By CORY ELIA

The closure of a vast majority of business establishments and subsequent layoffs of employees has resulted in thousands of Portland renters asking themselves something important during the COVID-19-induced economic recession:

How will I pay my rent?

This question and concerns regarding it have been asked of City officials like Portland mayor Ted Wheeler since the crisis began.

It even resulted in one activist taking control of a podium and voicing concerns during a press briefing by the mayor. In their message, they called for a rent freeze, as have many renters here in Portland.

The Oregonian reports: “Multnomah County, Portland suspend evictions during coronavirus outbreak”

Lat week, the City of Portland announced that it’s allowing tenants impacted by COVID-19 to delay paying rent during the state of emergency declared Thursday morning, March 12th. The order gives renters six months to pay their back rent after the state of emergency has ended.

An eviction moratorium was also declared. Gov. Kate Brown made the no-eviction order statewide late last week, but advocates have said that’s still not enough.

***

A petition has been formed appealing to Wheeler and Brown to offer some form of financial support or a suspension of rent for the thousands of workers impacted financially by the shutdown of businesses.

The response to this came from Wheeler and was that the City of Portland has no legal standing to implement such a rent freeze / suspension of rent.

This resulted in a Facebook group being formed called PDX Rent Strike 2020 (with 326 members) and a community page called PDX Rent Strike (with 1,328 members). On the page it is stated the purpose of the page is to facilitate “a group to coordinate actions in regard to the upcoming rent strike”.

The group’s new website PDX Rent Strike is here.

Photos by Elliot Young

The rent strike is planned for the month of April 2020. Even though there won’t be a physical gathering, an event page has been created.

Organizers for the groups spoke about the movement on KBOO’s Wednesday Talk Radio Program for those more interested.

One of the main organizers for the group and event is Randall Gravess, who stated that the movement has already drawn national attention and other cities may follow Portland in the rent strike. “At the end of the day we are looking at a massive economic crisis, and once again our government has chosen to save billionaires”, Gravess said. “I wanna clarify— we are demanding a rent suspension not a rent freeze”.

Gravess states that the group demands are directly tied into saving as many lives as possible during the pandemic.

The group demands are: free healthcare, no work, no rent, release of prisoners, and housing of the homeless. “Our intention is to come together as a community and make it clear we will not pay for this crisis. The rent strike is a tool to protect the millions of suddenly unemployed Americans who individually would be evicted for not paying but who can stand together to present a united front.”

As an urban studies and an renter organizer, Olive jumped into this rent strike movement because she wanted to make sure renters were informed and being taken care of. She said she only speaks for herself, not the group or organizers.

(Olive didn’t want to include her last name for fear of future retaliation from landlords and for work purposes.)

“People can’t make this month’s rent,” she said, and the ones that can are terrified to use their last bits of cash when they have no stable income.

There’s going to be bailouts for the banks, airlines, cruise lines, and many other industries— and she said she thinks there should be one for renters and for home owners holding a mortgage.

“We don’t want anyone left behind, but that doesn’t mean we don’t understand the larger social dynamics,“ she said for her support of small property owners who may not be paid rent in April.

She made it clear that she doesn’t want to see a repeat of the 2008 crisis, where banks got bigger and many in the middle class lost their homes and businesses.

There are resources for renters, Olive said, at the group page and rent strike toolkit above, adding that the property lawyers she has talked with don’t really recommend a rent strike because it’s risky to the individual renter. She said she couldn’t give legal advice, but the rent-delay order requires renters to reach out to their landlords. There is a sample letter on the Rent Strike site.

“People who are calling for a rent strike— they have no other choice,” she said. Even if folks don’t have to pay rent during the crisis, they still won’t be able to pay all the back rent built up when it’s over— and Olive said she doesn’t think they should have to pay it back.

***

There have been a few different movements formed in support of community and the homeless. One movement that has been seen in Los Angeles, California is housing homeless individuals in abandoned or foreclosed homes.

Though squatting to house folks during the outbreak have been proposed and discussed by some rent strike advocates, nothing of significant size like the movement in Los Angeles has happened here yet. However, there are homeless individuals attempting this on their own.

A Portland Metro local homeless man reached out to Village Portland recently and explained that he was cited for trespassing— by officers in full gear with rifles— while trying to squat in a house for shelter during the outbreak.

He stated “I’m as scared as anyone else and was looking for a safe place to stay”. 

Some people making calls for more squatting, Olive said, but it’s more difficult in Portland because there aren’t blocks of empty houses like in places like Detroit, Michigan. 

Olive pointed out that the squatters in Los Angeles (part of Moms 4 Housing, started in Oakland, California) are providing shelter, fixing up the houses, building community with pre-existing neighbors, and even planting gardens.

Squatting can be a win-win for communities, she said: “Would anybody really be upset if they refurbished it [a house] and added value?”

