The top official charged with guiding the city of Portland’s response to its housing crunch has accepted a six-figure severance to step down from her post weeks after Mayor Keith Wilson placed her on paid leave .

Helmi Hisserich, who was tapped to lead the Portland Housing Bureau to much fanfare less than two years ago, will receive $240,880 — equivalent to her annual salary — to depart the agency, officials confirmed Thursday.

“My goal has always been to position the city of Portland and Mayor Wilson as the leader of a best-in-class housing strategy that simultaneously delivers increased housing across all income levels and stabilizes housing for the most vulnerable through strong tenant protections” she wrote in a resignation letter to Wilson.

News of her departure was first rep

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