Latest news with #Hebb
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon sees a rise in eviction filings, but rent assistance programs are working
Worker Mike Friley removes a table during an eviction in the unincorporated community of Galloway on March 3, 2021 west of Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by) Oregon saw a record number of eviction filings in 2024, with most cases related to a tenant struggling to afford rent. There were nearly 27,300 evictions filed in 2024, and middle class families that previously were not considered rent-burdened are increasingly at risk of eviction, Sybil Hebb, the Oregon Law Center director of legislative and policy advocacy, told the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness on Wednesday. Oregon's rise in eviction filings is largely driven by high demand for housing and stagnant wages. As the housing crisis continues, housing advocates are urging lawmakers to maintain funding for rent assistance and legal aid programs, which they say are critical to keeping Oregonians housed. Gov. Tina Kotek, who declared a homelessness emergency on her first full day in office, has consistently prioritized solving the housing crisis. In her budget proposal in December, Kotek recommended the state allocate $173.2 million to maintain eviction prevention services to prevent Oregonians from becoming homeless in the first place. Oregon has the sixth most expensive housing cost index in the nation, according to Oregon Housing and Community Services. And one in four Oregon households spend more than 50% of their income on rent, leaving many renters vulnerable — particularly families with children and Black women — to eviction should they face unexpected emergencies, such as illness or a family crisis. 'The presence of a child in a home is the single greatest risk factor for eviction,' Hebb said. Oregon Gov. Kotek's $39.3 billion proposed budget has more for housing, homelessness, schools The average monthly eviction filings in 2024 was nearly 2,300. That number has risen to a monthly average of almost 2,400 eviction filings so far in 2025. 'I think that's a direct relationship to the cost burden that is increasing for folks,' Hebb said. While eviction filings have increased, not all evictions are carried out. Housing advocates say eviction cases are getting dismissed more often as people have more access to rental and legal assistance. In February, Hebb said tenants who could not afford their rent kept their housing in 91% of cases with help from a lawyer, in comparison to 51% of cases where tenants did not have legal representation. Kemp Shuey, executive director for Community Action in Washington County, urged lawmakers to support House Bill 5011, a budget bill for the Housing and Community Services Department that would allocate millions to housing stabilization programs like the ones he provides. Eviction prevention efforts from his organization have kept 91% of the 2,500 households he's served over the last two years housed. 'We know the need for this resource remains high for families in Washington County as the cost of basic needs rise faster than family incomes,' he told the committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon sees a rise in eviction filings, but rent assistance programs are working
Worker Mike Friley removes a table during an eviction in the unincorporated community of Galloway on March 3, 2021 west of Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by) Oregon saw a record number of eviction filings in 2024, with most cases related to a tenant struggling to afford rent. There were nearly 27,300 evictions filed in 2024, and middle class families that previously were not considered rent-burdened are increasingly at risk of eviction, Sybil Hebb, the Oregon Law Center director of legislative and policy advocacy, told the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness on Wednesday. Oregon's rise in eviction filings is largely driven by high demand for housing and stagnant wages. As the housing crisis continues, housing advocates are urging lawmakers to maintain funding for rent assistance and legal aid programs, which they say are critical to keeping Oregonians housed. Gov. Tina Kotek, who declared a homelessness emergency on her first full day in office, has consistently prioritized solving the housing crisis. In her budget proposal in December, Kotek recommended the state allocate $173.2 million to maintain eviction prevention services to prevent Oregonians from becoming homeless in the first place. Oregon has the sixth most expensive housing cost index in the nation, according to Oregon Housing and Community Services. And one in four Oregon households spend more than 50% of their income on rent, leaving many renters vulnerable — particularly families with children and Black women — to eviction should they face unexpected emergencies, such as illness or a family crisis. 'The presence of a child in a home is the single greatest risk factor for eviction,' Hebb said. Oregon Gov. Kotek's $39.3 billion proposed budget has more for housing, homelessness, schools The average monthly eviction filings in 2024 was nearly 2,300. That number has risen to a monthly average of almost 2,400 eviction filings so far in 2025. 'I think that's a direct relationship to the cost burden that is increasing for folks,' Hebb said. While eviction filings have increased, not all evictions are carried out. Housing advocates say eviction cases are getting dismissed more often as people have more access to rental and legal assistance. In February, Hebb said tenants who could not afford their rent kept their housing in 91% of cases with help from a lawyer, in comparison to 51% of cases where tenants did not have legal representation. Kemp Shuey, executive director for Community Action in Washington County, urged lawmakers to support House Bill 5011, a budget bill for the Housing and Community Services Department that would allocate millions to housing stabilization programs like the ones he provides. Eviction prevention efforts from his organization have kept 91% of the 2,500 households he's served over the last two years housed. 'We know the need for this resource remains high for families in Washington County as the cost of basic needs rise faster than family incomes,' he told the committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon bill aims to curb rent price hikes, prohibit AI price-fixing
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Lawmakers in Salem are hearing testimony on a bill that would amend Oregon's rent increase law once again. Originally passed in 2019, changes to lower the rent cap were greenlit in 2023. However, renters say loopholes are driving prices up, leaving tenants without a place to live. 'I had no idea it was going to be so much, it was quite shocking. I immediately knew that I wouldn't be able to live there anymore,' said Judiaan Woo, one of the renters who joined the Community Alliance of Tenants advocating for the reforms proposed in . The bill aims to reduce the number of buildings exempt from rent increase limitations and it would ban the use of AI . Man gets life in prison for burning body of murder victim Woo is a mother and business owner. She said that because her Tigard apartment complex was built recently, property management was able to bypass the state's rent control law and raise her rent by nearly 15% in December. That's an increase of roughly $7,000 for the year. 'I believe in building, and I believe in providing new housing opportunities, but there should be a middle ground where people have some protections and some regulation. I don't feel like people should be able to just jack up the rent to anything they want,' said Woo, who was joined by several other tenants testifying in support of the bill at the Oregon State Capitol. Advocates for investors and landlords also testified against the bill, arguing the change could deter much-needed development at a time when cities across the state are declaring housing emergencies. 'Developers must recoup their investments, and without a sufficient exemption period, they will be forced to have higher initial rents to recover costs more quickly,' said Multifamily NW Director of Public Affairs Zach Lindahl. If passed, SB 722 would keep the current rent cap of 7% plus inflation or 10%. However, the bill would reduce the new build construction exemption from 15 years down to 7. Those opposing SB 722 also argued the AI tools do not guarantee artificial rent inflation and that removing them would deter out-of-state investment and development. Applications now open to fill vacant comm'r seat 'Our office responds to frantic calls from tenants every day at risk of eviction and displacement because of rent increases,' said Oregon Law Center Director of Legislative Advocacy Sybil Hebb. Hebb said the state saw an increase of more than 2,000 eviction filings every month last year, with more than 80% due to rent unaffordability. 'By reducing the new exemption, we'll cover an additional 40,000 units, which is approximately 80,000-100,000 Oregonians, meaning more families will have that greater stability, which is of such great importance right now in this housing crisis and this homelessness crisis,' Hebb said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
