*Accept and appropriate $1,900,000 in American Rescue Plan funds from Multnomah County to fund Eviction Legal Defense Program partners for eviction legal defense services and financial assistance to tenants at risk of eviction

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: In 2019, 5,904 eviction cases were filed in Multnomah County. Beginning in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an economic downturn throughout Oregon and in City of Portland with unprecedented numbers of layoffs and reduced work hours for a significant percentage of our workforce. This economic hardship, disproportionately affecting low and moderate-income workers and BIPOC workers, has resulted in lost wages and the inability to pay for basic household expenses, including rent. Currently, as was true before the COVID-19 pandemic, nonpayment of rent is the leading cause of evictions within the state and in the City of Portland. Although the economy continues to recover from the direct impacts of the pandemic, high inflation and increasing housing costs means many renter households, particularly low and moderate-income and BIPOC households, continue to struggle to afford their housing. Evictions filings remain elevated from pre-pandemic numbers. In 2022, 6,608 evictions were filed in Multnomah County, the majority of which were filed after pandemic eviction protections expired in August 2023. In the first ten months of 2023, 7,327 evictions have been filed in Multnomah County. This is a 24% increase in eviction filings from 2019, with two months left in the year. Evictions have long-term consequences for tenants including houselessness, the loss of personal possessions, decreased physical and mental health, poor school performance for children, job loss, housing discrimination, and the inability to find stable replacement housing. Evictions force low-income tenants further into poverty. Studies have shown that evictions and their resulting negative impacts disproportionately affect Black and Latino households, households headed by women, and households with children. Evictions create significant costs within the City of Portland related to increased needs for shelter funding, education funding, health care provided in hospitals instead of community–based providers, transportation costs, and foster care. Providing access to counsel for tenants facing eviction is a proven means of preventing the disruptive displacement of families and the resulting social, economic, and public health costs of such displacement. Even if displacement cannot be avoided, counsel can help negotiate more favorable terms that allow more time to vacate, avoidance of a formal eviction on a tenant’s record and possible reductions in back-rent or other costs owed by the tenant. In recognition of the transformative impact of a right to counsel in eviction proceedings for tenants, seventeen cities, four states, and one county to date have adopted codes creating a right to counsel for tenants facing eviction. The Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) recognizes the importance of providing legal assistance to tenants facing potential eviction. In addition, as evictions disproportionately impact BIPOC renters, preventing evictions and their negative consequences is a way to advance the City’s Racial Equity Goals & Strategies and Portland Housing Bureau’s Racial Equity Plan. With this funding, the Eviction Legal Defense program partners will perform intakes for at least 1,100 tenants facing eviction and will provide legal representation or negotiation support for at least 700 tenants through the Program. Demographic data of Program participants will be tracked to assess the Program’s effectiveness in advancing the City’s Racial Equity Goals & Strategies and the Portland Housing Bureau’s Racial Equity Plan. NOW THEREFORE, the Council directs: The Commissioner-in-Charge is hereby authorized to accept on behalf of the City of Portland $1,900,000 in Federal American Rescue Plan funds from Multnomah County and to execute a grant agreement substantially in accordance with Exhibit A. The Director of the Portland Housing Bureau is authorized to accept on behalf of the City of Portland any subsequent modifications by Multnomah County for American Rescue Plan funding for the Eviction Legal Defense Program provided such modifications do not increase the City of Portland’s financial obligation or risk. Any modifications that increase the City of Portland’s financial obligation or risk must be authorized by Portland City Council. The Portland Housing Bureau Director is hereby authorized to execute, amend, and terminate existing and new contracts and agreements for the Eviction Legal Defense Program funded by this County ARPA grant with the expiration date of June 30 th , 2024. The FY 2023/2024 budget is hereby amended as follows: GRANTS FUND Fund - 217 Business Area – HC00 Bureau Program Expenses – $1,900,000 Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because the program funds must be obligated within required timeframes; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by Council.