Portland Housing Bureau to Launch Eviction Legal Defense Program

On August 18, Portland City Council authorized Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) to contract with the Oregon Law Center for an Eviction Legal Defense program for low-income renters. Through this program, income-eligible renters with a termination notice, proposed termination of their housing subsidy, or eviction court papers will be able to access a lawyer. The Oregon Law Center was selected as the program provider after a public Request for Qualifications process. 

Renters whose landlords have filed an eviction court case against them can call the Eviction Defense Project at 888-585-9638 to seek legal help or email evictiondefense@oregonlawcenter.org. Renters should leave a message on the intake line or send an email including their name, date of birth, and eviction case number.

Resources

In Multnomah County, renters are protected from an eviction for non-payment of rent if they have applied for rental assistance. This safe harbor provision will last 90 days from when they provide proof of application to their landlord.  

More information about renters’ COVID-19 eviction moratorium-related protections is available at https://www.portland.gov/phb/rental-services/helpdesk/covid-19-landlord-tenant-policy-changes.

To apply for rental assistance, contact 211. A full list of partner organizations with rent relief funds is available at Multnomah County Emergency Rent Assistance at https://www.portland.gov/phb/rent-relief/multnomah-county-rent-assistance#toc-how-to-apply.