Whether you are currently a renter or own your home, everyone’s ability to have access to stable housing and remain in their homes affects our whole community’s ability to thrive. Even though we are a Portland Metro region alliance, we are tracking a few state bills this legislative session. Welcome Home is supporting four bills that expand rent stabilization, ensure food assistance access for all, increase tenant protections, and make investments in purchasing existing housing to convert to rent-restricted prices in the Portland Metro. We encourage you to join us in testifying in support of these bills.
Welcome Home members voted to endorse five bills to increase housing access this legislative session. These are House Bill 3767, Senate Bill 599, Senate Bill 611, Senate Bill 50-1, Senate Bill 722. Learn more about each of these statewide changes below:
House Bill 3767 would allow cities and counties the ability to decide if they want to create their own rent stabilization laws to meet their communities’ specific needs. As it stands, state law prohibits local cities and counties from introducing their own stronger rent stabilization policies. Cities and counties should be able to create their own local policies. Under 2023 SB 611, the state-wide allowable annual rent increase cap of 10% is still too high, and this results in many being priced out of their housing. The average Oregonian is not seeing a 10% wage increase annually. Other cities around the country and the world have rolled out stronger rent stabilization laws to ensure everyone can stay in their neighborhood. We will share the opportunity to testify when this bill has a hearing scheduled.
Senate Bill 599 strengthens equal access to housing for every Oregonian, no matter their documentation status,s by prohibiting discrimination based on documentation and diversifying the acceptable IDs for housing approval. The first public hearing on this bill has passed, but we will alert any new opportunities to submit testimony. You may email or call your reps and voice your support at any time.
Senate Bill 611 establishes the Food for All Oregonians Program in the Department of Human Services to provide nutrition assistance to residents of this state who would qualify for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but for their immigration status. There will be a public hearing on this bill on March 25, 2025. Testimony organizing is being led by the Food for All Oregonians Coalition. If you’re interested in joining their action in Salem, contact Peyton at pnguyen@oregonfoodbank.org.
Senate Bill 722 strengthens existing rent stabilization law (2023 SB 611) by prohibiting AI price fixing and moving the exemption of the state rent cap on housing from 15 years to 7 years or newer. We are supporting the Housing Alliance’s effort to pass this adjustment by testifying in support of SB 722. Additionally, Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT) will be showing up in Salem on March 19th for the bill’s public hearing. Fill out the form below if you are interested in joining this action. By signing up, you will receive: key updates on tenant-focused bills, support from CAT staff and fellow tenants on testifying, and food & transportation options for those attending in person. We hope you join us by following the links below.
SB 50-1 allocates $60 million for nonprofit organizations or public housing authorities to purchase existing “like-new market-rate” apartments and convert them to rent-reduced housing. Multnomah County’s local housing authority recently converted market-rate units into affordable housing using public funding. We must take advantage of the current market realities where properties are selling for 30-50% less than the cost of new construction. It also means we’d have more units with affordable rents available soon instead of waiting 5-7 years for developments to be built. This is a smart use of public funds to address our shortage of housing that people can afford. The public hearing has passed, but you can submit written testimony up until today, Friday 3/14/2025 and you can also call or email your representatives and tell them you support this bill.