Record numbers seek help with rent

In January, calls for assistance to Washington County Community Action nearly doubled

The Forest Grove News-Times, Feb 18, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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New figures reported by Community Action’s Energy & Emergency Rent Program have confirmed the agency’s concern that the economic downturn is causing a variety of hardships for local families.

During the month of January, the 44-year-old Washington County non-profit received 1,131 calls from citizens with eviction notices seeking emergency rent assistance.

According to program manager Judy Schilling, this compares with 583 calls received for the same period in 2008, and represents a 94 percent increase in call volume for a program that typically has funding to help 40-50 households each month.

“This is an extraordinary time in our history,” said Jerralynn Ness, Community Action’s executive director. “Over the past year, we have witnessed an unprecedented economic shift that has created financial insecurity for a growing number of Oregon families. Escalating job losses, along with a lack of safe, affordable housing and rising costs for basics like food, heat and health care, are putting more families at risk of falling into poverty.”

According to Ness, this comes at a time when program funding could be dwindling. As Oregon struggles to balance its general fund budget, significant cuts to essential health and human services programs are expected.

According to the 2008 Report on Poverty recently released by Oregon Housing and Community Services, more than 45,000 county residents have incomes below the federal poverty level, pegged at an annual income of $10.830. This represents a 38 percent increase since 2000.

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