FILE - The front of the Hattie Redmond permanent supportive housing complex in North Portland in 2023. The complex is a partnership between Home Forward and The Urban League of Portland.
Caden Perry / OPB
As Portland grapples with an affordable housing crisis, new federal policy changes may make matters worse.
Hundreds of low-income immigrant families that live in subsidized housing will soon see federal funding shrink due to a recent policy change.
In Portland, undocumented immigrants aren’t eligible to apply for rental assistance through Home Forward, the region’s public housing authority that helps roughly 14,500 households. But for years, Home Forward has allowed so-called “mixed status” families — made up of both U.S. citizens and people without legal status — to live together in subsidized housing. Under that rule, monthly rent is 30% of the household’s entire income plus $1. Home Forward pays for the rest.
This situation is no longer allowed under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development policy.
Under the new policy, Home Forward can only pay for tenants who are U.S. citizens. So, a household of four people where two aren’t citizens will only receive housing assistance to subsidize the rent for two people.
“It means that when the new rule takes effect, your rent may increase,” reads a letter Home Forward sent to impacted households late last month.
That could be the difference between $1,500 and $750 in monthly financial help.
This new policy, which will impact roughly 300 households, goes into effect on May 1.
“As a public housing authority, we comply with all federal regulations that govern the programs we administer,” wrote Home Forward CEO Ivory Mathews in an email to OPB. “Home Forward will work closely with residents, community partners, and local leaders as we implement these changes, and we remain committed to our core mission of ensuring access to safe, stable, and affordable housing in our community.”
The change comes as HUD considers an even stricter policy change. In February, the agency proposed a new rule that would prevent families with mixed immigration status from receiving any housing assistance.
That proposal remains open for public review until April 21.
In Portland, many households with mixed immigration status are Latino. Mercedes Elizalde, advocacy director at local nonprofit Latino Network, said these changes in rent support could lead to increased family homelessness in Oregon.
“It is important to keep in mind that this kind of policy change falls heaviest on children — especially children who are citizens,” Elizalde told OPB. “Continued attacks on mixed status households is a direct increase in childhood homelessness and housing instability.”
