Renters Stand at the Epicenter of Oregoon's Housing Crisis

Nearly 2/3 of all low-income renter families in Oregon spend more than half of their income on rent and utilities.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon’s housing crisis has hit renters especially hard, with a quarter of all renters in the state spending more than half of their income on housing, according to a new report by the Oregon Center for Public Policy.

The non-profit research institute also found half of all renters in Oregon spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities — what experts define as being “cost-burdened.”

In 2016, Oregon had about 298,000 cost-burdened renter households, more than the total number of households in Portland.

“Low-income renters stand at the epicenter of Oregon’s housing crisis,” said Center analyst Daniel Hauser. “Oregon lawmakers need to devote their attention and resources to helping these families.”

About 85 percent of all renter households making less than $25,000 were cost burdened in 2016, and nearly two-thirds of all low-income renter families spent more than half of their income on rent and utilities.

“When housing costs drain most of a renter’s income, families often need to make devastating choices, such as skipping meals,” said Hauser.

“In the worst cases, these families end up homeless.”

Oregonians of color are suffering unduly from the housing crisis, as they are far more likely to rent and to be low-income than non-Hispanic white households, said Hauser.

Hauser praised the Oregon legislature’s recent decision to raise the state’s document recording fee, a move expected to generate some $60 million per budget period to invest in affordable housing. He added that lawmakers need to find additional ways to boost investments in affordable housing, given the depth of the crisis.

“When we talk about basic needs, having a roof over one’s head is about as basic as it gets,” said Hauser. “Robust state investments in affordable housing are essential for all Oregon families to thrive.”

Source: Oregon Center for Public Policy.