Concerns over rising rents and no-cause evictions will be shared among lawmakers and community advocate groups this Sunday in Eugene. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.
The town hall-style meeting will discuss what organizers call a regional housing crisis…brought on by landlords who can raise rents without limit.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition says fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Oregon recently increased nearly 17 percent.
Pam Phan is with the Oregon Community Alliance of Tenants based in Portland. She says the long-term effects aren’t good for Eugene residents.
“When they receive that rent increase, they look out in the market, and they’re finding that other rentals are equally as expensive if not more expensive," says Phan. "So folks are needing to move farther and farther away from where their community’s at.
"So rents are rising, transportation costs and time might be rising. Your ability to juggle your bills, is changing.”
Phan adds Oregon landlords can evict tenants at any time without a stated reason. She hopes lawmakers present will discuss House Bill 2004, which restricts evictions and localizes rent control.
The event starts at 1pm Sunday at Willamette High School.
Copyright 2017, KLCC.
