Overview
The pandemic affected community members with lower incomes the most. One reason is that housing insecurity increased.
Who does this program serve?
This project provided rent assistance in 2022 for renters affected by the health and/or economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic who live in Portland Housing Bureau-regulated affordable housing. Because of evictions, researchers think there were 430,000 more cases of COVID-19 and 10,000 more deaths during the summer of 2020. Keeping people housed will help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Timeline
December 2021: Program launch
March - May 2022: Open for applications, Phase 2
May 2022: Recipients selected
June 2022: Recipients awarded
How is this program funded?
The City of Portland gave $1.5 million to this program. This money comes from the Federal government’s 2021 American Rescue Plan local recovery funds. Portland will receive a total of $208 million from the American Rescue Plan and has until Dec. 31, 2026, to spend it. The City of Portland is spending money in three priority categories:
- Houselessness Response and Household Stabilization
- Small Business and Commercial District Stabilization
- Community Health and Safety
Read more about these investments in this article: American Rescue Plan: Investing in Portland
Who manages this program?
The Rent Relief Program is managed by the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB), which works toward the vision that all Portlanders can find affordable homes and have equitable access to housing. PHB is tasked with developing citywide housing policy, increasing affordable housing, promoting stable homeownership, and managing resources.
Results
We want to be transparent and accountable with how the City of Portland is spending American Rescue Plan money. Explore the different projects at our Rescue Plan Open Data website.