Housing

For the most up-to-date housing resources:

• Call 211 or 1-866-698-6155

• Email help@211info.org — Response within 24 hours

• Text your zip code to 898211 (TXT211) — Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm

• Find more resources at 211info.org

Fair Housing Council of Oregon has a resource page related to the federal fair housing act including how to file an illegal housing discrimination claim. The page includes specific resources for people living with disabilities and people who are LGTBQIA2S+.

For help with utilities, contact:

• Oregon Energy Fund energy assistance help finder

• Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization and energy-related home repairs. Contact 211info or your local Community Action Agency.

If you have received an eviction notice, talk with a lawyer as soon as you can. Free or low-cost legal services are available. If you live in Multnomah County, visit OregonRentersRights.org to learn more about resources.

House Bill 2001 passed new protections for renters. If you are being taken to eviction court because of nonpayment of rent, fees, or other money owed to a landlord, contact Oregon Law Center’s Eviction Defense Project: 888-585-9638 or evictiondefense@oregonlawcenter.org. Be prepared to leave your name, phone number, date of birth, and the case number from your court papers.

To learn more about tenants’ rights, Community Alliance of Tenants has a comprehensive resource page for renters in Oregon.

The Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) helps homeowners who meet certain income requirements and have fallen behind on their mortgage payments and other housing costs due to the coronavirus pandemic. HAF is opening in phases and focuses on homeowners most at risk of foreclosure or displacement. OHCS is currently accepting applications from homeowners in Phases 1–3.

Homeowners can review the HAF program overview and eligibility fact sheet (available in English and PORTUGUESE) to determine when they should apply.

Before requesting assistance through HAF, homeowners should contact their servicer and/or a nonprofit housing counselor about their immediate options as HAF funds are limited and intended as a last resort.

To help homeowners navigate the application process, OHCS has launched a website at oregonhomeownerassistance.org which provides:

• an overview of the program and its benefits
• eligibility requirements and phases timeline
• application resources
• frequently asked questions
• contact information
• fraud prevention and reporting tools
• legal aid and more