Eviction filings in Oregon have surged to unprecedented levels, surpassing pre-pandemic statistics, and experts warn that without additional funds allocated for emergency rental assistance, the situation could worsen. Local housing experts attribute the escalating eviction rates to the state’s ongoing housing affordability crisis, coupled with rising inflation and a stagnating housing production. Prior to the pandemic, in 2019 and early 2020, Oregon landlords filed an average of 1,500 eviction lawsuits a month.
The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the existing housing challenges faced by many Oregon residents. As job losses and financial instability swept across the state, renters found themselves struggling to keep up with skyrocketing housing costs. The lack of affordable housing options, combined with limited wage growth, has created a perfect storm that has left many tenants unable to meet their rental obligations. Some point to the homeless encampments as visual proof.
According to housing experts, the strain on tenants’ finances has become increasingly evident in eviction filings across Oregon. The number of eviction cases filed has surpassed levels seen before the pandemic, painting a bleak picture of the state’s housing landscape. Without swift action, these eviction filings could escalate further, leading to a surge in homelessness and exacerbating the already alarming housing crisis.
One of the key factors contributing to the current predicament is the lack of affordable housing options available in Oregon. The state’s housing market has been grappling with a shortage of affordable rental units for years, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. As a result, demand has far outpaced supply, driving up rental prices and pushing many tenants to the brink of eviction.
In addition to the housing affordability crisis, rising inflation has added to the financial strain faced by renters. Increased costs of goods and services, coupled with stagnant wage growth, have further limited tenants’ ability to make ends meet. With rent comprising a significant portion of most households’ expenses, the impact of inflation has been particularly burdensome for tenants already struggling to keep up with their housing payments.
Emily Rena-Dozier, tells Axios. In March, a new law requiring landlords to wait 10 days (instead of the previous 72-hour requirement) before filing non-payment eviction cases has resulted in more dismissals in part because tenants now have more time to find rental and legal assistance, said Rena-Dozier, an attorney at the Oregon Law Center.
