Oregon House Passes Bill That Would Prevent Evictions for 60 Days If Tenant Proves They're Awaiting

The Oregon House on Thursday afternoon passed a bill that would extend the eviction moratorium by 60 days for tenants who provide proof to landlords that they’ve applied for and are awaiting rental assistance from the state. The Bill now returns to the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 278 was amended several times in the a House Rules Committee work session held on Tuesday to grant more leniency to the state and community action agencies to get the relief money to landlords within the next 60 days.

Those amendments include a plan for the Oregon Community of Housing and Community Services, the state agency responsible distributing rent assistance checks to landlords, recruiting a third party to “make distributions to compensate landlords who...have delayed termination notices or eviction proceedings.” Essentially, the state is asking a third party to come in and help smooth the dispersal process going forward.

Last December, the legislature allocated $200 million to rental assistance—$150 million of that available to landlords who applied for relief in cooperation with their tenants, and for which the landlord’s debt would be 80% compensated by the state so long as they took the 20% hit of tenant forgiveness.

Read more: https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2021/06/17/bill-passes-house-rules-committee-that-would-prevent-evictions-for-60-days-if-tenant-proves-theyre-awaiting-rent-assistance-landlord-compensation-fund-application-deadline-extended/
(Williamette Week)