelters. His approach has drawn criticism for emphasizing short-term shelter space over long-term housing development.
Hisserich, by contrast, advocated for a more balanced approach — supporting both immediate relief and permanent housing initiatives. According to housing bureau spokesperson Gabriel Mathews, Hisserich directed her team to pursue both strategies, while Wilson pushed for a faster rollout of short-term projects.
One major point of disagreement was the mayor’s home-sharing pilot program, inspired by the Atlanta-based company PadSplit, which allows homeowners to rent out individual rooms. Wilson allocated $500,000 for the pilot this year and led a city-funded trip to Atlanta this summer with Hisserich to study the model.
PadSplit has faced criticism for weak landlord oversight, and Hisserich was cautious about fully endorsing the company. In a September interview, she supported the concept of incentivizing homeowners to rent unused rooms but stopped short of endorsing PadSplit’s model specifically.
Ongoing Projects and Leadership Changes
Before her leave, Hisserich had been overseeing several major housing initiatives approved by City Council, including the development of a “social housing” program—city-owned low-income housing—and a comprehensive housing strategy plan proposed by Councilor Candace Avalos. She was also leading a Housing Strike Team focused on cutting construction barriers such as high fees and permitting delays.
Her removal follows a pattern seen with other bureau heads in recent years. In 2024, Water Bureau Director Gabe Solmer and Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long were both placed on administrative leave before ultimately resigning.
Interim Leadership
The city has appointed Michael Buonocore as interim director of the Portland Housing Bureau. Buonocore previously served as the bureau’s interim director before Hisserich’s hiring and was formerly the head of Home Forward, Portland’s regional housing authority.
As the city continues to grapple with record homelessness and a tight housing market, Hisserich’s abrupt exit raises new questions about the direction of Portland’s housing policy — and whether City Hall’s leadership can stay united amid mounting public pressure for solutions.
