Influx of $16 million will keep rental assistance open until March 21

Bill Poehler, Salem Statesman Journal
·1 min read

Oregon’s program to help people pay rent will stay open one week longer than previously announced.

The program designed to help people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic was set to close for new applications Monday, but the state was allocated an additional $16 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury Monday.

Renters can apply for assistance at oerap.oregon.gov/orera_era3# through March 21.

The federal government allocated more than $289 million for rental assistance, and state officials said it has paid out all of that to 40,000 people. It has applications for another $208 million.

The state has repeatedly requested more funding from the federal government and received about $1 million more from the treasury in December.

“Through strong state and local partnerships, we have taken action to successfully distribute historic levels of assistance to renters and landlords and to get Oregonians the help they urgently need,” Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement.

The program previously closed for new applications Dec. 1 and reopened in January after an influx of $100 million the Legislature approved during an emergency session.

Oregon Housing and Community Services, which is administering the program, said it will start processing and paying those who applied this year this week.

The state said it has received more than 24,000 applications this year.

In accordance with a law passed in that emergency session in December 2021, tenants cannot be evicted for non-payment of rent until their application is processed, provided they show their landlords proof they have applied.

Marion County has a separate rental assistance fund, also funded by the federal government.

County residents can apply for it at co.marion.or.us/BOC/CD/Pages/rentalassistance.aspx

Bill Poehler covers Marion County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Influx of $16 million will keep rental assistance open to March 21