***

City officials are working to find ways to provide enough room to shelter Portland’s homeless. Oregon Convention Center was opened along with the Charles Jordan Community Center. The Jupiter Hotel also announced they would help to add 81 more beds for the homeless during the crisis. 

This movement has already drawn the attention of more frustrated citizens and resulting in community members posting pictures of graffiti dedicated towards the movement around Portland.

Gravess foresees that “America is likely to be the only country where Coronavirus leaves more people bankrupt and homeless than it kills”.

For those hoping to get involved or find more information, Gravess suggests that folks should check out the Facebook community page where a number of graphics and toolkits are provided.

“If people want to get involved, we ask that they begin organizing using the toolkits provided and contacting their neighbors. The more decentralized the process is the more likely we are to succeed.”

Cory Elia is a journalist, photographer, videographer, documentary director & producer, radio personality & podcaster. His journalistic focus is on politics, protest, and poverty. 

Contact Cory:

Facebook: Cory Elia 
Twitter: @therealcoryelia

By ANDREW WILKINS

Local and state officials are working to provide relief for Oregon’s business community— and as of Friday, March 20th the federal Small Business Administration has approved Oregon’s disaster declaration for COVID-19.

For more information, and how to apply go to the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans page here. The Oregon Economic Development Association wrote that there was a two-to-three-week timeline and five days for disbursement on the loans.

According to its website, the SBA can provide up to $2 million to help “meet financial obligations and operating expenses” that could have been met if the disaster hadn’t occurred.

Efforts in Portland

Wheeler said that on Monday, March 16th, he authorized a task force led by his office and Prosper Portland, the City’s economic development agency, to assist small and large employers and their employees struggling with the economic impacts of COVID-19.

In a press conference Tuesday, March 17th, Mayor Ted Wheeler discussed how the City was working to mitigate the downturn’s impact on small businesses in Portland.

“Every option will be on the table to support the resilience and the recovery of our local economy,” he said.

Update: On Wednesday, March 25th, Portland announced $1 million for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 economic downturn, the Oregonian reported. The city will prioritize women- and people of color-owned businesses, with some conditions, according to the executive director of Prosper Portland.

The biggest news, however, that came out of that press conference is that the City barred evictions, and is allowing tenants impacted by COVID-19 to delay paying rent during the state of emergency. He also announced that the City’s tenants and borrowers would have a three-month deferral on rent and loan repayments.

Wheeler said the task force is also partnering with major employers and small businesses, front line communities, labor partners, work force development partners, and foundations. Wheeler also acknowledged cooperation from key City and County partners and Business Oregon.

Wheeler said he met with downtown property owners on Tuesday as well.

To help vulnerable businesses, Wheeler said Prosper Portland was immediately making $150,000 in grants available in a partnership with the Jade District Neighborhood Prosperity Network.

As home to many Asian-owned business, Wheeler said the Jade District is “amongst the hardest impacted by the economic downturn related to COVID-19”.

With time, Wheeler said he expects resources will be expanded to other areas.

Grants are being awarded to businesses in the Jade District and Old Town, and immigrant owned businesses and / or API owned small businesses are prioritized.

The Jade District Steering Committee also added $50,000 to the program. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m., March 23rd. Apply to the Jade District-Oldtown COVID-19 Small Business Response Fund here.

***

Wheeler said he is convening partners in the private sector to develop a commercial eviction strategy and other financial relief. He also thanked private landlords who allowed their tenants to defer or forgo payments.

***

For non-profit organizations impacted by the downturn, the Oregon Community Foundation has established the Oregon Community Recovery Grant program. Guidelines are still being formulated, but you can get more information and apply here.

***

Also on Tuesday, East Metro Economic Alliance called on small businesses across the state to share with the Governor’s Office how they’ve been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

Share a story with Leah Horner (leah.horner@oregon.gov), Brown’s Jobs and Economy Policy Advisor.

Tina Granzo was helping spread the word about the EMEA campaign on social media. She served on the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association for four years, and knows that a lot of small businesses are suffering.

She wrote that the help will be good, but it needs to come quickly. “… with some businesses, the owners put everything they had (all equity) into their businesses and (as with Bipartisan [Cafe]) did things like pay employees a living wage, taking much less for themselves,” Granzo said. “So, not much of a back-up or safety net (even while waiting for help).”

***

Wheeler said he would be meeting with banks and credit unions on Thursday, March 19th, asking them to make sacrifices because he knows they are sitting on substantial reserves.

“As tenants are unable to pay rent, landlords and build owners would then not be able to pay the mortgage they are due,” Wheeler said at Tuesday’s press conference. He said he’ll ask the banks and credit unions to give them more coverage during this cash crunch.

Thursday, Wheeler said they would also be convening their two task forces and meeting with the business community on Thursday.

