Throughout the pandemic, Oregonians struggling to pay the rent have had some relief in the form of a statewide moratorium on evictions. With the COVID-19 crisis far from over and a deadline looming for the end of that eviction ban, stable housing advocates are pushing to extend that eviction moratorium.
On Nov. 23, Oregon’s House Interim Committee on Housing heard testimony in favor of the Rental Housing Stabilization Proposal, which would offer extended relief for people in danger of losing their rental housing when the current moratorium ends Dec. 31. The new proposal, supported by the Oregon Housing Alliance, the Stable Homes for Oregon Families coalition and other housing advocates, would extend the current eviction moratorium to July 1, 2021 for renters experiencing a qualified financial hardship. Renters would have until July 1 to pay back any missed rent during the COVID crisis. The proposal would also set up a landlord compensation fund that could see landlords recouping up to 80% of back rent owed to them.
Over half of renters have resorted to borrowing, dipping into savings or reducing spending on food or medicines in order to pay the rent this year, according to a September Housing Insecurity Report issued by Portland State University’s Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative. As of the date of that report, 34.8% of tenants overall owed back rent, with 56% of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color tenants owing back rent. “At least two-thirds reported paying their rent in full each month since March. But the number has declined from over 90% in March to 67% in July,” reads a summary of the report.
“The statewide eviction moratorium expires in five short weeks, which means that parents living on the edge will have to find a new place to stay during the most difficult school year of our lifetimes,” stated Alison McIntosh of Oregon Housing Alliance in a Nov. 23 press release. “Lawmakers can prevent more students trying to do remote learning in a shelter by taking action now to protect both renters and landlords.”
On Nov. 19, Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek called for Gov. Kate Brown to declare a “catastrophic disaster” in the state, which would allow the legislature to convene a remote special session in December.
“We need to utilize some portion of the state’s reserves as soon as possible to help struggling Oregonians and small businesses through the winter months,” Kotek wrote in a press release. “I am particularly interested in seeing the state spend $100 million to keep Oregonians housed and stabilize the rental market as the pandemic continues into 2021.”
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 30, 2020.
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As a single father of a 2nd grader I’m unable to work unless it’s remote. I have to be a teacher
And CANNOT get a job. Not my fault. Without the ability to take my child to school I can’t work.
Please pass this law and let my landlord get paid
It’s not their fault either
Thanks Gov Brown
Matthew Blank
A scared father who loves his daughter
Did the Portland State study address the Whole of Oregon’s rental population? Or just a segment (e.g. the Portland Metro area)?
Where does Oregon “get” $100MIL for this crisis? Anyone looked at the state of Oregon’s available income coming from its government in Salem?
The same government that shuts down critical businesses in Central Oregon (and elsewhere) with its yo-yo pandemic restrictions, rules, edicts, and threats…throwing folks at all levels out of work and into an unemployment system that is non-functional, thanks to the same “government”.
funny how there is no mention of interest-free property tax deferral for landlords. the state gets theirs, while landlords no longer have legal authority to collect rent, of which around 75% goes to pay for property taxes, property maintenance and management. if the 9+ months of rent moratorium does not constitute unlawful government seizure of property (rental income = property) under the 4ht amendment of the US constitution, I don’t know what ever would. stephen demergasso
It will be “interesting” to see the number of foreclosures over the next year. Its a common misconception that land”lords” (even the term is loaded) are somehow immune to the same financial problems that renters are. Anyone who has purchased a Bend property in the last several years and is renting it is almost certainly not “cash flow positive” once you factor in maintenance costs (even without property management — how much does a new roof, new water heater, etc. cost?). The banks and ‘vulture investors’ will be the real winners here.