Andrea Bell

Andrea Bell serves as Executive Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), the first Black woman to lead the agency. OHCS is Oregon’s housing agency. Bell believes that some of the most basic things, like housing, are connected to the meaning of life. Bell serves as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet and Co-Chair of the Interagency Council on Homelessness. She has worked to secure funding for preservation and expansion of housing supply, relief for communities impacted by natural disasters, investments in childcare, climate and public health. Bell also led the state’s administration of resources secured through the Consolidated Appropriations Act and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Bell helped advance tax legislation intended to strengthen our nation’s housing supply and presented before Congress on the role of tax incentives in housing.

But before Bell was a public servant—she was the youngest among her siblings. The daughter of a social worker, and granddaughter to an agricultural worker and educator. Her work is done through a steadfast pursuit of advancing housing progress and building an economy that works for, and includes, everyone.

Bell is an American Council on Germany Fellow, where she focused on economic and social transatlantic matters between the two countries. Bell currently serves as Co-Chair of the National Council of State Agency’s Rural and Tribal Committee.