As of Monday morning, March 23rd, there’s been no update from the mayor or governor on these business-related initiatives.

***

A survey of more than 900 Oregon businesses by Built Oregon found that respondents are losing an estimated $4.8 million in sales. See some of the results of the survey below. The survey was first reported by Portland Business Journal; find more details here.

When asked for what kind of help they needed, many business owners responded: no-interest loans to cover rent and payroll; emergency working capital loans; and assistance for workers, according to the story.

More calls for action from the Portland business community:

At the federal level, the United States Chamber of Commerce has called for bridge loans for the 68 million American workers that are employed by enterprises with more than 500 employees.

***

Negotiations over relief measures are moving fast in Washington D.C., and as of Sunday afternoon the Tax Foundation reports:

“… the Senate released an updated version of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bill builds upon an earlier version of the CARES Act and is intended to be a third round of federal government support in the wake of the coronavirus public health crisis and associated economic fallout, following the $8.3 billion in public health support passed two weeks ago and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.”

The Tax Foundation will provide updates as the happen.

By CORY ELIA

Since the first case of coronavirus in Oregon was announced on February 28th, tensions in the Portland metropolitan have been increasing. But even in the face of this crisis, volunteers and officials are taking steps to respond to the outbreak’s health and economic impact— and special steps to protect the unhoused.

As of Monday morning, March 17th, there are currently 47 confirmed cases in Oregon, (two in Multnomah County, 14 in Washington County, and two in Clackamas County) with one death in Multnomah County.

One of the most complicating issues for health officials is the lack of data on how widely the virus has already spread. The virus may have been spreading in Washington State for six weeks prior to it first being detected.

Health officials have reported that even if an individual isn’t showing symptoms they could still spread the disease. It has been advised— by the federal Center for Disease Control and other officials— for people to avoid all social gatherings, practice social distancing (about six feet), avoid groups, and practice good hygiene like regular hand washing.

If you think you are sick, stay home, call your doctor, and separate yourself from others. For more specific advice, ask your doctor and follow the link in this paragraph.

The unhoused’s vulnerability

The most vulnerable to the coronavirus are the elderly and immuno-compromised of the community. The homeless population includes a large number of individuals who fall into either or both of those categories. With their constant exposure to the elements, close quarters when receiving services, and lack of consistent sanitation options, homeless are some of the most vulnerable in the current crisis.

By the 2019 Point-In-Time count, 4,017 people are living on the streets that could be exposed to the virus. If this population is not properly supported during this time of community crisis the devastation the virus creates could be exponential increased.

There are a number of things being done to help this vulnerable part of Portland’s population. Vendors from Street Roots have formed outreach teams which are visiting camps to inform campers— who may lack a source of news— about the virus and handing out sanitary supplies. There have also been 21 mobile emergency hygiene stations placed throughout the city.

Local government response

The Joint Office of Homeless Service has implemented a number of things to help address the issue.

Recommendations from Multnomah County for the shelters are to spread beds out six feet apart. While that would create a decrease in beds, winter shelters have been opened to ensure capacity was not diminished due to these new requirements and hundreds of more shelter beds are planned to be added.

Also, a moratorium on towing of what are considered to be “abandoned” vehicles— which might be occupied by homeless individuals— has been stopped as well by the order of Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who heads  the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

And just recently, County Chair Deborah Kafoury and Wheeler announced a ban on evictions, but no rent freeze or assistance at the moment. A protester took the podium around 25:00 in the video in to call for a rent freeze or strike until assistance can be given. After that a short Q&A was held for members of the media.

He also sums up much of the actions taken by local government. Watch the video by clicking below:

Citywide services

Meal services throughout the city have also been advised, and have been conducting sanitizing cleanings on a daily basis to control the spread of the virus. Most continue to serve as usual.

Volunteer and advocate-run meal services— like Free Hot Soup— have also stated they would continue to serve the homeless downtown with precautions in place to reduce spread of the disease.

Medical facilities like Kaiser Permanente have also been working to help during the crisis to address the situation on the street. They donated $100,000 to Central City Concern to help prevent the spread of the virus and provide CCC the ability to test for the disease in the homeless population.

Editor’s note: After publication, a representative from the Joint Office of Homeless Services got back to us, so we’ve updated the story to include their input. Additions / clarifications in the next two paragraphs are italicized.

If someone in a shelter has symptoms of a respiratory illness or is vulnerable to serious symptoms, JOHS is allowing shelter providers to place them in a motel room for quarantine purposes. There have already been some issues with this which resulted in a group of elderly homeless women being turned away by a hotel manager out of fear of the virus.

The County government issued an order on Tuesday that bans motels from refusing people in those circumstances going forward.

No one living on the streets of Portland has tested positive so far, County officials said, but testing has just started in that population.

