Sam Diaz#

Sam Diaz is the Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Oregon, the state’s leading land use advocacy organization, a position he has held since October 2021.1 Under his leadership, the organization has advocated for housing production within existing urban areas while opposing urban growth boundary expansions it views as counterproductive to affordability goals.

Diaz previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the City of Portland Mayor’s Office, where he worked on land use, transportation, and housing policy.2 He also serves on the board of directors of the Housing Development Center, a nonprofit that helps mission-driven organizations create affordable housing.3

Background#

Diaz holds a B.A. in Geography, Sociology, and Anthropology from Colgate University and a J.D. with a certificate in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law from Lewis & Clark Law School.2 Before becoming executive director, he served 1000 Friends of Oregon in community engagement roles in 2014 and 2018, directing its residential infill project advocacy and land use leadership initiative program.1 He has also worked in conservation philanthropy focused on the American West.2

Key Housing Actions#

As Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Oregon (2021-present)#

  • Opposition to UGB Expansion in SB 1537 (2024): Supported the majority of the $376 million emergency housing package but opposed provisions allowing cities to bypass land use law for large urban growth boundary expansions, writing that “any loophole UGB expansions permitted under SB 1537 are simply counterproductive to our real housing needs and goals.”45

  • Urban Growth Boundary Defense (2022): Co-authored an op-ed with the executive directors of the Community Alliance of Tenants and Habitat for Humanity Portland Region arguing that eliminating the urban growth boundary would not solve Oregon’s housing crisis, noting that cities without growth boundaries face identical housing shortages and that previous boundary expansions created expensive homes on large lots rather than affordable housing.6

  • Portland Inclusionary Housing Advisory Committee: Appointed to serve on Portland’s Inclusionary Housing Advisory Committee, which reviews and recommends improvements to the city’s inclusionary zoning policy requiring affordable units in new developments.7

  • OPB Think Out Loud Appearance: Featured on OPB’s Think Out Loud program to discuss multifamily housing, the future of cities, and “Yes in My Backyard” housing initiatives.8

  • Housing Development Center Board: Joined the board of directors of the Housing Development Center in 2023, a nonprofit consulting group that supports organizations creating affordable housing.3

  1. 1000 Friends of Oregon: Sam Diaz ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. 1000 Friends of Oregon: Meet our new Executive Director ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Housing Development Center: Mercedes Elizalde and Sam Diaz join HDC’s board of directors (June 2023) ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. 1000 Friends of Oregon: A promise to Oregonians: We won’t give up on the housing we need (March 2024) ↩︎

  5. 1000 Friends of Oregon: Breaking down how SB 1537 can better support equitable housing policy (February 2024) ↩︎

  6. 1000 Friends of Oregon: Undoing urban growth boundary isn’t the answer to our housing crisis (December 2022) ↩︎

  7. 1000 Friends of Oregon: Inclusionary housing and why it matters to all Oregonians (November 2022) ↩︎

  8. Facebook: 1000 Friends’ Executive Director Sam Diaz was featured on OPB’s Think Out Loud ↩︎

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