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obituario/u.s. news Diasabra 11 December 2021

Thousands in Oregon face eviction as lawmakers scramble

(AP) — Inside Musonda Mwango’s Portland apart-
ment are details of his life that have transformed
the property into a home. His guitars hang in the
corner where he composes music, Christmas dec-
orations adorn the walls, and pictures of his three
children — who live with him — are proudly dis-
played.

But as days tick by and bills stack up, Mwango is
part of the growing number of households at risk
of eviction in Oregon, even as he awaits aid from
the state.

In Oregon, where a longstanding housing cri-
sis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pan-
demic, tenants on the brink of eviction are losing
the safety nets that kept them housed. Despite an
overwhelming need, the statewide rental assistance
program stopped taking new applications after all
federal funds have been requested and committed
to renters.

Oregon has a higher rate of people experienc-
ing homelessness than nearly every other state
in America. A 2020 federal review found that 35
people in Oregon are experiencing homelessness
per 10,000. Only three states had a higher rate:
New York City (47 people per 10,000), Hawaii (46 1, though they can still apply through local com-
people per 10,000) and California (41 people per The need for help continues to grow, especially as munity programs. However, not every Oregon
10,000). many tenants struggle to pay months of back rent. county or city has rental aid available.
And now — as more than 67,000 Oregon house-
Now, an estimated 8,355 households are are at risk holds report that they feel “not at all confident” Texas and New York have also committed all of
of eviction, as protections keeping them housed they can cover next month’s bills, according to the their money or indicated that funds will be ex-
have expired after they waited for rental assistance most recent U.S. Census Bureau survey — law- hausted soon.
for more than two months. More than 22,000 makers will be scrambling for solutions during a
households are still waiting to be considered for special session that begins Monday. State officials in Oregon have asked for $198 mil-
help. lion in additional money from the U.S. Treasury,
Due to the immense backlog of rental assistance but it’s unclear whether the state will get it. The
applications, Gov. Kate Brown signed a law in June Treasury is expected to begin reallocating money
that grants renters a 60-day period in which they from places that have not spent it.
cannot be evicted due to lack of payments, as long
as they provide proof that they applied for aid. Following mounting calls from advocates and law-
makers, Brown announced the Legislature will re-
Following the expiration of the federal eviction turn for a special session to address eviction protec-
moratorium, other states have implemented simi- tions.
lar eviction limitations. In Connecticut and Vir-
ginia, a landlord must file for federal rental assis- State Sen. Kayse Jama, who is leading a legislative
tance before removing a tenant. In Michigan, the housing committee, says there are three solutions
eviction process is paused while an application for that “need to happen at the same time” to keep
“Señor ta mi wardador, mi’n tin falta di aid is pending. In New Jersey and New York most Oregonians housed — additional funding for the
nada renters can’t be evicted until January. rental assistance program, extending the 60-day
Den cunucu di yerba berde e ta eviction safe harbor and speeding up rental assis-
ponemi sosega. Mwango applied for rental assistance in July and tance processing.
E ta hibami na awa trankil, was approved in August. As of the end of Novem-
ber, Mwango still had yet to receive aid from the Brown is also proposing that landlords be paid in
Pa mi bolbe haña forsa”. state. He is now past the protection period and, un- full for the rent they are owed, that up to $90 mil-
Salmo: 23 der state law, can be evicted. lion in additional rental assistance be provided to
low-income tenants through the winter and $100
A bay laga nos den nomber di Señor Since July, Hebb said there have been more than million for local agencies to deliver more robust
2,200 eviction proceedings filed in Oregon for long-term renter protections.
non-payment. From 1,000 to 3,000 new rental as-
sistance applications are submitted each week.

Officials say a significant number of people are ap-
plying for state aid to pay back rent that has accu-
mulated since the pandemic, as well as growing late
fee charges.

Of the $289 million of federal rental assistance
funds in Oregon, $119 million has yet to reach
renters. Despite this, in November the Oregon
Housing and Community Services announced
Vera Bernadeta Tromp nearly all the federal funds allocated to the state
*09-08-1958 - †08-12-2021 had been requested — as a result the state agency
stopped accepting applications in December.
Acto di entiero lo wordo anuncia Halting applications also eliminates the protec-
despues. tion period for people who apply for the Oregon
Emergency Rental Assistance Program after Dec.