Trump-Era HUD Cuts Force Fair Housing Council to Abandon Vulnerable Tenants in Eleven Oregon Communities
The Fair Housing Council nonprofit that protects vulnerable tenants from discrimination by landlords will be withdrawing from nine Oregon cities and two counties following the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding of nearly $1 million.
As the faucets close on its federal income stream that allows the nonprofit to fight housing discrimination, the Fair Housing Council has announced that it will be withdrawing from Albany, Ashland, Bend, Corvallis, Grants Pass, Gresham, Medford, Redmond, Springfield, Clackamas County, and Marion County.
The withdrawal of funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), draining the nonprofit’s budget of nearly $1 million over the next three years, is forcing the Fair Housing Council to reevaluate staffing and could reduce its workforce from 19 to 13 people.
The HUD grant was $425,000 annually for the next three years, and because the Fair Housing Council is only midway through the first year of the funding, it will lose more than $956,000.
Fair Housing Council Will Continue to Operate in Portland and Washington County
However, the Fair Housing Council will be able to continue operating within Portland city limits as it receives funding from the Portland local government. The same applies to the areas of Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Washington County.
The nonprofit watchdog investigates housing discrimination complaints. These can include landlords who refuse to accept Housing Choice Vouchers as payment for rent and as stipulated under state law. Another common discriminatory complaint is landlords failing to meet the basic housing requirements of people with disabilities.
The executive director of the Oregon Fair Housing Council, John Miller concedes that property managers and landlords will go unchecked in the areas from which the nonprofit must withdraw.
The Fair Housing Council contacted Oregon Senator Ron Wyden for assistance. Wyden described the HUD action as ‘morally wrong and patently illegal’ but has not indicated if he will act on behalf of the nonprofit.
They only keep areas open in deep red areas, hmm you probably could place those same resources in 3 maybe 4 rural counties and help hard working people who have somewhat of a chance to succeed with these funds. Then move on and help ot other. Its like unemployment we only got 1 main department that handles the whole state. 5hats why so many have had troubles these last few years.