Reports: Updates on Oregon’s Slow Rental Relief Distribution Rates

 Sunday’s Oregonian included a story with these statistics:

• Across Oregon, nearly 36,000 households have requested more than $251 million in rent and utility assistance, but only about 19% or 6,908 renters have received aid so far. 
• In August, Oregon hired Public Partnerships to process roughly 8,500 emergency rental assistance program applications. So far, the company has paid out rent for 600 tenants, with 29% of applications still pending initial review.

A similar story emerges for funds being distributed in the tri-county area, where the Portland Tribune reports nearly 15,000 applications for assistance are incomplete.  

• Multnomah County has distributed money to pay rent for 987 tenants, or 8.3% of those who have applied.
• Washington County has distributed money for 219 renters, or 4.5% of those that have applied.
• Clackamas County has distributed money to 80 renters, or 4% of those who have applied.
• Beginning tomorrow, the U.S. Department of Treasury can reclaim funds provided to states that are unable or unwilling to spend the money.