PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland City Council officially declared a housing emergency. The declarations would make it easier to set up emergency shelters, and help create more affordable housing.
Wednesday's vote was unanimous. The declaration would allow the city to waive some zoning restrictions, open up emergency shelters in city-owned buildings and work more efficiently with county and state agencies.
Also on the agenda Wednesday was a first reading of changes to rules for landlords. The proposal would increase the amount of notice landlords must give for no-cause eviction. The move would give better protection to renters who are being kicked out, so apartments can be rented to others for more money. The proposal would also require more notice for rent increases of more than 10-percent in a year.