It has also been announced that the City would reduce the number of sweeps conducted on homeless camps. This will be done by increasing the threshold of what is deemed needing to be swept. The reasoning behind this is to also reduce the risk of spreading the virus if it should be in the homeless population. There is concern being expressed to the City, however, that the sweeps need to stop entirely to fully contain the situation.

The broader community response

There has also been a formation of community members trying to help people who may not have not been prepared for a situation like this. A Facebook group called COVID-19 Portland Oregon Area Community Support has been created and has attracted over 2,600 members since its creation on March 12th.

A statement by a moderator of the group says “this group exists for solidarity and mutual aid of the working class in and around Portland”. 

Another Facebook group that has formed is called PDX Covid-19 Mutual Aid Network. That group has around 2,300 members and the aid for that is being supplied by a GoFundMe which has been set up.

Join one or both groups to offer or ask for help.

***

The situation in Oregon has been changing quickly and several places have closed abruptly causing citizens to worry about their financial well-being. Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a state of emergency on March 12th. On the afternoon of March 16th, Governor Kate Brown ordered all bars and restaurants to close except for takeout or delivery food which will last for four weeks. This has furthered concerns of financial instability across the state.

Addressed to Brown and Wheeler, a petition has also been formed entitled Request for Relief for Rents, Mortgages, Sweeps, & for UBI by Portland City Council candidate Rachelle Dixon in hope of them address those issues. 

***

Cory Elia is a journalist, photographer, videographer, documentary director & producer, radio personality & podcaster. His journalistic focus is on politics, protest, and poverty.

Contact Cory:

Facebook: Cory Elia
Twitter: @therealcoryelia

Oregon officials shut down schools to stop the spread of COVID-19, a respiratory virus commonly called coronovirus.

State health officials urge, “good hand hygiene, covering coughs and staying home if you are sick”. According to the CDC, symptoms can include fever, a cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms emerge two to 14 days after exposure.

Diagnosis is difficult because the symptoms overlap with other common ailments, health officials say. The cough is usually a dry cough, and a runny nose and sneezing aren’t commonly associated with COVID-19.

Over 400 Oregon doctors are asking State officials for more action and equipment in response to the outbreak. And Gov. Kate Brown is also asking the federal government for more supplies and testing capacity.

If you’re going out, take care, and it’s probably best to double-check if an event is even being held.

***

There’s a good Facebook conversation at the I Love Lents group (you have to be a member of the group to visit it) about a federal proposal that could evict many people in East / Southeast Portland from flood zones. Here’s an article that’s not behind the New York Times paywall.

Indiana Environmental Reporter reports: “Trump administration pressures coastal communities to evict homeowners from flood-prone areas“

***

FRIDAY, MARCH 13TH

Grotto’s free weekend:

The Upper Garden at The Grotto is free through Sunday, March 15th.

“In this spirit of hope, everyone is invited to visit our Upper Gardens at no charge through Sunday, March 15, so that you might have a place to reflect, to pray, and to find comfort and hope.”

– Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto

The Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore St * 9 am – 5:30 pm * free

***

Live music:

Music in Montavilla with Kate Morrison & Dave Captein. They call it a “indie pop/jazz-based trio”, but if you’re curious— just watch to the video.

Vino Veritas, 7835 SE Stark St * 7 pm – 10 pm * free

SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH

Sunday market:

Montavilla Farmers Market‘s Winter Market is on Sunday.

7700 block of SE Stark St * 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

It took many volunteers from multiple neighborhood groups to manage Thursday’s Portland City Council forum hosted by the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association.

Twenty four candidates attended, the room was nearly full, and we had a good crowd tune in for the livestream. A recording of the livestream is here, and the forum begins at about 1:21:00.

Village Portland was happy to participate, and give folks who couldn’t make it a chance to meet the candidates.

Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers who worked to make this event successful.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH

Johnson Creek restoration work (event):

“Join us for Johnson Creek Watershed Council’s largest restoration event of the year! For nearly 50 years, local residents have worked tirelessly to restore, repair, and clean Johnson Creek. We are proud to have been part of this grassroots legacy for the past 25 of these years.”

There’s a free lunch afterwards.

Volunteers will restore, repair, and clean this waterway that wends through multiple neighborhoods in Portland. Register at the event link in the header.

Ten locations * 8:45 am – noon

***

School fundraiser (event):

Vestal Elementary is having their annual fund raiser!

“Join us for our 6th Annual Rock, Paper, Soiree! Funds raised during this event go toward the Garden Program and other Outdoor Initiatives at Vestal.”

Milepost 5, 850 NE 81st Ave * 6 pm – 9 pm * $25 @ Vestal office or at the door

SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH

For the full list of vendors and how to get involved in the market, go here.

Montavilla Farmers Market, 7700 block of SE Stark St * 10 am – 2 pm