Portland renters who are one bad month away from eviction now have a new financial lifeline—and the city is taking what supporters call a major step toward a fundamentally different model of housing ownership.
City Council passed the “Keep Portland Housed” ordinance, committing funds to a mix of immediate renter relief and longer-term structural change. The package is a supplemental budget for the Portland Housing Bureau for the current fiscal year, co-sponsored by Councilors Angelita Morillo, Mitch Green, Candace Avalos, and Council President Jamie Dunphy. The vote took place in April.
What Council approved
Supporters said the package represents a major step toward a social housing model that could address Portland’s affordability crisis long-term.
“This is a generational opportunity to use these one-time dollars to set ourselves on a path towards truly affordable housing for all,” said Councilor Green…