As the Legislature prepares to convene Monday for a special session, Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) expressed support for the special session priority list outlined by Governor Brown, saying, “We have a proposal before us to keep thousands of Oregonians from losing their housing while rental assistance is on the way. I applaud the two legislative housing chairs -- Rep. Julie Fahey and Senator Kayse Jama – for their ongoing work to address this crisis. Next week, we must honor our commitment to keep Oregonians housed.”

Despite making housing a priority during her tenure as speaker, Speaker Kotek has presided over a serious crisis in housing availability and affordability, some say caused by the very policies that she has supported and encouraged.

Despite record-low unemployment in Oregon, Democrats in state government continue to push taxpayer-funded rental assistance. Public assistance programs for renters have been criticized as poorly managed.

Multifamily NW, a housing provider advocacy organization of residential property managers, owners, and vendors throughout Portland, Southern Washington, and down through the Willamette Valley to Medford has produced a rental survey. Some of the comments made by respondents reflect the frustration with rental assistance program follow through at Oregon Housing and Community Services.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

One said, “People are starting the assistance applications but not finishing. Many people paying after applying for assistance and then receiving large assistance checks that give more than 3 future rent payments credit on accounts and cannot get a hold of Home Forward to find out what to do with excess funds.”

According to another, “Many residents are taking advantage of the rental assistance programs. We have found many residents, carrying high delinquency balances, are fully employed, but choosing to work the system to avoid paying rent.”

One finel, desperate respondent said, simply, “Hurry up on payment programs!”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-12-10 14:08:27

Last Update: 2021-12-10 15:09:43