Happy 8th Anniversary to Portland's Relo Ordinance!
A renter's rights policy that started in Portland, Oregon has since spread across the country, benefiting 7M renters and counting!
Dear Readers,
This is a quick post to celebrate the 8th anniversary of Portland’s Relo Ordinance and encourage you to brush up on the latest housing news (see the Wonk Out! section below) and support organizations fighting for housing justice. Housing was the primary issue I ran on and won on. Although I never oversaw the Housing Bureau, I was relentless in pursuing greater protections for tenants, expanded affordable housing, and alternative shelter. We had a lot of wins, but Relo will always be the nearest and dearest to my heart.
Thirty days into our tenure at City Hall, my team and I passed our signature and most far-reaching legislation, "Relo.” This policy immediately impacted Portland’s rent crisis, virtually eliminating no-cause evictions overnight and providing a strong incentive for landlords to reign in their exorbitant rent increases to a maximum of 10% (we wanted 5%). While it did not solve the existing affordability crisis, it significantly slowed the pace of cost-burdening and displacement. It also had a side benefit of protecting renters from retaliation when requesting repairs.
Since then, Relo has survived every legal attack from the landlord industry. The State of Oregon adopted a version of Relo based on our model, and at least 15 other cities around the country also implemented similar policies. While I can’t claim direct credit for every city that adopted Relo, many were inspired by our work between the extensive national media coverage, our work with Local Progress, and the telltale 10% trigger, including Seattle, Minneapolis, and Berkeley. I did a quick calculation and determined that around 7M renters currently benefit from Relo policies!
Sadly, despite our efforts to slow down rent increases and the gradual increase in the minimum wage since then, greed continues to outpace renters’ means. Eight years later, we see roughly the same number of cost-burdened renters (around 50%), as well as an ever-growing homelessness crisis fueled by the lack of affordable housing. Despite significant increases in state investment and the passage of local funding initiatives, we don’t seem to be able to close the gap between what’s needed and what’s available.
Relo was the most significant impact we could have for the most people, given the legislative constraints we were forced to work within. There’s no doubt our crisis would be considerably worse without it. But we’re limited to a first-aid solution to a systemic ailment. Profound change is required at the federal and state levels to regulate the industry and incentivize fair and sustainable practices. With a landlord in the White House and Republicans in control of the House and Senate, help isn’t coming anytime soon. But we could and should be doing more at the state and local level.
If Relo helped you in the past eight years, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. For me, it has meant that I never faced another 35% rent increase, like I did in 2013. While this was an incredibly destabilizing event at the time, it ultimately led me to become a housing justice activist and advocate, and ultimately to City Hall. I’ve said it before: I owe it to my landlords for inspiring the detour my life took in 2017, but I won’t ever be sending them a thank you note!
With Love & Solidarity,
Chloe
Wonk Out!
National
Tenant Power Returns (ShelterForce): This series explores the history, current state, and future of tenant organizing.
Affordable Housing (Next City): The latest news on nationwide affordable housing efforts and challenges.
Housing Coverage (CityLab): Housing under Trump.
Oregon State Legislature
Senate Committee On Housing and Development: Click here for current committee leadership, members, and assigned measures.
House Committee On Housing and Homelessness: Click here for current committee leadership, members, and assigned measures.
Local
Organizations & Offices
Renter Services Office: Provides information and technical assistance to landlords and tenants through the Portland Housing Bureau.
Portland Tenants United: Helping tenants build collective power through organizing tenant unions.
Community Alliance of Tenants: Information, resources, and advocacy for tenants across the state
Oregon Housing Alliance: A coalition of organizations committed to the fight for affordable housing.
So I am a landlord in Wisconsin. I inherited the property from my dad. And am an outlier in landlord world. It’s hard for me to be a good guy, support my elderly mom, manage the properties and make sure my tenants have what they need. I cannot imagine raising rents like you describe. My dad built a building so his friend would have a place to live, and that friend has not increased his rent more than 40 dollars in forty years. He was paying 335 in 1995, and pays less than 400 now. He will pass away living in the building and think of him as part of my family. A lot of landlords are horrid, and exploitive, and your legislation is right on. But not all of us are horrible.
Such a good reminder that, especially while the federal landscape is so deeply bleak, solid local policy can improve people’s lives. Good ideas do spread, even if it’s slow work ❤️